Latest routes, products and issues affecting growing air travel sector

As planes get bigger and more efficient, the world keeps getting smaller and easier to cross. New airlift routes and improvements are announced weekly—and new developments raise frequent debate.

As planes get bigger and more efficient, the world keeps getting smaller and easier to cross. New airlift routes and improvements are announced weekly—and new developments raise frequent debate. Here’s what you need to know about the latest routes, products and issues affecting how business travelers get from Point A to Point B…and beyond.

First, some figures: The world’s airlines are expected to see a 31 percent increase in passenger numbers between 2012 and 2017, according to the International Air Transport Association’s Airline Industry Forecast, published at the end of 2013. By 2017, total passenger numbers are expected to rise to 3.91 billion—an increase of 930 million passengers over the 2.98 billion carried in 2012. The forecast came at the end of a strong year for air travel demand, with more than 3 billion passengers expected to take to the world’s skies in a year for the first time.

Industry Controversies

One of the biggest developments of the past year was the merger of American Airlines and U.S. Airways, which will create a global network with nearly 6,700 daily flights to more than 330 destinations in more than 50 countries and more than 100,000 employees worldwide. The merger has not been without controversy, however: Even as the merger is completing its final steps, several consumer groups are petitioning the U.S. Department of Justice to reconsider the approval for the merger, arguing that the decrease in competition would harm travelers.

Another major industry issue is the use of electronic devices while in flight, and how this can affect the overall passenger experience. Once the FAA ruled in October that airline passengers could use portable electronic devices during takeoff and landing, the debate over in-flight calls began, and has not ended. Various industry leaders weighed in, with U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow arguing that the decision should be based on whether allowing open cell phone conversations during flights “truly enhances the passenger experience.” Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx noted that allowing calls on planes may be unfair to consumers who desire peace and quiet, and Delta CEO Richard Anderson offered an emphatic “no” to in-flight calls. Citing customer research and direct feedback from Delta frequent flyers, Anderson said that in-flight calls would be a disruption to the travel experience, and cited a survey of passengers as a basis for his claims. “Delta employees, particularly our in-flight crews, have told us definitively that they are not in favor of voice calls onboard,” Anderson said in a memo.

New Routes

Hawaii is getting some significant new airlift from both international and domestic carriers: The first regularly scheduled nonstop Air China flight from Beijing to Honolulu launched on January 21 this year. The flight operates three times per week, arriving in Honolulu on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Hawaiian Airlines, meanwhile, will launch daily year-round service between Los Angeles and Maui this summer to serve the Southern California market and facilitate travel to the neighbor islands. More than 120,000 air seats will be added to both Los Angeles and Maui’s travel markets when the new non-stop service launches on July 1. Hawaiian Airlines’ Maui hub, which was established in 2012, offers an alternative connecting point for travel to other islands with its expanded neighbor island flight schedule.

Following recent implementation of joint codesharing between airberlin and Etihad Airways, both airlines will expand their joint sales operations. The two companies operate 42 weekly flights between destinations in Germany and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The service will increase to 49 weekly flights this month when a second daily Munich flight commences.

Etihad Airways will also launch new service from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport three times a week to Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, starting on December 3 this year.

Aircraft Improvements

American Airlines is adding new, more fuel-efficient aircraft to its fleet with the introduction of the new Airbus A321 Transcontinental aircraft. The airline took delivery of the first plane in November; it began flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in January, and will launch flights between JFK and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in March. The A321T will have fully lie-flat First and Business Class seats, as well as in-seat entertainment and inflight air-to-ground Wi-Fi from GoGo throughout the aircraft.

United Airlines, meanwhile, is offering premium-cabin, flat-bed seats on every scheduled transcontinental flight between JFK and San Francisco and between New York JFK and Los Angeles. The airline completed an extensive redesign of 15 Boeing 757-200s that fly these. “Premium Service” routes to include 28 flat-bed United BusinessFirst seats and more room for storage.

Air France, meanwhile, recently unveiled its new business-class seats for long-haul flights (pictured above). The new seats fold out into flat beds, have full access to the aisle and offer privacy from other seats (thanks to the curved shell structure). In total, over 2,000 seats will be installed between June 2014 and Summer 2016 on 44 Boeing 777s, which make up the majority of Air France’s long-haul fleet.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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