Skift Take

These are the aviation trends we were talking about this week.

Throughout the week we post dozens of original stories, connecting the dots across the travel industry, and every weekend we sum it all up. This weekend roundup examines aviation.

For all of our weekend roundups, go here.

>>Travelers are entitled to their own opinions, and it makes sense that Emirates is the overall No. 1. But does Aeroflot truly have the world’s best business class product? Emirates Ranks First in Launch of TripAdvisor’s Review-Based Global Airline Rankings

>>Virgin America’s Elevate members now have an official timeline for when their loyalty program is going to fold: Virgin America’s Elevate Loyalty Program Will Fold on January 1, 2018

>>British Airways has finally come around and started investing in its business class cabin. But it may be too late to catch up with Delta, United, and the Middle East carriers: British Airways Announces a $495 Million Investment in Premium Experience

>>Those traveling on Delta last week may have felt the aftershocks of a storm that moved through Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport and turned operations on their head: Delta’s Operations Disrupted By Mid-Atlantic Thunderstorms — Skift Business Traveler

>>During the decade he ran Virgin America, David Cush couldn’t always speak freely. But now Cush can discuss how airlines struggle with Google’s mobile land grab: Virgin America’s Ex-CEO Talks Candidly About Google’s Pushy Strategy

>>Consumers are more comfortable with biometrics than ever, and we can probably thank Apple for that. Now airlines are starting to ask whether they might use facial recognition, fingerprints or iris scans to make the passenger experience better: Airlines and Airports Look to Biometrics to Improve the Passenger Experience

>>If history is our guide, another airline will do something worse soon. But for now, United is taking a beating on social media, even from its peers: Airlines Add to United’s Social Media Woes Following Its Latest Controversy

>>Alex Cruz, the Chief Executive of British Airways, is in a tough spot. For years the airline has positioned itself as a premium brand and — whatever the company says — customers don’t like it when you start charging for something you used to get for free: British Airways and the Problem of Fees, Frills and Perspective

>>Delta says it is using basic economy fares to help better differentiate its products. The jury is still out on whether it will help them compete on routes where they face low-cost competitors: Delta Execs Downplay Importance of Basic Economy

 

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Tags: aviation, Travel Trends, trends roundups

Photo credit: The Jordanian national carrier had fun on social media with United's current woes. Royal Jordanian Airlines

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