National

Members of Delta's pilot union will be picketing outside airports across the country ahead of the holiday weekend to pressure the company to speed up its contract negotiations.

Why it matters: The union estimates that in an effort to meet the massive post-pandemic air travel demand, pilots are on track to have logged more overtime in the past few months than they did in all of 2018 and 2019 combined. 

Driving the news: This is the first systemwide picket pilots have organized in a decade. At Delta hubs around the country — including Atlanta, New York, Detroit, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Seattle — pilots plan to be posted outside airport buildings Thursday with signs and leaflets. 

Of note: Because the pilots — members of the Delta unit of the Air Line Pilots Association — are picketing on their days off, service will not be affected.

The other side: A Delta spokesperson told Axios in a statement the company's "goal remains to continue providing Delta pilots with an industry-leading overall contract with the best compensation based on pay, retirement, work rules, and profit-sharing."

They're also, he said, committed to making sure they can "maintain a strong balance sheet and invest in our business for our customers and employees alike."

The big picture: The staffing shortages plaguing airlines and travelers recently are projected to last into 2023, Axios' Joann Muller reports. 

Delta already cut its summer schedule to alleviate pressure on its employees.

Catch up quick: Delta pilots are working under a contract that was signed in 2016. The union paused its regular negotiations at the start of the pandemic but resumed discussions in January. 

However, First Officer Reed Donoghue, a Delta pilot and spokesperson for the union, told Axios Atlanta that since then they've "seen little meaningful movement from Delta at the table."

American Airlines pilots have picketed for similar reasons this year. 

The bottom line: Donoghue said they're pushing Delta to adjust its schedule based on the staff it has available rather than rely on overtime. "In order for them to do more flying, they're going to need to hire more pilots," he said. "In order to attract more pilots, it really helps to have a comprehensive, industry-leading contract." 

Zoom in: Besides a pay raise, Donoghue said, pilots are looking for job protections, quality of life improvements to their schedules as well as benefit enhancements.

Flashback: Thousands of flights were canceled or delayed during the Juneteenth and Father's Day holiday weekend, Axios' Rebecca Falconer reports. Friday, June 17 was the busiest air travel day of the year, according to the TSA.

What we're watching: For Independence Day weekend, Delta issued a systemwide travel waiver for travelers to rebook at no charge. 

AAA estimates more than 3.5 million Americans are expected to fly— the lowest share of air travel for the holiday since 2011.

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to say Delta pilots are working under a contract that was signed in 2016 (not that it expired in 2016).

Atlanta

Atlanta Alerts

Atlanta Members

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Atlanta. Written by Emma Hurt, Kristal Dixon and Thomas Wheatley.

Axios Atlanta Thought Bubble

Axios Atlanta

Delta pilots launch nationwide protest over union contract

The pilots will be picketing outside airports across the country

Illustration of an airplane on a runway shaped like a "no" symbol.

Air travel

Transportation

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Whats Next

Axios What's Next

Global market size by mobility service

Data: Oliver Wyman Forum. Chart: Baidi Wang/Axios

A new study finds that alternative mobility services, from ride-sharing to e-scooters, will grow twice as fast as traditional public transit annually through 2030.

Why it matters: If powered by electricity from renewable sources, many of these new modes of transportation could improve air quality, reduce noise levels, and shrink cities' carbon footprints.

That's according to the study conducted by Oliver Wyman Forum and the Institute of Transportation Studies (ITS) at the University of California-Berkeley.

Yes, but: More ride‑hailing and car-sharing could make congestion worse if commuters choose these services over mass transit.

The big picture: The researchers note that subways, buses, and commuter light rail are by far the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways to move people around cities. 

During the pandemic, however, many people avoided mass transit in favor of shared bicycles, scooters, and car services. 

That lost revenue weakened many cities' public transportation systems.

By the numbers: The researchers analyzed 13 mobility-related services in North America, Europe, and Asia.

They forecast a $660 billion global market for new mobility services by 2030, up from $260 billion in 2020. 

Such services are expected to grow nearly 10% annually on average, compared with 5% for the overall transportation sector.

Some of the strongest growth (averaging 23% a year) will come from "semi‑mature and emerging services" — electric vehicle charging, bike and scooter sharing, carpooling services, and smart parking payment technology.

Three factors are driving the growth in new mobility services, the study found:

Technology: Integrated mobile apps ease navigation and longer-range batteries make scooters and e-bikes more viable.

Regulation: Cities are using a combination of taxes, subsidies, and infrastructure spending to influence the public's transportation choices.

