As it developed a new, high-speed, terrestrial inflight communications platform SmartSky also worked diligently to develop a broad intellectual property portfolio. The company hit 150 patents issued in January 2020 and even hosts a separate website dedicated to tracking the portfolio. The patents are intended, among other things, to help the company fend off competition […]
Cancelled flights, vouchers and the airline cash flow crunch
Tens of thousands of cancelled flights. Millions of impacted travelers. Billions of dollars in limbo. And airlines are doing everything they can – including ignoring laws – to keep the money.
JetBlue plans 70%+ cut in April operations
JetBlue continues to trim its operations as demand shows no sign of a near-term recovery. The carrier now expects to schedule approximately 300 daily flights in April 2020, down from more than 1000 on the initial schedule. The move allows the for “maintaining a critical level of service across our network” according to an internal […]
US carriers cut frequencies, not destinations as they seek federal funding
Getting that federal bailout cash means keeping all existing destinations in service for the US airlines. That could prove troubling for some as the cutbacks are already in motion.
IATA anticipates recession, slower recovery, as COVID-19 impact drag on
IATA no longer expects a “V-shaped” recovery for airlines as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow. For the past several weeks the aviation trade group presented dire financial forecasts that included a sharp bounce back for the industry. In a media briefing this morning Brian Pearce, IATA’s chief economist, acknowledged that this time it is different, and not in a good way.
Converting to cargo: Putting passenger planes to use in the COVID-19 era
Passenger demand may not exist right now for airlines but global supply chains still demand the cargo capacity those aircraft represent. Passenger aircraft are being pressed into service as freighters, filling their belly space with goods to fly across the globe. And, in some cases, even a bit more.
Is it time for US airports to start closing terminals??
We’ve seen airlines slash capacity. The skies are far less crowded than they were a couple months ago. Is it time now for more airports to consider similar moves?
SkyMiles earn rates for LATAM flights now available
Looking to earn Delta SkyMiles on a LATAM-operated flight? The two carriers announced at the end of February that earning reciprocity would launch on 1 April 2020 but offered no other details. Now the earning chart is finally available.
SpaceJet hits a milestone with certifiable configuration first flight
For the team at Mitsubishi Aircraft building the SpaceJet there’s something special about aircraft number 10. The plane made its first flight last week marking a major milestone for the development program of the SpaceJet M90 regional jet. Flight Test Vehicle 10 (FTV10) is the first aircraft to fly in the final, certifiable baseline configuration. […]
JetBlue plans additional draw down in service
On Wednesday JetBlue indicated plans to remove 40% of its capacity for April and May. As with other airlines, however, the carrier continues to see demand free fall. On Sunday afternoon JetBlue President & COO Joanna Geraghty sent a note to inflight crewmembers indicating that further cuts are at hand.