New routes and frequencies are important, but high value travelers want reliable service, too. JetBlue’s changes at Boston announced this week include more flights, but also significant operational changed to help get more of those flights in and out on time.
Airplanes and Airports
Delta puts the A330neo on its schedule
Want to fly Delta’s brand new A330neo? The first (currently) scheduled opportunity will be the July 1 departure from Seattle to Shanghai, China.
British Airways picks 777X as 747 replacement
The Boeing 777X folding wingtip will see plenty of action in one of the world’s busiest airports. International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, announced intentions today to purchase up to 42 777X airplanes, including 18 orders and 24 options.
JetBlue goes hourly(ish) from Boston to New York, Washington
Shuttle flights means hourly service and JetBlue is upping its game. The carrier will soon offer near-hourly flights from its Boston focus city to both Washington, DC and New York City.
Five Star Select brings additional luxury options to American Airlines
Want to be treated extra special when flying? American Airlines’ newly expanded Five Star Select service adds Flagship Lounge Dining, private car transfers to the plane, and even Blade helicopter transfers between the airport and downtown locations. All for a price, of course.
Welcome to the 2019 Haneda Slot Lottery!
Which airlines and passengers will win the next round of Haneda slot allocations? Four carriers applied to add 19 flights for Summer 2020. Alas, only 12 slots are available.
End of the (assembly) line for the A380
It is huge. It is (generally speaking) more comfortable for passengers. It is spectacularly quiet on board. And as of 2021 no more will be built. Airbus confirmed today that it will finally halt production of its A380 super jumbo in two years, once the final 17 frames are delivered. The move comes after reaching an agreement with Emirates to slash the carrier’s order backlog.
United, Bombardier launch the CRJ550
Behold the outcome of a battle between pilot scope clause and a shrinking pool of commercial airline pilots United Airlines and Bombardier announced the launch of the CRJ550 this morning. It is a CRJ700 frame, reconfigured to a maximum of 50 seats.
Bringing Artificial Intelligence to ATC: Huge promises, challenging timelines
Urban air mobility – flying taxis – will revolutionize personal transport. But the projected volume of traffic is simply too much for humans to effectively manage. Artificial Intelligence systems aim to solve that problem.
Lounge access, booze and crew bases: Cuts galore at Norwegian
Cost-cutting at Norwegian kicked in to high gear this month. The carrier is trimming expenses in several areas as it seeks to shore up its books. The cuts affect passengers and crew alike, demonstrating just how critical and broad the efforts are. The carrier hopes that the moves will improve profitability and reduce the cost […]