Gordon Smith

Down. Down. Down. In 2024, Japan Airlines saw its annual profit margins drop again. Putting aside the pandemic-blemished period, JAL’s profitability declined for a sixth consecutive year. Last week, it posted a 7% operating margin for calendar year 2024. Not just down versus 2023, but a far cry from its 15% heyday. What’s happening? In this week's feature story we ask if the double-digit margins are gone forever and if JAL can turn things around.

There are plenty of ifs, buts, and maybes, however, if a Frontier-Spirit merger does occur, it'll shake up the U.S. airline industry in a huge way.

In a victory of sorts, JetBlue managed a slim Q4 profit. It wasn't a fantastic performance, but this reversed an operating loss in 2023’s fourth quarter. Might it mark the start of a much-needed turnaround? JetBlue delivered its earnings presentation a day before Frontier launched a new bid to buy Spirit. Will it consider a revised offer too? Or could JetBlue itself become an acquisition target? In this week's feature story we examine the latest ups and downs at New York's Hometown Airline.

There’s a lot going right at United. Another strong financial result last quarter—and last year—places it alongside Delta in the circle of America’s global champions. Not so American. While avoiding…

Azul-Gol's possible merger and Lufthansa's ITA Airways acquisition shake up airline competition in South America and Europe.

It was telegraphed in advance. So not a big surprise. Still, the announcement of a Gol-Azul merger struck like a thunderbolt, shaking the foundations of South America’s airline industry. To…

In this episode, Gordon and Jay discuss the current state of the Egyptian aviation scene, highlighting the booming tourism sector despite regional unrest. They explore the factors contributing to Egypt's…

Winter storms recently hit large swathes of the United States. What a perfect time, many Americans are surely thinking, to book a Florida vacation? This year, however, they’ll have fewer flight options. Airlines, led by struggling low-cost carriers, are tempering their Floridian enthusiasm. In this week's issue, Airline Weekly tries to make sense of current market trends in the all-important Sunshine State.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat crunch the big numbers to reveal which U.S. carriers are in expansion mode in the first quarter of 2025 and which operators are shrinking year-on-year.

The new year is here and airlines have much to be thankful for. The industry enjoyed robust profitability in 2024—by its own lowly standards anyway. Demand was strong. Supply was…