The Most Successful Business Model Change of the Past Decade and 7 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.

>>Thanks to interest from U.S. carriers, the power dynamic of airlines in the Far East could change dramatically this year: How Asian Airline Alliances Could Change in 2018 — Business of Loyalty

>>Airport architects are busy rethinking the terminal experience, and that’s a good thing. But don’t expect any major changes, at least not soon. Instead, travelers will get incremental improvements: The Airport of the Future May Evolve From Transport Hub to Attraction

>>Airlines and their passengers are embracing private messaging to resolve issues. That’s good for customers, who don’t need to wait on hold for an agent. And it’s helpful for airlines too, because agents can respond to more than one message at a time: Airlines Turn to Private Messaging to Avoid Social Media Blowups

>>Most of the world’s airports have lots of “common-use gates” that can be used by any carrier. Not JFK. It operates under a different model, and that has been a big problem over the past week: JFK Airport’s Terminal Setup Contributed to the Storm-Recovery Fiasco

>>In the past decade, airlines have successfully convinced flyers to pay for everything from seat assignments to checking bags. But some of their most loyal customers are fuming: Bag Fees Were the Most Successful Airline Business Model Change of the Past Decade

>>We all wish British Airways hadn’t decided to shrink seat pitch. But once it did so, it was smart to go with so-called pre-reclined seats. When there’s so little space between seats, passengers don’t need another passenger reclining into them: British Airways Plan to Add ‘Pre-Reclining’ Seats Actually Makes Sense — Airline Innovation Report

>>You don’t expect corporate travelers to dip into their own pockets on business trips. But certain travelers love to fly in premium cabins, and that’s good news for Delta’s revenues, which were already strong: Delta Finds Passengers Paying for Upgrades With Their Own Money Is Big Business

>>Slowly, Virgin America is disappearing. That’s bad news for its loyal customers in San Francisco, Los Angeles and other parts of the country. But it’s necessary. Virgin America was too small as a stand-alone carrier to compete with the nation’s four largest carriers: Virgin America Is No Longer an Airline in the Government’s Eyes