Articles tagged “iag”

Reforming Europe's fragmented air traffic management systems would help improve the environmental performance of aircraft. But it won't change the fact that they spew out millions of tons of carbon dioxide every year.

Flybe lives to fight another day, but at what cost? The UK government is effectively giving a helping hand to some very rich companies, without providing any of the details. This deal stinks.

He's been hinting at it for a while, but it's still something of a shock to hear that Willie Walsh is finally hanging up his boots. The Air Europa deal — should it come off — looks like his last hurrah.

Airlines are much more comfortable talking about mitigating climate change through incremental changes such as more efficient aircraft and carbon offsets. But these don't alter the fundamental problem. Flying is bad for the environment, and it's only going to get worse as demand keeps rising.

Airlines think they can win over consumers, investors, and other stakeholders with their environmental spin. Ryanair is clearly doing some things right, but the sector has a structural problem that isn't going to be solved by tweaking the edges.

It's easier to understand IAG CEO Willie Walsh's sanguine tone on last week's earnings call given he clearly had this deal in the pipeline. If it goes through — and it's still a big if given the competition concerns — it will ease the pain of Delta's recent Latam deal.

Delta's tactic of buying stakes in airlines across the globe is shaking up the world of airlines alliances, but the American carrier's gain is likely to come at the expense of others including IAG, the parent company of British Airways and Iberia.

On a branding and product level, Virgin Atlantic has long punched above its weight. But overall, Virgin Atlantic is just another undersize airline trying to squeeze out a profit amid intense competition. Perhaps Heathrow's expansion will change that. But don't bet on it.

Businesses invariably hate regulation, but sometimes it takes threats and fines to help change things for the better. Would airlines really be pushing their green credentials if consumers, governments, and the media weren't asking difficult questions?

It's strange to see an airport and its biggest customer at loggerheads. IAG CEO Willie Walsh is rapidly losing his patience with the expansion project, and the UK government might decide to follow suit.