Edward Russell

Edward was Skift’s Washington, D.C.-based airlines reporter from 2020-2023. He’s covered the industry from the American-US Airways combo to the depths of the coronavirus pandemic. He enjoys bikes, trains and runs with his dog, Heathrow.

SAS and Norwegian Air See Pre-Pandemic Winter Travel Trends Returning

Scandinavian airlines SAS and Norwegian Air see what executives describe as a "normal" decline in passenger numbers as they look ahead to the coming winter, comparable to what they saw…

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

Qantas, Air New Zealand Expect Boost From Foreign Airlines Schedule Constraints

Qantas and Air New Zealand are optimistic about at least the next year. Executives from both carriers cited lower international airline capacity into their respective home markets, Australia and New…

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

American Airlines Offsets Higher Regional Costs With More Connections, Higher Fares

American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja made clear Tuesday how the carrier plans to make its new industry-leading regional pilot pay rates work: higher passenger yields or, in other…

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

Thai AirAsia Expands to Japan in Anticipation of Southeast Asia Tourism Rebound

Thai AirAsia is betting that the easing of travel restrictions in Japan and Thailand will translate to strong pent-up demand for flights between the two countries. The airline, along with…

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

Sustainable Fuel Forward

Airlines from Thailand, South Korea, and Turkey headlined the earnings parade last week, offering mixed messages on the recovery. Travelers are clearly returning to the beaches and cities of Thailand,…

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

Australia's Qantas-Alliance Deal Concerns May Parallel JetBlue-Spirit Approvals

The Covid-19 pandemic, like most crises, has sparked a wave of consolidation in the global airline industry. JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines plan to merge in the U.S., Avianca and…

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

United Eyes Airbus and Boeing Jets for First Widebody Order in 4 Years

United Airlines is in the market for new Airbus or Boeing widebody aircraft to update its large and aging fleet of twin-aisle planes, Airline Weekly has learned.

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

Seaplane Airline Tailwind's Washington-New York Service Will Start on Land in D.C. Suburbs

A watered down, or should we say landed-down, version of seaplane operator Tailwind Air's plan of waterfront-to-waterfront flights between New York and Washington, D.C., launches next month.

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

Airline Execs See Tax Credit for Sustainable Fuel in Inflation Reduction Act as Good First Step

The Inflation Reduction Act headed to U.S. President Joseph Biden's desk gives the nascent sustainable aviation fuel industry a long-sought after boost with new tax incentives. A definite win for…

Edward Russell | 3 years ago

Lufthansa's Urge to Merge

The second quarter earnings results keep rolling in, depicting an airline industry enjoying a resurgence in demand, but also a shortage of supply, especially of people and planes.

Edward Russell | 3 years ago