American’s Vice President-Planning Explains Killing Chicago – Beijing, Swapping Routes with BA

american plane
May 04 2018

In American Airlines weekly employee podcast Vasu Raja, Vice President of Planning for the airline, explains Chicago O’Hare as a connecting hub and their decision to cut Beijing flying.

He says they are profitable on “every flight Chicago – West” though presumably here that means domestic. And they’ve tried a number of Chicago international routes – Delhi, Helsinki, Moscow, Frankfurt, Beijing – that they’ve killed.

Continue Reading »

Court Threatens Jail Time and Fines for Publicizing Airline Mistake Fares

plane outside airport window
May 03 2018

Of course we all love it when mistake fares happen and they’re honored and we get to travel the world at insanely cheap prices, especially in business or first class.

For some readers booking a $28 ticket to Paris presents a moral challenge: should you take advantage of something you know is a mistake? My own view is that I’m happy to book it, airlines will choose to honor it or they won’t, but if they’re going to fly people to Paris for $28 I’d like to be one of those people.

Continue Reading »

American Buying Even MORE Planes

outside plane
May 03 2018

Yesterday I wrote that American was expected to order new Bombardier CRJ-900 aircraft. These are large regional jets with first class cabins. They did place an order for 15 of these and 15 options.

It turns out at the same time that American is also ordering 15 Embraer E175 76 seat regional jets. That’s on top of the 10 of these planes they ordered in the fall. So American remains committed to two separate fleets of 76 seat regional jets.

Continue Reading »

How Qatar Airways May Protect American Airlines Profits Across the Atlantic

inside qatar plane
May 02 2018

Qatar Airways is the largest owner of IAG, parent company of British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus, and Vueling. When british Airways was confronted with strikes Qatar lent Airbus narrowbodies with their much better product, to the surprise and delight of BA customers used to a lesser product.

Qatar says they may come to BA’s rescue again as work is done on the Heathrow-based carriers Boeing 787s due to issues with the Rolls Royce engines on the aircraft type.

Continue Reading »