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.
Delta Air Lines
Delta invests in Joby, plans airport feeder operations
Delta Air Lines passengers might soon* be riding to the airport above traffic on a Joby eVTOL flight. The two companies announced an agreement in which Delta takes an equity stake in Joby, and gains access to the planned commuter operations.
Virgin Atlantic to join SkyTeam
Virgin Atlantic will join the SKyTeam alliance in early 2023, boosting the group’s presence in the UK. Virgin Atlantic will become SkyTeam’s first and only UK member airline, offering long-haul flights from Heathrow, Manchester and Edinburgh.
Dining upgrades on the horizon for Delta’s Premium Select and Main Cabin passengers
More meal options are slowly coming back on Delta Air Lines. Progress is slow, as the carrier works to ensure supply chain stability and downline kitchen availability. But Premium Select and Main Cabin passengers should start to see some improvements as soon as next week.
Alaska Airlines going digital to slash bag check-in time
Alaska Airlines has grand visions for growth, targeting a 40% increase in passenger count over the next five years. Digital solutions are a large part of the plan to meet that growth, touching every facet of the business, including the tags on checked bags.
Intelsat goes multi-orbit with OneWeb LEO option for airlines
Commercial airlines will soon have another option for in-flight connectivity (IFC) delivered via low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Intelsat secured a global distribution partnership with OneWeb, allowing for the development of a multi-orbit offering. The partnership builds on Intelsat’s extensive IFC experience and existing geo-stationary (GEO) satellite service, augmented with the OneWeb LEO constellation.
US airlines delivering less efficient operations
A review of employment numbers and schedules suggests the airlines are up to 20% less efficient than in 2019 on a per-employee basis.
Delta confirms 737 MAX 10 order
Delta Air Lines confirmed an order for 100 new Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets this morning, the first big order announced at the 2022 Farnborough International Airshow. Assuming the plane is really built.
Delta, United both win access to serve Cape Town this winter
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines spent the past five months bickering over a scarce resource: access to fly from the US to Cape Town South Africa. The US DOT managed to negotiate a solution where both come away winners.
airBaltic bullish on spoke growth
When it comes to creating a new base for an airline choosing a spoke on the network is an uncommon choice. And doubly so when most of the destinations served are hubs of other airlines. But airBaltic likes to do things a bit differently. And CEO Martin Gauss believes the carrier can repeat that model thanks to airline partners and cities keen to grow a far-reaching version of air connectivity.