• Delta will begin allowing more flight passengers in October

    Delta will begin allowing more flight passengers in October

    Delta Air Lines said Thursday it will continue blocking middle seats through at least Jan. 6, covering the key holiday season, but will raise the cap on the number of passengers on its flights in October. Delta had previously said it would block middle seats and limit overall seating capacity at 60 percent on each …
  • American Airlines to drop flights to 30 US cities if requirement expires

    American Airlines to drop flights to 30 US cities if requirement expires

    American Airlines is planning to drop flights to up to 30 smaller US cities if a federal requirement to continue those flights expires at the end of next month, an airline official familiar with the matter said Thursday. American agreed to keep serving those smaller cities as a condition of receiving $5.8 billion in federal …
  • Delta wants at least 3,000 flight attendants to take unpaid leave

    Delta wants at least 3,000 flight attendants to take unpaid leave

    Delta Air Lines will need at least 3,000 of its roughly 20,000 flight attendants to take unpaid leave of four to 12 months, or consider other options, to avoid involuntary furloughs, a person with knowledge of the matter said Friday. Airlines are suffering their worst crisis in history due to the coronavirus pandemic, which decimated …
  • This airline will cover funeral costs if you catch COVID-19 while flying

    This airline will cover funeral costs if you catch COVID-19 while flying

    They’ll ferry and bury you. Emirates airlines is attracting passengers during the pandemic in an unorthodox way — by covering the funeral costs of travelers diagnosed with COVID-19 after flying. The bizarre policy comes just days after the enterprising airline offered to foot travelers’ medical and hotel expenses to help recover coronavirus-caused losses during reopening. …
  • United to extend mask rule to airport lounges, ticket counters

    United to extend mask rule to airport lounges, ticket counters

    Passengers wishing to board a United Airlines flight will have to wear face masks at ticket counters and in its airport lounges, or risk a flight ban, the carrier said Wednesday. United and all other major US carriers require passengers to wear masks during flights. United said that it is broadening mask requirements for passengers …
  • Virgin Atlantic snags private-only $1.5 billion rescue deal

    Virgin Atlantic snags private-only $1.5 billion rescue deal

    Virgin Atlantic has agreed a rescue deal with shareholders and creditors worth 1.2 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) to secure its future beyond the coronavirus crisis, the British airline said on Tuesday. The private-only deal removes the need for government support that had previously been sought by founder Richard Branson and is expected to be completed …
  • Southwest Airlines likely to cut jobs unless bookings ‘triple’

    Southwest Airlines likely to cut jobs unless bookings ‘triple’

    Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly told employees on Monday it needs a dramatic jump in passenger demand or it will be forced to take new steps to reduce staffing. Employees face a Wednesday deadline whether to participate in a voluntary incentive program to leave the airline. “Although furloughs and layoffs remain our very last resort, …
  • American Airlines will begin filling planes to capacity on July 1

    American Airlines will begin filling planes to capacity on July 1

    American Airlines will resume filling planes to capacity starting July 1, the company announced Friday. “As more people continue to travel, customers may notice that flights are booked to capacity starting July 1,” the airline said in a statement. “American will continue to notify customers and allow them to move to more open flights when …
  • Airline unions seek another $32B coronavirus bailout

    Airline unions seek another $32B coronavirus bailout

    Labor unions for aviation workers want Congress to pass another $32 billion bailout to protect hundreds of thousands of jobs as the coronavirus pandemic keeps airlines in a chokehold. Six unions warned lawmakers that “mass layoffs are inevitable” without another round of payroll aid to keep airline workers employed through at least the end of …
  • Major pilots union asks US to purchase empty seats on planes

    Major pilots union asks US to purchase empty seats on planes

    A major US pilots union said on Wednesday it has begun discussing with key lawmakers a plan for the government to purchase seats on each flight to prevent passengers from having to sit next to strangers. The idea, launched by the Allied Pilots Association, representing American Airlines’ 15,000 pilots, is aimed at easing a return …