airline industry

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>

US Airlines, Ranked
US Airlines, Ranked
Jun 20, 2025 2:20 PM CDT

US Airlines, Ranked

Delta is No. 1 in the eyes of The Points Guy

(Newser) - Delta Air Lines retained its spot atop the annual ranking of US airlines by The Points Guy . The ranking takes into account factors such as reliability, cost, loyalty programs, flight availability, and other metrics, and Delta has come out on top for seven straight years now, reports USA Today . The...

Florida-Based Airline Abruptly Shuts Down, Strands Passengers

Silver Airways had tried a Chapter 11 restructuring

(Newser) - Regional carrier Silver Airways announced Wednesday it is shutting down operations after a failed attempt at restructuring through bankruptcy, leaving some passengers stranded at airports in Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. "Please do not go to the airport," the Hollywood, Florida-based company posted to customers on its...

United, JetBlue to Share Frequent-Flier Benefits

Travelers on one airline can earn and redeem points on the other as well

(Newser) - JetBlue and United are partnering up on a few initiatives, but the one with the most tangible impact on travelers is this: People will be able to share frequent-filer benefits between the two airlines. Any they earn on one airline can be spent on the other, and vice versa,...

Airlines Are Making a Mint on Your Checked Bags

As in, $7B-plus

(Newser) - As Southwest Airlines—one of the last holdouts—finally joins the masses and starts charging passengers for checked bags, CBS News looks at the eye-popping amount of money such charges bring in for airlines. Last year, revenue from checked bags totaled around $7.27 billion for Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air,...

Final Call for Free Bags at Southwest
Last Day for
Free Bags at
Southwest
May 27, 2025 10:50 AM CDT

Last Day for Free Bags at Southwest

Airline is abandoning a cherished perk for flights booked after Tuesday

(Newser) - It's the last day to book a flight on Southwest Airlines without being hit with a fee to check bags after the airline abandoned a decades-long luggage policy that executives once described as key to differentiating the budget carrier from its rivals. The airline announced the change in March...

American Finally Caves, Will Give You Free WiFi

Free WiFi is coming in 2026 to most passengers who sign up for airline's free AAdvantage program

(Newser) - Next year will feel a lot more connected for passengers on American Airlines. Starting in 2026, flights on AA will now include WiFi for people who sign up for its free AAdvantage loyalty program, with the complimentary access provided by AT&T, reports USA Today . Currently, American Airlines passengers had...

Frontier: 'File for Divorce' From Other Airlines With Free Bags

Just after Southwest ditched its free checked bags program, Frontier starts its own

(Newser) - The airline industry—and passengers—are still getting acclimated to Southwest's "stunning reversal" earlier this month on its checked-bag policy, in which it ditched its allowance for two free bags and announced it would make customers pay for the honor. Now, Frontier Airlines, a budget carrier known for...

US Sues Southwest Over 'Chronically Delayed' Flights

Buttigieg says case sends a message to all airlines

(Newser) - The Transportation Department filed a lawsuit against Southwest Airlines on Wednesday, saying passengers were harmed by certain "chronically delayed" flights. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said airlines have "a legal obligation" to give customers realistic schedules to avoid deceiving them, the New York Times reports. "Today's action...

Most Punctual Airline Is 'Absolutely' a Surprise

AeroMexico takes the honors from aviation analytics firm Cirium

(Newser) - The airline anointed the most punctual of 2024 probably isn't one most would have predicted—including the aviation analytics firm that crunched all the numbers. It's AeroMexico, which is "absolutely" a surprise, Cirium CEO Jeremy Bowen tells CNBC . The Mexican airline didn't even crack the top...

Frontier CEO: Don't Pay for Carry-On? You're a 'Shoplifter'
Frontier Doubles Down on
Pursuing Carry-On 'Shoplifters'
in case you missed it
Dec 8, 2024 10:30 AM CST

Frontier Doubles Down on Pursuing Carry-On 'Shoplifters'

Comment comes as senators grill airline executives on so-called junk fees

(Newser) - A recent Senate investigation report found Frontier and Spirit Airlines paid $26 million to gate agents between 2022 and 2023 to catch customers who failed to pay luggage fees, per the AP . Spirit says it ended that practice at the end of September, reports Reuters . But Frontier—found to have...

