Madhu Unnikrishnan

News Blog

Lufthansa Changes Boeing Order in Face of Manufacturing Delays

Lufthansa is mixing up its Boeing order as the manufacturer struggles with getting regulatory approval for its largest aircraft, the 777X. The German airline now is changing its order for that airplane to seven Boeing 787-9s, to be delivered in 2025-2026. But that comes with its own risks. Boeing currently can't deliver any 787s, as…

Madhu Unnikrishnan | 2 years ago

Airline Weekly

The Miami Boom

2 years ago

Airline Weekly

The Miami Boom

2 years ago

Airline Weekly

Omicron Clouds Sun Country’s First-Quarter Profits

Sun Country usually has a strong first quarter, as it ferries passengers from its home base of Minneapolis to warm-weather vacation destinations in the winter. But the Omicron variant dented its profits this year, although bookings surged again in March. Despite that, the airline, unlike most of its peers, turned a profit.

2 years ago

Airlines

Spirit Airlines: JetBlue’s Higher Takeover Bid Is Just Too Risky for Shareholders

Spirit Airlines thinks any potential merger with JetBlue would fall afoul of regulators. The risk just isn't worth it to Spirit, which underscored its commitment to Frontier's initial bid.

Madhu Unnikrishnan | 2 years ago

Airline Weekly

Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Fight Back Against United’s Newark Airport Congestion Claims

Spirit Airlines and JetBlue Airways dispute United Airlines' claims that they are responsible for delays at the congested Newark Liberty International Airport. Instead, they argue if United thinks too many flights are taking off per hour, it should reduce its own operations, and not try to limit theirs.

2 years ago

News Blog

Norman Mineta, Transportation Secretary on 9/11, Dies at 90

Norman Y. Mineta, the Transportation Secretary who closed the U.S. airspace and ordered the grounding of 4,000 planes in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, has died. He was 90 years old. Mineta died at his home in Edgewater, Md., of a heart ailment, John Flaherty, his former chief of staff, said.…

Madhu Unnikrishnan | 2 years ago

Airline Weekly

Qantas Moves Forward on World’s Longest Flights With Airbus Order

Qantas finally did it. After years of gauging the market for Sydney-New York and Sydney-London flights, and delaying the project during the pandemic, the Australian carrier is forging ahead with an order for 12 Airbus A350s that can handle the almost-20-hour flight time. But will customers want to spend that long in an airplane? Qantas thinks so.

2 years ago

Gol Eyes U.S. Expansion Under American Airlines Partnership

Brazil's Gol is feeling the benefit of its expanded strategic alliance with American Airlines just weeks after the pact was finalized.

2 years ago

Airlines

Southwest Pulls Back on Leisure Destinations to Refocus on Business Travel

Recently retired Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly once predicted 20 percent of the business travel market may never come back after the pandemic. But it's sure looking like that prognostication may prove too pessimistic. The carrier is seeing a faster return of road warriors than it could have expected.

Madhu Unnikrishnan | 2 years ago