2 months ago
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) CEO Scott Kirby told CNBC he wants to expand United's presence at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, returning to the congested airport through a new partnership with JetBlue Airways, American's former partner, as early as next year.
Kirby said he is also preparing for how artificial intelligence will change the airline industry. CNBC reported that Kirby, who was fired by American Airlines a decade ago when he served as its president, has floated megamerger ideas with both Delta and American over the past year but has so far been rebuffed, with antitrust experts skeptical the combinations could happen. He said he remains uninterested in acquiring a smaller carrier. United currently ranks as the second most profitable U.S. airline behind Delta, with American a "distant third."
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) has a concrete opportunity to strengthen its position at JFK through its partnership with JetBlue. Re-entering one of the country's most valuable and slot-constrained airports would give United incremental access to a market where it has struggled to compete. The partnership could also weaken American's competitive position by pulling JetBlue away from its previous relationship with American.
United also has the financial strength to pursue an ambitious growth strategy. The airline ranks as the second-most profitable U.S. carrier behind Delta, giving CEO Scott Kirby greater flexibility to invest in network expansion, technology, and other long-term opportunities. That financial position gives United more room to pursue transformative moves without relying solely on defensive strategies.
Kirby's comments on M&A also suggest that United wants to pursue scale selectively rather than chase every available acquisition. He has expressed little interest in buying a smaller carrier while discussing the possibility of much larger combinations with Delta or American. That approach could help United focus its capital and management resources on deals that could materially strengthen its competitive position.
#kirby
Kirby said he is also preparing for how artificial intelligence will change the airline industry. CNBC reported that Kirby, who was fired by American Airlines a decade ago when he served as its president, has floated megamerger ideas with both Delta and American over the past year but has so far been rebuffed, with antitrust experts skeptical the combinations could happen. He said he remains uninterested in acquiring a smaller carrier. United currently ranks as the second most profitable U.S. airline behind Delta, with American a "distant third."
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) has a concrete opportunity to strengthen its position at JFK through its partnership with JetBlue. Re-entering one of the country's most valuable and slot-constrained airports would give United incremental access to a market where it has struggled to compete. The partnership could also weaken American's competitive position by pulling JetBlue away from its previous relationship with American.
United also has the financial strength to pursue an ambitious growth strategy. The airline ranks as the second-most profitable U.S. carrier behind Delta, giving CEO Scott Kirby greater flexibility to invest in network expansion, technology, and other long-term opportunities. That financial position gives United more room to pursue transformative moves without relying solely on defensive strategies.
Kirby's comments on M&A also suggest that United wants to pursue scale selectively rather than chase every available acquisition. He has expressed little interest in buying a smaller carrier while discussing the possibility of much larger combinations with Delta or American. That approach could help United focus its capital and management resources on deals that could materially strengthen its competitive position.
#kirby
2 months ago
JetBlue Airways (JBLU) is heading into a more significant phase of its comeback without one of the activist investors who helped alter its board.
Carl Icahn sharply cut his JetBlue position, selling roughly 8.13 million shares for about $40.4 million between Aug. 17 and Aug. 20, regulatory filings show. The transactions reduced the Icahn Group's interest to around 3.32%, or about 12.5 million shares, from over 10% when the activist investor initially revealed his position in 2024.
That's more than some spring cleaning.
Icahn's smaller stake fell below the amount needed to retain board presence at JetBlue. Jesse Lynn and Steven Miller, directors supported by Icahn, resigned both effective Aug. 24 after the group's ownership fell below the appropriate level, the airline said in an Aug. 27 filing with the SEC.
It is interesting timing for investors. JetBlue is aiming to show that its JetForward turnaround will restore sustainable profitability after years of strategic missteps, excessive expenses, and a failed attempt to combine with Spirit Airlines.
#jetblue #icahn #fell
Carl Icahn sharply cut his JetBlue position, selling roughly 8.13 million shares for about $40.4 million between Aug. 17 and Aug. 20, regulatory filings show. The transactions reduced the Icahn Group's interest to around 3.32%, or about 12.5 million shares, from over 10% when the activist investor initially revealed his position in 2024.
That's more than some spring cleaning.
Icahn's smaller stake fell below the amount needed to retain board presence at JetBlue. Jesse Lynn and Steven Miller, directors supported by Icahn, resigned both effective Aug. 24 after the group's ownership fell below the appropriate level, the airline said in an Aug. 27 filing with the SEC.
It is interesting timing for investors. JetBlue is aiming to show that its JetForward turnaround will restore sustainable profitability after years of strategic missteps, excessive expenses, and a failed attempt to combine with Spirit Airlines.
#jetblue #icahn #fell
3 months ago
WEST SACRAMENTO — Red Sox left fielder Roman Anthony restarted his hitting progression on Wednesday after being shut down for approximately nine weeks.
The 22-year-old tore a ligament under his right ring finger while swinging during an at-bat in Detroit on May 4.
He initially resumed hitting but his progression was halted on May 28, when he felt discomfort in his injured hand while hitting off a tee.
"Roman has started swinging a bat. Off a tee, short flips, there's some of that action going on," interim manager Chad Tracy said before Boston's game against the Athletics on Thursday. "It's mainly up to about 30 swings at this time and he's doing well."
