Brian Sumers
Skift
Los Angeles, CA, United States
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Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Brian:
United Promises to Leave No Covid-Infected Pilot Behind
United Airlines has developed a comprehensive plan to "extract" sick, or possibly sick, pilots from foreign countries using airplanes without passengers, → Read More
U.S. Airlines Seek Revenue From ‘Visiting Friends and Relatives’ Travel
With their businesses cratering, most U.S. airlines are staking out their short-term future on one customer segment that has proven resilient in nearly → Read More
U.S. Blocks Chinese Flights in Geopolitical Tensions: What Does It Mean?
The U.S. government moved Wednesday to bar mainland Chinese airlines from serving the United States, requiring them to stop service no later than June 16, → Read More
A Mostly Domestic Southwest Airlines Is Seeing a Recovery Eluding Others for Now
Until early May, Southwest Airlines executives described their revenue stream as a leaky bucket, with some new bookings coming in, but not enough to → Read More
U.S. Airlines Report Modest Uptick in Summer Bookings But Will Passengers Actually Show Up?
Major U.S. airlines are selling more tickets and taking fewer cancellations than a month ago, but it's probably too early to call this a real recovery, → Read More
Airlines Try to Keep Loyalty Programs Relevant During Extraordinary Times
When airlines created loyalty programs almost 40 years ago, they had a simple goal — to keep customers from defecting to the competition. But during the → Read More
United Airlines Wants Back Into China But Regulatory Hurdles Remain
United Airlines wants to resume passengers flights to China as soon as next month but is waiting on governments in Beijing and Washington, D.C. to allow → Read More
Who Wants to Buy an Airline Now? Virgin Australia Is Wooing Bidders
During the best of times, with a booming Australian economy and only one key competitor, Virgin Australia regularly disappointed investors, including → Read More
Don't Count Out Allegiant Air's Septuagenarian CEO in This Crisis –
On recent earnings calls, Allegiant Air CEO Maury Gallagher almost seemed bored. Over more than two decades, he built one of the world's most successful → Read More
Feds Bring New Heat on Airlines Over Refunds
Under the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation adopted a laissez-faire approach toward regulation, letting airlines set their own → Read More
Remembering Hope Is Not a Strategy: Who United Airlines Needs Right Now
At a time when so many Americans want to wish the coronavirus away, in the airline industry and beyond, United Airlines President Scott Kirby is a → Read More
Business Travel May Face 'Permanent Haircut': Former OpenTable CEO on The Long View This Week –
By now, much of corporate America has concluded business travel may be on the decline, not just for the short term, as the country grapples with Covid-19, → Read More
Spirit Airlines Finds Even Cheap Fares Can't Help Fill Airplanes –
When travelers buy fewer plane tickets, Spirit Airlines typically lowers its prices, offering unbeatable deals — like $19 per leg of the flight — to get → Read More
Why JetBlue Is Planning for an L-Shaped Recovery
As it plans for a possible L-shaped recovery, with a slower rebound that does not not begin until the third or fourth quarter, JetBlue Airways is pausing → Read More
Alaska Airlines Betting on Its Agility With Domestic Travelers for the Rebound
As some competitors warn of substantial furloughs, layoffs, aircraft retirements, route cuts and an overall aviation landscape that will look far → Read More
Tiny Sun Country Airlines' Earlier Deal With Amazon May Just Help It Withstand the Crisis –
As a hedge to its passenger business, Minneapolis-based Sun County Airlines announced an agreement in December to fly 10 dedicated cargo aircraft for → Read More
United Vows 'No Sacred Cows' in All-Out Effort to Save Airline –
As some U.S. airlines play politics, telling investors and travelers they have no plans to furlough employees, or close hubs, United Airlines executives → Read More
American's Pandemic Reality: We Will Be a Much Smaller Airline, Says CEO –
Passengers looking to lock in cheaper airfare late this year or early next on American Airlines — or any U.S. carrier — may want to consider the risks. → Read More
Southwest CEO Believes First Week of April Was the Bottom
As it burns $900 million in net cash per month, Southwest Airlines is evaluating ideas to bolster public confidence in air travel, so more people will → Read More
Why Are Airlines Adding So Many Random Connecting Flights? Blame the U.S. Relief Package
In typical conditions, U.S. airline planners seek to create the most efficient schedules, so customers can reach their destinations quickly, either with a → Read More