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Tech News
Denver's Stapleton Airport grew from a mail-carrier airstrip in the 1930s into a major hub after airline deregulation pushed United, Continental, Western and Frontier to base hub operations there. By the 1980s, its runways sat too close together for simultaneous instrument approaches, and surrounding terrain, private land and legal disputes with Adams County blocked any expansion.
AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes pushed back on reports that Malaysia's government was exploring contingency plans with Malaysia Airlines and Batik Air to absorb AirAsia's domestic routes amid financial worries. He insisted the airline is financially sound and does not require a government bailout, attributing recent strain to a 58% jump in fuel costs. Fernandes clarified that the airline's fundraising effort is a $1 billion refinancing and debt restructuring plan, not the larger $3 billion figure some reports suggested.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says he deliberately limits his daily schedule, capping meetings at four hours, sleeping eight and a half hours a night, and spending roughly three hours reading. He argues that protecting time for reflection, rather than filling his calendar, is central to how he leads the airline.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says he limits his daily meeting load to a maximum of four hours and insists sessions be conversational rather than PowerPoint presentations read aloud. He instead dedicates roughly three hours each day to reading books, newspapers and magazines, after waking around 5:30 a.m. and exercising.
Saudia Airlines developed a redesigned Ihram, the traditional garment worn by Hajj pilgrims, that incorporates built-in cooling technology to help travelers cope with extreme heat during the journey to Mecca. The garment, called the Coolest Ihram, has been named a winner in Fast Company's 2026 Innovation by Design Awards.
Springshot, a startup whose operations platform powered Spirit Airlines' logistics until its final flight, says it received no advance notice that Spirit planned to auction a massive trove of operational data to Google as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. The company filed a limited objection arguing the sale agreement's vague data categories could improperly include Springshot's proprietary intellectual property rather than data Spirit actually owns.
A technical failure in the United Kingdom's air traffic control system triggered widespread flight cancellations, with more than 2,000 flights scrapped. Airlines spent Wednesday working to clear the resulting backlog, and delays were expected to persist through the day.
Southwest Airlines is building its first-ever airport lounges, with four locations already under construction and at least seven more planned. The move marks a major shift for a carrier historically known for its no-frills, open-seating approach to air travel.
United Airlines is testing a new in-app ordering system at nine gates in Newark's Terminal C, letting travelers buy snacks, meals, medicine and travel items for pickup at designated gate shelves. The pilot, run with OTG, covers domestic and international flights and is expected to expand to Houston later this year before a possible wider rollout.
American Airlines is refreshing its main cabin snack offerings, introducing items like Goldfish crackers and Tate's Bake Shop cookies alongside its existing selection. The airline frames the change as an 'elevation' of its inflight menu and is soliciting passenger feedback on the new choices.
Google is rolling out new trip-planning tools inside AI Mode, including a price-tracking feature from Google Flights that emails users when fares change, and the ability to view flight and hotel costs in miles or points. The company is also enabling in-chat hotel booking via Google Pay, starting in the US with partners like Expedia, Marriott and Priceline.
Bankrupt Spirit Airlines accepted a $10 million bid from Google to acquire 34 years of company records, including invoices, flight operations details, Wi-Fi sales, and employee files, beating a $7.5 million offer from AI firm Mercor. The Association of Flight Attendants, representing 5,500 former Spirit crew members, has filed a court objection arguing the sale exposes sensitive worker data that employees never consented to having used for AI training, even though Google says customer information is excluded.