5 Aviation Trends We’re Tracking at Skift This Week

Every week we post hundreds of stories across various sectors in travel, connecting the dots across various global trends, and in these weekend posts we highlight the stories that tackle these trends. This one looks at top aviation trends. For all of our trends roundups, go here.

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>> Airlines are interested in green initiatives…when it’s good for their bottom line: United Is Obsessed With the Winglets That Save It $200 Million a Year

Airlines’ excitement over winglets proves that the way to get carriers to adopt environmentally safer practices and products is to make sure it also boosts their bottom line.

>> Airlines are getting tougher on flyers’ oversized carry-ons: United Cracks Down on Flyers with Oversized Carry-on Bags

Although flyers will hate it, stricter enforcement is necessary to make boarding a sane experience again.

>> A rebounding economy means more travelers on the move: Record Number of Americans Will Fly Overseas This Spring, Predicts Trade Group

The prediction is based on U.S. airlines’ growing profits and the country’s slowly stabilizing economy, but record numbers will reflect a larger, more global trend in which international travel is becoming more accessible due to rising incomes and market competition

>> Airlines worldwide accept in-flight Wi-Fi as a new industry standard: El Al to Launch In-Flight Wi-Fi on Select European Routes Within One Year

ViaSat claims it has the fastest in-flight Wi-Fi available and raising the standard for service in European skies will effectively force other carriers to speed up their service. The El Al deal is one way for ViaSat to kickstart market penetration outside of the U.S.

>> More checked bags means more mishandling incidents: Airline Baggage Stats: More Checked Bags Mishandled More Often

At a time when U.S. airlines are talking about new bag-tracking technologies and other improvements, they collectively let an uptick in checked bags ruin several years of strides in their mishandled bags’ numbers.