Madhu Unnikrishnan

Hotel rooms and short-term rentals will sell themselves this summer as U.S. travelers rush to take long-delayed vacations. Bookings look strong enough through the fall for industry leaders to think the recovery is real and lasting.

The prospect of a transatlantic travel bubble between the U.S. and the UK has many travel industry leaders hopeful the summer season can be salvaged. But how a travel corridor may work and what proof of vaccinations will be required are details that have yet to be hammered out.

Finally, a U.S. airline sees black ink, but only thanks to Uncle Sam. Without federal payroll support, Southwest Airlines would have matched its peers and reported a quarterly loss.

Airline executives like to talk about "inflection points," but throughout the pandemic they have seen their hopes dashed as the virus resurges. United CEO Scott Kirby is committed this time.

A summer leisure-travel surge could sweep Delta to profits in the next quarter. The company doesn't expect a meaningful recovery in international or business travel until later in the year, however.

The Justice Department is reviewing the controversial new partnership between American Airlines and JetBlue Airways for antitrust concerns. If the deal is off, what does it mean for an airline industry battered by the pandemic?

In the latest chapter of what has become a public relations nightmare for Delta Air Lines, CEO Ed Bastian, clearly bowing to pressure, forcefully condemned Georgia's new election law. He has faced intense blowback in recent days and calls for a boycott for his initial tepid response.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian faced immense blowback and calls to boycott the airline for his muted response to Georgia's new elections law, a break from his usual vocal support for social justice issues. The airline and his PR-orchestrated statements will face growing scrutiny just as the travel recovery is taking hold.

Airline IPOs used to be rare, but Frontier now is the second airline in as many months to say it's going public. This is in the midst of the worst crisis the industry has faced in a century. For investors, that spells opportunity.

Ben Minicucci will assume the top job at Alaska Airlines in two months — not an optimal time for any CEO, let alone a new one. President Biden's pledge for wider distribution of vaccines has Miniccuci and his exec team hopeful Alaska will see even more leisure travel demand pick up starting this spring.