Australia’s New Long-Haul Service to Europe 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.

>>Allegiant can't fly its MD80s from some cities at certain times of the year. It sometimes cancels routes before they launch. And it's not interested in coast-to-coast routes. Learn why in this discussion with the airline's director of planning: Allegiant Air Agonizes Over New Routes for Months or Even Years

>>Elite frequent flyers have been pining over free Wi-Fi for some time and Air Canada finally delivered. But the free connectivity will come at a cost to other benefits: Air Canada Adds Free Wi-Fi for Elite Travelers — Business of Loyalty

>>A new direct route will change traveler habits on Australia’s west coast and may deliver more market share to Qantas. But, more importantly, it looks set to herald more ultra-long-distance connections between Australia and Europe: Australia’s New Long-Haul Service to Europe Could Be Just the Beginning

>>Joseph DeNardi, an analyst with Stifel, is passionate about his thesis — that airlines should sell their frequent flyer programs. Yes, an airline can make money doing so. But airlines that don't operate their own programs sometimes get into trouble. They have far less data about customers than their competitors. And in 2017, access to data is a big deal: Should More Airlines Spin Off Their Loyalty Programs?

>>Few airlines share as much information as Allegiant Air. You don't often hear an airline executive (good-naturedly) criticize an aircraft in its fleet — even when it's warranted: Allegiant Air Seeks to Convert Drivers to Flyers — Airline Innovation Report