Air France-KLM CEO on Millennials and 9 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.

>>You can argue it’s never been a better time to fly. Fares are cheap, and amenities like Wi-Fi and free snacks keep improving. Even better, airlines are updating their mobile apps, making it easier for passengers to rebook from delayed or canceled flights. But some people — at times, frequent flyers but mostly the infrequent ones — still view flying as a pain: The Hassle of Flying in an Age of Permanxiety

>>You may have seen Air France’s new airline designed for millennials. But that’s mostly a creation of marketers. Let’s be honest. This is a lower-cost airline that needs to attract passengers of all ages if it’s going to be successful: Air France-KLM CEO Touts His Millennial-Focused Airline That’s Really for Everyone

>>United Airlines has a new head of loyalty starting this week at the same time that major changes are happening within the program: Business of Loyalty: United Airlines Appoints a New Head of Loyalty

>>IAG’s testing of the low-cost, long-haul market with a virtual airline seems to have paid off. Its success shows that the model is here to stay. We’ll be keeping a close eye on how this affects the legacy carriers, including those in IAG’s own brand stable: IAG Is Serious About Growing Its Low-Cost, Long-Haul Airline

>>Is there a tougher job in the airline industry than making Air France more nimble? It’s an airline that prides itself on its systems and procedures. But to compete forcefully in the 21st century, an airline must take chances. Air France needs to be more, in that regard, like its Dutch sibling, KLM: Interview: Air France-KLM CEO on Millennials and Unions of All Kinds

>>We’re excited to debut the Skift Airline Innovation Report. We hope it will become an essential tool in keeping abreast of and deciphering developments in the ever-changing global airline industry: Launching Our New Weekly Newsletter: Airline Innovation Report

>>Welcome to the very first Skift Airline Innovation Report. Be sure to subscribe so you can receive it every week in your inbox. We’ll stay atop current industry trends, and have fun doing it: The Real Impetus Behind Air France’s Millennial-Focused Startup — Skift Airline Innovation Report

>>We expect Singapore’s new first-class suites will be considered among the world’s best products. But the airline still faces intense competition from Gulf and Asian airlines. It’s not clear how much this cabin update will help on that front: Singapore Airlines Unveils a Massive First-Class Suite to Compete with Gulf Rivals

>>The lenses through which we view the travel ecosystem are often heavily distorted. The first step toward countering it is acknowledgement: The Calculated Faux Marketing of Premium Air Travel

>>Air France-KLM had hinted at adding a distribution surcharge as far back as 2015, so the announcement doesn’t come as a surprise. What it does tell us is that airlines are increasingly confident that the positives of introducing such a fee outweigh any negatives: Air France-KLM Joins Rivals in Adding Distribution Surcharge