Tag: airline mergers

View All Tags

/ / / / /

When One Airline Loves Another Airline Very Much...

February 2, 2012 at 4:15 PM | by | Comments (0)

Last one to a newsstand to buy this week's issue of Bloomberg Businessweek is a rotten egg!

The cover you see above is not the only highlight of the current edition of the magazine; it precludes a full article exploring the finer details of the United/Continental merger. We especially love that the cover promises "a look at the complexity and the absurdity of making the world's largest airline." Face it—the "absurdity" is what will sell this issue, once you get past the risque airplane coitus front and center.

UPDATE: We just checked the Barnes & Noble newsstand to see that this issue, with the United merger cover and story, is from January 15 and already off the stands of course. BOOOO.

[Photo: BusinessWeek/Twitter/Flickr]

/ / / / / /

The Newest United 'Hub' Calls the World Wide Web Home

December 20, 2011 at 8:24 AM | by | Comments (0)

The newly combined United is adding a few hubs here and there—like the ones in Newark and Houston that used to belong to Continental. However, their newest hub is one that lives entirely on the internets.

United just launched UnitedHub.com in order to provide plenty of answers, information, and other handy facts about the airline, the merger, and the joys of flying around in economy class. The future promises to bring more about their travel apps, check-in process, and how to interact electronically with the jumbo-airline, but for now most of the stuff has to deal with what’s coming and what’s changing.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / /

Continental Finally Gets to Join in on the Channel 9 and EconomyPlus Action

November 23, 2011 at 10:03 AM | by | Comments (0)

As part of the love and marriage that is the Continental and United merger, there were plans for the former Continental planes to update their seating maps. That’s because Continental—along with now having Thanksgiving at United’s parents’ house—is bringing EconomyPlus seating onboard.

It’s going to be a long process to upgrade and update all those planes and seats, but there’s been a little bit of progress. Just recently the combined carrier announced that the first Continental plane with EconomyPlus made its debut earlier this week. That means four extra inches of legroom towards the front of the economy cabin, but that also mean paying a few extra bucks for the privilege. As of now the only way to pay for the upgrade is during the check-in process, but as more planes get the seats it’ll also be available online.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

'SureJet' is Out and 'ExpressJet' Will Remain in the ASA-ExpressJet Merger

October 20, 2011 at 11:50 AM | by | Comments (0)

Hopefully this will be the last update in the naming and rebranding saga of Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet. If you recall the two regional airlines—they usually help out Delta and United—shacked up and joined together under the new SureJet name. However, that new name didn’t sit too well with pilots, crew and other employees, so it was scrapped before it even took off.

Now there's a new name—kind of—and it sounds like the combined airline is sticking with ExpressJet for their new effort. The airline will utilize the old Atlantic Southeast Airlines logo when needed, so it's kind of like the United/Continental merger—use one name use one logo—but on a much smaller schedule.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Watch a Time-Lapse of a United 777 Getting a Fresh Paintjob

October 3, 2011 at 9:53 AM | by | Comments (0)

You know we’re suckers when it comes to travel time-lapse videos, and this week we’re falling for an older (though new to us) one showing off United Airlines' livery changes. Obviously it’s going to take quite some time to paint all those airplanes—including the Continental ones—into the new United colors, but here it takes just a couple of minutes.

Apparently this video reveals the behind-the-scenes magic, as one of the very first Boeing 777s headed into the hangar to get an airplane makeover. Don’t forget to turn up the volume too—the dude in the cubicle next door won’t mind—because the Rhapsody in Blue techno-remix just adds to the fun.

more ›

/ / / / / / / / / /

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like United Airlines Everywhere You Go

September 8, 2011 at 9:12 AM | by | Comments (0)

United and Continental have slowly but surely been aligning their services over the last few months, and they’ve been doing so through goodie giveaways, updated apps, and of course plenty of new signage. We were checking out the changes at Chicago-O’Hare at the beginning of the summer, but now as the season is winding down the changes have begun elsewhere.

Upgrades and updates have arrived in San Francisco, as they got their new signs and stanchions in the middle of July. You still should check-in with United for their flights and with Continental for their flights, but the new branding has certainly arrived.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Surely They Must Be Kidding: Newly Named 'SureJet' Already Changing Names

August 2, 2011 at 10:44 AM | by | Comments (0)

Only a couple weeks have passed since we told you that SureJet might be the ones to blame for your next flight delay, but now it’s already time to get used to a new name. Apparently, the suits over at Atlantic Southeast Airlines and ExpressJet weren’t really thrilled with their name choice, so they’re scrapping it for now in favor of something a little more clever.

