Southwest is cutting 1,750 jobs in management in an effort to ramp up its “transformational plan” to create a “leaner and more agile organization.” The cuts are expected to save the Airline up to $300 million by the end of 2026 and will affect roughly 15% of its corporate workforce, including Chief Transformation Officer Ryan Green. (I guess clicked “Select All” and forgot to exempt himself the firings.)
The announcement marked the Company’s first ever layoffs—management-related or flight crew-related—in its 50+ year history as a pioneer in the industry. To soften the blow, the Airline announced the layoffs “Elon-style” via video chat, and banned employees from coming into HQ. Brutal.
In an internal message to employees, CEO Bob Jordan said he was grateful to the people who helped make Southwest the airline that it is today, and that he understood it would be difficult to say goodbye to colleagues who were a part of the Airline’s accomplishments. As a token of their appreciation, he assured employees leaving the Company that no matter what happens, they will always be entitled to two free bags.
Frontier is adding fourteen routes to its summer schedule that are quite literally all over the map. Some of the more notable changes announced include the Airline’s return to Boise and Spokane with service from Denver. Frontier ceased operation in those two cities in September 2021.
Two other routes that are re-joining the Denver-based airline’s summer schedule include Los Angeles to Chicago-ORD and Miami to Washington-IAD. The Airline last sold nonstop tickets between these city pairs in October 2017 and October 2015, respectively.
But the Airline isn’t just stepping on United’s toes: it’s also adding service at a destination where American just reduced the size of its operation: Austin. Beginning May 22, Frontier will operate weekly service between from Austin to both Miami and Philadelphia.
I guess it found some money between its couch cushions.
American is increasing service at New York-LGA with flights to Charleston and Myrtle Beach beginning in June. The Fort Worth-based airline has been upping its game at New York’s favorite airport over the past few months, relying heavily on its regional partners. Service to these two new destinations will be operated by Republic with Embraer 170s.
American previously operated New York-LGA to Charleston and Myrtle Beach pre-pandemic, but suspended the routes by the end of 2021.
JetBlue and Capital One Bank are reviving a partnership that died during the pandemic. The partnership will allow Capital One cardholders to transfer points to JetBlue’s TrueBlue frequent flier program at a 5:3 ratio.
There is only upside for JetBlue with this agreement. By allowing another vendor—Capital One, in this case—to market TrueBlue points to its cardholders, JetBlue makes its frequent flier program more liquid, in a sense. Regardless of how popular (or not) JetBlue becomes as a transfer partner, having another location for an airline to shop its points around is sort of like a small business saying: “Now accepting Apple Pay!” It can only help.
There is also some upside for Capital One, who is in need of a U.S. airline transfer partner. All told: these are good things.
American is now providing the option to convert seat-back pockets in coach to makeshift foot rests at no additional charge.
British Airways is buying Boeing’s maintenance, repair, and overhaul hangar at London-LGW.
Delta will begin serving Taittinger champagne in Delta One in March.
DOT Secretary Sean Duffy and his predecessor Pete Buttigieg got into an argument on X (formerly Twitter) about layoffs at the FAA.
Emirates is planning to introduce an alternate seating configuration on some of its Airbus A350-900 aircraft with additional seats in premium economy.
EVA Air is rolling out a premium economy cabin that’s putting First Class cabins in the U.S. to shame.
JetBlue is rumored to be speaking to multiple airlines about a possible… something?
RyanAir CEO Michael O’Leary got a taxi license so he could breeze through traffic and legally drive in the bus lane. (Editor’s note: I know… sometimes I wish I made things like this up, but this apparently checks out.)
SkyWest cleared a major regulatory hurdle in launching a Part 135 operation at some point in the future.
WestJet is launching service between Halifax and Amsterdam in May. The route will operate almost daily and will be served by its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.
Featured image credit: Brett Snyder, Cranky Flier, “An Ominous Sign for Southwest’s Future as The Airline Lays People Off for the First Time“
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