View from the Wing Archives.
With Spirit Airlines ceasing operations, other low cost airlines are doubling down on their request for a government bailout.
Spirit Airlines is asking the Trump administration for a taxpayer bailout as the airline fights to avoid liquidation in its second bankruptcy in a year. The request is extraordinary not just because Spirit already took hundreds of millions in pandemic aid, but because there is no obvious legal path for the government to rescue a single failing airline without Congress — and if Spirit gets help, other struggling carriers will be lined up next.
United Airlines bet on $1 billion worth of electric air taxis as a future way to move passengers to and from its hub airports. Now CEO Scott Kirby says those aircraft should not be operating near major airports at all, a striking reversal that raises new doubts about one of the airline industrys most heavily marketed future bets.
Victoria, Texas is offering residents $100 to book a roundtrip flight from the local airport—an effort to prop up lightly used United regional service to Houston that already draws nearly $7 million in federal subsidy. It’s a perfect snapshot of how the Essential Air Service program has evolved from a “temporary” deregulation bridge into a permanent, growing entitlement—often funding near-empty flights even when bigger airports are a short drive away.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
The Department of Transportation just told airlines they can stop serving dozens of small-town airports as the shutdown drags on. A 47-year “temporary” subsidy program may finally unravel—leaving entire communities without air service overnight.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
A roundup of the most important stories of the day. I keep you up to date on the most interesting writings I find on other sites – the latest news and tips.
President Trump wants to reduce the number of TSA screeners at airports. That should have every air traveler worried. There are changes at TSA that could reduce staffing levels, but just getting rid of screeners without changing anything else about airport security would mean long waits at airport.
Most small rural airports aren’t ever going to be served by the major commercial airlines. 90% of the airports in the country aren’t usable by part 121 carriers but most are open to part 135.
Even where they can use the airports, it’s not economical for their pilots and planes with just a few passengers on board. But new, fuel efficient planes are a few years from market… as long as there remains a market.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
