Top Air Travel Stories From February

February’s Top Airline Headlines
The shortest month of the year certainly didn’t lack for news in the aviation industry.

February 1 started out with the changing of the guard as the legendary Southwest CEO Gary Kelly stepped down and Robert Jordan took over.

Snow and ice – sometimes together – disrupted travel in many parts of the country.

Unfortunately, disruptions of another kind also continued as unruly passengers caused several flights in February to be diverted.

And, sadly, the month ended with Russia invading Ukraine, triggering a backlash by airlines declining to do business with Russian carriers and avoid airspace over Ukraine.

Here’s a look at airline headlines from the month of January 2022.

Southwest Changes Leaders
In what was a long, pre-planned move, Southwest Airlines – in its 50th year of existence, no less – officially changed leadership on February 1. Gary Kelly stepped down as CEO after an illustrious career guiding the carrier, and longtime Southwest soldier Robert Jordan assumed the head role.

American Buys 737 MAX Planes From Boeing
In a win for airplane manufacturer Boeing on February 2, American Airlines said it would purchase 23 737 MAX jets. However, the news was tinged with the fact that the impetus for the order came because Boeing has had to delay delivery of its wide-body Dreamliners to American for months now.

Delta CEO Asks DOJ to Create No-Fly List
On February 3, news broke that Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian sent a letter to the Department of Justice, asking Attorney General Merrick Garland to help create a national no-fly list. The list would be for the most egregious passengers who disrupt flights and assault flight crews.

Private Jet Company Offers Passengers Mile-High Club Status
Well, this is one you don’t see every day. A private jet company in Las Vegas is offering couples – or, ahem, more – the chance to join the Mile High Club. Flights literally travel at an altitude of one mile for 90 minutes while flying over the bright lights of Sin City.

Frontier, Spirit Merge Airlines
This kind of came out of nowhere in the first week of February as budget carriers Frontier and Spirit decided to merge airlines. Details still need to be worked out; the feds still need to approve it, and there are pluses and minuses to the deal.

Majority of Unruly Fliers Avoid Punishment
There are almost 6,000 incidents of unruly behavior on airplanes last year according to the Federal Aviation Administration. But on February 13 it was reported that less than one percent of the offenders see any kind of punishment as a result of their actions.

Disruptive Passengers Force American Flight to Divert
Aaaaand as if right on cue from the February 13 announcement about most passengers avoiding punishment for incidents, comes this news. A passenger on an American Airlines flight was so disruptive that the pilot had to divert the plane and allow authorities to arrest the man.

Delta Hands Out Profit-Sharing Checks
Well, Happy Valentine’s Day indeed! Delta Air Lines surprised employees with the announcement that they were each getting a profit-sharing check, thanks to a good second half of 2021.

Airlines, Administration Working on No-Fly List
Remember when we told you that Delta CEO Ed Bastian had sent a letter to the DOJ about a disruptive passenger no-fly list? Well on February 15 came the news that the airline industry and the Biden Administration had already been working on such a list – for six months.

American Trims International Summer Schedule
Continued delivery delays of the Boeing Dreamliners plays havoc with American Airlines’ summer schedule. The carrier said it would have to trim and adjust its original plan without the extra widebodies it was supposed to receive.

First Tourists in Two Years Land in Australia
Let it be known that on Monday, February 21, a Qantas Airways flight originating in Los Angeles delivered the first international tourists to Australia in two years. The country was on virtual lockdown ever since the pandemic began before finally relaxing its restrictions earlier this month.

Flight Attendants Want to Extend Mask Mandate
Representatives for two sets of flight attendant unions on February 23 called on the government to extend the federal mask mandate on planes and in airports when it comes up for review on March 18.

Travel Groups Call for an end to Restrictions
Led by the U.S. Travel Association, travel groups on February 26 asked the federal government to rescind all travel-related restrictions on tourism to the U.S. as positive COVID-19 cases continue to decline. That included a request to end the federal mask mandate on planes and trains.

Airlines Adjust to Russia-Ukraine War
The travel world, particularly airlines, make drastic adjustments as the month closes with Russia having invaded Ukraine on February 24. That includes flying around Ukraine and avoiding its airspace, as well as temporarily cutting ties with Russian carriers.