Consumer demand: People want cheap, on-demand individual mobility, which explains the growth in shared bikes and cars over traditional mass transit. 

The bottom line: The way people move about changed dramatically during the pandemic, and continues to evolve. 

Ride-sharing and e-scooters are growing twice as fast as mass transit

EV share of total U.S. vehicle registrations

Data: S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit); Chart: Baidi Wang/Axios

Tesla's grip on the growing U.S. electric vehicle (EV) market remains strong despite an onslaught of new plug-in models from competitors.

Why it matters: The Elon Musk-led automaker pioneered the EV movement more than a decade ago, but only now is U.S. demand starting to take off.

EV registrations have doubled over the past year, to about 5% of all new cars, and shoppers have dozens of new choices, with many more on the way.

What's happening: The historic shift away from gasoline will take years to play out, but Axios is tracking the revolution as it rolls across the U.S., using monthly vehicle registration data from S&P Global Mobility.

California has by far the largest market today, but EV adoption is also growing in some large cities in the Northeast, Florida and Texas. EV ownership remains limited in the Midwest.

Each of our Axios Local newsletters will monitor EV adoption in their hometown, and take note of the most popular models among their neighbors.

Over time, we'll be able to track the EV wave as it spreads across the country, and we'll be watching to see whether Tesla's market share declines as expected as more EVs hit the market.

EV share of vehicle registrations by designated market area

Data: S&P Global Mobility; Chart: Jared Whalen/Axios

Where it stands: So far, Tesla's dominance is secure.

Teslas accounted for 61% of all EVs registered in the U.S. in April, the latest month for which data is available.

The next closest were Ford (8%), Hyundai (6%) and Kia (6%).

Even Ford's much-heralded F-150 Lightning and Mustang Mach-E aren't making a dent. One reason: production is limited and the automaker stopped taking orders. 

Tesla Model Y registrations (14,152) were four times that of Ford's Mach-E (3,287) in April.

The risk for Tesla is that it's trying to fight off challengers with just two vehicles: the Model 3 and Model Y.

Sales of its older Model S and X have pretty much plateaued, and its Cybertruck has been delayed multiple times.

Meanwhile, other companies, like General Motors, are coming with a barrage of EVs in virtually every segment, including pickup trucks, SUVs, crossovers and luxury models.

Yes, but: Tesla has a "halo around the brand that is extraordinary and unique," says Tom Libby, S&P Global Mobility analyst.

Besides, rival models "are just not setting the world on fire," Libby says. 

General Motors' newest models, like the Cadillac Lyriq and Hummer EV pickup, are in limited supply. Its EVs won't land in big numbers for another year or two.

Volkswagen's I.D.4 hasn't made much of a splash, either. But the I.D. Buzz, a modern interpretation of the VW bus, is coming in 2024. 

Challengers like Rivian, meanwhile, have run into manufacturing bottlenecks due to chip shortages and supply chain disruptions. 

Notable launches are coming soon from Honda, Jeep, BMW and others.

"It will depend a huge amount on the specifics of the product, including the price and the monthly payment," Libby tells Axios. "If GM is able to launch a (Chevrolet) Equinox for under $30,000, that would be competitive."

What to watch: EVs' share of North American vehicles is accelerating and could hit 28% by 2028, and 59% by 2035, per consulting firm AlixPartners.

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the I.D. Buzz is coming in 2024, not next year.

Austin

Austin Alerts

Austin Members

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

Axios Austin Thought Bubble

Axios Austin

Tesla's in the lead as U.S. electric car sales get supercharged

Its rivals have lots of catching up to do.

Electric vehicles

Biden outlines plan to lower gas prices by $1 a gallon

A federal gas tax holiday is one part of President Biden's plan.

President Biden speaks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on June 22. Biden is asking Congress to enact a three-month gasoline tax holiday. Photo: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Gas prices

Uber is bringing back shared rides in several U.S. cities, after halting the service for more than two years in an attempt to help protect riders — and drivers — from COVID-19.

Driving the news: Uber said Tuesday that UberX Share is arriving in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Phoenix, San Diego, Portland, Oregon, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, with more cities to be added later in the summer.  

Details: The ride-share program has been rebranded from Uber Pool to UberX Share.

Riders will receive an upfront discount if they choose UberX Share and get up to 20% off the total fare, if matched with a co-rider along the way, per the announcement.

The big picture: Uber and Lyft halted shared rides in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across the world.

In the summer of 2021, Lyft started to bring back shared rides in Philadelphia, Chicago and Denver in a sign that several cities were starting to return to the pre-pandemic normal.

