On-Time Performance Is Becoming an Airline Marketing Weapon
Airlines that treat punctuality as an operating identity rather than a one-year PR win are turning on-time performance into a durable marketing advantage.
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 20 airline CEOs, often helping make headlines along the way. Send stories/tips via Signal: smithgme.01
Wizz Air Wants Premium Passengers – Without the Business Class Fuss
Wizz Air is testing how far it can push “premium” without touching the cost or complexity of business class. If blocked seats and basic perks lift yields with little operational pain, this won’t stay a niche product for long.
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Ethiopian Airlines Thinks Big
With plans underway for a $10 billion mega-airport designed to rival Atlanta in scale, Ethiopian Airlines is doubling down on a growth strategy that many would consider audacious given the country's economic realities. However, Ethiopian’s track record, network reach, and impressive financial performance suggest this is no ordinary gamble, as we discover in this week's feature story.
Allegiant to Acquire Sun Country Airlines for $1.5 Billion
Big news for a sleepy Sunday afternoon: Airline consolidation has been looming over 2026, but a merger between Allegiant and Sun Country underscores just how quickly that pressure is translating into action.
How Outsourcing Broke the Premium Promise at Europe’s Airlines
From 'boarding-not-boarding' to patchy priority rules, Europe’s premium airline experience is increasingly controlled by third parties – and it shows.
Wizz Air CEO Warns Ryanair’s O’Leary to ‘Think Twice’ as Rivalry Escalates
Europe’s low-cost airline rivalries can resemble a soap opera, with familiar characters and recurring insults. But beneath the theatrics lies a very real battle for market dominance and relevance.
What Do New Year LinkedIn Posts from 11 Airline CEOs Tell Us?
Taken together, these seasonal messages offer a snapshot of how CEOs – or at least their communications teams – are framing their leadership and businesses after a bumpy year.
Ryanair vs. Wizz Air: Who Flew Higher Over the Holidays?
Wizz Air’s year-on-year surge looks impressive, but Ryanair’s fuller planes and steadier execution still set the benchmark.
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Airline Weekly’s Top Trends of 2025
The global airline industry navigated another turbulent year, marked by geopolitical shocks, shifting demand, and big strategic bets — yet it emerged highly profitable. From the softening of U.S. markets to the wave of post-bankruptcy success stories, 2025 delivered no shortage of plot twists. In this week’s feature story, we break down the most important industry trends and developments shaping the year just ended and ask the critical questions airlines face heading into 2026.
Mexican Airline Mega-Merger: Volaris and Viva Announce Plan to Combine
This pre-Christmas announcement ensures regulators won’t be easing into the holidays. It's a seasonal surprise that’s likely to turn silent nights into sleepless ones for some.