- You're Never Going to Get $10,000 for Your United Airlines Seat[Apr. 28, 2017]
The world was horrified to watch a bloodied United passenger dragged off a jet in Chicago earlier this month. While the assault by O'Hare security personnel had zero to do with an oversold flight, 1 linkage to that longstanding policy of putting profit over the occasional ticket-holder was swift. It's been under attack ever since.
- Pilot, Company Culture Blamed for 2015 Fatal Alaska Crash[Apr. 25, 2017]
Pilot error, an air company's culture and its lack of a formal safety program were behind a fatal crash that killed nine people two years ago on sightseeing flight in Alaska, the National Transportation Safety Board determined Tuesday.
- IATA: Global Standards, Cooperation and Data Key to Keeping Aviation Safe[Apr. 24, 2017]
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) urged aviation safety stakeholders to reinforce their commitment to a safety framework based on global standards, cooperation and dialogue, and effective use of data.
- The Battle for the Future of Airlines Is Still Being Fought over the Atlantic[Apr. 24, 2017]
In 1913, British newspaper The Daily Mail came up with an idea that it hoped would advance development in the aviation industry. Under the leadership of Lord Northcliffe, the publication had already offered up a number of prizes in the field but its latest offer was set to be its most adventurous yet.
- United and Now American Airlines Incidents Show It's Time To Improve Flying Conditions[Apr. 22, 2017]
What do you expect when you squeeze irritated people tighter and tighter into a capsule of recirculated air? An unhealthy mix (sort of like the snack bags on some flights). U.S.-based airplane conditions have been getting progressively worse, and recently a series of on-board incidents on U.S.-based airlines have gone viral. You probably have seen the video of 69-year old Dr. David Dao being literally dragged off a United Airlines flight. Now another video has hit the Internet of a baby, mother, and stroller incident and altercation on an American Airlines flight poised to travel from San Francisco to Dallas:
- Are New Budget Flights between the U.S. and Europe Really a Bargain?[Apr. 18, 2017]
Chicago to Reykjavik for US$99. Los Angeles to Barcelona for US$149. Denver to London for US$199. It's never been cheaper to fly across the Atlantic.
- Delta and the Game Theory of Overbooking Flights[Apr. 17, 2017]
Given the deep mess that United Airlines created for itself after a passenger was dragged off a full flight last week, Delta said it could increase the incentives for "voluntary denied boarding." Agents will now be allowed to offer up to US$2,000 to entice passengers to give up their seats, significantly more than the previous limit of US$800. If that doesn't work, the agents' supervisors can authorize payments of almost US$10,000.
- Airline Overbooking and No-Shows Are a Long-Standing Industry Tradition[Apr. 15, 2017]
The revelations this week that airlines overbook as a policy and that they can forcibly remove passengers when their calculations go awry has shocked millions from Chicago to China. But it's a problem as old as the airline industry itself.
- The Airline Industry's Tech Problem - Digital Marketing News This Week[Apr. 14, 2017]
What's left to be said at this point about United Airlines' horrific passenger "re-accommodating" situation from last week? Putting aside the company's misguided thinking about everything from customer service to crisis communications, there may be an even bigger issue lurking beneath the surface: Any company, not just United, can get into trouble when it prioritizes procedure over customer-first thinking.
- The Airline Industry: Overpacking Planes Since the 1940s[Apr. 14, 2017]
The revelations this week that airlines overbook as a policy and that they can forcibly remove passengers when their calculations go awry has shocked millions from Chicago to China. But it's a problem as old as the airline industry itself.