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Skift
a day ago
- Business
- Skift
Breeze CEO on Low-Cost Carriers' Future and 'The Piss-Off Factor' Keeping Tourists Away
The drop in interest in traveling to the U.S. is real, and it very well may fade as Breeze's CEO says. But repairing the brand damage will take time. As the U.S. airline industry faces growing economic uncertainty and negative travel sentiment, serial airline entrepreneur David Neeleman thinks the phase will pass. The Breeze Airways CEO also has thoughts on reforming the ultra-low-cost model, one that United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby recently declared was 'dead.' Skift spoke with Neeleman in a wide-ranging interview about the state of ultra-low-cost carriers, tariffs, and the Trump administration's travel policies. Here are four takeaways: Is the Ultra-Low-Cost Model Actually Dead? Kirby commented on the state of ultra-low-cost carriers during a Wall Street Journal event in May, also saying that 'the model was screwed.' Neeleman said he thought Kirby 'makes a really good point.' 'I don't think they're gone for good, but I do think they got really big,' he said. 'And not only from the number of planes, but the size of their planes, which kind of force them into hubs and force them to compete wing tip-to-wing tip with the big incumbent carriers.' He added that the rise of basic economy allowed legacy carriers like American, Delta, and United to compete more effectively with ultra-low-cos
Bloomberg
25-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
In Qatar, CFOs Talk Regional Risks and Opportunities
Newsletter CFO Briefing Executives focus on rising costs, consumer spending and the dollar. Plus, Qatar Airways' Duncan Naysmith talks about the airline's latest plane purchases and the benefits of lower oil prices. By Save Welcome to CFO Briefing, a newsletter devoted to corporate finance and what leaders need to know. This week, I report from Qatar, where I spoke to finance chiefs about the risks they're seeing in the region. I also connected with the CFO of Qatar Airways. But first, here are some other stories that caught my eye:
CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
Southwest Airlines to require portable chargers be kept out while in use due to battery fire concerns
Passengers on Southwest Airlines flights will soon be required to keep their portable chargers in plain sight while using them due to concerns about the growing number of lithium-ion battery fires in a new policy that other airlines may adopt. The Dallas-based airline announced the new policy that will go into effect on May 28 and said passengers may have already seen notifications about the rule when using the airline's app. There is growing concern about lithium-ion battery fires on planes because the number of incidents continues to grow yearly, and devices powered by those batteries are ubiquitous. There have already been 19 incidents involving the batteries this year, following last year's record high of 89, according to Federal Aviation Administration statistics. The incidents have more than doubled since the pandemic-era low of 39 in 2020, and have climbed annually. Some research suggests that portable chargers might be the second-leading cause of battery fires on planes, only behind electronic cigarettes. Compared to the roughly 180,000 flights U.S. airlines operate each week, the number of incidents is still relatively small and lithium batteries can overheat anywhere. However, it is a growing concern for the airlines. "It's definitely a serious risk," said David Wroth, who studies the risks for UL Standards & Engagement and works with 37 airlines and battery manufacturers to minimize them. At least a couple of airlines UL is working with are reevaluating the risks associated with rechargeable batteries, so additional rule changes could be coming. Asian airlines enforce same rule While Southwest is the first U.S. airline to restrict the use of portable lithium-ion chargers, several Asian airlines took action earlier this year after a devastating fire aboard an Air Busan plane waiting to take off from an airport in South Korea in January. In the Korean airline fire in January, all 176 people aboard the plane had to be evacuated because the blaze burned through the plane's roof. The cause of that fire hasn't been officially determined, but several airlines and Korean regulators took action against portable chargers afterward. Korean airlines won't allow the chargers to be stored in overhead bins anymore; they must either be packed in a plastic bag or have their ports covered with insulating tape to keep them from touching metal. In addition, Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways both prohibit the use or charging of portable power banks at all during flights. Officials want passengers to be responsible about packing Last summer, a smoking laptop in a passenger's bag led to the evacuation of a plane awaiting takeoff at San Francisco International Airport. In 2023, a flight from Dallas to Orlando, Florida, made an emergency landing in Jacksonville, Florida, after a battery caught fire in an overhead bin. Southwest said that requiring these chargers to be kept out in the open when they are being used will help because "in the rare event a lithium battery overheats or catches fire, quick access is critical and keeping power banks in plain sight allow for faster intervention and helps protect everyone onboard." Experts have long recommended keeping rechargeable devices in reach during flights so they can be monitored for any signs of problems like becoming too hot to touch or starting to bulge or smoke. But the airlines have to rely on educating consumers and encouraging them to take precautions. "Ultimately, it comes down to a lot of personal responsibility that we as passengers have to take," Wroth said. Southwest will allow the chargers to be stored inside carry-on bags when they aren't in use. But a spokeswoman said the airline is just alerting customers about the policy before their flight and asking for their compliance. Wroth said that approach is probably best. "We have enough problems with unruly passengers already. And having cabin crew confront somebody over bringing something on board is not likely to be a good situation as well," Wroth said. The Transportation Security Administration has long prohibited e-cigarettes and chargers and power banks with lithium-ion batteries in checked bags, but allows them in carry-on bags. The rule exists precisely because fires in the cargo hold might be harder to detect and extinguish. The FAA recommends passengers keep cell phones and other devices nearby on planes so they can access them quickly. The agency said flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires. Passengers should notify the flight crew immediately if their lithium battery or device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning. The latest research from UL Standards & Engagement said that data from 2024 suggests that portable chargers were to blame in 19% of the incidents, though that was only slightly ahead of the number of cell phone incidents. E-cigarettes accounted for 28% of the problems. Nearly one-third of all passengers carried portable chargers on flights last year. More than one-quarter of passengers surveyed last year said they put vaping cigarettes and portable chargers in checked bags. That is against federal rules, but Wroth said it might be as much an issue of them not understanding the dangers as much as it is passengers trying to hide the devices.
Travel Weekly
21-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Hawaiian implements no-show policy aligned with Alaska Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines is getting tough on no-show flyers. As of May 15, Hawaiian is voiding the remainder of the itinerary and canceling all potential flight credits for flyers holding nonrefundable tickets who don't notify the airline before failing to board their confirmed flight. Hawaiian, now part of the Alaska Airlines Group, previously did not have a no-show policy. In a statement, the carrier said the change aligns its policy with the Alaska brand. "In addition to providing a more consistent travel experience to our guests, a shared no-show policy helps us manage resources more efficiently and discourage travelers from booking flights they will not use, as no-shows can negatively impact guests who have a more urgent need for travel," the airline said in an emailed statement. Hawaiian said customers should proactively make changes to nonrefundable tickets. Flyers holding refundable tickets should check their fare agreements to determine if the no-show policy applies to them, the Hawaiian website says. Both the Alaska and Hawaiian websites note that they won't be entirely rigid if customers miss a flight on the run. The Alaska website notes that there is short grace period designed to accommodate customers who are running late and call right after departure time. Hawaiian says that customers who are already in the airport when their flight departs can see a customer service agent for assistance. "We understand life happens," the website says.
Skift
19-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
The Mean Seats of Singapore
Skift Take Uh oh. Looks like the party is winding down. Are the good times over for Singapore Airlines? Last week, it unveiled a lackluster 6% operating margin for the January-to-March quarter. It was roughly half the figure it earned at the same time last year, suggesting that indeed, the balloons might be popping and the dance music fading. In this week's feature story, we assess the prospects for one of Asia's most esteemed carriers.
