lta Air Lines closed out 2019 much the way it started the year. Revenue is up and costs are mostly under control. Perhaps most important, however, is that the company is seeing gains in premium revenue and the SkyMiles loyalty program.
Airplanes and Airports
US continues crackdown on Cuba flights
In December 2019 the US government blocked commercial flights between the US and a number of Cuban cities, increasing economic pressures on the Cuban government. Today the Department of Transportation, acting on behalf of the Department of State, upped the ante.
FAA blocks flights over Iran, Iraq
The Federal Aviation Administration issued emergency directives on Tuesday evening prohibiting US aircraft from operating over Iran, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The three NOTAMs came in response to escalating military activity in the region. Iran launched an attack just hours prior targeting bases that house US troops, among other things.
Delta highlights airport innovations for the future of travel in CES keynote
What does the future of travel look like? With the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show keynote stage at his disposal Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian spent just over an hour on Tuesday morning going through what he sees as the next big things for the industry. And the company does have some very cool ideas in the pipeline, even if others highlighted in the presentation are less than new.
California Pacific plans to fly again
If at first you don’t succeed try to fly again. That’s not exactly how the saying goes, but it just might be close enough for California Pacific Airlines (CPA). The company is in the process of resuming operations, though without a formal timeline.
JetBlue goes green with carbon offsets, sustainable fuel deal
JetBlue passengers flying on domestic routes will not have to choose whether they want to purchase carbon offset credits or not going forward. The carrier announced today that it would take on that burden beginning in July 2020. The carrier will also ramp up the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from the middle of the year, beginning with flights departing San Francisco.
Some airlines cutting Baghdad service due to safety concerns
Following the assassination of Qassem Soleimani near the Baghdad Airport in Iraq on 3 January 2020 the security of the city and the airport remains in question. As a result some commercial airlines made the decision to halt flights. The impact thus far is limited, but could shift as other airlines assess the implications.
When good planes have to die: Scrapping an A380 and Lineage 1000E
Why scrap a perfectly good airplane? Whether an extremely large or reasonably small aircraft, the reasoning often is the same: Money. Images from the past couple weeks showing an A380 and Embraer Legacy 1000 headed to die raised questions and emotions about just how well the process works.
Qatar Airways takes delivery of new 787-9 Dreamliners in the most ridiculous way possible
The aviation industry is under a microscope when it comes to emissions and fuel efficiency. This weekend’s delivery of a bunch of Qatar Airways 787s is most definitely not going to help the situation.
Airbus, Thales bring touch screens to the A350 flight deck
Pinch-and-zoom and panning gesture controls familiar to smartphone and tablet users the world over are now availalbe to the flight deck for the first time in a commercial aircraft. Airbus and Thales delivered the first certified and equipped plane to China Eastern, kicking off a new generation of interactive experiences for pilots.