Thomas Black

Covid Risks? Airfare Inflation? Let’s Hit the Skies

During the height of the pandemic, airline executives knew travel would recover eventually when vaccines were widely available. They also had a vague notion that flying patterns would change. They were right on both counts. Demand is closing in on 2019 levels, and executives are getting a clearer…

Freight Costs Fueled Inflation. Can They Dampen It Now?

Companies are mentioning freight costs much less frequently during this season of conference calls than they did a year ago, and when they have discussed them, the conversation has revolved around a sense of relief. That’s a good sign for easing inflation. It’s easy to see why. The price to ship…

Air Travel Is Awful. Transparency Can Improve It.

When airline passengers watch in horror as their flight status blinks from “delayed” to “canceled,” two competing visions are likely to pop into their heads. One is pitchforks and torches. The other is a couple of hundred other travelers scrambling to get on the next available flight. Linger too…