Jay Shabat

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.

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…

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.

Singapore Airlines has a bad habit: buying into troubled airlines. Virgin Australia, Ansett, Air New Zealand — the list of regrettable investments is long. Now, its 25% stake in Air India is turning into perhaps the most painful bet yet. The timing couldn’t be worse. Even as Singapore Airlines itself benefits from booming premium demand and travelers rerouting through Changi instead of the Gulf, Air India is hemorrhaging money. Can SIA turn the investment around? We take a closer look in this week’s feature story.

Don’t worry, be happy? Despite surging fuel prices, labor unrest, and Middle East disruptions, Lufthansa Group insists it can emerge from the current crisis stronger than before. But beneath the confidence lies a more complicated reality. Can Europe’s largest airline group navigate another industry shock without losing altitude? We take a closer look in this week’s feature story.

Spirit Airlines is gone, and on this Airline Weekly Lounge we unpack how runaway costs killed the carrier, who's next in the crosshairs, and why no new ULCC is coming to take its place.

Spirit Airlines is no more. The pioneer of ultra-low-cost flying in the U.S. was ultimately undone by surging fuel prices, failed bailout talks, and a model that couldn’t keep pace with a changing market. Its collapse sees 14,000+ jobs lost, reshapes competition across key routes, and presents a curious question: Who, if anyone, will fill the gap? We unpack the immediate fallout and ask what comes next in this week's issue.

Gordon and Jay open with JetBlue's latest quarterly results, unpacking what's behind the airline's struggles and what it might take to get back on course. Then they turn to Norwegian,…

Drama, drama, in the air. Drama, drama everywhere. The U.S. airline industry is witnessing dramatic changes indeed. No, United isn’t merging with American. But Southwest is quietly achieving a heroic turnaround, posting Delta-like profit margins. But as Southwest soars, Alaska Airlines is flying in the opposite direction. We take a closer look in this week’s feature story.

Could the U.S. Government shore up Spirit Airlines? Gordon and Jay break down the latest industry chatter about the troubled carrier's future, including fresh commentary from President Trump. Then they…