Unfortunately, we don’t know what the better name is, as it seems like they just pulled the new name without a replacement in place. Employees weren’t too thrilled with the new airline branding, and apparently the discontent quickly made it up the food chain at the airline.

more ›

/ / / / / /

Newly Named 'SureJet' May Be Responsible for Your Next Flight Delay

July 18, 2011 at 9:40 AM | by | Comments (0)

This might not be the most interesting piece of airline merger news, but we’re thinking that you’ll want to know who to be mad at the next time your flight is delayed. That’s because a couple of regional airlines are shacking up into one combination airline, and we all know how regional airlines are when it comes to comfy flights and on-time arrivals.

Late last year SkyWest bought ExpressJet, and now they’re in the process of combining the operations of ExpressJet with their other half of their regional airline family—Atlantic Southeast Airlines. They’re hoping to get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly under one operating certificate by the end of the year. Once they get the necessary paperwork from Uncle Sam they’re planning to rename their combined operations "SureJet"; however, the SkyWest arm of the airline will still do its own thing under its own name.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

Even More Planes Move to IAH as the United-Continental Merger Continues

June 9, 2011 at 8:56 AM | by | Comments (0)

We already knew that they have new signs and new advertisements, and this week brings even more news in the United-Continental merger. Things continue to chug along until the day when the airline will operate is one big happy family—that’s supposed to be like the middle of next year—but until then, there’s going to plenty of small steps to help them get there.

One thing that has arrived at plenty of airports—as in like 80 or so—is new software for the Continental and United airport kiosks. Plenty of airports will now let you check into your flight from either airport counter, but just don’t call United to flip out about your Continental flight being delayed. The telephone systems and other reservation technology are far from being integrated.

more ›

/ / / / / / / /

United Starts to Shake Things Up with New Signs in Chicago

May 24, 2011 at 11:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

As the merger between Continental and United moves forward, we’ve begun to notice some small changes here and there. We already knew that the two airlines—especially Continental—are already busy ordering plenty of paint for their not-that-great new livery, but now it looks like the airport changes are beginning as well.

Over at Chicago-O’Hare the new United has begun to install all the new signs, logos, and fonts to reveal their fresh identity and branding. The airline recently rolled out the changes at their hub in Chicago, but the updates are coming soon to each and every airport where United and Continental flies.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

All is Well in the World of Airline Mergers; Southwest Moves Forward with Purchase of AirTran

May 10, 2011 at 8:27 AM | by | Comments (0)

If we learned anything from the Delta-Northwest merger and the United-Continental marriage, it’s that these kinds of things take quite some time. It already seems like years ago since Southwest sent out the surprising news that they’d be gobbling up AirTran to form the world’s biggest and baddest low cost carrier. Well since then it’s been business as usually for both airlines, but recently there was a little progress towards more free bags for the nation’s pack-happy passengers.

The purchase of AirTran—for a cool billion bucks—was completed last week, so now it’s full spread ahead toward one super airline. Unfortunately, full speed ahead still might be a few more years, as some in the industry brainiacs are thinking that AirTran might be doing its own thing well into 2013.

more ›

/ / / / / / /

This Week in Merger News: AirTran Gives Its Blessing and Southwest Wants New Planes

March 31, 2011 at 8:25 AM | by | Comments (0)

It’s been a while since AirTran and Southwest announced they’d be shacking up, and for the most part, things have been pretty quiet. We guess that no news is good news when it comes to airline merger stuff, but still, we kind of expected that there would be a little bit more news at this point.

Rest assured, the merger is moving forward, and the most recent update has to do with AirTran giving the go ahead to get gobbled up. Last week AirTran shareholders got together to talk things over, and they voted in favor of the merger—and that’s a good thing for those looking for even more free checked bags. Uncle Sam and his team of lawyers are still reviewing everything, and that’s really the last hurdle before the two airlines can set a date for their official marriage.

more ›

Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy (Revised 08/01/2011). © Condé Nast Digital. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast Digital.
Ad Choices