Ryanair Turns Elon Musk Feud Into (Yet More) Free Marketing
A public spat with the world’s richest man would be a PR disaster for many airlines. Not to worry, courting controversy is part of Ryanair’s DNA.
Gordon Smith is Airlines Editor at Skift and Editor at Airline Weekly. He’s covered the industry for more than 15 years across television, print, and digital platforms. Since joining Skift in January 2024, he has interviewed more than 20 airline CEOs, often helping make headlines along the way. Send stories/tips via Signal: smithgme.01
For Airline Weekly Subscribers
The Sunshine Merger
Allegiant and Sun Country are merging at a time when low-cost models are under pressure – and even Delta is flagging weakness in its Main Cabin. In this week's feature story, we explore the strategic logic, risks, and opportunities behind the low-cost leisure tie-up.
A Rare Defense of ‘Eurobusiness’ Class
Viewed from the lemonade-not-lemons perspective, Europe's short-haul business class does at least bring flexible capacity to the (tray) table.
Greenland Tourism’s Trump Problem: Surviving the Unwanted Spotlight
For a remote destination selling silence and sustainability, geopolitical attention may prove harder to manage than rapid tourism growth.
On-Time Performance Is Becoming an Airline Marketing Weapon
Airlines that treat punctuality as an operating identity rather than a one-year PR win are turning on-time performance into a durable marketing advantage.
Wizz Air Wants Premium Passengers – Without the Business Class Fuss
Wizz Air is testing how far it can push “premium” without touching the cost or complexity of business class. If blocked seats and basic perks lift yields with little operational pain, this won’t stay a niche product for long.
For Airline Weekly Subscribers
Ethiopian Airlines Thinks Big
With plans underway for a $10 billion mega-airport designed to rival Atlanta in scale, Ethiopian Airlines is doubling down on a growth strategy that many would consider audacious given the country's economic realities. However, Ethiopian’s track record, network reach, and impressive financial performance suggest this is no ordinary gamble, as we discover in this week's feature story.
Allegiant to Acquire Sun Country Airlines for $1.5 Billion
Big news for a sleepy Sunday afternoon: Airline consolidation has been looming over 2026, but a merger between Allegiant and Sun Country underscores just how quickly that pressure is translating into action.
How Outsourcing Broke the Premium Promise at Europe’s Airlines
From 'boarding-not-boarding' to patchy priority rules, Europe’s premium airline experience is increasingly controlled by third parties – and it shows.
Wizz Air CEO Warns Ryanair’s O’Leary to ‘Think Twice’ as Rivalry Escalates
Europe’s low-cost airline rivalries can resemble a soap opera, with familiar characters and recurring insults. But beneath the theatrics lies a very real battle for market dominance and relevance.