What they're saying: "We believe UberX Share, and the improvements we’ve made for drivers and riders, will make it better than ever," Uber's Andrew Macdonald, senior vice president of mobility and business operations, wrote in a blog post.

Uber brings back shared rides to nine U.S. cities this summer

The feature was halted in 2020 to help protect riders and drivers from the COVID-19 virus.

An Uber car waits for a client in New York City. Photo: Spencer Platt via Getty Images

Uber

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told the Associated Press in an interview Saturday his department may take enforcement actions against airlines that do not abide by consumer-protection standards. 

Driving the news: As air travel has rebounded from lows because of the coronavirus pandemic, widespread flight disruptions caused by airline staffing shortages and weather have upended schedules and left travelers stranded or scrambling.

Staffing shortages at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which falls under Buttigieg's purview, have contributed to flight delays, according to AP.

By the numbers: As of Saturday afternoon, more than 2,900 U.S. flights were delayed and 760 were canceled altogether, according to real-time flight tracker FlightAware.

The disruptions come on the heels of 8,940 flight delays and 1,470 cancellations on Friday. Most of the delays were weather-related. 

Flashback: Many travelers faced similar issues around Memorial Day, with more than 2,800 flights canceled during the holiday weekend, per FlightAware. 

Airlines blamed bad weather, air traffic control and staffing problems for the disruptions. 

What they're saying: Buttigieg's department will wait to see if there are major flight disruptions over the July Fourth holiday weekend and the rest of the summer before deciding whether to step up enforcement against airlines, he told AP.

Buttigieg said that airline executives told him that their companies are attempting to hire and train new pilots and other workers to meet demand. They also said they are hiring more customer service representatives to help passengers rebook canceled flights or get refunds for them.

What to watch: The government could levy fines against the airlines, but those have typically been small. Air Canada had to pay a $2 million fine last year because it did not refund passengers quickly enough. 

Go deeper: Memorial Day airline hell was a painful preview of summer

U.S. weighing penalizing airlines if flight disruptions continue: Buttigieg

There have been recent widespread flight disruptions from airline staffing shortages and weather.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaking in the White House in May 2022.

Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks in the White House last month. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Pete Buttigieg

President Biden has made the COVID-19 crisis and a post-Trump return to national unity and traditional democratic ideals his top priorities. From vaccinations to stimulus to schools, Biden is seeking bipartisan compromise while showing a willingness to use executive authority and bare Democratic majorities in the U.S. House and Senate to implement his policies. Republican leaders are navigating deep party divisions over if and how to move beyond former President Trump.

Politics & Policy

Ford is recalling 2.9 million vehicles due to a rollaway risk, per AP.

Why it matters: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received multiple reports of property damage and injuries potentially related to the problem.

The big picture: The cables in the cars can detach or degrade over time, which can lead to vehicles not shifting into the intended gear, according to documents from the NHTSA.

The cars might not shift into the correct gear and could move in an unintended direction, CNN writes. 

Details: The recall covers certain 2013 to 2019 Escape, 2013 to 2018 C-Max, 2013 to 2016 Fusion, 2013 to 2021 Transit Connect and 2015 to 2018 Edge vehicles.

Ford currently has over 1,600 warranty reports and 230 complaints about the problem, per AP. 

Ford recalls 2.9 million cars due to rollaway risk

The NHTSA has multiple reports of property damage and injuries potentially related to the problem.

Photo: Indranil Aditya/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Ford Motor Company

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Energy & Environment

Nearly a decade after Amazon began working on drone delivery, customers living in one small California community will soon be able to take advantage of the 30-minute air delivery service. 

Why it matters: Drones bearing packages could soon be as ubiquitous as the Amazon van or UPS truck rumbling through your neighborhood, helping to reduce roadway congestion and lessen tailpipe emissions. 

Yes, but: Widespread deployment won’t happen until the Federal Aviation Administration finalizes drone flight rules — a process that could take another year or two.

Driving the news: Amazon said Monday it will launch its Prime Air drone delivery service later this year for about 3,000 customers in rural Lockeford, California, near Sacramento.

To support the service, the company is building a dedicated drone fulfillment facility in San Joaquin County.

The news comes about a month after rival Walmart said its DroneUp delivery network will expand to 34 sites in six states by the end of the year.

How it works: Amazon will notify Lockeford customers that they have the option to receive free drone delivery on thousands of everyday items.

If they're interested, an Amazon representative will visit their home to scope out a mutually agreed-upon delivery location, and provide them with a delivery marker that will give the drone a target.

