Skift Power Rankings: Ed Bastian
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 is Airlines Editor at Skift and Editor at Airline Weekly. He’s covered the industry for more than 15 years across television, print, and digital platforms. Since joining Skift in January 2024, he has interviewed more than 25 airline CEOs, often helping make headlines along the way. Send stories/tips via Signal: smithgme.01
Virgin Atlantic Reviews ‘Gender Neutral’ Policy for New Saudi Route
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.
Star Alliance Fires Back at SAS Defection with Loyalty Status Match
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 - passengers. 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.
Can Koala Airlines Break Australia’s ‘Third Player’ Curse?
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.
First Look Inside Qantas’ New ‘Xtra Long Range’ Plane
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.
Atlanta Airport Criticized for ‘Tone Deaf’ Condolence Message After Delta Workers Killed
The social media misstep by the world's busiest airport is a reminder of the challenges faced by brands big and small when communicating online. Could greater oversight of the offending post and its subsequent fallout have minimized the impact?
Air France-KLM Now Owns 20% of SAS: 3 Big Changes to Watch
Air France-KLM’s significant stake is more than just a strategic move—it's the latest stage of deepening consolidation in Europe's airline industry. With SAS defecting to the SkyTeam alliance and expanding cooperation with new partners, expect tighter network integration in the months ahead.
Who’s Winning the U.S. Airline Loyalty Game?
Running a profitable airline in the U.S. is increasingly about loyalty, not just logistics. All of the ‘Big Three’ lean heavily on frequent flyer programs and co-branded credit cards to help drive revenue - but who came out on top in Q2?
Qatar Airways Acquires 25% of African Airline Airlink
Airlink marks the latest in a series of strategic investments for the Qatar Airways Group in Africa and beyond. Could the much-anticipated RwandAir deal be next?
Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Clears DOJ Review: What Happens Next?
The courting carriers aren’t over the finish line just yet, but the green light from the DOJ dramatically increases the likelihood of the deal closing successfully.