Industry Overview
Aviation News & Intelligence
Industry-wide aviation news: regulatory changes, IATA updates, global air travel trends, and market intelligence.
Is It True That The Boeing 747-400 Is Powered By 757 Engines?
Both aircraft have RB211 engines, but the types differ.
The Striking Differences Pilots Notice When Training On Airbus & Boeing Aircraft
Airbus and Boeing aircraft are built from the ground up with different design philosophies that completely change what it's like to fly them.
End Of An Era: Lufthansa Confirms Date Of Rare Airbus A340-600's Final Flight
Lufthansa’s final A340-600 flights close a long-running chapter in premium quadjet travel.
From Booking to Boarding: How Capital One Is Redefining the Modern Travel Journey
As travelers prioritize seamless, end-to-end journeys, Capital One is moving beyond booking to build a fully integrated travel ecosystem, reshaping how brands reach and engage customers along the way.
Spirit Airlines Collapsed. What Happens to Budget Travel Now?
It's been almost a week since Spirit Airlines shut down. Sarah and Seth still have thoughts on the Skift Travel Podcast.
Progress: 1st Boeing 777-9 Production Aircraft Takes Flight Ahead Of Lufthansa Delivery
The overdue jetliner nears delivery day.
Here's How Airlines Turned 5 Inches Of Lost Legroom Into A Billion-Dollar Upsell Strategy
Airlines are no longer just compressing seats to fit more passengers, they are redesigning the cabin in order to resell your comfort as a product.
The US Navy Retired All Its F-14 Tomcats In 2006. Congress Just Voted To Put One Back In The Air
Congress’ new Maverick Act could allow one retired US Navy F-14 Tomcat to fly again nearly 20 years after the fighter left service.
Expedia’s B2B Engine Speeds Up as AI Moves Intensify
Expedia’s B2B engine is proving the partner model works. The catch: It is still the smaller business, and AI is not yet big enough to change that.
Brian Chesky Says Airbnb Won’t Mix Homes and Hotels — That’s ‘Pre-AI’ Design
Airbnb's Chesky is nothing if not ambitious. Given that people's preferences can change at any moment, the ability to serve customers with only a hotel or home, depending what they need in that instant, seems a long way off, even with agentic AI.
Sabre Claims Amadeus Blocks Competition in Airline Technology
Sabre didn't just report a strong quarter — it used that to publicly pick the biggest fight in airline technology.
Too Sick To Fly: Flight Attendant Hospitalized With Hantavirus After Infected Woman Dies
The KLM flight attendant was experiencing mild symptoms before being transferred to the hospital.
The World's 10 Largest Aircraft Boneyards
A closer look at where aircraft go to be stored or scrapped for parts.
After 70 Years Of Spying, The U-2 Dragon Lady's Retirement Is Finally On The Table Again
The U-2 is a Cold War icon that has been in service for 70 seventy years. While it will be retired shortly, it will still remain a valuable aircraft.
IHG Reports Strong U.S. Demand, a Middle East Hit, and a Bet on AI Content Over Scale
IHG is changing how guests search on its own channels. The bigger question is whether its content infrastructure will make it show up when they search everywhere else.
American Airlines Passenger Contorted In Middle Seat For 3 Hours — Seatmate Couldn’t Fit, Policy Went Unenforced
An American Airlines passenger says he spent three hours contorted in a middle seat because the traveler beside him could not fit within one seat space. American responded that “customers come in all shapes and sizes,” but the airline’s own policy says passengers who need more room must buy a second
Trivago Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Google, Alleges Ongoing Harm
Trivago has lobbied against these Google practices for years. Now it's taking the conflict to a German court.
Tripadvisor Has Made ‘Good Progress’ on Selling TheFork, Explores LLM Data Deals
Tripadvisor had a tough first quarter, adversely impacted by cancellations in Mexico, Hawaii, and elsewhere because of the Middle East conflict. Its quest for strategic alternatives has been a multiyear slog.
Viral Effort To Buy Spirit Airlines Claims $437 Million In Pledges — Now Scammers Are Stealing Their Money
People pledging money to “buy Spirit Airlines” were already making a dubious bet: the campaign has no cash, no binding commitments, and no plan to fix the airline. Now scammers have spotted the obvious target — fake copycat sites are reportedly taking real money from would-be supporters.
Inside The FAA's Massive ATC Overhaul: The Decaying Systems Behind Your Flight Delays
Years have passed, and technology has advanced, but the core of the US air traffic control system has remained stuck in the past. Is it now too late?
Spirit Offered Taxpayers 80% Of The Airline — Trump Demanded 90% And The Bailout Died
Spirit Airlines offered taxpayers 80% of the company in exchange for a $500 million bailout. Trump wanted 90% and that extra demand may have helped kill the deal, leaving creditors to conclude they were better off liquidating the airline than giving the government nearly everything.
Do USAF B-2 Spirit Bombers Have Beds?
Basic amenities wrapped in stealth give B-2 crews the stamina to steer America’s quietest bomber through 40-hour, round-the-world missions.
Here's How Much A Business Class Ticket On Emirates' Airbus A380 Actually Costs In 2026
The carrier is a major player in the premium market.
I’m A Flight Attendant: This Is What We Actually Do During A Delay
Cabin crew are always keeping busy.
