Gordon Smith travel tips

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, February 13. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Flying taxis could be in the skies above Dubai by next year. The bold claim follows the signing of a new deal between local officials and a California-based transportation company.

American Airlines has delayed its return to Israel until at least October. The carrier confirmed to Skift that operations to and from Tel Aviv will remain suspended until October 26, 2024. 

Ryanair is proving to be a good friend in a crisis for Boeing. Last week, the Irish airline confirmed it is providing extra on-location production oversight for the 737 Max program.

You’d better be swift to catch Flight AA1989. The Super Bowl LVIII takes place in Las Vegas on February 11, and American Airlines has spied a unique way to get involved. The Nevada competition will see the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers battle it out, but there’s another story off the field that has also caught public attention.

Alaska Airlines has confirmed to Skift that it will launch a new advertising campaign during this weekend’s Super Bowl LVIII – and it comes just as the airline is trying to regain control of its messaging.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, February 7. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Times are tough for America’s low-cost carriers, but Frontier says it has a solution. It published a three-point plan Tuesday that it hopes will deliver a huge surge in revenue over the next two years. 

The Land Down Under is getting a little closer to Dallas. American Airlines has just announced a new route from its Texas hub, and it’s a biggie. 

The creation of a new Asian super-airline has taken a step closer. On Wednesday, Japanese regulators approved Korean Air’s proposed merger with local rival Asiana Airlines.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, January 30. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

With the holiday season over and budgets tight, January is traditionally one of the quietest months of the year for international flying. Corporate traffic can be slow and weather is often suboptimal (if not sub-zero) at many key vacation destinations. 

It might be January, but there are still millions of Americans taking to the skies. With vacationers seeking the winter sun and business travelers shuttling between major hubs, there’s little time for the nation’s airlines to hibernate. 

It’s back to the future for JetBlue. The airline has confirmed that one of its best-known former executives will be returning to the company later this month. 

On our second episode exploring Skift’s Megatrends for 2024, Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit is joined by Managing Editor Lex Harris, Airlines Editor and Reporter Gordon Smith, and Airline Weekly Senior Analyst Jay Shabat, to discuss our three most “problematic” Megatrends. They cover: the current uproar over Junk Fees, the continuing supply chain issues faced by the aviation sector, and the impacts of the burgeoning climate crisis on the business of travel. 

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, January 25. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Qantas debuted its new air safety video on Wednesday, and it hasn’t gone down well. The Australian flag carrier proudly posted a 10-minute version on social media that instantly sparked criticism. Aside from its length, comments have centered around distracting visuals and vague safety instructions. 

If there was any doubt about the health of the transatlantic aviation market, look no further than Phoenix. The city has just announced a new route with Air France, connecting the Arizona state capital with Paris. While air services come and go, to secure a European flag carrier on a new city pairing like this is notable. 

A surprise trip to Paris is usually the stuff of romance novels. However, for more than a thousand air passengers on Sunday, a very unexpected trip to the City of Love read more like a horror story.

Frequent fliers with American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific have an exciting new membership benefit. Alongside regular perks such as extra baggage and assigned seating, today marks the official opening of the first dedicated oneworld airport lounge. 

Mitsuko Tottori started her career at Japan Airlines in 1985 welcoming passengers aboard. Now she’s being welcomed as the incoming president of JAL.