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Posted Jan 27, 2010
An industry legend has departed one last time, as reported here by Terry Maxon of the Dallas Morning News. I never knew Max but certainly understand his influence. You're encouraged to post your thoughts...
Posted Jan 22, 2010
UAL Corp. chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton spoke at the airline industry's Wings Club in New York Thursday, and focused his prepared comments on familiar topics: taxes are excessive, infrastructure is inadequate, regulation is outdated and industry behavior is dysfunctional. He talked about possible industry consolidation, but was reluctant to answer analysts' and reporters' questions about the JAL saga beyond saying he hopes it continues to be a distraction for his two primary competitors. Tilton also answered a few questions of mine on corporate accounts and information technology.
Posted Jan 4, 2010
In examining a oneworld alliance antitrust immunity application highlighted by a proposed American Airlines/British Airways/Iberia joint venture, the U.S. Department of Transportation on Dec. 22 "established a supplemental comment period--through January 11" for interested parties "to respond to late-filed pleadings." One such late filing, submitted by the U.S. Department of Justice, argued that the proposed agreements "would result in competitive harm on certain transatlantic routes serving 2.5 million passengers annually" and increase fares "up to 15 percent."
Posted Jan 4, 2010
With the industry still lacking innovation and being driven by incentives, as well as travel management companies continuing to put all their eggs in the global distribution system baskets as it seems, technology providers are forecasted to face a downturn.
Posted Nov 19, 2009
ARC said it and American Airlines are working to eliminate duplicate bookings. Work began in February, according to ARC, which said it "is now ready to bring additional carriers onboard in the development process in order to expand the service which is hoped will soon be of industry-wide benefit."
Posted Oct 22, 2009
A little while back, some of the major online travel agencies waived fees for flight bookings. Has it had an effect on airline direct Web site bookings? Yes, say some airline executives. What are the airlines doing about it? They can't say.
Posted Oct 13, 2009
United just announced that they will allow unlimited complimentary upgrades for all Mileage Plus elite members. Not only that, but in an email from United, they make the elite benefits of the Mileage Plus program pretty clear vs. the competition. We haven't seen this aggressive of competitive positioning (by name, no less) from an airline in a long time - remember the Shuttle wars?
Posted Sept 24, 2009
It's those damn seats.
I just flew on American this week to Austin and back. Short flights. Really short flights.
But even so, I was reminded of how positively uncomfortable those seats are on an MD-80. At least for someone who has had hip surgery. And hey, probably for everybody else as well.
Crowded, cramped, and a rather low seat placement with funky back support. That's what it was like.
Ugh.
Posted Sept 21, 2009
The European Commission is due to rule some time in the next few weeks on the British Airways and American Airlines (oh yes don't forget Iberia) Transatlantic Alliance.
I find it curious that so far the regulatory bodies have not taken too hard a look at this. Well maybe they just might.
With US Congress seemingly leaving this as unfinished business - and therefore tacitly approving the arrangement - it may all be up to the Commission to make a stand on the subject.
Posted Sept 17, 2009
One can never have enough cash.
Especially not in these days and times.
Following this train of thought, today AMR, parent of American Airlines, announced that it has put together a deal that will bring $1.3 billion in additional liquidity to the airline. In addition, the company announced that it has negotiated a reduction in the airline's credit card holdback total of nearly $300 million. Combined, this means an additional $1.6 billion in new liquidity by the end of they year.
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