Airline News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This week in aviation, we had our eye on earnings from American, JetBlue, Alaska, and Southwest, whose tragedy fallout continues. Also, if you've been stealing the blankets from business class: shame on you.

Ryanair might have lost a step last year when a pilot scheduling problem forced it to cancel thousands of flights. But the airline seems to have its swagger back.

In a nearly repeat performance from 2017, Marriott and Starwood once more dominated the loyalty space in North America when it comes to loyalty programs and consumer sentiment. Aeroflot and Accor performed similarly well in Europe, while Virgin Australia won big in Asia/Oceania.

Look for airline ticket prices to increase if fuel prices don't fall soon. Passengers may not like it, but what other business doesn't try to recoup increased production costs from consumers?