Delta Air Lines took the crown for the eighth year in a row, finishing just ahead of a resurgent United Airlines, which gave Delta its biggest challenge in years. Check out our report to see the full rankings and a rundown of each carrier’s strengths and weaknesses.
United also kept things interesting with its additions, and among them are two new transcontinental routes from the carrier’s hub at Dulles International Airport (IAD). The airline also showed some love to its former hub at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE). United dropped Cleveland as a hub in 2014, but it will now operate its busiest schedule there in nearly a decade.
They weren’t all additions, however. American Airlines added one new route — and the folks in State College, Pennsylvania, will be happy — but it also “suspended” a half dozen others as it (and other carriers) grapples with a sharp spike in fuel costs.
Those soaring fuel costs are also hitting travelers, who have faced rapidly rising fares this year. U.S. flyers have so far remained undeterred by those pricier tickets, but a breaking point could be on the horizon. About a third of those surveyed in new polling from TPG and YouGov say they’ll reconsider travel plans if ticket prices don’t level off.
Until next time …
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