Upgrades that were once incredibly common for even the lowliest of elite frequent flyers are now harder to attain. But elite status still has its perks.
A United Airlines Boeing 757-200 at New York s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Eliyahu Yosef Parypa/Shutterstock.com
Although the routes weren t profitable, then-airline president Scott Kirby said that it was a mistake for the airline to leave because those lucrative customers shifted to other airlines like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines for their transcontinental needs, and more. United Airlines president Scott Kirby speaks at O Hare International Airport in Chicago Reuters
But now, United is back with a vengeance and taking on competitors with one of its supposedly swankiest aircraft, a Boeing 767-300ER with a whopping 46 Polaris business class seats, 22 Premium Plus premium economy seats, and 99 economy seats.
Sundry Photography / Shutterstock.com and Israeli Aerospace Industries
Cargo carriers and e-commerce giants are buying up aging airliners and turning them into cargo jets.
Israel Aerospace Industries is one conversion firm that the likes of Amazon have entrusted with their planes.
The process can take up to around 120 days, and slots are booked years in advance.
A unique fleet of aircraft is fueling the explosive growth of e-commerce as consumers turn to online shopping during the pandemic and retailers promise faster-than-ever delivery times.
And while air travel remains signifcantly lower due to COVID-19, some former passenger aircraft are avoiding early retirement by finding a second life moving cargo. Logistics giants, meanwhile, are using the airline industry s downturn to grow their fleets by acquiring aging passenger aircraft for a fraction of what they d sell for new.
Lukas Wunderlich/Shutterstock.com
United Airlines is adding a new route between Boston and London later this year.
The start date is still unknown as travel between the countries is restricted due to the pandemic.
JetBlue Airways, which just expanded a partnership with American Airlines, will also fly to London this year from Boston.
United Airlines is growing its transatlantic presence later this year with a newly-announced route between Boston and London, UK.
Only one daily flight will serve the route with an overnight evening departure from Boston Logan International Airport at 10:00 p.m. arriving at London s Heathrow Airport the next morning at 9:35 a.m. The return flight then departs London at 5:00 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. arrival in Boston.