United Airlines is dreaming big for the next decade. The carrier announced an order today for 100 Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, plus 100 more options, to fuel its widebody fleet replacement and growth strategy. By the end of the decade, assuming the options are exercised, more than 80% of United’s long-haul flying could be on 787s.
Airplanes and Airports
Emirates reboots the city ticket office concept, plans new network of shops
For decades airlines operated physical stores. The internet effectively destroyed City Ticket Offices. Now Emirates is bringing them back.
Air India, Vistara to merge
Why compete with yourself? For India’s Tata Group, owning both Air India and Vistara – the country’s two full service carriers – presented precisely that challenge. Now Air India and Vistara will merge, bringing a coherent competitive stance to the market, along with an additional cash infusion to boost operations.
Is a pilots union brewing at Boutique Air?
With big raises and other quality of life wins coming to regional airline pilot groups in recent months, pilots at Boutique Air want to get in on the action. Or something like that. A letter was recently circulated at the company, claiming to come from a group of pilots with demands for improved work conditions and pay.
Frontier closes a major gap in the GoWild! pass
Just one day after launching the product, however, the airline substantially improved the offering, while also extending the initial pricing discount.
GoWild! with unlimited* flight pass from Frontier
Frontier Airlines is getting into the subscription flight pass business. The carrier formally launched its GoWild! Pass, touting access to the carrier’s entire US route network for a full year. The pass is priced at $599 to start for a limited number of buyers. After that – and for renewals – it prices at $1999 per year.
JetBlue pick Paris for Transatlantic growth
Next up across the Atlantic for JetBlue: Paris. The carrier announced the French capital as its second transatlantic market, with service planned to launch in Summer 2023. Flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport will initially operate from JetBlue’s main hub at New York’s JFK airport, with flights from Boston following.
JetBlue snags second Heathrow slot
JetBlue appears to have secured a second permanent daily slot at London’s Heathrow Airport beginning in Summer 2023. This allows the carrier to operate double daily flights into one of the most difficult markets to secure access.
Could Allegiant deliver an interline win?
Allegiant typically operates any given route only on limited days of the week. For travelers looking to book a longer or shorter trip, the company loses out on that potential ticket sale. And, more importantly to the business model, it loses out on the associated hotel, rental car, and other ancillary bookings.
Alaska Airlines adds loyalty to flight pass subscription pitch
Alaska Airlines is adding a touch of loyalty to its flight subscription program. In addition to adding Salt Lake City as an eligible market, the carrier will now give some subscribers MVP or MVP Plus status for enrolling in the program.