And just like that, poof, it was gone. JetBlue will not appeal a US District Court ruling that its Northeast Alliance (NEA) with American Airlines represents a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Spirit Airlines
Pricing tweaks ahead for Spirit’s in-flight Wi-Fi
Nearly a year after Spirit Airlines formally launched its on-board Wi-Fi program, new plans dynamic pricing models are slated for trial later this year.
DOJ wins: JetBlue, American NEA declared illegal
JetBlue and American Airlines must unwind their Northeast Alliance (NEA), and quickly. The partnership was ruled a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. This is, of course, bad news for the two airlines. The impact may be broader than that.
JetBlue promises massive Orlando growth if Spirit merger approved
JetBlue plans a pair of new routes between Orlando and the Dominican Republic from November 2023, a down payment on what it sees as more than doubling daily operations in Central Florida should its merger with Spirit Airlines be approved.
JetBlue hit with DOJ, DOT objections to Spirit buyout
Regulatory approval has been a major concern since the day Spirit Airlines became a takeover target a year ago. Now, seven months after JetBlue won the bidding battle, it must convince US regulators – or a judge – that consolidation is good for consumers. And the Department of Justice will not make that an easy task.
Beyond the Megabits: Taking Spirit’s WiFi for a ride
Spirit Airlines claims to offer the fastest internet in the sky. But there’s much more to inflight WiFi performance than just the megabits.
JetBlue teases new routes, international connections with Spirit merger
Beyond the typical beauracracy, JetBlue and Spirit Airlines are using routine merger-related DOT filings to further justify their planned combination. The new routes teased make for a far more interesting read than prior mergers have offered.
A first look at Spirit’s new seats
Looking for a more comfortable seat on your next Spirit Airlines flight? Starting in January passengers on the carrier’s newest planes will see new seats throughout the cabin, adding width, padding and even a head rest for travelers. The seats, manufactured by HAECO, also reduce weight on board, helping the company save on fuel and emissions
Airlines see a renewed digital transformation push from IATA
IATA boss Willie Walsh called out digital transformation as a key focus for airlines as they seek to reduce staffing pressures which are limiting their ability to restore capacity against strong travel demand.
Seeking a connected aircraft timeline
For nearly a decade the promise of reduced maintenance delays and operational savings has been a core factor in pitching airlines on inflight internet service. And for roughly that same period of time airlines have been wondering if those connected aircraft benefits will ever really arrive.