AW Daily

Spirit Airlines Taps Loyalty Program to Back at Least $500 Million in New Debt

Spirit Airlines plans to raise several hundred million dollars in new debt backed by its loyalty programs, in the latest confirmation that loyalty assets are some of the most lucrative on airlines' balance sheets. The $500 million private deal is...

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Why Did Spirit Airlines Just Cut 35 Routes?

Spirit Airlines has cancelled at least 35 routes from January as industry-wide issues take their toll on air carriers' ability to recover — and expand — their schedules next year. The South Florida-based discounter has pulled 35 routes from its...

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Ryanair CEO Sees Independent Rivals ITA Airways, TAP Snapped Up in Mergers

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary was his usual confident self on Ryanair's competitive position in Europe, even as many of the airline's competitors have become fodder of takeover chatter. Europe's largest airline by passengers, Ryanair does plan to actively participate...

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Singapore Airlines Expects Lift From Reopenings in Japan, Taiwan

Singapore Airlines is adding back flights to meet travel demand at a rapid clip this winter. Fukuoka, Hong Kong, Osaka, Sapporo, and Taipei, to name a few, will all see more frequencies as more East Asian markets ease Covid travel...

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What Allegiant Air’s Bad Quarter Suggests About the Future of Budget Carriers

Allegiant Air was once among the most regularly profitable airlines in the world. Then came the pandemic and in the third quarter, when almost every U.S. carrier made money, the discounter joined only Hawaiian Airlines in posting a loss. Las...

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RwandAir’s Grand Plan to Connect Africa Still Waiting on Qatar Airways Investment

RwandAir has big ambitions to connect Africa. But realizing those ambitions has to wait, pending a delayed major investment by Qatar Airways in the airline. First unveiled in 2020, Qatar Airways plans to buy a 49 percent stake in state-owned...

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Emirates Held Back by Staffing Shortages and Not Enough Planes Into 2023

Travel demand couldn't be better for Emirates, with President Tim Clark describing flights as "full up" as far out as March. But the airline, and broader industry, is struggling to meet the demand amid persistent staffing and aircraft supply chain...

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Air Arabia, Wizz Air Among Budget Airlines Gaining Share in Gulf Hub Shift

Air Arabia did not even serve Abu Dhabi, home of Etihad Airways, before the pandemic hit. Today, the budget airline is the second largest at the United Arab Emirates hub, and a symbol of the shift underway at some of...

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IAG Rides Transatlantic Strength to Robust Summertime Profits

International Airlines Group and Air France-KLM pleased investors Friday with strong summertime profits that show no signs of fading this fall, even as macroeconomic and cost headwinds intensify. Both carriers echoed many of the broad trends currently defining the airline...

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Lufthansa CEO Sees Opportunities in Blended Travel Coming to Europe

When Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr first joined the airline in 1994 the old paradigm of travel stood true. The busiest day of the week was Friday when road — or weekend — warriors paid top dollar, or deutsche mark,...

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Norwegian Air Picks Up Business Travelers as SAS Struggles

Few things are better for a company than a struggling competitor. That is proving true for Norwegian Air following the U.S. bankruptcy filing and subsequent pilot strike at its main competitor SAS this summer. "We have seen over the last...

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JetBlue Warns of Possible Air Traffic Control Flight Disruptions This Winter

JetBlue Airways is bouncing back from its operational missteps this spring that forced deep cuts to its summer schedule. But that recovery may hit turbulence this winter as air traffic control issues remain a top concern for the airline. Joanna...

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