Spirit Airlines Files for Bankruptcy

Discount flier continues to struggle

(Newser) - Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy on Monday, and it was unclear whether the discount flier would be able to survive the debt restructuring. What to know:
  • No changes: Those who have tickets or were looking to buy tickets are fine. "Guests can continue to book and fly without interruption
...

He Made Spirit Airlines Into a 'Dollar Store in the Sky'
He Gave Spirit Airlines
Its 'Bad-Boy Image'
OBITUARY
Nov 13, 2024 9:55 AM CST

He Gave Spirit Airlines Its 'Bad-Boy Image'

Former CEO Ben Baldanza has died at 62 of Lou Gehrig's disease

(Newser) - Ben Baldanza, the former CEO of Spirit Airlines who helped pioneer the concept of no-frills flying, has died. The New York Times reports that the 62-year-old, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (aka ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease), passed away on Election Day at his home in Arlington, Virginia, according...

What Is a 'Canceled' Flight? Rule Spells It Out for First Time

It's part of new federal protections for air travelers

(Newser) - Most air travelers would seem to know the definition of a "canceled" flight, but as Quartz points out, the term can get a little squishy for airlines when it comes time to issue refunds. To counter that, the Department of Transportation has spelled out for the first time what...

Many Flight Attendants Barely Make a Livable Wage
Many Flight Attendants
'Are Barely Surviving'
longform
Aug 31, 2024 5:00 PM CDT

Many Flight Attendants 'Are Barely Surviving'

Washington Post looks at the pay struggles, especially among new hires

(Newser) - One thing is clear after reading a Washington Post deep dive into the occupation of flight attendant: The harsh realities of the job are a world apart from the often glamorized public perception of it. And no, the piece by Natalie B. Compton isn't talking merely about the joy...

Airline CEO Calls Out Fliers' 'Massive' Abuse of Wheelchairs

Passengers are requesting them just to get priority boarding, says Frontier's Barry Biffle

(Newser) - Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle joked Thursday that his company is "healing so many people" who require wheelchairs at boarding, yet walk off the plane just fine. "There is massive, rampant abuse of special services. There are people using wheelchair assistance who don't need it at all,...

Frontier Airlines Announces 'New Era'

Airline says it will nix change/cancellation fees, offer more transparency in traveling options

(Newser) - "Today marks the beginning of a new era for Frontier," Frontier chief Barry Biffle said in a Friday statement, announcing an overhaul likely to go over well with customers. Key among those shifts, per Quartz : the elimination of most fees for changing or canceling flights. Under the previous...

Report: This Airline Is Giving Workers 8 Months' Extra Pay

Singapore Airlines is handing out a big bonus after record annual profit, insiders say

(Newser) - Singapore Airlines had an excellent year and insiders say employees will be getting a bumper payday as a result. The airline reported a record annual profit of almost $2 billion this week. Sources tell Bloomberg and CNN that the airline plans to give employees a profit-sharing bonus worth nearly 8...

Merger Quashed, JetBlue Announces New Cuts

Struggling airline will leave Kansas City, trim service elsewhere

(Newser) - JetBlue is making more route cuts, its second set so far this year. The airline, struggling financially in the post-pandemic era, was counting on a merger with Spirit Airlines and an ongoing relationship as a partner with American Airlines, but a federal judge struck down the former and the Department...

When Planes Crash, We Don't Place Blame. Here's Why

How the 'blameless postmortem' has made air travel safer in the US

(Newser) - Robin Lee Wascher was working as an air traffic controller at LAX in February 1991 when she made a simple mistake—one anyone could have made—and USAir flight 1493 collided with a commuter plane on the runway when it landed, killing all 12 people on the smaller plane and...

Southwest Takes Big Hit From DOT for 2022 Holiday Fiasco

Agency levies $140M fine; airline says it's 'grateful to have reached a consumer-friendly settlement'

(Newser) - If you were caught up in Southwest's holiday chaos last year and found yourself at any point muttering, "Someone's got to pay for this," your wish has been granted. The Department of Transportation on Monday announced it's hitting the airline with a $140 million fine,...

Stories 1 - 20 |  Next >>
Most Read on Newser