Meghna Maharishi

Meghna Maharishi is Skift’s Airline Reporter, where she covers everything from loyalty programs to policy-making in Washington, D.C. She previously covered the airline industry at The Points Guy, worked on the investigative desk at CNBC, and did data visualization at CNN Politics. Send tips to Meghna on Signal at mmaharishi.61.

Airlines

United Is the Last Big 4 Airline to Settle With Flight Attendants. Here’s What It Cost.

After years of thorny negotiations, United flight attendants ratified a new five-year contract that will give them significant raises and boarding pay. And even with high fuel costs, airlines don’t expect those record contracts to change.

Meghna Maharishi | 3 weeks ago

Airlines

Higher Fuel Costs + Spirit’s End = Higher Fares

Although Spirit was a small airline, it had a sizable impact on airfares across major markets in the U.S. Now that it has shut down, industry experts say to expect more airfare increases compounded by high fuel costs.

Meghna Maharishi | 4 weeks ago

Skift Newsletters

🛫 Rivals Circle Spirit

Spirit's competitors are looking to quickly fill in the gaps left in the beleaguered ultra-low-cost carrier's demise.

Meghna Maharishi | 4 weeks ago

Aerial view of planes at an airport gate

Airlines

U.S. Airlines Are Spending Over $5 Billion in Fuel, Up More Than 50% Since the Iran War Started

In just the span of two months fuel costs are up more than double since the start of the Iran war, according to new data from the Department of Transportation.

Meghna Maharishi | 1 month ago

Airlines

Frontier Says It’s Poised to Gain From Spirit’s Collapse

Frontier is looking to absorb some of Spirit’s demand and expand in markets like Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Detroit — all of which are former Spirit strongholds.

Meghna Maharishi | 1 month ago

Airlines

JetBlue and Rivals Race to Grab Spirit’s Routes and Customers

Airlines are quickly adding new routes out of some of Spirit’s biggest cities, including Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, and Atlantic City.

Meghna Maharishi | 1 month ago

Airlines

Spirit Details Final Hours and Lays Out Liquidation Plan in 500+ Page Filing

Spirit said it explored every possible option to stay in business, but it was left with no other choice to liquidate because it did not have a sufficient amount of cash.

Meghna Maharishi | 1 month ago

Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

Airlines

Budget Airlines Are in Trouble. What’s the Outlook for a $2.5 Billion Bailout?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy appeared to dismiss the idea that other budget carriers might need a bailout from the government, hours after Spirit said it would start winding down operations.

Meghna Maharishi | 1 month ago

Airlines

Fire Sale: What Assets Does Spirit Have and Who Could Buy Them?

Spirit’s planes and slots will soon be up for sale and slots at places like Fort Lauderdale and LaGuardia could see high demand.

Meghna Maharishi | 1 month ago

Airlines

Spirit Airlines Shuts Down

Spirit, once one of the most profitable airlines, never recovered from the pandemic and the shift to premium travel. Rival low-cost airlines are trying to take advantage — but they have their own problems.

Meghna Maharishi | 1 month ago