Skift
• Meghna Maharishi
Southwest Airlines CFO Tom Doxey said the carrier expects loyalty benefits from lounges it plans to open next year, as the airline seeks to attract more high-spend customers and strengthen the value of its customer proposition.
Frequent-flyer programs
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Southwest Airlines CFO Tom Doxey said the carrier expects loyalty benefits from lounges it plans to open next year, as the airline seeks to attract more high-spend customers and strengthen the value of its customer proposition.
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Southwest Airlines will enter the airport-lounge market in late 2027, opening its first four lounges in major U.S. cities through a partnership with Chase. The move adds a premium travel benefit tied to Chase card access as the carrier broadens its offering beyond its traditional low-cost model.
Korean Air is broadening cooperation across commercial and defense aviation: its strategic partnership with Japan Airlines will cover codeshares, frequent-flyer programs, sustainable-fuel procurement, an innovation fund and MRO, while a separate agreement with Thailand’s TAI targets maintenance and upgrades for Thai military aircraft.
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Southwest Airlines has begun construction on its first airport lounges, with initial locations in Austin, Baltimore, Honolulu and Nashville scheduled to open in late 2027. The carrier plans at least 11 lounges through a partnership with Chase as it reshapes its low-cost model to compete more directly with full-service rivals.
A $1.8 billion transaction involving Air Canada’s loyalty program suggests the customer-rewards business is worth more than the airline itself, highlighting the financial value of frequent-flyer data, membership and recurring partner revenues relative to core airline operations.
Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster discusses the airline’s approach to artificial intelligence, loyalty and personalization, while arguing that people and customer experience remain central to its competitive differentiation. The interview highlights how carriers are balancing technology-led efficiency with the human element of premium travel.
Delta Air Lines has made its AI-powered Concierge assistant generally available through the Fly Delta app to all SkyMiles members. The launch expands automated support for disruptions, cancellations, baggage tracking and account information, but the initial functionality falls short of the broader use cases previously presented by the carrier.
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Air Canada is selling a 25% minority stake in its Aeroplan loyalty program to funds managed by Blackstone, La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and other Canadian institutions for C$2.5 billion, valuing the program at about C$10 billion. Air Canada will retain operational and strategic control, using proceeds for debt repayment and share buybacks.
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