We’re just a couple weeks into the formal transition process of the Gogo Commercial Aviation division into the Intelsat operation, but the teams involved have never been more optimistic about the future of in-flight connectivity and the value they can deliver to airlines and passengers.
Delta Air Lines
Delta, WestJet scrap JV plans
LaGuardia is more important than the rest of the US-Canadian market for Delta Air Lines and WestJet. This is the message sent by the two carriers late Friday as they withdrew their application for antitrust immunity on their joint venture.
Aer Lingus approved to join Oneworld TATL joint venture
Aer Lingus received tentative approval from the US Department of Transportation on Monday to join the Transatlantic OneWorld Immunized Alliance joint venture. The ruling, pending final approval and a similar order from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), will allow Aer Lingus to fully participate in the coordination of fares and scheduling with American Airlines, British Airways, Iberia, Finnair and OpenSkies.
Anchorage, Fairbanks open up to international transit traffic
Your next flight between the US and Asia might just stop over in Alaska. And a foreign airline could operate the entire route. The state won approval on Tuesday for its two major international airports, Anchorage and Fairbanks, to handle transit passenger traffic foreign carriers, similarly to how cargo has moved through the state for 25 years.
Shifting the spread on loyalty earn and burn
We know that overall passenger numbers are, for very good reason, down massively. But airlines have relied on their loyalty programs to provide a significant, and perhaps more importantly steady, stream of revenue for the operations. So, as the airlines use those programs to collateralize billions of dollars in new financing, it is worth considering if that revenue flow is as reliable as airlines (and debt holders) hope it can be.
Delta, WestJet receive DOT approval for joint venture
Delta and WestJet scored a big win late on Friday as the US DOT issued a tentative approval for their proposed transborder joint venture. But the approval comes with a catch, requiring a shift of capacity at New York’s LaGuardia airport.
Inmarsat launches GX+ North America expansion with Hughes
The Inmarsat network just got a lot larger. The satellite connectivity provider is teaming with Hughes to bring the JUPITER High Throughput Satellite Ka-band constellation into the GX Aviation network, a major boost to capacity as the company seeks to capture more of the North American market.
Delta Air Lines makes most domestic SkyMiles awards fully flexible
As the US carriers continue to tweak their new “no change fees” policies Delta Air Lines made a major move for its SkyMiles members. Effective immediately most domestic SkyMiles awards will be fee-free for changes or cancellation. SkyMiles rewards are now a spectacularly flexible method for booking travel on Delta Air Lines.
LATAM loses key ruling in bankruptcy court
As LATAM went hunting for cash to see it through bankruptcy it leaned on old friends. But when it comes time to convert the debt to equity, restoring ownership for Delta, Qatar and the Cueto family, the deal proved a bit too sweet for the US Bankruptcy Court to accept.
United announces new long-haul routes for 2021
Airline route networks must adapt to shifting demand and long-haul operations are no exception. United Airlines is the latest player to make a move on that front, announcing seven routes today with service slated to launch between December and Summer 2021. The carrier will be reopening some destinations, expanding others and inaugurating a couple of markets never before served.