airlines

Delta Air Lines has doubled its staffing to handle revamped pre-flight “pit stops” for deeper cleaning and wants to ensure that tray tables and restroom door handles are germ-free with a new testing process, an executive told Reuters. Airlines’ efforts to reassure travelers of their safety during the pandemic have spurred a behind-the-scenes scramble to …

American Airlines will drop flights to 15 smaller US cities in October when a federal requirement to serve those communities ends. The airline blamed low demand during the coronavirus pandemic, which has triggered a massive slump in air travel. Airlines and their labor unions are seeking billions in taxpayer relief. American said its schedule covering …

Delta Air Lines said Thursday it will continue blocking middle seats through at least Jan. 6, covering the key holiday season, but will raise the cap on the number of passengers on its flights in October. Delta had previously said it would block middle seats and limit overall seating capacity at 60 percent on each …

American Airlines is planning to drop flights to up to 30 smaller US cities if a federal requirement to continue those flights expires at the end of next month, an airline official familiar with the matter said Thursday. American agreed to keep serving those smaller cities as a condition of receiving $5.8 billion in federal …

Delta Air Lines will need at least 3,000 of its roughly 20,000 flight attendants to take unpaid leave of four to 12 months, or consider other options, to avoid involuntary furloughs, a person with knowledge of the matter said Friday. Airlines are suffering their worst crisis in history due to the coronavirus pandemic, which decimated …

The Federal Aviation Administration said Monday it is proposing requiring four key Boeing 737 MAX design changes to address safety issues seen in two crashes that killed 346 people and led to the plane’s grounding in March 2019. The agency is issuing a proposed airworthiness directive to require updated flight control software, revised display-processing software …

They’ll ferry and bury you. Emirates airlines is attracting passengers during the pandemic in an unorthodox way — by covering the funeral costs of travelers diagnosed with COVID-19 after flying. The bizarre policy comes just days after the enterprising airline offered to foot travelers’ medical and hotel expenses to help recover coronavirus-caused losses during reopening. …

Passengers wishing to board a United Airlines flight will have to wear face masks at ticket counters and in its airport lounges, or risk a flight ban, the carrier said Wednesday. United and all other major US carriers require passengers to wear masks during flights. United said that it is broadening mask requirements for passengers …

The union representing pilots at Delta Air Lines said Monday that 2,235 pilots volunteered for an early departure package ahead of a Sunday deadline. News of the buyouts comes amid the crushing blow the coronavirus has dealt to the air travel industry in the US and beyond. In May, Delta and the Air Line Pilots …

JetBlue has announced it will be extending its middle seat ban through summer. The carrier revealed Monday it will continue to block off middle seats on its larger aircraft and aisle seats on smaller planes in bookings through Sept. 8, in an update on its “Safety from the Ground Up” post about the steps JetBlue …