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.

A British Airways plane at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport

Europe

British Airways Latest to Suspend Israel Flights as Industry Braces for Extended Conflict

Passengers on British Airways flight BA165 got an extra four-plus hours in their seats Wednesday after the airline suspended service to Tel Aviv when the plane was inbound from London.…

Edward Russell | 2 years ago

Air France-KLM’s Scandinavian Gambit

Air France-KLM isn’t kidding. It wants to participate in industry consolidation, as it’s emphasized repeatedly in recent earnings calls. Now it’s putting some money where its mouth is, striking a…

Edward Russell and Jay Shabat | 2 years ago

Europe

Finnair Prepared for Russian Airspace to Stay Closed for More Than a Decade

Finnair is gearing up for a lengthy closure of Russian airspace to western airline flights, a fact that has forced it to pivot and embrace new commercial strategies for survival.

Edward Russell | 2 years ago

Europe

Air France-KLM Moves on SAS

SAS is making some big changes. As part of its bankruptcy restructuring, Air France-KLM, along with other investors, will take a minority stake in the Scandinavian airline prompting a new…

Edward Russell | 2 years ago

The concourse at Shanghai's Pudong airport

Africa

China Air Travel Recovery Drives Global Demand to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels

The return of China's domestic travelers helped drive the global air travel recovery a tick closer to pre-pandemic levels, new data from trade group IATA shows.

Edward Russell | 2 years ago

Europe

Air France-KLM to Take Stake in SAS Under $1.2 Billion Deal

Air France-KLM will take a minority stake in bankrupt Scandinavian airline SAS as part of a $1.18 billion U.S. Chapter 11 restructuring deal unveiled Tuesday. The deal is the latest…

Edward Russell | 2 years ago

A Citilink plane taxis past an AirAsia plane

Asia-Pacific

AirAsia's First Airline Partnership Expands its Presence in Indonesia

AirAsia is joining the growing ranks of airlines partnering to expand their reach in Southeast Asia with a deal in the large Indonesian market.

Edward Russell | 2 years ago

Air New Zealand’s Brewing Troubles

It’s so hard to say goodbye. The third quarter of 2023 is coming to an end, leaving mostly good memories for the global airline industry. It wasn’t all fun and…

Edward Russell and Jay Shabat | 2 years ago

North America

Breeze Founder and CEO David Neeleman

Breeze Airways founder and CEO, and perennial airline entrepreneur, David Neeleman sat down for a wide ranging conversation with Brian Sumers at the Skift Global Forum in New York last…

Edward Russell | 2 years ago

North America

Airlines Prepare for U.S. Government Shutdown that Could Snarl Flights, Delay Upgrades

Airlines are bracing for the increasing likelihood that the U.S. government will shutdown at a minute past midnight Sunday morning.

Edward Russell | 2 years ago