Airline News

The majority of U.S. travelers don't have to worry about how they'll upgrade on United Airlines. But United's most loyal customers, who contribute more than their share of revenue, care deeply about the process. United can't make things too difficult for them, or they will defect.

It's hard to think of the bus as a disruptive form of mass transportation. But who knows? Maybe this company, Landline, will revolutionize how Americans buy airline tickets.

It's glamorous to be a turnaround artist who parachutes into a troubled company and restores growth. But change can be slow and painful. Just ask Barbara Dalibard, the CEO of SITA, the airline-controlled tech provider.

This week in aviation, Virgin Atlantic is working to undermine British Airways' power by drafting up a plan to fly to 84 new European destinations. We also take a look into the multiyear contract between United Airlines and Expedia.

Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith inherited a complicated mess when he took the top job last year, but he has begun methodically turning the company around, winning contracts from labor and simplifying the fleet and route network.

American Airlines had a tough summer, with labor issues and the grounding of its 24 Boeing 737 Max aircraft. But Chief Financial Officer Derek Kerr said at Skift Global Forum that these two areas are at the top of management's agenda for next year.

JetBlue somehow makes free Wi-Fi work. But Delta hasn't figured it out yet. It has so many customers on so many flights, and it's worried free Wi-Fi might overwhelm Gogo's systems and degrade the system for everyone.

Airlines are taking cues from sectors outside the travel industry, including dining, wellness, and retail to better target and engage with their passengers. The key to success is delivering personalized messages through the smarter and secure use of customer data, experts said.

On a branding and product level, Virgin Atlantic has long punched above its weight. But overall, Virgin Atlantic is just another undersize airline trying to squeeze out a profit amid intense competition. Perhaps Heathrow's expansion will change that. But don't bet on it.

It's getting even harder to not be loyal to United Airlines if you are a frequent traveler in Denver.