Airline Leaders Descend on Washington D.C.
Many of the biggest names in U.S. aviation recently gathered in Washington D.C. providing valuable insights into the latest trends and trajectories. We've got the details.
Gordon Smith is Airlines Editor at Skift and Editor at Airline Weekly. He’s been writing about the sector for more than a decade and enjoyed a front-row seat for some of the aviation industry’s biggest stories. Since joining Skift in January 2024, he has interviewed more than a dozen global airline CEOs, often helping make headlines along the way (special thanks to Michael O’Leary!). His informed insights have led to contributions for international media, including the London Evening Standard and Canada’s CBC Radio.
8 Origins of Spirit’s Downfall
Spirit Airlines went from being a profit all-star in the 2010s to a poster child for dysfunction in the 2020s. Filing for bankruptcy again, having just exited court protection in March, the ULCC is deeply distressed and losing alarming sums of money. In this week's feature story we discuss where it all went wrong, and identify possible survival strategies for the ailing carrier.
What’s Happening at WestJet?
WestJet has grown from a scrappy low-cost upstart into a major international player. This latest Boeing order is a powerful signal of intent.
China’s Changing Airlines: 10 Things to Know
China’s 'Big Three' airline groups are still struggling to turn a profit. Domestic travel remains strong, but flights to and from places like Thailand, North America, and Europe are a challenge. Air China and China Eastern are losing money, while China Southern is scraping by with a slender margin. In this week's feature story we ask why.
Profits A'Plenty for Australian Airlines
It's a bit of a profit party in Australia right now, but the good times haven't extended across the Tasman Sea, as Air New Zealand continues to struggle.
Azul and Gol: Together at Last or Separate Paths?
To merge or not to merge? That's the question for two of Brazil’s three major airlines. In January, Azul and Gol signed a non-binding deal with "intent to combine their businesses.” Then came a snag. Azul filed for Chapter 11, just one week before Gol exited bankruptcy. Today, the prospect of a Brazilian mega-merger is increasingly uncertain, as we discuss in this week's feature story.
What are the World’s Busiest Airports?
Every airport on the list is enormous, but even within this powerful group there are a handful of mega-terminals in a league of their own.
What is America's Most Profitable Airline?
Q2 2025 was a mixed bag for U.S. airlines. We help make sense of it all in a special round-up show.
Air France-KLM’s Diverging Fortunes
Charles de Gaulle once famously asked: “How can you govern a country in which there are 246 kinds of cheese?” Fortunately for Ben Smith, governing Air France-KLM isn’t quite that complicated. But he does now preside over four different airlines, some faring well, others faring poorly, as we discover in this week's feature story.
What is Air France-KLM's Weakest Link?
Air France-KLM's Q2 results were a broad improvement, but stubborn problems remain.