Skift Take

A few hiccups along the way are to be expected. And the airline has this to consider: United set a very low bar for success when it comes to integrating systems.

What to Know Now

Last Thursday, operations at a handful of American Airlines hubs ground to a stop as a computer glitch rocked the airline’s computers from Dallas to Miami. The issues were quickly resolved and operations returned to normal, but around 300 delayed flights were delayed in the process.

Moreover, Thursday’s incident is a reminder of how fragile an airline’s network infrastructure is, especially during the course of a systems merger that’s currently underway. So far, American and US Airways have handled integration well with very few hiccups to speak of. But if systems start going the way of the United-Continental merger, Thursday’s episode could be the first of many to come.

Social Quote of the Day

You can’t have a backup for every backup’s backup’s backup’s backup’s backup’s backup. At some point you’re going to come across either a common point of failure, or a practical end to the redundancies — that’s just life. The fact that this hardly ever happens, and recovery is quick, says that someone’s planning is working even during a failure, IMHO.

BWISkyGuy on Flyertalk re: AA’s computer glitch

 
New Alitalia livery A330

Airlines

Alitalia CEO Resigns After Less Than A Year at His Post: Alitalia says CEO Silvano Cassano has quit after less than a year in the job, which has been focused on restructuring the once-failing Italian airline under the ownership of Emirates-based Etihad. Read more at Skift

Ryanair to Provide Low-Cost Connections for Long-Haul Airlines: Ryanair Holdings Plc will provide connecting flights for long-haul airlines including Deutsche Lufthansa AG and Air France-KLM within the next 10 years, as Europe’s biggest discount carrier targets tie-ups as a way to expand its network and boost passenger numbers. Read more at Skift

United Airlines Customer Dissatisfaction Festers, 5 Years After Merger: The merger of Continental Airlines and United Airlines in 2010 was supposed to combine Continental’s reputation for solid customer service with the broader reach of United’s domestic and international network. Read more at The New York Times

JetBlue Takes Exception to Delta’s Use of ‘Humanity’ Slogan: JetBlue Airways Corp. has been telling passengers and prospective customers for 16 years that it’s on a mission to restore humanity to flying. It isn’t happy that Delta Air Lines Inc. is joining the effort. Read more at Skift

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Airports

Spanish Politicians Oppose Ibiza Airport Expansion For ‘Elitist’ Private Jets: Podemos is going after private jets on one of Spain’s most popular party islands. Read more at Skift

Japan’s Narita Airport Could Add Third Runway to Meet Demand: Narita International Airport Corp., operator of Japan’s busiest international airfield, is considering adding a third runway as an increase in overseas tourists boosts demand for flights. Read more at Skift

How One Small Airport Deals With An Identity Crisis and Bigger Rivals: Anyone traveling through New Castle County this month might notice new highway billboards advertising something called Wilmington Airport. Read more at Skift

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Tech

Ryanair CMO Is Looking to Tinder for Digital Inspiration: At the World Low Cost Congress in London this week, Ryanair CMO Kenny Jacobs, told the audience that the millennial dating mobile app Tinder was firing up the low-cost carrier’s new digital strategy. Read more at Skift

American Airlines Introduces Live Baggage Tracking: American Airlines just introduced a new baggage tracking feature, which allows customers to track their luggage from the moment it’s checked in to when it’s picked up at the carousel via the American website. The carrier announced the free system yesterday to address customers’ concerns about where their bags are during all stages of a trip. Read more at The Points Guy

Google Urges Airlines to Reap Rewards From Mobile Disruption: During a standing-room only roundtable session at the World Low Cost Airlines Congress in London, Scott Friesen, the Industry Manager of the Travel Sector at Google, encouraged airlines to embrace mobile and the opportunities created by disruption, and the growth of mobile. Read more at Skift

Smart Vehicle Technology Could Making Driving More Interactive: Wyoming is one of three locations in the country where next-generation “smart vehicles” that could make highway driving less dangerous will be tested. Read more at Skift

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Hotels

A Boutique Hotelier Explains What’s Wrong With the State of Online Booking: Industry consolidation. Online travel agencies playing games with discounting. And a proliferation of dodgy booking sites masquerading as official hotel websites. Read more at Skift

The Science of Creating the Right Smell for a Four-Star Hotel: I’m battling my way through the pungent masses of Times Square in August when I’m suddenly transported: a cliff jump into a turquoise cove, fiery sunsets from a hotel balcony, fire-twirlers beneath the stars. Read more at Skift

La Quinta Stock Tumbles On Weak Demand and CEO Resignation: La Quinta Holdings Inc. tumbled after its longtime chief executive officer resigned and the hotel chain cut its 2015 growth forecast. Read more at Skift

Your Turn

The teams at Jaunted and Hotel Chatter have found good refuge at Conde Nast Traveler.

Tips and Comments

Can be sent to gm[at]skift[dot]com or to @grantkmartin

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Photo credit: An American Airlines Dreamliner. American Airlines)

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