United Airlines added a trio of routes to Europe for the upcoming Summer season, banking on borders reopening and vaccinated passengers being able to vacation. Additional capacity to Croatia, Iceland and Greece is planned starting in July.
United Airlines
United bringing AVOD update in interiors retrofit
In a nod to a more generous in-seat entertainment experience, United Airlines plans an AVOD upgrade for at least part of its single-aisle fleet. In a message to employees on Thursday Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist indicated that an interior retrofit is on the way for “our older narrow-body airplanes, putting in new bins, AVOD, and new seats.”
Where the wide-bodies are
As domestic travel demand rebounds in the US and international borders generally remain closed the US airlines are reshuffling their wide-body operations. Many routes that typically operated with a single-aisle aircraft in the before times are scheduled to see twin-aisle service in the coming months.
United targets leisure traffic in Summer hub-skipping pivot
A couple years ago air service to Maine was fading. But last year it was a safe summer vacation destination for many amid the pandemic. This summer Portland sees a reward for that, with seven new routes added from Midwest non-hub airports on United Airlines.
Small airports seek big bucks for new services
When it comes to launching new service at smaller airports revenue guarantees to airlines are a key factor. The US Department of Transportation offers Small Community Air Service Development Program (SCASDP) grants to help airports cover the costs of those guarantees. And with another round of applications released this week we can see which markets are compelling to airports and airlines.
Going long at LAX
More than a dozen longer domestic routes added at LAX in the past year are likely to bring about a different sort of recovery as the pandemic subsides.
More MAX for United Airlines
United Airlines will grow its 737 MAX fleet significantly in the next three years. The company announced a deal to increase the order book with Boeing by 25, with delivery slated for 2023. Additional adjustments to the order book should see a total of 90 new MAX join the carrier’s fleet by the end of 2023.
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.
United makes it official: JFK is back on the route map
Come February 2021 United Airlines will once again be able to say it serves all three major New York City Airports. The carrier will launch transcon service from JFK to its hubs at San Francisco and Los Angeles on the first of the month.
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.