Articles tagged “Middle East”

Jay Shabat is joined by Meghna Maharishi and Skift's Head of Research Seth Borko for a crossover Airline Weekly Lounge that hits two pressure points at once: a sudden jet…

In a week when the world's busiest international airline ground to a halt and Gulf hubs faced aerial attack, Gordon and Jay explore the impact of the Iran war on…

Dubai built Emirates to drive economic growth — and succeeded beyond imagination. Now a new chapter is unfolding. Emirates is expanding cautiously, while FlyDubai and Etihad push aggressively into new markets and Air Arabia carries low-cost flying further afield. With hundreds of aircraft on order, new hubs taking shape, and regional competition intensifying, the Gulf aviation story is evolving quickly. We explore what might come next in this week’s feature story.

The Dubai Airshow returns this week, and once again Emirates steps into the spotlight – but the landscape has shifted dramatically since its 2013 shopping spree. The carrier faces tighter airport constraints, delayed next-generation aircraft, and intensifying competition. Yes, Emirates remains financially strong and is buoyed by Dubai’s global appeal, but complacency isn’t an option. In this week’s feature story, we explore how the airline may choose to adapt as challenges mount.

The Dubai Airshow is back for 2025, and once again Emirates steps into the spotlight – but the landscape has shifted dramatically since its 2013 shopping spree.

In this week's show, Gordon Smith is joined by Jay Shabat and Meghna Maharishi to discuss the key takeaways from Delta's Q2 financials. The conversation then shifts to Wizz Air exiting its Abu Dhabi joint venture and the wider impact on the ULCC's business.

We’re just about to start the second half of 2025, which means Q2 earnings season begins next week. As usual, Delta will get the party started, with an earnings call scheduled for July 10. Make no mistake: The first half of the year provided uncomfortable levels of uncertainty for many airlines. But amid the adversity, there are plenty of plucky carriers who aren't letting global headwinds hold them back. Among these is Saudi LCC Flynas, as we discuss in this week's feature story.

If you thought being CEO of an international airline was tough, try starting one from scratch. That's the formidable challenge facing Tony Douglas and his team as Riyadh Air prepares to launch later this year.

Yes, information is limited. But there’s more than sufficient evidence to declare Emirates a thriving airline. In fact, it’s earning stronger profits than it ever did in the 2010s, thanks…

In part one of this week's Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss Emirates' record-breaking results and ask how long these good times can last. In part…