Etihad’s Value of Service and 8 Other Aviation Trends 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.

>>Etihad still has plenty of challenges ahead as it deals with global pandemics, wars, and economic malaise: Etihad CEO Interview: The Incredible Value of Service

>>Southwest and easyJet have proved that airlines can be both low-cost and attractive to business flyers: Air Berlin Expands in the U.S. and in Business Class — Skift Business Traveler

>>United is refining how it defines a stopover and cranking up fees for award ticket changes — but we get a better award booking tool in the process: United Improves Its Online Booking Engine and Simplifies Award Tickets

>>There are no sure things, but the model should work in Asia, too. Who doesn’t like low fares? Wow Air Mulls the Dubai Model in Considering Flying to Asia

>>Yes, Alaska paid a fortune for Virgin America. But that doesn’t mean it’s a bad deal: A Weakened Virgin America’s Profits Decline as Alaska Prepares to Close Merger

>>This week’s Delta Air Lines global outage puts a spotlight on the opportunity for startups: In Startup Funding This Week, AirHelp Raises $12 Million to Help Passengers With Flight Disruptions

>>A good operational meltdown like Delta’s should make travelers nostalgic for the good old days, when carriers regularly cooperated to help each other’s passengers: Delta’s Hardline Stance Limits its Ability to Rebook Passengers on Rival Airlines

>>One wonders how the new CEO, who assumed the role only three months ago, will whether the storm: Delta’s Outage Impact Likely to Be Much Greater Than Southwest’s — Skift Business Traveler

>>Will its luxury offerings catch on with U.S. travelers? Etihad Airways Brings Its Leisure Travel Brand to North America