Airlines news and trends

Delta Hikes Baggage Fees As Jet Fuel Costs Jump 132%
Travel Payments // April 07, 2026

Delta Air Lines has become the latest air carrier imposing fuel-cost-related price increases. The Atlanta-based airline will increase charges for checked bags by $10 to $50 each, according to a statement Tuesday (April 7) cited by multiple news outlets. Delta pointed to “evolving global conditions...

Airlines Levy War-Related Price Hikes Ahead of Summer Travel Season
Economy // April 01, 2026

Airlines have begun increasing fares and adding baggage fees as fuel prices soar. As The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday (March 31), this trend began in Europe and Asia and has since moved to the U.S., as the war in Iran ramps up the cost of...

As Storm Grounds Flights, Airlines Turn to AI to Handle Disruptions Better
Artificial Intelligence // January 26, 2026

When winter storm Fern swept across the United States this past weekend, it forced the cancellation of more than 11,400 flights, marking the largest single-day disruption since the pandemic and affecting major hubs from the Northeast to the South. Airports including LaGuardia, JFK, Philadelphia and...

DOT Looks to Loosen Airline Consumer Protection Rules
Legal & Regulation // January 05, 2026

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is pivoting away from aggressive regulatory oversight of the airline industry, part of a broader deregulatory agenda that aims to reduce the government’s ability to hold airlines accountable for violations of consumer protection and civil rights laws. According to...

Interviews & Exclusives
52% of Hotel Guests Expect AI at Check-In

August 26, 2025
It is telling that even at the start of the year, when airlines were still recovering from a holiday travel crush and hotels were bracing for an uncertain economic backdrop, both industries were already talking about generative artificial intelligence (AI). The technology was new, the use cases untested, but travel companies and consumers alike were […]

Payment Choice Will Drive Travel Business in 2025

November 15, 2024
Enhancing the customer experience is crucial to success in the travel sector, CellPoint Digital Global Head of Product Tom Randklev writes in a new PYMNTS eBook, “The New Value Equation: 11...

Travel Platforms Reroute Strategies to Elevate Customer Engagement

August 16, 2024
As inflation reshapes consumer spending, travel giants Expedia, Airbnb and Booking Holdings are adjusting their strategies to drive customer engagement and bookings amid shifting family budgets and evolving preferences. Expedia is...

Families May Travel More Often, but Spend Less Than Couples Without Kids

July 29, 2024
Married couples without children are leading the way in travel spending, data show, and as others pull back their purchasing in the category, these dual-income-no-kids consumers continue to shell out. ...

Quick Reads
Delta Hikes Baggage Fees As Jet Fuel Costs Jump 132%

April 07, 2026
Delta Air Lines has become the latest air carrier imposing fuel-cost-related price increases. The Atlanta-based airline will increase charges for checked bags by $10 to $50 each, according to a statement Tuesday (April 7) cited by multiple news outlets. Delta pointed to “evolving global conditions and industry dynamics” as the reason for the change, set […]

Airlines Levy War-Related Price Hikes Ahead of Summer Travel Season

April 01, 2026
Airlines have begun increasing fares and adding baggage fees as fuel prices soar. As The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Tuesday (March 31), this trend began in Europe and Asia and has...

DOT Looks to Loosen Airline Consumer Protection Rules

January 05, 2026
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is pivoting away from aggressive regulatory oversight of the airline industry, part of a broader deregulatory agenda that aims to reduce the government’s ability...

White House Rolls Back Cash Repayments for Canceled Flights

November 16, 2025
The Trump administration is reversing a policy requiring airlines to repay travelers for major flight disruptions. In a document filed Friday (Nov. 14) with the Federal Register, the Transportation Department...