Airline Weekly

10/14/2025

Dubai built the world’s busiest international airport. Now it has to make it smarter.

- Dubai is investing over $35 billion to transition from its current main airport, DXB, to the new Dubai World Central (DWC) by 2032, aiming to become the world's largest aviation hub.

- The focus is on using advanced technology to create a seamless, intuitive airport experience, prioritizing automation and biometrics while maintaining high levels of hospitality.

- Dubai's strategy includes moving to a single major passenger airport, improving global travel standards, and integrating new mobility solutions like eVTOLs for a future-proof transportation ecosystem.

Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths tells Skift how “clicks, not bricks” will shape the $35 billion move from DXB to the new DWC mega-hub.

10/13/2025

Virgin Atlantic gets a new boss:

- Corneel Koster, currently chief customer and operating officer, will become CEO of Virgin Atlantic at the end of 2025, succeeding Shai Weiss.

- Koster played a key role in Virgin Atlantic's operational and digital transformation and helped stabilize the airline during the pandemic.

- Outgoing CEO Shai Weiss is credited with steering the airline through the Covid-19 crisis and restoring its financial stability.

Virgin Atlantic is turning to an internal leader with deep operational roots as it prepares for its next chapter.

10/08/2025

How did Ryanair turn a windowless seat into a social media sensation?

At the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon, Skift Airlines Editor Gordon Smith interviews Ryanair CMO Dara Brady about the airline’s most-booked seat, 11A. Brady explains that despite having no window, 11A has become a viral sensation thanks to Ryanair’s playful social media interactions with passengers who post about it. The trend has boosted both engagement and paid seat reservations, turning a quirk into a marketing success story.

Get more airlines insight at https://hubs.li/Q03MQ1kL0

10/08/2025

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10/08/2025

3 key points about U.S. government shutdown and airport delays:

- U.S. airports are experiencing delays as the government shutdown enters its seventh day, with air traffic controllers working without pay.

- Staffing shortages and absenteeism among air traffic controllers are contributing to delays at major airports, and concerns are rising about missed paychecks.

- The shutdown raises uncertainty about back pay for federal employees and recalls the pivotal role air traffic controllers played in ending the 2019 shutdown.

Airports across the country started reporting delays as the government shutdown entered its seventh day.

10/06/2025

How do you follow a legend like the 737?

The Boeing 737 debuted almost six decades ago. Now, it appears a big mission is underway to create a new clean-sheet narrowbody. In this week's feature story, we examine the state of the single-aisle market and discuss the huge risks and rewards for Boeing as it reportedly plans a successor to the legendary 737.

Preview the new issue here:

We examine the state of the single-aisle market and discuss the huge risks and rewards for Boeing as it plans a successor to the legendary 737.

10/03/2025

Is Hong Kong back?

From a return to profitability at Cathay Pacific to a new third runway at the city's international airport, the Asian hub is looking to reassert its dominance after a bruising few years.

Gordon and Jay break it down in the new episode of Airline Weekly Lounge 🎧.

In this week's show, Gordon and Jay discuss the latest developments in the Hong Kong aviation scene. From a return to profitability at Cathay Pacific to a

09/19/2025

Many of the biggest names in U.S. aviation recently gathered in Washington D.C. providing valuable insights into the latest trends and trajectories.

We've got the details in the latest episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge podcast.

Find your platform here to listen:

In part one of this week's show, we discuss the key developments from a major U.S. aerospace summit in Washington D.C. attended by Skift airline

09/17/2025

‘It’s Elitist’: Frontier CEO Pushes Back on Claims Ultra-Low-Cost Will Fail

- Frontier CEO Barry Biffle defended the ultra-low-cost airline model and criticized comments from United's CEO as 'elitist.'

- Following Spirit Airlines' bankruptcy, Frontier aims to expand into Spirit's markets, launching new routes and considering premium offerings like first-class seats and free Wi-Fi.

- Competition is intensifying as other airlines, including United and JetBlue, add routes to capture Spirit's customers, while Frontier adapts to shifting consumer preferences.

Frontier CEO Barry Biffle was critical of recent remarks United’s CEO made on ultra-low-cost carriers surviving in the U.S.

09/15/2025

- Spirit Airlines faces a severe downturn due to rising costs, weak revenue growth, overexpansion, engine issues, increased competition, and a failed merger with JetBlue.

- Major U.S. airlines are seeing a rebound in demand, especially for premium products, and are adjusting capacity and product offerings accordingly.

- The airline industry is undergoing structural changes, with significant fleet orders, new technology adoption, and corporate reorganizations such as Lufthansa Group's centralization efforts.

Here are eight reasons why Spirit Airlines went from being a profit all-star in the 2010s to a poster child for dysfunction in the 2020s.

09/09/2025

Inside the new China-focused issue:

- China's Big Three airlines continue to struggle with profitability post-pandemic, despite a strong recovery in the domestic market.

- China’s international airline market remains significantly smaller than pre-Covid, largely due to reduced foreign carrier participation and geopolitical factors.

- Spring Airlines stands out as a profitable exception, while the overall Chinese market faces challenges from high-speed rail competition, fragmented hubs, and aircraft sourcing issues.

China’s 'Big Three' airline groups are still struggling to turn a profit. Air China and China Eastern are losing money, while China Southern is scraping by with a slender margin.

09/08/2025

This new Airline Weekly Lounge episode 🎧heads to Australia to make sense of the robust financials being enjoyed by the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia – and explores why Air New Zealand continues to struggle.

In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss robust financials from the Qantas Group and Virgin Australia, and explore why Air New Zealand continues to struggle.