Gordon Smith Archives

Gordon Smith is Airlines Editor at Skift and Editor at Airline Weekly. He’s been writing about the sector for more than a decade and enjoyed a front-row seat for some of the aviation industry’s biggest stories. Since joining Skift in January 2024, he has interviewed more than a dozen global airline CEOs, often helping make headlines along the way (special thanks to Michael O’Leary!). His informed insights have led to contributions for international media, including the London Evening Standard and Canada’s CBC Radio.

Qatar Airways First Class Cabin - Airbus A380

Airlines

Qatar Airways CEO to See First Class Suite Prototype Thursday But Warns of Delays

Speaking to Skift, Badr Mohammed Al-Meer said supply chain and regulatory hurdles could hinder the speed of the first class roll-out.

Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

An overview of Tampa International Airport

Airlines

Global IT Outage Sparks Travel Chaos as 4,000+ Flights Canceled Worldwide

Computer problems are nothing new for airlines and airports, but the scale of Friday's outage is without recent parallel, with Delta and United among those badly hit.

Gordon Smith and Peden Doma Bhutia | 8 months ago

Airlines

Allegiant Names its Third CEO in Less Than a Year

Greg Anderson steps into the top job after 15 years at the company and replaces long-time Allegiant executive Maurice Gallagher.

Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

Airlines

Western Airlines Are Pulling Out of China - Virgin Atlantic Is the Latest

After leaving Hong Kong in 2022, Shanghai was Virgin Atlantic's final Chinese destination. The development comes amid a broader retreat among some Western carriers.

Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

Airlines

Allegiant Air Defies Florida Overcapacity Fears with 8 New Routes

The low-cost airline is hoping that its unusual business model will help it dodge intense competition for flights to the Sunshine State.

Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

Airlines

Why Singapore Airlines’ Capacity Growth Comes at a Cost

As one of Asia’s largest, and traditionally most profitable carriers, what happens at Singapore Airlines matters.

Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

Airlines

Emirates Skywards Chief Shares Six Airline Loyalty Lessons

In a break from the strategy of many U.S. airlines, Emirates’ Skywards program is being used to boost loyalty for the airline without a heavy financial focus.

Ajay Awtaney and Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

Airlines

Boeing 737 Max Delays Cost Norwegian Air $3.2m in Second Quarter

An upbeat assessment for summer 2024 came with a warning for 2025, as Boeing 737 Max delivery problems continue to impact plans for further growth.

Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

Airlines

Australia to Paris Nonstop Launches Friday. 17+ Hours in Economy, Anyone?

The Perth to Paris route marks the latest ultra-long haul service from Qantas. Even longer nonstop links from Sydney to New York and London are due to follow.

Pranjal Pande and Gordon Smith | 8 months ago

The view from an airplane window overlooking glaciers.

Airlines

Is This the End for Airline Greenwashing? Meet the CEO Who Thinks He Has the Answer

In recent months, several big-name airlines have been accused of greenwashing. Could independent, AI-driven data put an end to the confusion for consumers and corporate travel departments?

Gordon Smith | 8 months ago