Summary
- United Airlines had a successful 12 months, launching unique routes and expanding its aircraft order book with Boeing and Airbus.
- American Airlines solidified its presence in Latin America and the Caribbean, opened a brand new crew hotel, and reached a brand new contract agreement with its pilots.
- Delta Air Lines fulfilled its promise of free WiFi for SkyMiles members, expanded its global reach with partnerships, and faced criticism for high-priced flights on a particular route.
No surprise to anyone, 2023 was an enormous 12 months for American aviation. Because the industry made strides in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines placed more aircraft orders, added routes, brought routes back to full capability, and airports broke passenger traffic numbers. This text will have a look at just just a few of the largest stories from the ‘Big Three’ airlines: United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines.
United Airlines
Depending on the way you have a look at it, United had the perfect 12 months of the three. In 2023, the airline launched several routes not served by other American carriers, like Christchurch, Tenerife, Ponta Delgada, Brisbane, and more.
Photo: Lukas Souza | Easy Flying
In October, United expanded its already massive order book, adding Boeing and Airbus aircraft. The Chicago-based airline exercised options for 50 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, adding to the large order it placed in December 2022. The order announcement, which included an extra 60 Airbus A321neos, got here mere days before United received its first of the kind and the primary delivery of an Airbus aircraft in greater than twenty years.
American Airlines
American Airlines also had an enormous 12 months, solidifying its dominance in Latin America and the Caribbean, announcing an expansion in Europe in 2024, and more. On January 30, American opened a brand-new hotel for its crew in training, each pilots and flight attendants. Encompassing 550,000 square feet, the hotel has greater than 600 rooms and a 73,000-square-foot fitness center. The brand new hotel is known as Skyview 6 and is a component of the huge AA headquarters campus.
Photo: Lukas Souza | Easy Flying
American’s pilots agreed to a brand new contract this 12 months, amounting to $9.6 billion over the following 4 years, and including a right away 21% increase in wages. A deal had been agreed to in principle earlier within the 12 months, but after United Airlines made a greater offer to its pilots, AA’s pilots returned to the negotiating table. The Fort Price-based airline also faced some bad news this 12 months, with a US District Court judge ordering the top of the Northeast Alliance with JetBlue. JetBlue appealed the ruling to maintain the door open for similar future alliances.
Delta Air Lines
Delta began 2023 with a bang, announcing that by February 1, 80% of its aircraft would offer free WiFi for SkyMiles members. The airline had previously committed to its customers that it would supply free WiFi on all aircraft, including regional jets, and in January, the plans were solidified. Late within the 12 months, Delta confirmed it was working with Hughes Network Systems to get recent equipment installed on regional jets and Boeing 717s.
Photo: Lukas Souza | Easy Flying
Delta’s global reach expanded considerably, with its joint-venture agreement with LATAM Airlines Group in South America and a brand new codeshare with EL AL in Israel. A battle was began over Tokyo Haneda slots left open after Delta didn’t launch its flights from Portland International Airport to Haneda and asked to swap the slot to a different airport. United accused Delta of price-gouging after it listed fights for the PDX-HND route for greater than $14,000 round trip in economy.