Airline News

The suggestions are surely well-founded, but airlines and airports in this market are unlikely to adopt policies demanding short-term investments - even if they do offer long-term returns.

There has been a lot of skepticism about whether Virgin America could turn itself into a profitable airline. It still faces tremendous competition and big-time challenges, but today's earnings announcement was a hopeful sign for an airline that a lot of people feel very good about.

We're not betting that selling half-seats will happen any time soon, but the idea is something worth sitting back and wishing for the next time you can smell what your seatmate had for dinner.

When it comes to serving food on board, airlines can't seem to win: whatever they serve is criticized for its quality, but if they cut back, they hear about that, too. The life of the airline peanut - after decades, barely hanging on to its role as the prototypical on-board snack - is representative of airline food's career, both triumphs and struggles.

Several airlines have a separate charter venture, but the Emirate's new Executive product is unique in that it goes beyond a charter business to offers its best assets in one personalized service.

We'll let "experts" critique it, we think it looks cool and spacious, and will surely make a dent in the very competitive coast-to-coast routes in U.S.

Customers are sure to complain about these new fees, but if they want the low fares these companies offer, they have to play the game.

If the DOT wants to make an example of Southwest, a company that makes about $2.7 million per day, it's going to have to levy fines quite a bit heftier than this.

Barger is seeking to maintain JetBlue's middle ground between ultra low cost and network carriers, but investors' new love affair with Spirit Airlines and others of its type will keep the pressure on JetBlue management.

Anyone who boards a commercial airline sees that there are privileged and not-so privileged passengers in the eyes of the airline. United Mileage Plus reinforces and widens the great divide by providing more bang per mile for elite flyers on lucrative intercontinental routes.