Southwest’s ‘Lovable’ Reputation 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.

>>Southwest has built a reputation as a safe, reliable, and customer-friendly airline over nearly five decades. That has helped Southwest recently, as it has faced one of the biggest tragedies in its history: Southwest Hoping Its ‘Lovable’ Reputation Will Help It Bounce Back

>>Is Southwest having what might best be described as a United problem? The airline faced one major incident a couple of weeks ago, and now passengers are paying much more attention to what ordinarily would be minor events: How Strong Are Airplane Windows?

>>Southwest began its life in 1971 as a short-haul airline shuttling commuters around Texas. So perhaps it is fitting that it will try to do something similar in Hawaii. But expect Hawaiian Airlines to vigorously defend its turf: Southwest Will Fly Routes Between Hawaii Islands in Major Challenge to Hawaiian Airlines

>>U.S. airline strikes are extremely rare because of government regulations designed to prevent them. For that reason, there’s no guarantee Frontier’s pilots will receive the permission they seek. But remember the last major U.S. pilot strike? It was in 2010, at Spirit Airlines, when it was controlled by Indigo Partners. The same private equity firm now owns Frontier: Frontier Airlines Pilots Ask Feds for OK to Pursue a Strike

>>Marriott Rewards and Southwest Rapid Rewards are still dominating the Freddie awards in North America, as they did last year. In Europe, though, it was Aeroflot and Accor, while Virgin Australia took top honors in Asia/Oceania: Marriott, Accor, Southwest and Virgin Australia Voted In as Top Loyalty Programs

>>Aviation nerds surely will be upset Qantas is retiring its Boeing 747s. The aircraft has been the world’s most iconic jet for decades, but times change, and airlines now prefer smaller, more fuel efficient twin-engined jets. Sadly only a few airlines — British Airways, Lufthansa, Korean Air and Air China — seem committed to the aircraft beyond 2020: Qantas Is Latest Major Global Airline to Give Up on Boeing 747

>>He may have served in one of the most scandal-free administrations in recent White House history, so former press secretary Josh Earnest will be tested in this new role. No CEO has been under fire quite like Oscar Munoz in the past year: United Airlines Hires Former White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest

>>Given Norwegian’s financial situation, we should expect IAG’s approach to have been on the low side. CEO Willie Walsh is a shrewd operator and is probably happy to wait things out rather than overpay: Norwegian Rejects Approaches From British Airways Owner