Support the fact-based journalism you rely on with a donation to Marketplace today. Give Now!

A brief history of airline bankruptcies

Nov 21, 2024
Spirit Airlines is in good company. While some airlines have recovered, others have shuttered or merged with other carriers.
Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday, joining many other airlines that have done the same over the years.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

The connection between flight delays and cabin crews' pay

Sep 16, 2024
Delayed flights aren't just a hassle for flyers but also for flight attendants, explains Whizy Kim of Vox.
In the warmer months this year, about 25% of flights were delayed.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

How does an airline expert feel about traveling on Boeing planes?

Mar 29, 2024
Another CEO at Boeing is out after its planes have faced a series of safety-related issues. Experts say flying is still safe, but the company culture needs an overhaul.
An Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 taxis at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Monday in Seattle, Washington.
Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

How safety concerns over Boeing planes affect the air travel industry

Mar 11, 2024
Many travelers still prioritize the cost of travel over which airplane they will fly in.
A National Transportation Safety Board handout shows the Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 in which a door panel blew out midair. The January incident is now being investigated by the Justice Department.
NTSB via Getty Images

How flight attendants are feeling after the Alaska Airlines accident

"The staffing for flight attendants, especially domestically, is at FAA minimums," said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. "Our jobs are harder than they've ever been."
"The staffing for flight attendants, especially domestically, is at FAA minimums," said Sara Nelson, international president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Airfares are down 13% over the past year, but they may be headed back up soon

Nov 14, 2023
Fuel costs are down but may rise again soon.
Travel demand has leveled out since last summer's spike of "revenge travel." That’s forcing airlines to compete more for customers again.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Passengers opting for more airline frills push carrier profits up

Oct 12, 2023
After pandemic lockdowns, many passengers want to feel a little spoiled — and are paying good money for that.
After some tinkering, airlines seem to have figured out what travelers are willing to pay for premium economy seats. 
Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Why do airlines set weird departure and arrival times?

Aug 25, 2023
Forget “the logic of the clock.” The airline is thinking about the airplane, not the customer, one expert told us.
Have an 8:02 a.m. flight to catch?
Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Americans don't just want to travel: they want to go abroad

Aug 7, 2023
Trips from the U.S. to Europe especially are surging this summer. And that has consequences for domestic airlines—and airfares.
Rather than traveling domestically, Americans are choosing to fly abroad, especially to European countries.
Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images