United’s Path Forward and 4 Other Aviation Trends This Week

>>Not everyone likes Scott Kirby, because he has a habit of speaking his mind, whether his opinions are popular or not. But there’s little doubt about his track record. The man knows how to increase an airline’s revenue. He’s done it at America West, US Airways, American, and now United: United Airlines President on Turning Skeptics Into Believers

>>Iceland should be a good air market right now. But increased competitive capacity is putting major pressure on Icelandair. The carrier’s new CEO is going to have to find a way to get the airline back on track: Icelandair Struggles Despite a Hot Local Tourism Market

>>It’ll be nice to see a unified loyalty program that will be usable on all Virgin properties from trains to retail to airplanes. Unfortunately, we still don’t know much about what the program will look like: Virgin Group Announces New Loyalty Program Powered by Virgin Atlantic

>>At Skift, we know more than most that airlines are in business to maximize revenue. But $30 for one checked bag seems a little extreme, no? Let’s hope other carriers don’t match JetBlue: Is JetBlue Risking Its Brand Equity by Leading on Checked Bag Fees?

>>Loyalty is big business, and Air Canada is working hard to create a forward-looking program that leverages advanced e-commerce techniques. The airline’s acquisition of Aeroplan bodes well for scaling up its program over the next few years: Video: Inside Air Canada’s Digital Loyalty Strategy