December 2024 Digest
NewsIn December 2024, the air travel industry experienced several significant events:
- Record Holiday Travel Numbers
U.S. airlines transported over 54 million passengers during the winter holiday period, setting a new record. - Virgin Atlantic's Return to Profit Amid Demand Concerns
Virgin Atlantic reported a £20 million profit for 2024, marking its first profitable year since the pandemic. However, the airline expressed concerns about a potential slowdown in U.S. demand for transatlantic flights. - Challenges for Chinese Airlines
China's major state-owned carriers faced their fifth consecutive year of losses in 2024, grappling with domestic competition, low international demand, and economic pressures. - Brisbane's Tourism Boom Driven by 'Bleisure' Travel
Brisbane experienced an $11 billion surge in visitor spending, attributed to 'bleisure' travel, where business trips are extended for leisure purposes. - Near-Miss Incident at Los Angeles International Airport
A Delta Airbus A321 narrowly avoided colliding with a private jet carrying the Gonzaga University basketball team on a runway at LAX. - Dublin Airport Faces Passenger Cap Controversy
Dublin Airport's implementation of a passenger cap raised concerns among tourism stakeholders about potential negative impacts on Ireland's €8 billion tourism sector. - American Airlines Experiences Nationwide Grounding
American Airlines grounded all U.S. flights for about an hour due to a technical issue affecting weight and balance calculations, leading to delays during the busy holiday season. - Increase in Air Passenger Travel Between U.S. and Europe
Air passenger enplanements between the U.S. and Europe rose by 6.1% in December 2024 compared to the previous year. - Global Air Passenger Demand Reaches Record High
The International Air Transport Association reported that global air passenger demand in 2024 reached a record high, with December traffic increasing by 5.1% year-over-year. - Increase in U.S. Air Cancellations Noted
The U.S. Department of Transportation observed a slight uptick in flight cancellations in December 2024, with a 0.7% cancellation rate compared to 0.4% in December 2023.