JetBlue on Puerto Rico Tourism Recovery and 4 Other Aviation Trends 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.

>>Other airlines serve sushi, but not ANA, Japan’s largest carrier. Why? ANA takes its food seriously, and its chefs don’t think sushi tastes right on planes, so it serves sashimi instead. That’s attention to detail: Interview: ANA CEO on His Star Wars Strategy and Why Sushi Doesn’t Fly

>>The jig was almost up for members of Air Berlin’s frequent flyer program, but at the last moment, Etihad extended an olive branch: Business of Loyalty: Etihad Bails Out Air Berlin’s Loyalty Members

>>JetBlue has been good to Puerto Rico, but the airline has no choice. The island has been devastated by Hurricane Maria, and tourists won’t be able to return soon. JetBlue needs to move some flights to other popular tourist destinations: JetBlue Doesn’t Expect Puerto Rico Tourism to Recover Until Late 2018

>>Many have dreamt of finding easy fortune in California. But Alaska Airlines is discovering — via its merger with Virgin America — that the airport tarmacs aren’t paved with gold: Analysts Take Alaska Airlines to Task for Mishandling a Broad Array of Issues

>>We’re not surprised American Airlines is not interested in blinged-out first and business class cabins. But we’re still slightly puzzled at the U.S. carriers’ anger toward the Gulf airlines. Yes, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar receive government assistance, but so do a lot of airlines: American Airlines Believes It Doesn’t Need Over-the-Top Luxury to Compete With Gulf Carriers