Gordon Smith

Taken together, these seasonal messages offer a snapshot of how CEOs – or at least their communications teams – are framing their leadership and businesses after a bumpy year.

Wizz Air’s year-on-year surge looks impressive, but Ryanair’s fuller planes and steadier execution still set the benchmark.

The global airline industry navigated another turbulent year, marked by geopolitical shocks, shifting demand, and big strategic bets — yet it emerged highly profitable. From the softening of U.S. markets to the wave of post-bankruptcy success stories, 2025 delivered no shortage of plot twists. In this week’s feature story, we break down the most important industry trends and developments shaping the year just ended and ask the critical questions airlines face heading into 2026.

This pre-Christmas announcement ensures regulators won’t be easing into the holidays. It's a seasonal surprise that’s likely to turn silent nights into sleepless ones for some.

The airline CEO carousel is spinning fast. Many boards are executing orderly transitions, but others are reacting to unexpected developments.

David Neeleman launched Breeze with the promise of reinventing travel for underserved cities. Nearly five years on, the U.S. airline still hasn’t cracked annual profitability. With rising costs, powerful rivals, and a growth plan that stretches from Jamaica to California, 2026 will be a pivotal year. In this week’s feature story, we explore the factors that will determine whether Neeleman’s latest venture can finally take off.

For decades, railways were the romantic sideshow to the jet age – a sepia-toned indulgence for nostalgists and hardened eco-warriors. No longer.

For most airlines, the post-Covid era started in 2022 or 2023. For the AirAsia family, it feels like it’s only just beginning now. In this week’s feature story, we explore AirAsia’s long-delayed restructuring, its move to fuse shorthaul and longhaul operations, and the sweeping fleet ambitions that could redefine low-cost flying well beyond its Asia-Pacific heartland.

Nashville is a city best known for its music. Airlines know it for something else: Spectacular growth. Of America’s 75 busiest airports, none are growing faster than the Tennessee capital's international gateway. In this week’s feature story we examine the factors driving its recent success.

A major safety advisory for the world’s most widely flown jet had airlines scrambling to assess the operational impact.