Airline News

It isn't easy being in the aviation business, but airlines have one advantage over a traditional company. Their assets are mobile. If a carrier like JetBlue discovers softness in one region, it can move its airplanes elsewhere.

Flight shaming as a concept is now well established, and airlines are certainly under much more pressure to showcase their green credentials. The impact on passenger numbers, however, is so far limited.

For those who are willing to pay for access, Delta's SkyMiles Select program is a good alternative to flying the requisite miles to earn elite status. But it also sets an interesting precedent for paying for overhead bin space.

This week in aviation, Delta launches a new platform that gives access to priority boarding and more perks. Meanwhile, United Airlines has a plan to use larger jets to add more seats per flight as quarterly costs rise.

This priority boarding craze is getting out of hand. Almost no one wants to get on an airplane 45 minutes before it departs. People go nuts over boarding early because they have overhead bin anxiety. Can we just start charging for bin space? It's a precious resource for which demand outstrips supply.

Fun fact: What airlines refer to as costs is not an absolute measure of how much a carrier spends. A massive global airline like United can spend a lot more money from quarter to quarter and still keep its costs in check so long as it grows capacity during the quarter.

The best airline solutions lie at the intersection of data, people, and technology that makes sense of the data and connects the people.

An omnichannel approach in airline retailing today must encompass the full spectrum of distribution channels including direct and indirect channels, particularly travel agencies.

This week in aviation, Delta's president suggests the airline could throw back to a simpler fare structure — or at least something similar. Meanwhile, travel leaders are already picking sides ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

United's MileagePlus program is changing dramatically in 2020 to focus more on high-spend rather than high-mileage travelers. Translation: It's getting harder for frugal flyers to be elite.