United Airlines News

New fares in the pipeline only spell difficulty for tomorrow's consumers.

We won't speculate about the prospects of the proxy fight at United in which the dissidents have enlisted the support of former Continental CEO Gordon Bethune and online travel veterans. The timing, though, would have been more beneficial had the board battle been started under United's Jeff Smisek regime.

The other shoe has finally dropped and American and United will soon deprive the most-budget-conscious travelers of upgrades and other perks.

American Airlines Group CEO sounds as though he has turned into a labor activist. OK, not really, but he knows you can't have a successful company unless its corporate culture is healthy and its employees have a real stake in its well-being.

United's lack of leadership on its board, as well as a shallow executive bench, was an issue before former CEO Jeff Smisek was forced out in October. Outside of Munoz' appointment to the CEO position, that picture hasn't changed since then.

Open Skies indeed.

Airlines are finally broadening the distribution of ancillaries and other specialized fare products. Business travelers who want to stretch their legs are the immediate beneficiaries.

This collaboration further reflects Uber's importance to flyers and business travelers.

Leadership isn't just about energy and enthusiasm, which recovering United CEO Oscar Munoz seems to have plenty of. But it can't be dismissed, either.

Will United's CEO be able to take advantage of the goodwill pointing in his direction?