Articles tagged “saf2020”

We've all read about how careful airlines are being with new cleanliness and air filtration measures. But Bill Lentsch pull backs the veil to offer an insider's glimpse of how Delta Air Lines has made those decisions, juggling customer anxieties, medical expertise and the realities of marketing safety.

Steven Udvar-Házy started his career in aviation out of the trunk of his 1956 Oldsmobile while working as lifeguard in Los Angeles. Today, decades later, he has a unique view of his beloved industry. His prediction for airlines: Growth will be moderate for the next 18 to 24 months but airline travel will get back to be double GDP growth. "I don’t think there’s any way to really stop that."

United is optimistic that even the most-struggling sectors like corporate travel will eventually return. But the airline will continue to play it safe with capacity cuts until the positive impact of a vaccine fully resonates throughout the broader economy.

Air France plans to keep in-flight meal service and first-class cabins on international flights despite making cuts to its flight network and seeking other operational efficiencies. Count on it. That's the promise from CEO Anne Rigail.

Efficiency. That was Eddie Wilson's mantra for Ryanair's recovery versus a slew of competitors. This frank talk offers a rare glimpse inside the European airlines market throttled by the pandemic.

Southwest CEO Gary Kelly is a realist who's been through some tough downturns before. But he is frank about the unique challenges of this pandemic. He's trying to adhere to some basic business school principles on erasing debt and building cash, while preserving long-held Southwest traditions on taking care of its people.

The low-cost carrier business model has been pretty resilient historically to swings in the economy. Listen to what Spirit CEO Ted Christie has to say about that now.

The airline industry may be hobbled now, but industry leaders at the Skift Aviation Forum saw some hope. Much, of course, depends on the trajectory of the pandemic and the efficacy of vaccines. But the glory days aren't returning any time soon.

In spite of a rise in holiday flight cancellations, United Airlines remains confident for the long-term return of business and international travel — there is pent-up travel demand and the airline has had success with its early pre-flight testing programs. Still, even with a vaccine on the horizon, the airline remains cautious.

You can debate about in-flight studies on the risk of spreading infection. But American Airlines at least has the hard evidence that its guest-facing workers have a reported lower infection rate than the company as a whole or than the urban areas where they tend to work. That bodes well for a business travel rebound.