It’s not a very flattering term, and it wasn’t intended to be. The four economies of southern Europe—Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain, came to be known collectively by the unfortunate acronym formed by the first letters of their names: the...
Read MoreA domestic-heavy airline, bombarded with a sudden explosion of low-cost shorthaul competition, seeks refuge abroad. If that sounds like a description of how U.S. airlines began to improve their fortunes a decade ago—well, it is. But now, halfway around the...
Read MoreDoug Parker, now CEO of American, and as such head of the world’s largest airline, doesn’t for a moment believe that the cyclical nature of the airline business is a thing of the past. But, he argues, the days of...
Read MoreIf IATA is right, the airlines of the world will once again generate more money than they spend in 2014, which would mark the industry’s fifth straight year of profitability. One reason why: The Squeeze Play. The last five years...
Read MoreWhen it comes to making money, Qantas, as a rule, doesn’t dazzle. But nor does it disappoint. Unlike any of the North American legacy carriers, or those in Europe or Japan or anywhere else in the rich world, Qantas managed...
Read MoreKeep the doors closed, Air Canada’s chief Calin Rovinescu implied during a recent speech in Vancouver. “Let me be clear,” he said. “The Gulf carriers are seeking to scoop or divert connection traffic—transit passengers that are already traveling to or...
Read MoreIt is still, by total company revenues, the largest airline group in the world—even if now (following the American-US Airways merger) by “only” a billion dollars or so annually. And because a majority of the Lufthansa Group’s business comes from...
Read MoreAnd you thought you’ve got problems? Just be thankful you’re not Chokchai Panyayong. The new acting president of Thai Airways, whose predecessor resigned Dec. 20, starts his job with a list of challenges that even the chiefs of Air India...
Read MoreOverall, 2013 was the global airline industry’s best year since 2010. There was modest economic growth. Passenger traffic grew strongly. Fuel prices were relatively stable. And cost discipline prevailed. But that’s oversimplifying. In reality, much of the overall success came...
Read MoreIn the state capitol building of Texas, on the floor directly under the rotunda (which stands taller than the U.S. capitol), are the seals of six nations whose flags have flown over Texas at various times. The U.S. seal is...
Read MoreCurrency, cargo, and capacity woes are hammering Asia’s airlines. And slowing economies and incursions by both Gulf carriers and LCCs alike don’t help. But China, on the other hand, is different. Or is it? The mainland Chinese market is indeed...
Read MoreEuropean airlines watched with horror last week as Gulf carriers ordered another 400 widebody aircraft, auguring huge competitive capacity increases. Worse yet, all this demand for new planes is pushing up aircraft ownership costs for airlines everywhere—even Ryanair, which normally...
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