Vietjet Expands to Central Asia With New Kazakh Joint Venture
Vietjet’s foothold in the Kazakhstan market signals a quiet reshaping of air travel in Central Asia, where low-cost carriers are still in their infancy.
Gordon Smith
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.
Can Small Cities be Spirit's Savior? Carrier Eyes Underserved Markets in New Deal
This new partnership looks like a smart workaround within the limits of Spirit’s operating model. If routes are chosen well, it could be the most creative chapter yet in the carrier’s post-bankruptcy playbook.
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Cheer in a Time of Fear: Why Lufthansa Feels So Optimistic
Heavy first quarter losses. A tariff war that threatens global commerce. Signs of softening in the all-important transatlantic market. Surely the Lufthansa Group must be worried? On the contrary, despite the rather nasty $932m Q1 net loss it reported last week, bosses at the European aviation powerhouse struck a decidedly upbeat tone. In this week's feature story, we ask if this optimism is justified.
Can First Class Be Profitable? Etihad Says Yes — and It's Doubling Down
Speaking to Skift, Arik De, Etihad's Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, says the airline is working to rewrite the rulebook on first class, proving that ultra-premium doesn’t have to mean unprofitable.
American Airlines Sues JetBlue as Partnership Talks Collapse
It's no secret that JetBlue is on the hunt for a new partnership — one potential suitor that we can now firmly rule out is American Airlines.
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A Q1 Check-In on American, Alaska, and Southwest
Q1 earnings season started off pleasantly enough: Delta showed nice profits. United showed nice profits. Last week, by contrast, American, Southwest, and Alaska all revealed Q1 losses.
Personalized Tech, Same Old Seats? The Challenge of Keeping Airlines Unique
The integration gap between seats and screens is finally being closed, but airlines risk commoditizing their premium market with cookie-cutter seats.
Former FAA Chief Mike Whitaker to Join IndiGo Board
To get Whitaker onboard just three months after his departure from the FAA is quite the coup from an increasingly bullish IndiGo.
Long-Haul to Saudi on a Budget Airline: Flyadeal Seals First Widebody Order
Think Middle Eastern low-cost carriers are just about short regional hops? Think again — flyadeal wants to disrupt the long-haul game.
Is Virgin Atlantic's Return to Asia-Pacific More Obligation or Opportunity?
With the closure of Russian airspace resulting in flight times of up 14.5 hours, and lots of low-yielding leisure passengers, this probably isn't a dream route for Virgin Atlantic — but it'll be trying its best to make the numbers add up.