Archives: April 2009

United ESOP as proxy for Chrysler, GM?

Posted by: Dean Foust on April 30

I penned a story for the front page of the web site, BusinessWeek.com, earlier this week taking a look back at United Airlines' ESOP, a transaction in which some of...

Airline Bonus Miles Return

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 28

The airline response to no-fee-tickets at Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz is rolling out: Bonus miles. On April 28, Delta (DAL) reinstated its 500-mile roundtrip booking bonus for tickets purchased at...

Swines and airlines (the swine flu impact)

Posted by: Dean Foust on April 27

The swine flu epidemic that, as of early afternoon on April 27 had claimed the life of nearly 150 Mexican citizens is clearly roiling the airline industry. The good news...

Delta and Australia, Update

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 22

It seems I was not alone in wondering why Delta Air Lines (DAL) is going to start new service to Australia July 1 amid economically perilous times. Bob McAdoo, an...

Why is Delta Going Down Under?

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 16

On April 14, Qantas Airways sent a shiver through the international airline community with a startling profit warning: Income for the second half of this year could plunge more than...

Southwest’s Red Ink and Baggage Fees

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 16

Would Southwest Airlines have turned a profit the past quarter if it had charged checked-baggage fees? That was the interesting question posed during the company’s conference call to discuss its...

Southwest Loses Big, Shedding Workers

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 16

Southwest Airlines (LUV) posted an unusually large loss on April 16 and, in a sign that every corner of the airline industry has been marred by the weak economy, announced...

Airfares: Why Now May Be Time to Buy

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 13

U.S. airlines begin releasing their first-quarter earnings reports this week and the news is expected to be dreadful. Traffic plunged compared to the same period of 2008 and the...

Boeing Cuts 777 Output Amid Downturn

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 09

It seems that Seattle may have just heard the economic alarm Boeing’s largest customer warned about last month. As many expected, the global economy's sharp contraction is beginning to buffet...

Southwest's New York Debut

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 07

Southwest (LUV) filed its fares from New York’s LaGuardia airport today, with the new service expected to begin June 28. The airline will fly five nonstops per day to Chicago...

Airline Quality and a Little Bad Weather

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 06

The annual quality rankings for airlines from two college professors are out today, with the headlines trumpeting marked industry improvement in 2008 over the prior year. The rankings consider denied...

Ailing Air Canada Revising a La Carte Strategy?

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 02

For those who despise the plethora of fees airlines now charge, an intriguing story showed up today in the (Toronto) Globe and Mail. The newspaper reported that Air Canada’s new...

ASA Engine Inspections Raise Questions

Posted by: Justin Bachman on April 01

Atlantic Southeast Airlines, a regional carrier for Delta, was forced to cancel flights today after grounding 60 of its 50-seat regional jets late on March 31. The airline is inspecting...