Gordon Smith Archives

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.

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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.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat | 2 months ago

Airlines

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.

John Walton | 2 months ago

Airlines

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.

Gordon Smith | 2 months ago

Airlines

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.

Gordon Smith | 2 months ago

People walking down a side street in Seoul, South Korea

Airlines

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.

Gordon Smith | 2 months ago

Airlines

United Gets Green Light from U.S. DOT for New Asia Routes

United already claims to be the “world's leading carrier across the Pacific” – these additions, plus others already in motion, will strengthen its bragging rights over U.S. rivals.

Gordon Smith | 2 months ago

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Will United’s Loyal Customers Shield it From a Downturn?

Brand loyal. Brand loyal. Brand loyal. Say that 31 times. Then again? You don’t need to. United already did. No kidding. In its Q1 earnings call last week, United repeated the phrase over and over, keen to underscore one of its chief arguments: That it is winning with travelers who care about more than just price. In this week's feature story, we crunch through the commentary from Kirby and Co.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat | 2 months ago

The Retreat Suite on Virgin Atlantic's A330-900.

Airlines

Is the Beige Age Over? Airline Interiors Get a Design Upgrade

So long, farewell and auf wieder-beige to samey neutrals, with big bold statement accents on their way to cheer us all up in the cabin.

John Walton | 2 months ago

A rendering of Riyadh Air's 787 business class cabin.

Airlines

First Look Inside Riyadh Air’s 787: CEO Tony Douglas Talks Design, Detail, and Disruption

Speaking with Skift, Douglas offers a candid insight into the development of aircraft interiors that will set the tone for the largest airline start-up in a generation.

Gordon Smith | 3 months ago

Airlines

UK Easter Travel Takes Off: 11,200+ Flights and 2 Million Seats Scheduled

With most Brits enjoying both Friday and Monday off, the Easter long weekend is a critical sales period for the UK travel industry and an early test of operational readiness.

Gordon Smith | 3 months ago