Skift Take It looks like JetBlue’s new strategy that emphasizes cutting unprofitable routes and bolstering leisure capacity in the East Coast is continuing to pay off. Meghna Maharishi JetBlue raised its third-quarter guidance Thursday primarily due to an uptick in bookings, particularly in Latin America.  The carrier now expects to see anywhere between a … [Read more...]

Skift Take The furloughs were part of an attempt to cut costs as Spirit’s revenues have sharply declined over the past few years. However, the carrier still has more hurdles to overcome — including a staggering $1.1 billion in debt that’s set to mature in a year. Meghna Maharishi Spirit Airlines furloughed 186 pilots on September 1, a result of Pratt & Whitney … [Read more...]

Skift Take Airlines are obsessive about reducing weight to keep fuel costs down and bolster environmental credentials. This decision from Swiss will not have come lightly. Gordon Smith The Swiss are globally renowned for engineering excellence, but its national carrier is placing this hard-won reputation under strain with an almighty design oversight. Swiss … [Read more...]

Skift Take He took Emirates from startup to one of the world’s largest international airlines. Gordon Smith Decades before the Burj Khalifa or even the Dubai Mall entered the global lexicon, one Brit already had the UAE firmly on his radar. Sir Tim Clark’s visionary leadership of Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, has seen the carrier grow at lightning speed in … [Read more...]

Skift Take Ed Bastian made smart moves that put Delta at the crest of the premium wave. The airline now rakes in one of every three dollars of profit made in the entire U.S. airline industry. Gordon Smith It ain’t easy running a profitable airline, but listen to Delta CEO Ed Bastian and you’re left wondering why others are faltering. His laser focus on simplicity at … [Read more...]

Skift Take Aircraft leasing, which gave airlines a new way to finance planes, has largely been the brainchild of Udvar-Hazy. Meghna Maharishi Aircraft leasing opened up a whole new world for the airline industry, and it came from one of the most innovative minds in the business: Steven Udvar-Hazy, the executive chairman and founder of Air Lease and International … [Read more...]

Skift Take As Transportation Secretary, Buttigieg has made an often-overlooked department relevant. Meghna Maharishi Of all the cabinet positions in a presidential administration, Transportation Secretary has never been seen as the sexiest. But Pete Buttigieg, also known as Mayor Pete, has made an often-overlooked department relevant. He’s probably the most … [Read more...]

Skift Take From his blunt takes on ultra-low-cost carriers to Boeing, Kirby has become one of the most influential — and candid — voices in the airline industry. And under his watch, United has managed to become one of the most profitable U.S. airlines. Meghna Maharishi Whether it’s his strong stance on ultra-low-cost carriers or his brutally honest criticism on the … [Read more...]

Skift Take Throughout its 40-year history, Virgin Atlantic has made its name by shaking up the airline establishment. This move suggests that when cultural sensitivities are concerned, even a trailblazer can have its limits. Gordon Smith Virgin Atlantic is launching a major new route from Heathrow to Saudi Arabia next March and it is finding it needs to balance some … [Read more...]

Skift Take Elliott is amping up the pressure on Southwest. Now that it's crossed the threshold in owning 10% of the carrier's common stock shares, the hedge fund could call a special meeting to force a vote on whether to oust Southwest CEO Bob Jordan and chairman Gary Kelly. Meghna Maharishi Elliott Investment Management now owns 10% of common stock in Southwest … [Read more...]

This article is all about where to stay in Da Nang; a metropolis with a beautiful coastline, stunning beaches, and modern infrastructure. Let’s dive into the best areas of Vietnam’s fourth-largest city! Table of Contents I’ve spent a lot of time traveling around Vietnam and Da Nang is one of my favorite places to visit. The mix of a chilled beach vibe with the buzz of a big city makes it an … [Read more...]

Skift Take With the ink barely dry on the divorce papers, Star Alliance is wasting no time in luring back some of SAS’ most loyal - and profitable - customers. The aim of this neatly timed promotion is business continuity and customer retention, but it remains to be seen how many frequent flyers will take up the offer. Gordon Smith, Skift On September 1, SAS … [Read more...]

Skift Take The German airline group wants to avoid purchasing a controlling stake in TAP because it doesn't require approval from European Union antitrust authorities. Meghna Maharishi Lufthansa is eyeing a 19.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, which cited two Portuguese institutional sources. The company’s CEO, … [Read more...]

Skift Take Turkish Airlines is ruffling feathers as it pushes for direct bookings starting in October. American Airlines failed an attempt for a similar strategy this year, which surely will inform the execution for Turkish. Justin Dawes Turkish Airlines fares will no longer be available through Sabre starting on September 1, which means travel agencies will need to … [Read more...]

Skift Take As Western carriers continue to pull out of China due to capacity restrictions and the closure of Russian airspace, United relaunched its nonstop service from Los Angeles to Shanghai. Meghna Maharishi United Airlines restored its Los Angeles to Shanghai nonstop service on Thursday, becoming the only U.S. carrier to fly the route.  The carrier … [Read more...]

Skift Take The merger of Vistara and Air India will end the long process of consolidating the web of aviation entities and organizing them into one airline business. This follows a 24-year quest for Singapore Airlines and Tata to co-own Air India.  Ajay Awtaney, Skift The Air India and Vistara merger has been ongoing for over 20 months and is now in its final … [Read more...]

Skift Take The prospect of a level-headed and sustainable competitor entering the Australian market is exciting, but a huge number of unknowns makes it near-impossible to predict Koala Airlines' chances in the wild.  Gordon Smith It’s been a rough year for the Australian airline industry. In late April, low-cost carrier Bonza suspended its entire flying program … [Read more...]

Airports all over the U.S. (and the world) are investing tens of billions of dollars to modernize and expand.  It’s all meant to ease congestion and reduce wait times as air travel continues to grow.  The International Air Transport Association expects 7.8 billion air travel trips annually by 2040, double what it was before the pandemic — a major driver for airport expansions and … [Read more...]

Skift Take United’s issue is its multiple business agreements with Hawaiian — including one on loyalty. Alaska CEO Ben Minicucci has previously said he envisions a loyalty program that would house the two brands if the merger is approved. Meghna Maharishi United Airlines raised concerns to the Department of Transportation about how an Alaska-Hawaiian merger could … [Read more...]

Skift Take Qantas is the latest big-name airline to switch from Boeing to Airbus for its next generation of planes. Despite huge retraining and operational complexities, the carrier is betting that the short-term pain will pay off handsomely. Gordon Smith Qantas revealed fresh details on Thursday about its all-new aircraft. The Australian flag carrier is due to … [Read more...]