Airlines have tried selling carbon offsets and alternative fuel options to passengers for a few years now, generally with minimal success. The Lufthansa Group of airlines now hopes to boost sales by making “Green” flights an option earlier in the booking flow, akin to picking between Economy Light or a flexible fare.
distribution
Porter Air bringing premium economy(ish) to E195-E2 fleet
Porter Air will add an almost premium economy offering, dubbed PorterReserve, as part of its E195-E2 product launch. The offering will be one of three seating options on board the carrier’s first jets, and include other benefits in the terminal and on board as well.
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.
Southwest boosts corporate fare, ancillary fee merchandising with ATPCO
Southwest Airlines continues to push its corporate sales channel forward. The company announced a multi-year agreement today with ATPCO to implement Express Contracts, a corporate contract automation tool.
Alaska Airlines finds a new Architect for fare planning
Alaska Airlines is changing the way it prices tickets. The carrier’s transition to ATPCO’s Architect pricing tool allows it to take a more holistic view of pricing strategy rather than focusing on individual fares.
Fareportal sues JetBlue as access is cut
JetBlue faces accusations of excluding online travel agencies to “illegally acquire, enhance, and maintain its monopoly over passenger air travel” in markets where it holds a dominant share. Fareportal, parent of CheapOair, filed the suit this week after the carrier cut off access for Fareportal to sell the carrier’s fares.
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.
AirAsia pivots away from its airline roots
“We have successfully pivoted from an airline to an all-in-one digital lifestyle company anchored on travel.” This was the key message delivered by AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes as part of the company’s Q2 financial results that showed a 96% drop in quarterly revenue. Airline-related revenue dropped 98% while non-airline revenue, a much smaller portion of the company’s operations, dipped only 55%.
ATPCO moves to ease ticketing changes for airlines worldwide
Automating millions of airline ticket changes is no easy task. Retroactively adjusting the fare rules was nearly impossible. But ATPCO stepped up to deliver a new Emergency Flexibility option to airlines and distribution channels, massively easing the change burden for the industry.
Slivers of normalcy: Air New Zealand lounges reopening
Demand for air travel is up significantly in New Zealand, though still massively below 2019 levels. And now some passengers will have a slightly more comfortable travel experience as the carrier’s airport lounge network begins to reopen.