Delta Air Lines unveils new blue and red uniforms | American to boost portal, accept miles for Wi-Fi | Alaska Airlines to add Las Vegas-Sonoma County route
Airlines for America announced this year's results of the "Air Travelers in America" survey, conducted by Ipsos, in which 71% of respondents reported they were satisfied with their air travel experience. Additionally, nearly 90% of Americans responded they had flown commercially. "The results of this year's survey show that a significant majority of Americans continue to enjoy commercial air travel and that efforts carriers have made to improve the customer experience through their mobile apps are paying off," said A4A Vice President and Chief Economist John Heimlich.
Delta Air Lines has unveiled new uniforms for flight attendants and ground crew that feature the brand's red and blue palette, accents evoking Delta's iconic "widget" logo, and fabric that passed safety and functional screening. GPS Apparel by Gap Inc. designed the uniforms, which will be tested this fall but will not show up in aircraft and airports for several years.
American Airlines plans to roll out an enhanced inflight Wi-Fi portal over the coming year, and will begin allowing AAdvantage members to redeem miles for internet access in coming weeks. American offers streaming capabilities on its entire mainline fleet and will begin upgrading connectivity on regional jets this summer.
Alaska Airlines will become the only airline serving all four San Francisco Bay Area airports this fall, launching nonstop service on Oct. 1 between Las Vegas and Charles M. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport in the Northern California wine country. "We feel a deep connection with Santa Rosa--Alaska became the first carrier to bring commercial service to Sonoma County Airport nearly two decades ago--and we've remained the largest airline at STS serving nearly 2 million guests since then," said Kirsten Amrine, vice president of network planning and revenue management at Alaska Airlines.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced $110 million in grants at 71 US airports to improve safety and capacity. The improvements include taxiway rehabilitation, aircraft rescue, firefighting and snow removal equipment.
The Houston City Council has approved spending $150 million to help start renovation of Terminal B at Bush Intercontinental Airport, a project that United Airlines has pledged $1.9 billion to also support. "United Airlines is committed to providing the best travel experience to our customers and that includes investing in the $2.6 billion redevelopment of our Houston hub," the airline said in a statement.
Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport has announced plans for a new, net-zero energy terminal that includes improved gates office space and a public patio and is to be funded primarily by a $34 million federal grant. "This ambitious project is not just about accommodating larger aircraft and boosting passenger capacity," said Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, but also "about securing a vibrant, sustainable future for Vermont's largest and greatest airport."
Airlines for America will partner with Aviation Week for the presentation of the annual Nuts and Bolts award at the MRO Americas Conference and exhibition taking place April 9-11 in Chicago. Qualified airline employees are eligible for complimentary access. Read more here.