Airline News

Feds Grant Approval for 15 Airlines to Halt Service to 75 Airports Because of Low Demand

David Shepardson , Reuters

Even though demand has picked up a bit for U.S. airlines, they are still burning through an estimated $10 billion in cash a month. This reprieve from the federal government on serving airports where there is low passenger counts should help on that front.

China Is Blocking U.S. Airlines From Resuming Service, Transportation Department Charges

David Shepardson, Reuters

The operations of U.S. airlines in China may be falling victim to the wider U.S.-China conflict.

Pakistan Airlines’ Black Box Found After Crash With Nearly 100 Fatalities

Syed Raza Hassan, Reuters

Southwest Airlines Expands Booking Access and Content in the GDS to Reach More Business Travelers

Southwest Airlines + Skift

Southwest Airlines is upping its corporate travel game by significantly expanding its presence in the global distribution system (GDS) network. This is set to enhance the relationship between the airline and its corporate buyers and agencies.

EasyJet Founder Loses Bid to Oust Airline Management Over Airbus Plane Orders

Sarah Young, Reuters

EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou couldn't muster enough shareholders to vote for the board changes he championed. Potential good news for both CEO Johan Lundgren and Airbus on the horizon, but the battle may not be over yet.

Southwest CEO Says Airline to Limit Seats Through July

Tracy Rucinski, Reuters

On the positive side, Southwest said so far this month bookings outpaced trip cancellations.

EasyJet to Resume European Flights on June 15 Deciding to Not Block Off Middle Seats

Joanna Partridge, The Guardian

The airline says it will be counting on sufficient customer demand to support profitable flying, but there are two obstacles ahead: its controversial decision to sell middle row seats may not go down well with the public, and the UK's 14-day quarantine rule.

The Travel Industry Refunds Conundrum: Survival Versus Doing the Right Thing

Dennis Schaal, Skift

If you ordered a book and it never arrived, you'd expect a refund. Simple. But if you booked a hotel and couldn't get there because of lockdowns, you'd probably have to fight with the hotel or online travel agency for your refund — unless the government required cash back.

U.S. Airlines Report Modest Uptick in Summer Bookings But Will Passengers Actually Show Up?

Brian Sumers, Skift

How do you define recovery? If you call it improvement from the nadir, U.S. airlines are in recovery mode. But if recovery means nearing 2019 levels of travel demand, U.S. airlines are a long way away.

EasyJet Says Info From 9 Million Customers Exposed in Cyber Attack

Jasper Jolly, The Guardian

As if things weren't bad enough in the airline industry, EasyJet reveals another cyber attack.

Debate Rages Over Empty Middle Seat as Airlines Take to the Skies Again

Stella Qiu, Jamie Freed and Anne Kauranen, Reuters

Leaving the middle seats empty? Widespread mask use? What's needed to get people taking to air travel again are consistent social distancing guidelines so that there will be no confusion across airlines or countries.

Boeing and Airbus Seek to Calm Fears About Unsafe Air in Plane Cabins

Tim Hepher, Reuters

There are two issues here. One is whether it is safe for passengers to fly. That can be answered by science. The second question is more complicated: Do passengers think that it is safe to fly? Airlines and aircraft manufacturers will need to spend money on marketing to assuage passenger concerns.