Is Las Vegas Out of Luck?
Like Elvis in his later years, Las Vegas seems to have lost some of its vigor. Is it just a temporary setback? A case of missing Spirit Airlines? Or is there something more to this dip on the Strip?
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.
What’s Wrong with Las Vegas?
Next time you’re in Las Vegas, don’t bet on the number six. In the first four months of 2026, passenger traffic at the city's airport was down 6% versus the same four months last year.
What's the Most Profitable Airline in the World?
The latest Airline Weekly global earnings scoreboard is in and the airline on top may not be the one you'd expect. Jay joins Gordon and Meghna to sort the winners…
The Ultimate IATA AGM Debrief
A key IATA AGM takeaway? The engine makers are winning. Airlines are paying more, waiting longer, and flying fewer aircraft than planned — and there's not much they can do about it.
The IATA AGM Debrief
Gordon joins Jay from Rio as the IATA AGM wraps. The two then turn to Brazil itself: one of the world's largest aviation markets, and one of its most consolidated…
Iberia's Miracle Turnaround
It wasn't all that long ago that Iberia was fighting for survival. Today, it boasts Ryanair-like profitability. The Spanish flag carrier has transformed itself from a loss-making legacy laggard into a margin machine. How did Iberia pull it off — and can the success continue? We explore a great comeback in this week's feature story.
Inside the Minds of America's Airline CEOs
Gordon and Jay decode the most revealing CEO commentary from the Bernstein investor conference — what executives signaled about capacity, consolidation, and the months ahead. Then they look forward to…
Nobody Wants to Buy JetBlue (And Other Confessions)
U.S. airline consolidation chatter is deafening. But it might be much talk about nothing. At last week’s Bernstein investor conference, airline CEOs poured cold water on the speculation. United’s Scott Kirby called the economics of buying JetBlue “mathematically close to impossible,” while Southwest’s Bob Jordan also downplayed dealmaking — even as he hinted at a future involving lounges, long-haul flying, and possibly first class. We unpack what these candid remarks reveal about the rapidly shifting U.S. airline landscape in this week's feature story.
EasyJet's Tricky Quarter and Atlanta's Crown
A rough quarter for easyJet has the numbers telling a stark story. In part one, Gordon and Jay dig into a -27% operating margin and the missteps, market pressures, and…
Life After Spirit: The Future of Fort Lauderdale
When Spirit Airlines collapsed, Fort Lauderdale looked destined for decline. Instead, a new battle for South Florida is erupting. JetBlue is aggressively expanding, Frontier is rapidly rebuilding, and Breeze and Allegiant are flooding the market with new routes of their own. We examine the airport’s next chapter in this week’s feature story.