Gordon Smith travel tips

The Skift Aviation Forum is shaping up to be the industry event of the year. On November 12, we’ll be joined in Dallas by an all-star list of CEOs, company presidents, and other top-level players. 

The chief executive of Riyadh Air will announce a major plane order later on Wednesday. Speaking on CNN’s Quest Means Business on Tuesday night, Tony Douglas dropped his biggest hints yet about the highly anticipated deal.

The Lufthansa Group painted a mixed picture on Tuesday as it reported its latest financial results. The German company said its earnings position “deteriorated significantly” in the first nine months of 2024 compared to a year earlier. This was despite record-breaking revenues and overall capacity growth. 

Several prominent airlines have recently made significant investments in premium cabins and products. Airlines Editor Gordon Smith discussed that trend and his recent in-depth look at airlines that are quiet quitting China in this episode of the Skift Travel Podcast with Head of Research Seth Borko.

Get ready for an inspiring journey at the Skift Aviation Forum in Dallas on November 12, 2024. This event gathers industry leaders and visionaries to illuminate the latest trends and transformative developments shaping the future of aviation. 

A major strike at Boeing will continue after union members rejected a revised deal. The IAM union announced on Wednesday night that 64% of mechanists turned down the offer.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, October 23, 2024, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. 

Last week was an important one for Cathay Pacific. The Hong Kong carrier unveiled its new business class cabin, known as the ‘Aria Suite’. The product represents a significant leap forward in passenger comfort and design for some of the airline’s most lucrative customers – but the launch presented questions about future of first class.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Friday, October 18, 2024, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today. 

“I’ve been pregnant for a very long time, but my baby is finally born,” said Vivian Lo, Cathay Pacific’s head of customer experience and design.

The Boeing Company announced Tuesday that it entered a $10 billion credit agreement. The deal with a consortium of major banks should help the troubled planemaker shore up its balance sheet. 

Nonstop travel options between Texas and Tokyo are about to get interesting. On Thursday, low-cost carrier ZIPAIR Tokyo announced a major new route linking Houston with the Japanese capital. 

A bitter war of words has erupted between Boeing and a major labor union. Late on Tuesday, the planemaker withdrew a pay offer to 33,000 striking workers. The development increases the likelihood of the dispute dragging on, placing further aircraft deliveries to airlines in jeopardy.

From mammoth aircraft orders to innovations in passenger experience, the Middle East is playing a key role in reshaping the global aviation landscape. So when airline leaders from the region speak out, it’s usually worth paying attention.

Gulf Air is gearing up for significant expansion as it grows its network and strengthens its position in the hyper-competitive Middle East market. 

You wouldn’t know it today, but there was a time when Etihad Airways eyed global domination. Aiming to mirror massive growth at Dubai-based Emirates (now the world’s largest international airline), the UAE’s two largest carriers were locked in a big-money battle for supremacy. 

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, September 25, and here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

A new nonstop flight from Dallas Fort Worth straddles three days. On Wednesday, Cathay Pacific announced it will launch services from Hong Kong to and from the Texan hub.

Etihad Airways is preparing to announce “around 10” new routes, according to Arik De, the airline’s Chief Commercial Officer, in an exclusive interview with Skift. De said the network additions will be revealed in late November.

JetBlue will open its first airport lounge next year as part of a major premium drive. New York and Boston will be the first locations for the high-end facilities. The site at JFK Terminal 5 is due to open in late 2025, with Boston Logan’s Terminal C following soon after. 

The Skift Global Forum will feature the travel industry’s most powerful people, many of whom we profiled in our recent Skift Power Rankings. How did we determine which travel executives wield the most power?