The recent announcement made by American Airlines during the ASTA’s Travel Advisor Conference to reverse its distribution strategy was generally well-received by the travel agency community. This decision marked a significant victory for ASTA after a yearlong battle against American Airlines, as it agreed to abandon its plans of not awarding loyalty points for bookings
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When it comes to corporate travel, meetings, and incentives, there are specific considerations to keep in mind regarding the DOT’s new refund rule. One of the main questions that arise is who is responsible for refunds for canceled or delayed flights when payments are made via check, wire transfer, or cash deposit. According to the
United Airlines has taken a bold step in the world of advertising by launching Kinective Media, an innovative platform that leverages the vast amount of customer data the airline possesses. This new advertising initiative allows companies to customize and target their advertisements to United Airlines customers through a variety of platforms such as the airline’s
As airline executives convened at IATA’s Annual General Meeting in Istanbul last year, the prevalent concern revolved around the impediments in the supply chain that were causing delays in aircraft deliveries. Fast forward to this year’s meeting, and industry leaders are expressing a sense of déjà vu, with little improvement in the situation. IATA director
Commercial aviation has long emphasized the importance of measuring performance to manage it effectively. This is evident in the public reporting of key metrics such as on-time departure and arrival times, as well as lost and delayed baggage rates. However, there is a significant gap when it comes to addressing issues that are not mandated
In a recent estimate provided by IATA, airlines worldwide are expected to achieve a record revenue of $996 billion in 2024. This projection, while seemingly promising, comes with its own set of challenges. With expenses also on the rise, reaching $936 billion, the airline industry is left with a net profit margin of 3.1%. While
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has expressed skepticism regarding the recent changes in the merchandising model of Frontier Airlines. Kirby believes that the new approach is doomed to fail, and he warns that Spirit Airlines could face the same fate if it follows a similar path. Kirby criticized Frontier for moving away from its traditional
Sustainable aviation fuel production is projected to triple this year, but this still only represents a small fraction – 0.5% – of the aviation industry’s fuel needs. In order to achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, production would need to increase by a thousand-fold. IATA’s chief economist, Marie Owens Thomsen, emphasized the magnitude
Advocacy groups for the disabled community are celebrating the recent passing of the FAA funding reauthorization bill, which promises to make flying a safer and more comfortable experience for travelers with disabilities. Angel Hardy Heinz, public policy manager for the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, expressed her excitement over the bill, highlighting the collaborative efforts
When it comes to financial decisions, many people find themselves struggling to determine whether airline credit card rewards are truly worth the investment. As someone who holds not just one, but two airline credit cards, I have had my fair share of experience in navigating the world of rewards programs. While I personally find value
American Airlines may have recently changed its plans regarding limiting the earning of miles or points for AAdvantage loyalty program members based on booking channels, but the airline is still moving forward with its intention to reward agencies designated as “preferred.” According to emails sent by American Airlines to corporate clients and travel agencies, the
The Department of Transportation’s new rule regarding ticket refunds for agencies is set to go into effect on October 26. This delay was put in place to allow airlines and agencies time to develop effective communication methods to ensure accurate and efficient processing of passenger refunds. However, there is skepticism surrounding whether these processes will
American Airlines’ recent announcements regarding the departure of its chief commercial officer and its regrets about its distribution strategy execution have triggered a mix of responses from industry leaders. Mark Stansbury, Lockheed Martin senior manager of global travel, criticized AA’s strategy as flawed from the beginning, indicating that despite warnings from industry leaders, the airline
American Airlines recently announced a significant change in its distribution strategy after facing backlash from travel agents and industry advocates. The airline admitted to making mistakes in implementing its New Distribution Capability (NDC) policies, which included removing fares from legacy systems to incentivize the use of new NDC systems for bookings. This move put pressure
American Airlines CEO, Robert Isom, announced a major shift in the airline’s distribution strategy during the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference. Isom expressed the need to focus on enhancing and promoting NDC modern retailing rather than removing content from GDSs. This change in direction comes as a response to the airline’s realization that a more customer-centric
The Dutch government has once again put forward a plan to decrease capacity at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport by introducing restrictions on night flights and certain aircraft by the year 2025. This initiative aims to alleviate noise pollution at one of the largest airports in the Netherlands. In a letter to parliament on May 24, Dutch
American Airlines chief commercial officer, Vasu Raja, will be departing from the airline in June. The leading architect of American’s strategy to de-emphasize travel agency bookings, Raja’s departure comes after he has been on leave from in-office assignments for the past few weeks. While American didn’t provide specific reasons for Raja’s departure, speculation about his
Over 2.9 million travelers were screened at U.S. airports on Friday, setting a new record. The Transportation Security Administration reported that this exceeded the previous record set on the Sunday after Thanksgiving last year. The agency tweeted about the achievement and advised travelers to arrive early. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, known as the world’s busiest