Customers can then place orders for Prime Air-eligible items as they normally would and track their orders in real time. 

The drone will fly to the designated delivery location, descend to the customer’s yard, and hover safely about 6 feet off the ground. It will then  release the package, rise back up to altitude and return to base.

Camera sensors will ensure that there are no pets, people or objects that would interfere with the delivery. If the drone senses an obstacle, Amazon will try to reschedule the delivery. 

Amazon's drones are different from rival offerings, the company says, because they have a sophisticated "sense-and-avoid system" that enables them to operate at greater distances while navigating around other aircraft and hazards like chimneys or trees.

And unlike other drone companies — which use tethers or parachutes to lower packages to the ground — Amazon's drones release them from a height of about 6 feet using specialized packaging to protect contents.

Where it stands: For now, Amazon, like other drone companies, must have trained observers to keep visual tabs on its drones for safety. 

The FAA is currently finalizing rules that would allow companies to fly drones "beyond the visual line of sight," which would enable more widespread deployment. 

Amazon's drone delivery service is finally starting

But only for one rural California suburb, to start

Image of Amazon Prime Air's hexagon-shaped delivery drone. 

Amazon Prime Air's hexagon-shaped delivery drone, launching later this year. Photo courtesy Amazon

Drones

The pain at the pump shows no signs of slowing down, with record-high gas prices being br0ken almost daily. 

Why it matters: Even as gas prices inch closer to a national average of $5 a gallon and Americans grapple with inflation, there are some ways to save money on a fill-up from searching for the cheapest price to using loyalty programs.

Driving the news: The national average for regular unleaded was $4.956 on Wednesday.

16 states, along with Washington D.C., had averages exceeding $5 a gallon Wednesday, according to the latest data from AAA.

California ($6.39) and Nevada ($5.56) had the nation's highest prices Tuesday.

Georgia has the lowest at $4.38 a gallon.

Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, told Axios that gas could hit an average of $5 nationwide in the “next week or so.”

Check apps like GasBuddy, AAA and Gas Guru to find the cheapest gas prices before filling up.

What they’re saying: GasBuddy spokesperson Nicole Petersen advises shopping around for the best gas prices, but the cheapest station isn’t always the most convenient.

“Drivers can save in the range of 30 cents per gallon just by comparing prices and driving a few extra blocks,” Petersen told Axios.

Costco members say fuel savings is a top perk of their membership. Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Wholesale clubs like Costco and Sam's Club are known for having some of the lowest gas prices around, which also can make their gas stations some of the busiest.

Retailers have considered it common for members to shop while visiting the store for a fill-up for many years.

But Bob Nelson, a Costco senior vice president, said May 26 during the retailer’s quarterly earnings call that a lot more members are coming by to “top off their tank just because the value proposition, in some cases, is over $1 a gallon.”

Meanwhile, at BJ's Wholesale, save 10 cents on each gallon of gas for each eligible item purchased with its "Fuel Saver Program."

There's also a BJ's promotion through June 15 to get 75 cents off a gallon when purchasing four qualifying items in one transaction.

What they're saying: “If you fill up at the wholesale club the majority of the time, you do get an advantage and the more often you do it, (the membership) can pay for itself,” GasBuddy's De Haan said in an interview with Axios.

Be smart: Almost every major gas station chain has a loyalty program and some regularly offer savings.

Through June 12, Wawa is offering 15 cents off a gallon when you pay for gas through its app.

With 7-Eleven’s 7Rewards program, get 11 cents off every gallon, up to 20 gallons, on seven fill-ups in the first 90 days of signing up and then 3 cents off per gallon.

Other top gas rewards programs include BPme Rewards, Exxon Mobil Rewards+ and Shell Fuel Rewards.

Kroger, Safeway, Walmart offer fuel rewards

Quick take: Grocery store chains including Kroger and Albertsons offer gas savings when buying groceries with their loyalty programs.

At Kroger earn Fuel Points with the loyalty program and get between 10 cents and $1 off a gallon, depending on how many points you redeem.

With Safeway and Albertson’s loyalty program, earn one fuel point for every dollar spent and with 100 points get 10 cents a gallon off at Chevron and Texaco stations.

Members of Walmart+, which costs $12.95 a month or $98 a year, save 10 cents per gallon at participating Exxon and Mobil locations.

The big picture: Bankrate’s Ted Rossman said using a gas rewards credit card is the best bet to save, but it can depend on the card.

5 top ways to save on high gas prices

The pain at the pump isn't slowing down, but it's possible to save.

All Transportation stories