Flight Buzz
Frontier Airlines CEO warning: Flight reductions likely amid drop in demand
Frontier flight takes off in Washington, DC Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Major airline CEOs are predicting fewer flights and destinations as some companies report a drop in profits.
The latest inflation numbers from the Labor Department show that airfares, hotel rooms and other travel prices have generally declined in recent months. If the trend continues, at least two major airline CEOs predict travelers will have fewer flights and destinations to choose from.
Frontier Airlines CEO warning
Frontier Airlines CEO Barry L. Biffle addressed the issue on the company’s most recent earnings call.
What they’re saying:
“There is too much supply relative to demand,” Biffle said on the call. “And unless you see a meaningful jump in demand, there’s going to continue to be reductions in capacity in this industry.”
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Biffle isn’t the only airline CEO sounding the flight reduction alarm bell. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby echoed the same sentiment on United’s most recent earnings call.
“If I dig deeper into it and I look at every airline that’s not named United or Delta, I can find at every single one of them, a double-digit percentage of their route network that loses money,” Kirby said. “And the only way for them to get margins that are anywhere close to their WAC is to stop flying places that lose money. And that is going to ultimately happen.”
By the numbers:
Frontier’s second-quarter earnings showed $929 million in revenue, but a net loss of $70 million. United, meanwhile, reported a Q2 profit, with pre-tax earnings of $1.2 billion.
According to NerdWallet, travel costs were down for the fourth consecutive month in July. Hotel room rates are down 3.7% over the past year, while airfares are down 3.5%.
Overall, average U.S. travel costs are only 1% lower than they were this time in 2024, according to NerdWallet’s Travel Price Index, “but it comes at a time of economic uncertainty when prices for most other things are rising,” the report notes.
The Source: This report includes information from NerdWallet, The Street, Frontier Airlines and United Airlines earnings calls and The Associated Press.
- Commercial airlines take precautions to keep passengers safe and avoid in-flight emergencies.
- Pilots must pass strict health checks and assess themselves before every flight to ensure they’re fit to fly.
- If a pilot gets sick mid-flight, the other pilot takes full control, and medical support can be coordinated remotely.
Commercial pilots may fly 900,000-pound jumbo jets with hundreds of passengers on board, but that doesn’t make them superhuman. Like us, they have immune systems that sometimes falter. While it’s uncommon for pilots to get sick or hurt on the job, it’s not unheard of. And rarely, they pass away mid-flight. Just last year, a Turkish Airlines flight from Seattle to Istanbul was forced to make an emergency landing in New York when its 59-year-old pilot collapsed and died a few hours into the 12-hour flight. Thankfully, these unfortunate incidents seldom lead to accidents or even situations that affect passengers—here’s what happens when a pilot gets sick mid-flight.
Preventative Measures
It’s important to note that most sick pilots never make it onto the flight in the first place. “This is because we assess our ‘Fitness to Fly’ prior to each flight,” explains Adam Cohen, a captain at SkyWest Airlines. While it’s not a comprehensive guide, the FAA’s pre-flight health checklist for pilots is called the IMSAFE Checklist. The letters stand for illness, medication, stress, alcohol, fatigue, and emotion. If a pilot doesn’t feel 100 percent in any category, or they’ve been impacted by medication or alcohol consumption, they should refrain from flying and notify their doctor.
Furthermore, in order to fly commercial planes carrying more than six passengers, all pilots need a medical certificate, issued by an official Aviation Medical Examiner. This certificate ensures they’re physically and mentally healthy, and it’s only good for 6-12 months, depending on the pilot’s age. Pilots must be seen by a doctor regularly, and they can’t be morbidly obese or have substance abuse issues.
What Happens If a Pilot Gets Sick Mid-flight
Despite the FAA and airlines’ best efforts to ensure commercial pilots are healthy—they even feed them different meals to prevent the entire flight deck from suffering from food poisoning—pilots occasionally fall ill during a flight they’re working. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a mayday situation. “If a pilot becomes sick or incapacitated in flight, the other pilot is fully qualified to take over and safely operate the aircraft,” explains Rock Saddy, a pilot and liaison for Cirrus Aviation Services. “Commercial flights always have at least two trained pilots on the flight deck, and in some cases, particularly long-haul routes, a relief pilot may also be on board.”
In addition to keeping passengers comfortable, flight attendants are trained to assist in medical emergencies. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. aircrafts with one or more flight attendants on board are required to have a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved automated external defibrillator on board as well as a first aid kit, plus an emergency medical kit containing certain medications you wouldn’t find in a first aid kit.
