Edward Russell

Edward is Skift's Washington, D.C.-based editor of Airline Weekly, and transport reporter. He's covered the airline industry from the American-US Airways combo to the Boeing 737 Max grounding and through the Covid-19 pandemic. He enjoys bikes, trains, and runs with his dog, Heathrow.

Latest Stories

Airline Weekly

The Alaska-Hawaiian Merger: Pros and Cons

There are three big reasons for Alaska Airlines proposed $1.9 billion merger with Hawaiian Airlines: scale, loyalty, and premium traffic. And there are lots of questions too.

Ground Transport

Biden Administration Unveils $8 Billion for Train Projects, With First U.S. High-Speed Rail Line

President Biden is living up to his nickname Amtrak Joe with some big dollars for new passenger rail service across the country.

Biden Administration Unveils $8 Billion for Train Projects, With First U.S. High-Speed Rail Line

Airlines

Pilot Mental Health: Safety Board Chair Calls for FAA Action on ‘Bureaucratic Nightmare’

Unraveling the "bureaucratic nightmare" that is the FAA's mental health processes will be tough. But NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy is firm that it needs to be done.

Pilot Mental Health: Safety Board Chair Calls for FAA Action on ‘Bureaucratic Nightmare’

Airlines

8 Airline Mergers That Shaped Today’s U.S. Industry

Eight mergers have really shaped the U.S. airline industry we have today.

8 Airline Mergers That Shaped Today’s U.S. Industry

Airline Weekly

CEO Interview: Virgin Atlantic’s Shai Weiss

In our wide ranging conversation, Weiss discussed the outlook, Virgin Atlantic’s strategic positioning, and why he was in New York — to pressure the UK for an official sustainable-aviation fuel policy like in the European Union and U.S.

CEO Interview: Virgin Atlantic’s Shai Weiss

Airlines

Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Faces a Justice Department Wary of Airline Combos

Alaska and Hawaiian are singing a similar tune about their combo that other airlines did before their mergers faced the full force of an anti-consolidation Justice Department.

Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Faces a Justice Department Wary of Airline Combos

Airlines

Alaska Airlines in Deal to Buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 Billion

In a surprising twist, Alaska wants to buy Hawaiian.

Alaska Airlines in Deal to Buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 Billion

Ground Transport

Americans Are Eager to Ride Trains. Amtrak Can’t Add Them Fast Enough.

The future for Amtrak looks bright. If only it can deliver the trains Americans want.

Americans Are Eager to Ride Trains. Amtrak Can’t Add Them Fast Enough.

Airline Weekly

An All British Affair

Virgin Atlantic in a good year turns a modest profit. In bad years, it loses money. So why is Shai Weiss so confident the airline will turn a profit next year?

An All British Affair

News Blog

Amtrak Ridership Jumped a Quarter in Fiscal 2023, Fell Short of Full Recovery

Amtrak carried 28.6 million customers on train trips during its latest fiscal year. That number, while an improvement of nearly a quarter from 2022, fell short of its aim to match pre-pandemic ridership of 32.5 million trips. But even as overall numbers fell short of those four years ago, Amtrak said Thursday that the number…