Brian Sumers

Brian is the Los Angeles-based airline business editor-at-large for Skift. He loves baseball, travel and the American West.

Latest Stories

Airlines

David Neeleman’s Startup Breeze Rankles Pilots Union With Australia Workaround

There are probably enough qualified pilots in the United States for Breeze to hire. But some may want higher wages than Breeze wishes to pay. Why shouldn't the airline look abroad for labor? It is a perfectly legal program.

Brian Sumers | 2 weeks ago
David Neeleman’s Startup Breeze Rankles Pilots Union With Australia Workaround

Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines Gambles on Big New Business Class Cabin

Hawaiian Airlines is late to the lie-flat seat game, but its new Boeing 787s will have 34 beds in the front of the aircraft. Why? The airline thinks leisure travelers, especially from Japan, will pony up when travel restrictions ease and they resume vacations to Hawaii again.

Brian Sumers | 3 months ago
Hawaiian Airlines Gambles on Big New Business Class Cabin

Airlines

U.S. Airlines Are Failing Passengers This Summer: It Could Have Been Worse

U.S. airlines took tens of billions in government bailouts. Now, many are having trouble delivering basic services to their consumers. It is a bad look, but it does not mean the bailouts were the wrong idea. Whether you like it or not, airlines are special. People rely on them, and the government had no choice.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 7 months ago
U.S. Airlines Are Failing Passengers This Summer: It Could Have Been Worse

Airlines

United Promises to Leave No Covid-Infected Pilot Behind

Ordinarily, an airline might refuse to transport a passenger with Covid-19. But airlines know they need to repatriate crew members who develop Covid-19 abroad. If they do not, crew members might refuse to fly the trips, and airlines would lose revenue.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 1 year ago
United Promises to Leave No Covid-Infected Pilot Behind

Airlines

Inside Air Canada’s Complicated Effort to Resurrect a Loyalty Program

Air Canada relaunches its Aeroplan program on November 8. But are loyalty programs still relevant amid a global pandemic? An airline executive says they are. We tend to think he's right.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 1 year ago
Inside Air Canada’s Complicated Effort to Resurrect a Loyalty Program

Airlines

JetBlue Founder Delays Launch of His New Airline to 2021 Starting in Southeastern U.S.

At some point, the U.S. airline industry will have a robust recovery. But given the depth of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is unlikely this will happen next year. Breeze Airways may have a rough go at first.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 1 year ago
JetBlue Founder Delays Launch of His New Airline to 2021 Starting in Southeastern U.S.

Airlines

Delta CEO’s Optimistic View Is Covid-19 Will Be a ‘Two-Year Journey’

Under Ed Bastian, Delta Air Lines has taken a prudent approach to managing through this pandemic. The airline is not expecting a recovery for about two years.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 1 year ago
Delta CEO’s Optimistic View Is Covid-19 Will Be a ‘Two-Year Journey’

Airlines

Skift Global Forum Preview: JetBlue Looks for New Opportunities Beyond the Northeast and Florida

Many U.S. airlines will change after the pandemic. But JetBlue may alter its strategy even more than most. Expect JetBlue to continue to use this crisis to gain more of a nationwide footprint.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 1 year ago
Skift Global Forum Preview: JetBlue Looks for New Opportunities Beyond the Northeast and Florida

Airlines

Demand So Far in September Leaves 2 Airlines Bullish, Sort Of

The CEO of Spirit Airlines is hopeful the carrier can get back to 2019 capacity levels by the end of next year. His airline focuses more on leisure customers than most, so maybe it is possible. But it still seems to be a far-fetched goal.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 1 year ago
Demand So Far in September Leaves 2 Airlines Bullish, Sort Of

Airlines

How Delta Looks to Leverage Rewards From Its Own Frequent Flyer Program

Delta Air Lines needs cash. Its SkyMiles program is one of its only remaining profitable assets. The airline is being smart in using it to secure new funding.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 1 year ago
How Delta Looks to Leverage Rewards From Its Own Frequent Flyer Program