Less than a week after releasing preliminary terms for airlines receiving aid from the U.S. government, the Department of Transportation (DOT) filed another memo for airlines on April 3, this one mandating airlines continue to provide refunds per previous guidance, even in the wake of the economic and travel industry fallout precipitated by COVID-19. "U.S. and foreign airlines remain obligated to provide a prompt refund to passengers for flights to, within, or from the United States when the carrier cancels…
Three hours and 32 minutes after pushing back from the gate at Tulsa International Airport, Compass flight 6047 pulled into a gate for the final time. Arriving at Los Angeles International Airport nine minutes ahead of schedule, the American Eagle-colored Embraer 175 and the crew and passengers inside were the…
When President Donald Trump signed the over $2 trillion stimulus package known as the CARES Act into law on March 27, he, in conjunction with a bipartisan group of legislators, touted the success of setting aside hundreds of billions for small businesses, large businesses in troubled industries and consumers, alike.…
In the early morning hours on March 25, the White House and Senate struck a deal on an aid package for U.S. businesses and consumers totaling $2 trillion. Even though it had not yet reached, the sweeping bill will make available hundreds of billions of dollars for businesses in need…
In the midst of economic turmoil precipitated by the worldwide fallout from the novel coronavirus, U.S. companies and industry advocates have lined up to request government aid in order to keep themselves afloat. Another company added its name to list on March 17 as Chicago-based Boeing threw its support behind…
I sat at my desk this morning trying to figure out what exactly I wanted to write about. Obviously, there is no shortage of material in the airline industry this week, and it's as crazy of a time to be covering it as ever. In just the past few weeks,…
The core principle of the economy seat has remained the same for decades. While, yes, seats have begun to get tighter — both in terms of legroom and width — the seats themselves still hold the same general form and serve the same purpose. Innovation has come, though it has…
Earlier this month, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said it would promote and allow measures that allow airlines to continue to stay afloat as the country's aviation industry is plagued by the lack of travel resulting from the novel coronavirus that has filled up headlines. The Chinese aviation regulator…
A report released Feb. 11 by the inspector general at the Department of Transportation says Dallas-based Southwest Airlines put millions of passengers at risk by flying aircraft that did not adhere to basic U.S. safety standards. The 27-page report published Tuesday details how the airline operated "more than 150,000 flights…
On Feb. 5, WestJet flight 2702 from Toronto Pearson International Airport to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica, was forced to turn back after a 28-year-old passenger announced to the whole aircraft that he had just returned from the Hunan province of China and wasn't feeling well. While he…
