Gordon Smith

Ryanair’s low uptake for Prime underscores the limits of paid perks in a no-frills model, and shows that even the world’s most disciplined airlines can miscalculate demand.

Despite a global backdrop filled with geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, European airlines delivered a strong and highly profitable summer. Ryanair at 36% margins, long-haul premium demand booming, consolidation reshaping the map, and tourism still powering the continent like a force of nature. This week’s feature story tries to make sense of it all.

By pushing nonstop flying to the edge of what’s technically possible, Qantas wants to change how Australia connects with world – but does the business case hold altitude?

The new Boeing commitments give Emirates flexibility, but also lock it deeper into a program with a long and still uncertain path to entry into service.

Emirates remains financially strong and is buoyed by Dubai’s global appeal, but complacency isn’t an option. In this week’s feature story, we explore how the airline may choose to adapt as challenges mount.

They say nothing beats a Jet2 holiday – but muscling into a rival’s biggest base on its birthday must come pretty close.

As rivals retreat and Spirit bleeds capacity, Frontier is reinventing itself with first-class seats, loyalty perks, and a bold push into new markets. But can it really fly high alone, or is consolidation still the only cure? In this week’s feature story, we weigh up the key question: Is Frontier’s independence its greatest strength or biggest risk?

IAG’s steady-but-unspectacular quarter was enough to spook the market. The European airline group remains hugely profitable, but Friday’s numbers left many industry-watchers wanting (even) more.

This isn’t Tony Fernandes’ first attempt to connect far-flung destinations – but with new aircraft, digital tools, and a multi-hub strategy, he’s betting AirAsia can finally crack a market that eluded him a decade ago.

They say when the U.S. sneezes, Mexico catches a cold. That’s certainly true for Mexican low-cost carrier Volaris. Its earnings were in poor health throughout the first half of 2025, largely due to U.S. policies on tariffs and immigration. Those symptoms now appear to be fading. Volaris reports that demand recovered in recent months, with continued momentum into the final months of the year. In this week's feature story, we take a deep-dive look at one of the region's most interesting operators and ask what could come next.