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Airlines

Airfares are down 13% over the past year, but they may be headed back up soon

by Samantha Fields
Nov 14, 2023
Fuel costs are down but may rise again soon.
Travel demand has leveled out since last summer's spike of "revenge travel." That’s forcing airlines to compete more for customers again.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
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Passengers opting for more airline frills push carrier profits up

by Savannah Maher
Oct 12, 2023
After pandemic lockdowns, many passengers want to feel a little spoiled — and are paying good money for that.
After some tinkering, airlines seem to have figured out what travelers are willing to pay for premium economy seats. 
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do airlines set weird departure and arrival times?

by Janet Nguyen
Aug 25, 2023
Forget “the logic of the clock.” The airline is thinking about the airplane, not the customer, one expert told us.
Have an 8:02 a.m. flight to catch?
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
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Americans don't just want to travel: they want to go abroad

by Mitchell Hartman
Aug 7, 2023
Trips from the U.S. to Europe especially are surging this summer. And that has consequences for domestic airlines—and airfares.
Rather than traveling domestically, Americans are choosing to fly abroad, especially to European countries.
Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images
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Pilots are still in short supply. What are airlines doing about it?

by Lily Jamali
Jul 5, 2023
After encouraging early retirement during the pandemic, the industry finds it has a pipeline problem.
Carriers are setting up training academies for future pilots and working to make the job more appealing with better salaries and benefits.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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When’s the best time to buy plane tickets?

by Samantha Fields
May 15, 2023
Google's piloting a new, free price drop guarantee. Why, and how useful is it?
Wondering airline tickets will be cheaper if you wait? Most of the time, that's unlikely, says airline industry industry commentator Mike Arnot.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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Airlines are in a hiring frenzy as summer travel season nears

by Samantha Fields
May 8, 2023
Pilots, in particular, are in high demand. Airlines don't want to be caught off guard like they were last year.
Airlines are hiring for nearly all positions in order to meet consumers' pent-up demand for travel.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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A shortage of air traffic controllers is forcing airlines to cancel flights to and from NYC

by Henry Epp
Apr 28, 2023
The FAA has asked airlines to give up precious landing slots.
Above, the air traffic tower at LaGuardia Airport. According to the FAA, New York has just over half of the air traffic controllers it needs.
Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
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Leisure travel is back. Business travel is not.

by Mitchell Hartman
Apr 25, 2023
It isn't as lucrative for airlines to fly planes full of leisure travelers. They need higher-spending business travelers to juice profits.
While leisure travel is booming, revenue from business travel is still down more than 25% since the start of the pandemic.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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Can Southwest regain passengers' trust?

by Matt Levin
Dec 30, 2022
Leisure travelers may be quick to forgive and forget. Business travelers, not so much.
Southwest Airlines travelers search for their suitcases Wednesday at Denver International Airport. In the past week, the carrier canceled more than 16,000 flights.
Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
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