Is American Airlines Losing The Premium Battle? Inside Executives’ Strategy vs. Delta And United

by Gary Leff

Apr 28 2024

Customers won’t choose an airline that doesn’t get them where they’re going. But those are table stakes. Delta and United have pursued a premium strategy. American isn’t. But with American’s high costs, they need to earn a revenue premium for their product. That means customers need to spend more – on premium products, and choosing them over competitors.

The airline’s first quarter losses, and continued financial underperformance compared to Delta and United, show that improved operations aren’t enough. They’re just a start. Airline management, though, doesn’t seem to understand this.

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United Passengers Pray As Flight From Denver Waits On Tarmac During Omaha Tornado

by Gary Leff

Apr 28 2024

Friday’s Denver to Omaha United flight 1279 landed at around 4:45 p.m. – but appears to have been on the ground for over an hour before making it to the gate. The flight landed during a tornado warning. While it sat on the tarmac, a tornado hit the ground at 5:08 p.m.

The airport was temporarily shut down to evaluate the extent of the storm’s impact. The main terminal remained intact, but general aviation on the eastern side of the airport suffered damage.

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Exclusive: Thursday’s Tense Showdown Between American Airlines CEO and Flight Attendants Union Head

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2024

Following Thursday’s American Airlines earnings call, senior management held a company all-hands “State Of The Airline” address. Over 4,000 employees tuned in live to the presentation and question and answer session, and a recording was placed online.

After talking through the news around his own compensation, CEO Robert Isom laid out where things stand with the company’s offer to flight attendants. This proved to be setting up the most dramatic moment of the event.

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In the Hot Seat: American Airlines CEO Explains His $32 Million Pay Package At Companywide Meeting

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2024

After American’s earnings call on Thursday, in prepared remarkets to the airline’s employees as a ‘State of the Airline’ event (a recording of which was reviewed by View From The Wing), Isom brought up his pay package and fumbled through an explanation. And as they say, when you’re explaining you’re losing. He came across as defensive and unsure of himself.

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Crumbling First Class Cabin: The American Airlines Broken Seats That Just Keep Flying Anyway

by Gary Leff

Apr 27 2024

One of the more shocking things – beyond dirty seats – has been missing seat backs in first class, with seats taken out of service. The response from the airline (and some readers) has been that it’s better to fly planes in this condition than delay flights to address the problem. But I’ve always wondered, what are they doing when the planes aren’t flying to maintain the interiors so that this doesn’t happen so frequently?

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