AirAsia Orders 150 Airbus A220s in Record $19 Billion Deal
AirAsia did more for the A220 program in one evening than what the aircraft manufacturer may have managed in years.
The Airbus A220 Is Rewriting The Rules Of Short-Haul Economics
The aircraft is revolutionizing short-haul aviation, offering airlines a highly versatile solution to adapt to shifting demand.
Airport Conducts Disaster Drill Despite Having Zero Service After Spirit Airlines’ Demise
A small American airfield is persevering with its regulatory compliance.
The Weather Company’s New Ad Play Aims to Sell Experiences and Hotel Bookings
Weather.com as a first, not last stop in trip planning? Travel content platform Steller and The Weather Company aim to prove that social videos and weather forecasts can reshape the way people find and book itineraries.
D.C. Tourism Flatlines as Foreign Visitors Fall and Hotel Tax Funds Get Redirected
Washington, D.C.'s 2025 visitor count barely crept past 2024's level, exposing a flat market, driven by fewer foreign tourists.
U.S. Airlines Are Spending Over $5 Billion in Fuel, Up More Than 50% Since the Iran War Started
In just the span of two months fuel costs are up more than double since the start of the Iran war, according to new data from the Department of Transportation.
Delta continues to power the world’s busiest airport—time and again
Delta’s hometown hub Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) has once again taken the crown as the world’s busiest airport. Airports Council International World’s annual rankings reveal ATL served more than 106 million passengers in 2025. ATL has held the world’s busiest airport title
FAA Employee Arrested After Searching How To Unalive President Trump On Work Computer
An FAA employee's alarming online activity revealed, including searches about President Donald Trump.
AirAsia Orders 150 Airbus A220s, Becomes Launch Customer Of Larger Seating Configuration
The order represents a key political step forward for Canada as it seeks to expand its international export market.
Kayak Founders Team Up for Booking Holdings AI Startup: Scoop
In addition to other Booking Holdings' brands, Seat Geek is listed as a partner. Users would presumably be able to use conversational AI to get "insider access" and discounted rates from Booking brands and partners.
Here's How Much A Delta One Ticket On An Airbus A350 Actually Costs In 2026
It is never easy to find the true cost of any ticket, especially in Delta One, where prices can vary so massively. Here is what to expect in 2026.
Marriott Says U.S. Hotel Demand Is Spreading Beyond Luxury
The U.S. is holding up for the company better than the mood music suggests, but the Middle East is a deepening drag that goes beyond the region.
Gone After 3 Years: Virgin Atlantic Abruptly Axes This Long-Haul Route
Instead of daily flights to Dubai, the airline will increase its capacity to South Africa, adding a new destination and increasing frequency.
Spirit Airlines Lost Bags Are Locked In Empty Airport Offices — No One There To Help
With employees gone and baggage offices empty, passengers whose luggage was found may still have no one there to give it back.
Flight Alerts: 33 Exciting New Nonstop Routes Launching This Week
See which notable examples made the list this week...
Aviation’s Greatest Engineering Breakthrough Of The Last Century
A closer look at the industry's most impactful leap forward in the last 100 years.
You may not have flown Spirit Airlines, but your wallet will likely feel its absence
Spirit Airlines collapsed over the weekend. Now, concerns are rising about what will happen to airfare in its wake.
Charge Foreigners More: Japan to Expand Two-Tiered Pricing at Tourist Sites
Japan is moving slowly but surely toward two-tier pricing, as the Himeji Castle model has shown that what was once a politically fraught idea can now be measured in revenue.
Mindtrip Launches Sabre’s Agentic Flight Booking With In-Chat Checkout
Sabre has spent a year selling agentic AI as its comeback story. Mindtrip Flights is the first product that has to prove it.
JetBlue Bankruptcy Filing Rumors Are Swirling — They’re Fake, But The Problems Are Real
JetBlue is not about to file for bankruptcy, despite rumors being planted around the industry. But the fake story is catching on because the airline’s problems are real: six years of losses, billions in debt, rising fuel costs, and a turnaround clock that is still ticking.
A 12% Stake and a Looming Board Meeting: What Does Accor’s Activist Investor Want?
The activist fund Parvus has become Accor's largest shareholder without telling anyone why.
American Airlines Adds Private Terminal Access for ConciergeKey Passengers
American Airlines has struck a deal with the PS terminals to offer a complimentary use to ConciergeKey members.
Passenger’s $5,000 Jewelry Stolen From Checked Bag — Airport Worker Sells It On Facebook [Roundup]
News and notes from around the interweb: Charlotte airport staffer stole $5,000 in jewelry from a passenger’s luggage and sold it on Facebook. Their defense? ‘I didn’t steal it, I found it’ (cough) but it still didn’t belong to them and they still sold it, it seems. Cou
Frontier Says It’s Poised to Gain From Spirit’s Collapse
Frontier is looking to absorb some of Spirit’s demand and expand in markets like Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Detroit — all of which are former Spirit strongholds.
Airbnb Expands Delta Partnership to Boost Experiences and Services
Airbnb is pushing whatever buttons it can to jumpstart Experiences and Services, which got off to sluggish starts.
Inside The “Safe Corridors” Helping Emirates Hit 96% Recovery Despite 110+ Missile Alerts
Emirates navigates near-full route recovery amid missile alerts, relying on real-time intelligence and safe corridors to avoid restricted airspace.