Brian Sumers

Travelers hoping for more free first-class upgrades should probably root for a recession. The economy is too strong for airlines to give away their best seats for free.

It's a shame the airline business is so dependent on scale. If it wasn't, we might have more airlines like Air Baltic. Despite being passenger-friendly and innovative, Air Baltic probably can't survive long-term as an independent entity.

Six years ago, Air Baltic took a chance on an airplane that few carriers wanted. Now, that decision has proven to be the right call. But Air Baltic can't remain independent forever, right?

Maybe Delta's new in-flight screens on its Airbus A220s will be better than previous generations. Or maybe they won't be. Either way, Delta deserves credit. Few of its competitors put screens on domestic airplanes anymore. Delta could have easily gone without them.

It's reasonable to ask whether airline re-accommodation agreements still make sense in 2018. In how many industries will one company happily hand you over to the competition after a slight service hiccup? But road warriors love these deals. It means they can get home, or to an important meeting, even when their favorite airline screws up.

Argentina’s tough economic situation has been characterized by devalued currency and rising consumer prices. But at the same time, other factors have led to the introduction of cheaper airfares and more players in the airline market. That's good for travelers.

United President Scott Kirby likes to say that if an airline is not first in market share in a market, it's as good as being last. JetBlue executives likely don't agree. They generally argue that JetBlue, America's sixth-largest carrier, is big enough to compete with more established competitors.

Is there a brand out there with more cachet in the luxury world than Hermès? There's a reason for it. The company manages expansion and inventory in a prudent way.

Not long ago, all discount airlines needed to compete was cheap fares. But times change, and with legacy airlines poaching some of their customers, more ultra-low-cost carriers are taking loyalty seriously.

American has spent a fortune in the past five years trying to improve passenger experience and employee relations. The airline has made many strides, but it still has work to do on both accounts.