Summary: <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Is it time for airports to join the consolidation game? We talk a lot about airlines and mergers (and bankruptcies these days) but airports might also benefit from joining forces. As airlines fight today to quickly shed less profitable markets the discussion is perhaps more poignant than ever.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Also in this episode:<br> <br> <br> <br> * Masks are coming and on some airlines you might not be able to avoid it* <a href="http://www.Delta.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Delta Air Lines</a> is <a href="https://paxex.aero/2020/04/delta-flight-products-covid-19-transport-pod/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">manufacturing COVID transport pods for the US military</a>* The <a href="https://www.embraercommercialaviation.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Embraer</a>/<a href="http://www.boeing.com/commercial/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing</a> deal is dead* None of the Virgin brand airlines are doing particularly well* So many fun new routes from <a href="https://paxex.aero/2020/04/spirit-airlines-triangle-routes-cares-act-requirements/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Spirit Airlines</a>, <a href="https://paxex.aero/2020/04/frontier-airlines-pushes-new-route-plan-for-cares-act-compliance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Frontier Airlines</a>, and <a href="https://paxex.aero/2020/04/jetblue-plans-new-route-network-for-cares-act-compliance/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">JetBlue</a> to try to address the CARES Act requirements, but we won't be flying any of them* Are the airlines really blocking seats on board? Or is that just marketing hype? For <a href="http://aa.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Airlines</a> it <a href="https://twitter.com/xJonNYC/status/1254921610001293312" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">seems to be more the latter</a>.* Air Sinai is one of <a href="https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/air-sinai-ghost-flight" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">the coolest airlines you've probably never heard of</a>* <a href="http://united.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">United Airlines</a> is changing some of the rules for the MileagePlus program, including removing more award charts. That's probably bad news, but also an opportunity, perhaps, for some travelers to reconsider their loyalties* The new Berlin airport might finally really open this year<br> <br> <br> <br> And, as always, lots more. Enjoy the show!<br>
