British Airways made it official to crew this evening: the 747 will leave its fleet effective immediately. Subject to consultations with employee unions, the Queen of the Skies will not carry passengers for BA again.
Virgin Atlantic
The Weekly Wrap: Fighting for Middle Ground
This week’s episode is all about the middle seat. Should it be blocked? How would airlines approach that task? And one briefly tried to charge passengers for that luxury, though quickly backed down when politicians got angry.
Delta Air Lines aims to add Flybe as codeshare partner
What’s next in the codeshare world for Delta Air Lines? Based on recent regulatory filings it appears that adding UK-based regional carrier Flybe should happen soon. A recent DOT application seeks blanket approval for at least two years.
India gets a 2020 boost to Europe
The international air travel market faces massive challenges in Asia, but that isn’t stopping some airlines from planning long-haul growth, particularly into India. Three announcements this week will bring additional flights from Europe to the sub-continent, with onward connections across the Atlantic.
Slot jockeying and Wifi Deals: PaxEx Update for 2019-09-20
Jockeying for more access to Heathrow and more fast wifi flying lead this week’s PaxEx news, with a new livery and loyalty program buy-back also making waves.
Virgin Atlantic’s incredible–and almost certainly impossible–plan to grow at Heathrow
Virgin Atlantic wants to grow at London’s Heathrow airport. A lot. This is no secret, of course. The carrier has strongly endorsed a third runway at Britain’s busiest airport for years, hoping to secure a significant boost to its landing slots portfolio should that finally come to pass. This week the company translated that drive into maps, hoping to generate public support for its plans. There’s just one problem: It is almost certainly impossible for Virgin Atlantic to deliver what it is suggesting.
Can Delta’s pilots derail a joint venture success story?
Delta’s recently approved Joint Venture for transatlantic operations hit a small speed bump as the carrier’s pilots filed an objection. While unlikely to be taken too seriously by the Department of Transportation the filing does highlight challenges the carrier will face in future contract negotiations.
Blue Skies ahead as Delta, KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic receive ATI approval
It only makes sense that the Department of Transportation tentatively approved the latest antitrust immunity (ATI) request. After all, the mutual ownership blend across Delta Air Lines, Air France/KLM and Virgin Atlantic lends itself to coordination of operations, marketing and pricing efforts. The DoT did hold back a tiny bit, though it is unlikely that will be sufficiently consolatory for the parties that objected to the deal.
Virgin Atlantic acquisition of Flybe approved
Flybe’s absorbtion into the Virgin Atlantic family receive final approval from the European Commission last week, with conditions applied. At least one competitor will be disappointed at just how limited the conditions are.
Norwegian drops Vegas service. Again.
Norwegian will not fly its 787s from London to Las Vegas this winter. That is one of a dozen routes affected in the latest long-haul LCC shakeup.