American Airlines News

American and United's spring cuts are likely only the beginning as the airline industry braces for another challenging summer travel season.

Brand USA's recent sales mission in India and the US Consulate's all-hands-on-deck approach to reduce visa wait times surely highlight the importance of India as a source market. But a waiting period of almost eight months for visas is still an incredible test of patience.

Panama’s Copa Airlines is increasing its surcharge for tickets issued in Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport from $12 to $18 per direction.

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Hilton’s happiness equation, Delta’s South American boast, and Bhutan’s gold bounty.

After winning antitrust immunity for its partnership with LATAM, Delta is growing rapidly in South America and in Latin America. American, the longtime leader in the regions, has the best hub in Miami, but Delta seeks dominance through other hubs including Atlanta and JFK.

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at Angkor Wat relocations, travel agents’ beef with American Air, and Aegean Air’s strong earnings.

Even after the American Society of Travel Advisors weighed in with a plea to delay the removal of 40 percent of airfares from traditional retail channels by eight months, the carrier has confirmed there’ll be no 11th hour reprieve. All the travel industry can do now is brace itself.

At the JP Morgan investor conference this week, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes outlined his cases for an alliance with American and a merger with Spirit. The Department of Justice has filed antitrust lawsuits against both, but the former has been in place for nearly three years and JetBlue is working to complete the latter. Read who had Hayes' back.

Today’s edition of Skift’s daily podcast looks at what Chinese travelers want now, how augmented reality can improve historical sites, and what American Airlines pilots expect from negotiations.

Talks between American Airlines and the Allied Pilots Association hit a bump when pilots expressed irritation that the carrier made an offer known to the public and to Congress, but not to negotiators. But with negotiations ongoing, it appears that the carrier could make an offer shortly.