Airline headlines have been coming fast and furious since our last newsletter, so let’s get to the ones you need to know about.
United Airlines and JetBlue officially unveiled their long-rumored partnership that’s been dubbed Blue Sky. The move is a big boost to JetBlue and United, especially in New York and the Northeast. But it’s also a blow to American Airlines, which once staked its strategy in the region on its own Northeast Alliance pact with JetBlue that ultimately was undone by the feds. As for Blue Sky, some details have yet to be announced, but here’s what customers can expect as the partnership rolls out. One thing travelers should not expect, however, is a merger.
Meanwhile, American finally rolled out its highly anticipated new Boeing 787 Dreamliner that includes the carrier’s Flagship Suites and a heavy dose of premium seats. The new plane interior lets American join the growing list of global carriers that have business-class seats equipped with sliding privacy doors. TPG was on hand in Texas for American’s big reveal to help break down what it all means for readers.
And the changes keep coming at Southwest Airlines, where the carrier’s once-unthinkable fee for checked bags rolled out last week. Southwest also revealed a new international airline partner — the latest in a wave of dramatic changes sweeping over the carrier.
Of course, the aviation news didn’t stop with those stories. Here are a few other developments since our last newsletter that are worth keeping track of:
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