Airline News

Seatback entertainment screens are so 2002. Airlines should remove them and focus on what their highest-value travelers actually want — fast, reliable Wi-Fi. Passengers who care about quality entertainment can load up their own devices with stuff they actually want to watch. Or they can stream from a server on the plane.

JetBlue has one of the least generous frequent flyer programs in the United States. But it's easy to understand, and travelers seem to appreciate that. Many just prefer belonging to a program that makes it simple to redeem for free tickets.

Airline in-flight entertainment systems never age well. They're expensive, and they're often heavy, so airlines burn more fuel having them on board. Why do they persist? Passengers — even those who bring their own devices — tend to like them. But can airlines keep installing these systems forever?

The rise of the so-called Brexpat, those who will commute from London to jobs in European financial hubs, is a prime opportunity for Surf Air as it expands in Europe.

This week in aviation, British Airways had our attention. The airline mulled risky loyalty changes for 2018, tried to balance cost-effectiveness with premium service, and changed its relationship with Sabre.

EasyJet's choice for its new CEO is a bit of a surprise given that Johan Lundgren left his last job at TUI Group in May 2015 and wasn't one of the many names linked with the job. Still he's got plenty of travel experience, which will help him deal with the challenges in his new role.

Many airlines have been undone by ambitious expansion plans, and while Wow Air is profitable now, extra planes mean extra costs. Can a small carrier like Wow Air survive in a sector that is moving toward further consolidation?

Singapore Airlines has created one of the world's most luxurious airline products. But is that enough to make the six-seat cabin profitable? Perhaps on a few routes. But we're skeptical about others.

While the industries may be vastly different, the airline industry can learn a lot from the leading digital innovators out there when it comes to dynamic pricing strategies.

Those who book expensive airfares have much to look forward to with Flying Blue. Budget travelers, not so much.