How Is Spirit Still Flying?
Spirit Airlines remains operational despite a precarious Chapter 11 reorganization. The carrier has halved its fleet and narrowed its network to core hubs in Florida, Detroit and New York while presenting a revised plan that projects a -7.4% operating margin this year and a swing to positive margins by 2025. However, recent February unit revenue of 9.66 cents falls short of the 11.66‑cent target, and the plan’s fuel cost assumptions ($2.67 per gallon in 2026) are far below current market levels. Creditors must decide whether to back the plan or pursue liquidation, which the airline values at $1.43‑$1.71 billion net.
Cranky on the Web: Fares Up, Bag Fees Up
U.S. airlines are passing higher jet‑fuel costs, driven by the Iran‑related oil price surge, onto passengers through higher ticket prices. At the same time, carriers have reinstated higher checked‑bag fees, the first increase in years, to shore up margins. The...
MedjetHorizon Gets You Out of Trouble (Sponsored Post)
Medjet has expanded its flagship medical evacuation membership with MedjetHorizon, a security‑focused add‑on that provides 24/7 global crisis response. The service assists travelers facing violent incidents, civil unrest, natural disasters, and even disappearance, coordinating with police, consulates, and evacuation providers....
Southwest Marginalizes Its Worst Onboard Experience
Southwest Airlines still flies roughly 300 Boeing 737‑700s that have not received the newer seats, power outlets, and cabin upgrades installed on its 800/8 series. The airline is rapidly retiring the -700 fleet, with 48 aircraft removed in 2025 and...
Cranky on the Web: Listen In on Monday + A Breezy Chat with Lukas Johnson
The Air Show podcast’s "Cranky on the Web" episode will stream live on Monday at 11 am PT/2 pm ET, featuring a panel with Business Journals and Breeze Chief Commercial Officer Lukas Johnson. The conversation will cover the future of air travel, including route...
United Tries to Offset Temporary High Fuel Costs With Permanent Fare and Fee Increases
United Airlines announced a new Basic fare tier for its Premium Plus and Polaris long‑haul cabins and raised the lowest prepaid checked‑bag fee from $35 to $45, making the first domestic bag cost up to $50. The Basic fare still...
Southwest Switches Back to Open Seating
Southwest Airlines announced it is reverting to its classic open‑seating model after just over two months of a pilot assigned‑seat program. The reversal is framed as a move to recapture the free media buzz that the airline relies on for...
Spirit’s December and January Show Improvement, Future Schedules Slashed
Spirit Airlines released its December and January operating reports, showing a modest operating‑margin improvement over the bleak November figures but a decline again in January. Unit revenue rose to 11.1 cents per passenger in December before slipping to 10.2 cents in January,...
Cranky on the Web: TSA Chaos
Travel disruptions caused by TSA staffing shortages have reignited political debate, with President‑elect Trump promising higher pay for agents. Federal hiring freezes and stagnant wages have left many checkpoints understaffed, leading to longer security lines at major hubs while smaller...
I’m Not Loving Elite Status
The author earned Alaska Airlines Atmos Silver status through a credit‑card push but found the perks underwhelming. Family travel required separate reservations, preventing free preferred seating and bag allowances from covering all members. Conflicting information from chat and reservations agents...
The Airlines See Only Sunshine and Rainbows
At the JP Morgan Industrials Conference, U.S. legacy carriers reported record‑breaking demand as Q1 closed. Delta, American and United each logged multiple top‑sales days or weeks, while JetBlue and Frontier lifted revenue outlooks. United disclosed a $4.6 billion jet‑fuel cost hit and...
Better Airline Data Has Arrived
The U.S. Department of Transportation has upgraded its Origin & Destination Survey from the legacy DB1B to DB1C. The overhaul expands the sample size to 40% of tickets, shifts reporting from quarterly to monthly, and adds advance‑purchase buckets, tax inclusion,...
Cranky on the Web: Iran, Summer Airfare, Skiplagging
Investopedia warns that the ongoing Iran war could force airlines to cut capacity, pushing summer airfare higher and creating uncertainty around optimal booking windows. Forbes reiterates that skiplagging, or hidden‑city ticketing, is a breach of carrier contracts and is legally...
Fares Are Going to Have to Rise Quickly
Rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, highlighted by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have driven crude oil prices above $85 a barrel and jet fuel to over $3.60 per gallon. The spike sharply inflates airline fuel costs,...
Earnings Tidbits From a Massively Successful IAG
International Airlines Group (IAG) reported a 15.1% operating margin for 2025, driven by strong performance across its portfolio, including Iberia's 16.2% margin and British Airways' 15.2% margin. The group announced a €1.5 billion excess cash return plan, combining a higher dividend...