Air Travel’s Drama-Filled Year in the United States
The year 2024 has been eventful for the US airline industry, marked by a door panel blowout of a Boeing 737 Max, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) judge blocking JetBlue Airways’ planned purchase of Spirit Airlines, and a tech meltdown that left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded.
The year also saw the FAA’s chief, Mike Whitaker, announcing his resignation, leaving the agency without a leader. Airline CEOs have been advocating for more air traffic controllers and investment in air traffic technology.
The carriers have also been competing to offer more premium services, with cabins at the front of the plane becoming increasingly popular. Two top contenders, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, have been focusing on upselling early seats, leading to a rise in stock prices and profitability.
Delta, the most profitable US carrier, struggled to recover from a July 19 CrowdStrike outage that left thousands of customers stranded and resulted in a $500 million loss. United Airlines, on the other hand, has thrived, with its stock price doubling in 2024 and setting lofty targets for 2025.
Other airlines, such as Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue Airways, and Frontier Airlines, have had their own challenges and successes throughout the year. Despite the challenges, demand for air travel has remained strong, with CEOs optimistic about the prospects for 2025.
Here’s a look at how each airline fared in 2024:
* Delta Air Lines: The carrier faced a technology outage in July, but its stock price hit a record high in November.
* United Airlines: The carrier has expanded its network to include more premium destinations and introduced new seats with seat-back screens and Bluetooth connections.
* Southwest Airlines: The airline has implemented a new seating policy and updated its cabin, with promises of more premium options.
* American Airlines: The carrier has new credit partnerships and has introduced a business class product on some of its planes.
* Spirit Airlines: The budget carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November after a tumultuous year marked by a blocked merger with JetBlue.
* JetBlue Airways: The carrier is focusing on cost-cutting and is introducing a domestic business class product on some planes.
* Alaska Airlines: The carrier has expanded its route network and has plans for a global expansion with its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.
Overall, 2024 has been a transformative year for the US airline industry, with carriers competing to offer more premium services, adapting to changes in the market, and navigating challenges such as technology outages and pandemics. Despite the challenges, demand for air travel remains strong, and CEOs are optimistic about the prospects for 2025.