Anthony has been rehabbing at the Red Sox' JetBlue Park Complex in Fort Myers since early July.
#anthony
The 22-year-old tore a ligament under his right ring finger while swinging during an at-bat in Detroit on May 4.
He initially resumed hitting but his progression was halted on May 28, when he felt discomfort in his injured hand while hitting off a tee.
"Roman has started swinging a bat. Off a tee, short flips, there's some of that action going on," interim manager Chad Tracy said before Boston's game against the Athletics on Thursday. "It's mainly up to about 30 swings at this time and he's doing well."
Anthony has been rehabbing at the Red Sox' JetBlue Park Complex in Fort Myers since early July.
#anthony
4 months ago
Delta Air Lines (DAL) is set to provide investors with their first major hint as to whether higher airfares are still holding.
That's important since airline stocks have been squeezed by two competing pressures in 2026. Unpredictable fuel prices have offset strong travel demand.
Now Bank of America believes the setting appears better than feared.
BofA upped price targets for the airline group in a July 1 research report reviewed by TheStreet, suggesting steady demand, stronger fares and reduced fuel costs may support greater profitability into second-quarter results.
The brokerage boosted its price target for Delta to $100 from $93 and for United Airlines Holdings (UAL) to $150 from $145. It also boosted objectives on American Airlines Group, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Air Group, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Group Holdings and Allegiant Travel.
That's important since airline stocks have been squeezed by two competing pressures in 2026. Unpredictable fuel prices have offset strong travel demand.
Now Bank of America believes the setting appears better than feared.
BofA upped price targets for the airline group in a July 1 research report reviewed by TheStreet, suggesting steady demand, stronger fares and reduced fuel costs may support greater profitability into second-quarter results.
The brokerage boosted its price target for Delta to $100 from $93 and for United Airlines Holdings (UAL) to $150 from $145. It also boosted objectives on American Airlines Group, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Air Group, JetBlue Airways, Frontier Group Holdings and Allegiant Travel.
4 months ago
A packed JetBlue plane landing at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport collided with a drone just moments before touching down. The flight landed without incident but minutes later, according to air traffic control audio, another JetBlue flight reported seeing a drone flying quite close. NBC's Erin McLaughlin reports for TODAY.
4 months ago
By Jasper Ward and Allison Lampert
WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said it has launched an investigation after a JetBlue flight reported hitting a drone while approaching New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday.
The pilot of the Airbus A321, which had departed from Las Vegas, reported the strike at approximately 3,000 feet altitude while on final approach, the FAA said.
The incident happened around 7:15 a.m. EDT, according to the agency.
"The flight landed without incident, customers deplaned normally, and the plane was removed from service for a post-flight inspection, which found no damage or evidence of a collision," the airline said.
WASHINGTON, June 29 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration said it has launched an investigation after a JetBlue flight reported hitting a drone while approaching New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday.
The pilot of the Airbus A321, which had departed from Las Vegas, reported the strike at approximately 3,000 feet altitude while on final approach, the FAA said.
The incident happened around 7:15 a.m. EDT, according to the agency.
"The flight landed without incident, customers deplaned normally, and the plane was removed from service for a post-flight inspection, which found no damage or evidence of a collision," the airline said.
11 months ago
NEW YORK (PIX11) — A JetBlue flight from Cancun to Newark suddenly dropped mid-air and injured 15 passengers, a frightening episode that forced an unexpected emergency landing in Tampa.
For weeks, investigators believed the Airbus A320’s violent plunge was caused by a software malfunction. But now, some experts are pointing to something far more unusual: the possibility that a cosmic flare disrupted the aircraft’s systems.
More Local News
The scare unfolded back in October.
Passengers had been thrown into overhead panels as the plane abruptly lost control, and the FAA quickly labeled it a
For weeks, investigators believed the Airbus A320’s violent plunge was caused by a software malfunction. But now, some experts are pointing to something far more unusual: the possibility that a cosmic flare disrupted the aircraft’s systems.
More Local News
The scare unfolded back in October.
Passengers had been thrown into overhead panels as the plane abruptly lost control, and the FAA quickly labeled it a
11 months ago
Getty; Nik Oiko/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty
A ****** e and radiation expert claims a JetBlue flight incident that left at least 15 people hospitalized may have been caused by "cosmic rays"
The statement contradicts an explanation from Airbus, the plane's manufacturer, which cited "solar radiation" as the cause
Clive Dyer, the expert at the University of Surrey, told ****** e.com solar activity was insignificant the day of the incident
A ****** e and radiation expert is disagreeing with Airbus’ recent explanation of a flight incident that left at least 15 people injured back in Octobe
A ****** e and radiation expert claims a JetBlue flight incident that left at least 15 people hospitalized may have been caused by "cosmic rays"
The statement contradicts an explanation from Airbus, the plane's manufacturer, which cited "solar radiation" as the cause
Clive Dyer, the expert at the University of Surrey, told ****** e.com solar activity was insignificant the day of the incident
A ****** e and radiation expert is disagreeing with Airbus’ recent explanation of a flight incident that left at least 15 people injured back in Octobe
1 yr. ago
A new partnership will link United’s MileagePlus and JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty programs, allowing members of each to earn and redeem points on either carrier’s flights, as soon as this fall.