Saddy tells Travel + Leisure that many airlines also have 24/7 access to services such as MedLink that connect flight crews with emergency room doctors via phone, satellite, or radio. If the pilot is seriously ill, the trained doctor will instruct the pilot taking over to divert to the nearest appropriate airport so the sick pilot can receive medical attention.
Passenger Volunteers
Most frequent fliers can recall a time when they were on a flight and the crew asked passengers who were doctors or nurses to volunteer to assist in the event of a medical emergency. Because this happens rather frequently (although it’s most often a fellow passenger, not the pilot, who needs help), the Aviation Medical Assistance Act, which passed in 1998, includes a section that protects medical personnel from being sued for providing “good-faith” medical care in the event of an emergency.
However, this only applies to domestic flights within the U.S. It may not cover you on an international flight. And if you’ve been consuming alcohol, you could be liable for misconduct or negligence. Ultimately, whether or not you step forward to assist is up to you, so read up on the regulations before you travel.
Published on
August 10, 2025 |
Air India Express has announced a major discount on flights as part of its “Freedom Sale” to celebrate India’s 79th Independence Day. The sale offers domestic and international tickets starting at just Rs 1,279 (Dh53.50) for domestic flights and Rs 4,279 (Dh179) for international routes, making travel between India and the UAE more affordable for millions of passengers. This promotion is expected to benefit a significant number of travelers, especially those between the UAE and India, two countries with strong tourism and diaspora connections.
The airline is offering a total of five million discounted seats across its domestic and international network, which includes routes connecting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah with major cities in India. With more than 3.7 million Indian nationals residing in the UAE, alongside tourists visiting both countries, the sale is expected to boost tourism and make travel more accessible, especially during peak seasons like Onam, Durga Puja, Deepawali, and Christmas.
Boosting Tourism across UAE-India with Affordable Airfare
The new sale will help drive tourism between India and the UAE, strengthening the tourism sector by offering more budget-friendly travel options. Many tourists traveling for holidays, festivals, and business visits will be able to take advantage of the affordable fares, thus promoting cultural exchange and facilitating visits for families separated by long distances. This could lead to an increase in bookings for Indian nationals visiting friends and relatives, as well as foreign tourists traveling to India or the UAE for leisure or business.
The discounted fares are particularly beneficial for the Indian diaspora in the UAE, as well as the millions of tourists who travel between the two countries. The ease of affordable travel is likely to encourage more people to take vacations or visit family during the upcoming festive season. The sale aligns with the growing trend of making travel more accessible for middle-class families and business professionals.
Key Sale Details and Travel Period
The “Freedom Sale” opened exclusively on Air India Express’ official website and app on Sunday, August 10, 2025, and will remain available on all major booking channels until Friday, August 15, 2025. The discounted travel period spans from August 19, 2025, to March 31, 2026, ensuring that travelers can make the most of this offer during key holiday periods. This includes popular festivals such as Onam, Durga Puja, Deepawali, Christmas, and New Year, making it an ideal time for both leisure and family travel.
With a fleet of 116 aircraft, Air India Express operates over five hundred daily flights to thirty-eight domestic and seventeen international destinations. The airline’s extensive network of destinations ensures that passengers from various parts of India and the UAE can access affordable flights to travel back and forth between the two countries.
Special Offers for Students, Senior Citizens, and Armed Forces Personnel
In addition to the regular discounts, Air India Express is offering special fares and benefits for students, senior citizens, armed forces personnel, and their dependents. These groups, who often face travel restrictions due to higher costs, can benefit from additional savings in flight bookings, which could help boost travel among these communities. By offering these special fares, the airline is promoting greater inclusivity in tourism, ensuring that people from different walks of life can enjoy affordable air travel between India and the UAE.
Expected Impact on UAE-India Tourism
This special fare offer from Air India Express is expected to have a substantial impact on tourism. The UAE and India are major tourism hubs, with people frequently traveling between the two countries for business, cultural exchanges, and tourism. With such a large proportion of Indian nationals residing in the UAE, the ease of affordable travel will likely lead to more frequent visits for holidays and family gatherings.
Furthermore, the ongoing promotion could encourage more UAE residents to visit India, boosting inbound tourism to popular destinations such as Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Kerala. The discounted fares are expected to create a ripple effect in the local tourism industry, as more visitors from the UAE arrive in India, potentially leading to increased demand for hotels, tour packages, and local attractions.
A Win for Travelers and the Tourism Sectors
Air India Express’ “Freedom Sale” offers an excellent opportunity for travelers to take advantage of discounted fares, boosting tourism and increasing access to both domestic and international destinations. With the added benefit of special fares for students, senior citizens, and armed forces personnel, this sale is set to provide an affordable and convenient travel experience for many, further fostering cultural and tourism exchanges between the UAE and India.
Image Credit: Air India
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