Gordon Smith

Wizz Air’s hasty retreat exposes the limits of transplanting the European ultra low-cost model into a region with greater geopolitical instability and different regulatory frameworks.

Tariff uncertainty. A slowing job market. Negative Q1 GDP. Does a fragile American economy spell trouble for U.S. airlines? There’s seemingly no need to panic. All is well, at least for Delta.

If a week is a long time in politics, then six months in the airline industry can feel like a lifetime. It's been a tumultuous start to 2025, even by the standards of this least predictable of sectors, and don't expect things to slow down much as we enter Q3. In this week's feature story, we briefly hit pause to reflect on the first-half of the year. Don't miss the Airline Weekly team's top 10 developments of 2025, so far.

Anko van der Werff has long championed consolidation. With Air France-KLM poised to take majority control, he’s getting his wish while (hopefully) keeping the airline’s Scandinavian soul.

We’ve known since Air France-KLM’s initial deal that a majority stake was an option, but the speed and scale of the proposed transaction remains notable.

This latest strike underscores chronic weaknesses in Europe’s aviation infrastructure. Airlines and passengers are justifiably frustrated but so are the workers who say they’re operating outdated systems under mounting pressure.

When Skift last caught up with Pieper he had 13 airline CEO bosses; now he’s got 15. Between digital upgrades and global growth, they're keeping him busy.

Not every Gulf airline wants to be Emirates. Oman Air just joined the powerful oneworld alliance, and with a new leadership team, it’s betting on strategy over swagger.

Qantas is turning an aircraft delivery into a marketing moment for the Airbus A321XLR. While the record-setting flight grabs headlines, the bigger story is how single-aisle jets are reshaping long-haul route planning.

We’re just about to start the second half of 2025, which means Q2 earnings season begins next week. As usual, Delta will get the party started, with an earnings call scheduled for July 10. Make no mistake: The first half of the year provided uncomfortable levels of uncertainty for many airlines. But amid the adversity, there are plenty of plucky carriers who aren't letting global headwinds hold them back. Among these is Saudi LCC Flynas, as we discuss in this week's feature story.