The rapid development of science and technology has resulted in the transition of news from print media, television, and radio to digital spaces including websites, social media, and mobile apps. While the mainstream sources of news remain, changes in consumers’ behavior of opting Internet for free news and information are increasingly becoming evident. Whatever the news source, the key is to inform people of changing events and issues outside to let them take action and make choices based on how they perceive it. For aviation enthusiasts, airline news is a tremendous source of information to learn about current events and new developments in the airline industry.
Airlines news covers several aspects, such as:
- Inauguration of airline operations, suspension of operations
- Addition of new aircraft
- Expansion or trimming of new routes by a particular carrier
- Impact of fuel prices, government regulations, and world crisis
- Airline revenues, mergers, and acquisition
- Legal incorporation of new airlines
- Aircraft accidents and incidents, etc.
Airlines news shed light on events and occurrences in the air transport environment and allows people to form their own opinions, and views and make informed decisions critically and reflectively. Aviation journalists gather and assess airline information and interpret and disseminate the findings in a comprehensive and proportional context. Airlines news drive people to pay even the slightest attention to the world of flying to push them towards a more globalized world.
Airlines news for multitudes
Air transport is one of the most convenient, reliable, and fastest means of travel that ferries billions of travelers to their intended destinations worldwide. Hundreds of thousands of commercial flights take daily, so airlines news informs travelers of the respective carriers they are willing to fly with, weather updates, and safety features. Safety is the heart and soul of airline operations, and airline news covers the ground and in-flight safety features and quality improvement protocols adopted by airlines to make guests comfortable enough to fly with pretty much confidence.
State authorities follow airlines’ news to regulate the airline industry and ensure safe skies to operate domestic and international flights. The airline industry is global, and the decision made by one country affects the air connectivity of domestic and international airlines operating there.
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For those willing to pursue a career in aviation, airline news provides insight into diverse and exciting opportunities for development and progression. In addition, such news alerts people to the fast-paced working environment and the essence of customer service, people management, and technical skills in the world of flying.
People seeking to commence the airline business must keep themselves up to date with airline news that covers capital requirements, state rules, profitability, factors impacting the carrier’s bottom line, etc.
There is cut-throat competition among airlines, and understanding the timing of competitors’ moves and their unique selling point helps airline officials to take the logical next step in their strategy to hold a competitive advantage and increase their return on investment.
Sources of airlines news
Travelers can obtain airline news from traditional media platforms (print media, radio broadcasting, and television) and digital platforms such as news websites, searches, social media, mobile apps, podcasts, etc.
With a dramatic rise in internet use, airlines are increasingly using websites and social media platforms to inform their customers about new products, milestone achievements, changes in flight schedules, and other developments. The advent of online technologies has affected how carriers circulate their news and reach new markets. However, the genuineness of the information provided by audio-visual media, newspapers and magazines, press releases, and press conferences remains undisputed.
Impact of new online portals
Online portals, esp. social media platforms, allow a participatory approach for audiences to post user-generated content and share it within a virtual network while consuming and discovering news more engagingly. Flyers can access the worldwide airlines’ news whenever and wherever they want with a snap of a finger for free of cost. For carriers, using multiple online platforms has resulted in cuts in printing costs and other resources, mobile work environments, staff reduction, etc.
But, not all news posted on social media is true, as some take advantage of the diversity and accessibility of social media to mix information and alter or exaggerate the right information. False news, biased news, and disturbing content shared on social media contradict the real motive of journalism. For instance, many social networking sites spread false information in the event of an aircraft crash and incident without first confirmation from the respective airlines.
Where to access airline news?
The website, social media pages, and mobile apps of carriers are reliable sources of airline news. Besides, several renowned news portals, such as CNN, BBC, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc., provide wide coverage of breaking news and current headlines in the airline industry worldwide. Some of the best websites to access airlines news are One Mile at a Time, The Points Guy, Flightradar24, Flight Global, Ch-aviation, Simpleflying, Sam Chui, and Aviation24.be Aviation Nepal, etc. Aviation Nepal is the government-registered media agency in Nepal that informs, educates, guides, and spreads awareness on day-to-day aviation-related information from across the globe.
Current airlines news
The coronavirus pandemic and skyrocketing fuel prices spurred by the Russia-Ukraine war continue to nag the airline industry worldwide. The pandemic-induced plunge in passenger traffic and a spike in the price of aviation fuel due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have thrashed airline revenues and affected their bottom lines.
- In the US
Several major carriers have trimmed flight schedules ahead of a strong summer travel season in the US airline market to avoid flight disruptions for thousands of travelers. Delta Air Lines has scaled back 2% of its scheduled departure capacities for the July-August period in favor of operating more reliably, keeping in view the uncertainties regarding staffing shortages and fuel prices.
Despite the return of air travel demand after more than two years of the coronavirus pandemic, Atlanta-based Delta will follow a planned cut in second-quarter capacity around the US and Latin America to help it recover faster from bad weather, higher-than-expected worker absences and air traffic control, etc. On the positive side, Delta forecasts a full revenue recovery to pre-pandemic levels due to the busy summer travel season despite flight reductions.
Forecasting strong summer travel demand, the New York-based JetBlue Airways and Seattle-based Alaska Airlines have also pulled back planned schedules for the remainder of summer to avoid high-profile meltdowns and recover from operational disruptions attributed to cockpit crew shortage and erratic weather patterns.
The largest US carrier American Airlines has made several adjustments to its international route strategy by removing seven long-haul routes from its future schedules on DFW-TLV, SEA-BLR, DFW-LIM, JFK-CLO, JFK-MDE, DFW-PKX, SEA-PVG routes.
