Icelandair: Moving in the Right Direction?
In part one of this week's show, Gordon and Jay crunch the latest financials from Icelandair and discuss how it plans to become sustainably profitable. In part two, the conversation…
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.
Japan-tastic: ANA and JAL Flying High
Japan Airlines is back in the lead, at least for now. After losing its profit crown to All Nippon in the early post-Covid years, JAL outperformed its rival again in 2025. More importantly, both carriers are thriving despite a complex landscape of shrinking Chinese traffic, U.S. tariffs, and stiff competition. In this week’s feature story, we explain how Japan’s two airline giants are staying ahead.
Japan Airlines vs. ANA: Who's On Top?
In this week's show, Gordon and Jay discuss the latest results from Japan's two mega-airline groups. With inbound visitor numbers soaring, but domestic air travel down, we analyze the key…
Ryanair: Steady As She Goes
“Steady as she goes.” That’s Michael O’Leary’s latest assessment of Ryanair’s business – a phrase that feels almost understated coming from one of aviation’s most outspoken CEOs. But beneath the familiar bluster, the numbers tell a quietly impressive tale. In this week’s feature story, we look past the theatrics to examine why Europe’s largest low-cost carrier remains one of the industry’s steadiest performers.
U.S. Earnings Season: Half-Time Report
In part one of this week's show, Gordon and Jay discuss the latest quarterly earnings from American Airlines and JetBlue. In part two, the discussion turns to Ryanair, with a…
United's Got Swagger
United Airlines is feeling good. After another strong earnings report last week, CEO Scott Kirby took aim at rivals with unmistakable confidence. United, he insists, now belongs in an exclusive club at the very top of the U.S. airline industry. But how durable is that swagger? In this week’s feature story, we dig into United’s success and discover how it’s closing the margin gap with Delta despite clear structural disadvantages.
The Sunshine Merger
Allegiant and Sun Country are merging at a time when low-cost models are under pressure – and even Delta is flagging weakness in its Main Cabin. In this week's feature story, we explore the strategic logic, risks, and opportunities behind the low-cost leisure tie-up.
Allegiant–Sun Country Merger: What’s Really at Stake?
In this special edition of the Airline Weekly Lounge, Gordon is joined by Jay and Meghna to discuss Allegiant's plan to acquire Sun Country Airlines for $1.5 Billion. Fresh off…
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 over-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.
Inside the Ethiopian Airlines Playbook
Ethiopian Airlines is one of African aviation's outstanding success stories. We explore how the carrier grew profitably, built global reach, and what its strategy means for the future of the…