United Airlines abruptly postponed two new high-profile international routes just weeks before their inaugurals. Delta Air Lines is the latest carrier to tweak its boarding groups. And JetBlue raised eyebrows not only by again jacking up its checked bag fees, but also by moving to a dynamic pricing model that charges more during peak periods.
Here’s what’s been making headlines since our last aviation newsletter:
United’s planned service to Faro, Portugal, and Cebu in the Philippines will not begin as scheduled. The airline’s seasonal Boeing 757 service from Newark to Faro was set to start May 24 but has now been scrapped for all of 2024. United’s flights to Cebu were set to launch in July from Tokyo’s Narita International Airport (NRT).
The reason for the delay? The Federal Aviation Administration’s investigation of the airline, which the agency warned might suspend United’s ability to launch new routes. That investigation, which began last month, now appears to have caused such a suspension with the Faro and Cebu flights. United, for its part, says it still plans to fly the routes, with Faro now planned for summer 2025 and Cebu now pushed until late October.
And I’ll close with JetBlue hiking its checked bag fees for the second time this year. It will now cost you up to $50 for the first bag and $70 for the second, with the highest fees coming for those traveling during peak travel periods like spring break, Thanksgiving or, really, any time in summer. Elite members and JetBlue Plus Card holders will still get at least one checked bag for free.
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