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Air travel

Activist investor says Southwest Airlines is underperforming

by Daniel Ackerman
Jun 10, 2024
The airline's had a bumpy ride since multitudes of passengers were stranded by bad weather and an aged computer system.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
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Air travel wasn't always so miserable ... or so cheap

by Meghan McCarty Carino
Jun 4, 2024
In half a century we've gone from piano bars and bone china to cramped seats and $20 sandwiches.
Passengers sit in a model of an Air France Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet interior in 1966.
AFP via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do airlines still use dot matrix printers?

by Janet Nguyen
Apr 12, 2024
“I'm so tired of those damn things,” one airline crew member told us.
The dot matrix printer cannot be defeated, at least in some respects.
SkillGt/Getty Images Plus
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How safety concerns over Boeing planes affect the air travel industry

by Elizabeth Trovall
Mar 11, 2024
Many travelers still prioritize the cost of travel over which airplane they will fly in.
A National Transportation Safety Board handout shows the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 in which a door panel blew out midair. The January incident is now being investigated by the Justice Department.
NTSB via Getty Images
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I've Always Wondered ...

Why do airplanes have ashtrays on board if smoking is banned? 

by Janet Nguyen
Feb 23, 2024
In 2000, Bill Clinton signed a law that banned smoking on all domestic and international flights to and from the U.S.
While airline ashtrays may seem antiquated, the FAA thinks it's better to be safe than sorry.
actual_size/Getty Images Plus
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What passengers need to know about the Boeing Max 9 safety issues

by Janet Nguyen
Jan 10, 2024
A door plug recently blew off a Max 9 plane, prompting concerns about whether fliers should board these planes.
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 plane sits at a gate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on January 6, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. Alaska Airlines grounded its 737 MAX 9 planes after part of a fuselage blew off during a flight from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California.
Stephen Brashear/Getty Images
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Passengers opting for more airline frills push carrier profits up

by Savannah Maher
Oct 12, 2023
After pandemic lockdowns, many passengers want to feel a little spoiled — and are paying good money for that.
After some tinkering, airlines seem to have figured out what travelers are willing to pay for premium economy seats. 
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
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Americans are going abroad again, and airfare prices track the trend

by Kristin Schwab
Aug 4, 2023
International airfare is up 10% from last year, while domestic airfare is down more than 10%, according to the travel site Hopper.
Visitors view the sights in Venice, Italy. Many American travelers are choosing European destinations over domestic travel routes.
Stefano Mazzola/Getty Images
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Could electric planes tempt Americans to fly short distances instead of driving?

by Stephanie Hughes
Jul 26, 2023
Aviation company Surf Air Mobility is developing an electric engine to power planes during short jaunts. But the market is still untested.
Eviation's "Alice", the world's first all-electric commuter airplane, flew its first test flight last September. Companies are eyeing electric planes to serve passengers taking short flights.
Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images
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Congress grapples with FAA funding as travelers' frustration grows

by Elizabeth Trovall
Jun 30, 2023
Some airlines are pinning some of the blame for recent delays on the Federal Aviation Administration.
FAA funding is voted on every five years.
Kena Betancur/Getty Images
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