American Airlines News

Brazil's Gol is feeling the benefit of its expanded strategic alliance with American Airlines just weeks after the pact was finalized.

In Skift's top stories this week, major U.S. airlines didn't hesitate to lift mask requirements, travel numbers in Japan begin steadily rising, and a hotel in South Carolina offers insight on how to create a disability inclusive workforce.

American Airlines considers pre-departure testing rules for U.S.-bound travelers the biggest hindrance to its international recovery. And while executives won't say if they will go away in May, they are bullish about a surge in both leisure and business travel.

While the travel industry was on its knees, travel loyalty programs continued to grow. But the pandemic has changed the travel industry, and loyalty programs need to follow suit.

A Florida federal judge and Trump appointee has liberated the U.S. airlines from the tyranny of having to enforce mask mandates. The five largest U.S. airlines didn't wait long, dropping their mask requirements within hours of the judge's ruling.

Travelers best be prepared for sticker shock when they go to book flights this summer. Airfares are already back to pre-pandemic levels and, with airlines mired by staffing shortages, they are only expected to go higher during the peak months.

American Airlines and its pilots union are at odds over what the union alleges are illegal changes to the carrier's training practices. The suit comes as airlines prepare for a busy summer travel season that many fear staffing shortages could disrupt.

What's old is new again amid a pilot shortage and high oil prices in the U.S. American Airlines will begin offering connecting bus service to two destinations from its Philadelphia hub in June in a low-carbon expansion of its network.

There's much ado about oil in global markets. But U.S. airline executives are largely unconcerned with the price volatility in recent weeks, betting that strong summer travel demand will absorb higher fares.

Accepting that there is a pilot shortage in the U.S. is only the first step to fixing the problem. The next is producing more pilots but that, even with big names like Alaska and United working on it, will take several years.