Brian Sumers

The premium economy cabin many global airlines are installing isn't much like regular economy. So why do many airlines include "economy" in its name?

This startup has the JetBlue Tech Ventures seal of approval, which means something in the travel space. But we're not sure why consumers would rather receive a gift card for airplane hours, than a gift card worth cash.

Airlines are trying to monetize their best products. Imagine that. More and more, airlines look like a sustainable business. We'll see if it lasts.

It seems like operators were caught off guard about some advanced functionality on the Boeing 737 Max. This is both odd and unusual.

Remember when airlines used to give away their best seats for free? Ha! The economy is strong, and airlines are offering fewer upgrades. Passengers who want to sit up front need to pay for it. But don't worry. Another recession will come, and the good days (for upgraders, at least) should return.

Will data science change how airlines stock food and drink carts? It could happen, and EasyJet is leading the way.

Will Gogo make it as a stand-alone company? It still does not look promising. It's odd because customers want in-flight Wi-Fi. But so far Gogo hasn't figured out how to do it and make a profit.

Passengers sitting in the back of the airplane hate it when an airline runs out of food for sale. But airlines also hate waste, and they usually must throw out uneaten fresh food the same day. How do airlines decide how much food and drink to board? It's a delicate dance.

Air Canada has built a successful business flying customers between North America and Europe during the summer. But much of that business dries up the rest of the year. Now, Air Canada wants to find a way to produce more revenue in winter. Can it succeed?

It's 2018, and yet most U.S. airlines still handle almost all inquiries from customers via telephone. That has to change.