Forget the fight over who gets the arm rests; middle seats on planes are now generating real fights over if they should be occupied at all. And airlines are fueling the flames with misleading marketing messaging.
JetBlue
JetBlue suspends six cities through June
With approval to reduce service to as many as 16 airports in its network JetBlue is taking a measured approach. The carrier will suspend service to six of these airports beginning next week through the end of June.
JetBlue, Spirit score exemptions to drop service at major US airports
JetBlue and Spirit Airlines received permission to remove as many as 16 destinations from their route US networks and still maintain compliance with the CARES Act. This lets the airlines reduce their service while still remaining eligible for the Payroll Support Program grants that help fund employee costs through 30 September 2020. Both airlines are permitted to halt service to their approved destinations immediately.
JetBlue aims to drop 16 "major hub" destinations from its network
JetBlue wants to scale back its operations drastically. Faced with reduced demand the carrier is now looking to take advantage of Department of Transportation guidelines that could see the company remove 16 large airports from its network.
Sun Country wins big as United, Frontier lose in latest CARES Act ruling
Sun Country will be permitted to collect its government funding while largely suspending service through 21 June 2020. United Airlines and Frontier Airlines will not be so lucky. The latest guidance from the US Department of Transportation released this morning shows that the Agency is using different standards for the different sized airlines in forming its policy.
Spirit Airlines running triangle routes to meet CARES Act requirements
If the planes are going to be mostly empty it is better to fly fewer of them. For Spirit Airlines this means sending some of its smaller jets on triangle routes, connecting two cities before retuning to a hub. The new service pattern appears planned through June based on schedule details reviewed online.
JetBlue plans new route network for CARES Act compliance
Faced with the requirement to serve a number of airports that otherwise lack demand JetBlue will adjust its route network in May and June, offering a number of “tag” flights rather than nonstop service to a focus city.
DOT grants exemptions to Delta, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines under CARES Act obligations
Flights to Hawaii will remain limited for the foreseeable future. The DOT will allow reductions between the mainland and the islands as it pays out billions to help keep airlines flying.
Stuck in the past, DOT botches its CARES Act implementation
Empty planes will be flying by the hundreds, spewing excess emissions and placing more airline employees at risk. But at least the DOT did not have to adjust its view of the industry to account for the new reality.
Deeper cuts, reprotect options coming for JetBlue
JetBlue will further consolidate operations in April, The move will see service suspended at eight stations and even larger cuts to capacity than previously planned. There is some good news, however, with domestic re-protect options coming online.