Jay Shabat

In this Australian version of David versus Goliath, Goliath always wins — at least until now. After years in the long shadow of Qantas, Virgin Australia appears to be closing the profitability gap. 

Just two weeks ago at the IATA AGM in Delhi, the aviation world was celebrating a new golden age for Indian aviation. Last week, the mood abruptly shifted as the industry confronted its worst nightmare. For all the marvels of air travel – its economic influence, its cultural influence, all the jobs it provides, all the joy it provides – there’s nothing more distressing than a fatal accident. Our sympathies go to all affected by the Air India tragedy. In this week's issue, we explore Air India's turnaround plan as it grapples with last week's crash.

Air India is in the middle of a major transformation after decades of losses. Now it faces a new challenge.

Europe’s third largest low-cost carrier (after Ryanair and easyJet) just reported another dismal quarter. In this week's feature story, we explore the key factors causing problems for the LCC and examine plans to get Wizz Air onto a stronger, more strategic, flight path.

Welcome to the new U.S. airline industry. United is now friends with JetBlue. Southwest will now charge you for bags. United and American are both investing in Brazil. Delta is investing in Canada. But is this a new and improved U.S. airline industry?

Only about 20 airlines generate more than $10 billion in revenue annually. India's largest airline is also the club’s youngest member — it’s still a teenager at just 19. But much more important than either its size or its age is its consistently strong profitability.

Are the good times over for Singapore Airlines? Last week, it unveiled a lackluster 6% operating margin for the January-to-March quarter – roughly half the figure it earned at the same time last year. In this week's feature story, we assess the prospects for one of Asia’s most esteemed carriers.

Allegiant earned a +9% operating margin in Q1 2025. That seems downright triumphant compared to Southwest’s figure of -2%, Frontier’s -5%, or JetBlue’s -8%, but context is key. In 2019, Allegiant’s operating margin in the first quarter was 20%. In other words, it’s performing 11 points worse today, a drop repeated at most of its LCC peers. In this week's feature story, we ask what's going on.

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.

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.