Aer Lingus reconsidering its Manchester operations, big orders from Dubai, too little too late for BA's Avios programme?

Aer Lingus are once again reviewing its Manchester operation. This is a regular “circular” piece of strategic thinking by the airline who have tried to make Manchester work on more than one occasion and failed, so why would it work this time around is an obvious question? Surely better to focus on the #Dublin hub and build as much mass there as possible. Thoughts?

The Dubai Airshow is over, and another set of aircraft orders has been placed by Emirates and flydubai. Both airlines now have more aircraft ordered than operating! Is that great forward planning, queue blocking or great forward planning? With Al Maktoum over the horizon, is this a statement of future network development, and if so, will anyone be able to compete in the region over the coming years? We will be watching.

British Airways makes further adjustments to its Avios programme with immediate effect. It may be too late, as many have walked over the summer, but wouldn’t it be a smarter move to make the change retrospective and admit they got it wrong, or will they spin this as a value-added adjustment to travellers?

Finally, it's Thanksgiving week in the US, so a few days of real heavy demand as long as the weather behaves. Some above-average capacity growth this week from the US low-cost airlines will make for some competition and perhaps slightly lower air fares if anyone can find a seat in the next few days.