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

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 | 3 years 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 | 3 years 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 | 3 years 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 | 4 years 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 | 4 years ago

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 | 4 years 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 | 4 years 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 | 4 years ago

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

Airlines

Forget Business Travelers, U.S. Airlines Now Battle Over Vacationers

Not long ago, many U.S. airlines were focused on business travelers. They often neglected the leisure traveler. But Covid-19 changed everything.

Brian Sumers, Skift | 4 years ago

Airlines

U.S. Airline Industry Reportedly Left Out of New Senate Virus Aid Bill

If legislators fail to fund airlines, thousands of employees temporarily will lose their jobs. It's a horrible outcome, but it is probably the right move. The U.S. airline industry is shrinking because of a lack of demand, and those workers will not be needed for the foreseeable future.

David Shepardson and Tracy Rucinski, Reuters | 4 years ago

U.S. Airline Industry Reportedly Left Out of New Senate Virus Aid Bill