Heathrow’s decision to move Delta to Terminal 4 in 2028, separating the carrier from stablemate and joint-venture partner Virgin Atlantic in Terminal 3, has both airlines protesting the move.

The relocation would pressure already tight connection times and negate a chunk of both airlines’ investments in the tie-up. Heathrow claims it decided on the move for efficiency reasons.

Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster didn’t leave any ambiguity about his stance, saying: “This will not impact our customers for at least two years. So there’s time to reverse this madness,” he said.

Skift Aviation Forum

The decisions shaping global air travel get made in the room, not in the earnings call after.

On November 12, the 6th annual Skift Aviation Forum brings the leaders of IAG, American Airlines, Air Canada, Airbus, Boeing, and Breeze Airways to the TWA Hotel at JFK for one day on what’s next for the industry.

The Next Phase of Travel’s Creator Economy

Headlines

Delta CEO Ed Bastian Slams ‘Short-Sighted’ Heathrow Shake-Up

by Gordon Smith
November 3, 2026

Virgin Atlantic's anger over Heathrow's terminal shake-up now has heavyweight backing from Atlanta. With Ed Bastian joining the fight, the airport faces mounting pressure to rethink its plans.

War Insurance Dries Up for Gulf Events as U.S.-Iran Conflict Continues

by Deepthi Nair
November 2, 2026

Gulf events can still insure against cancellation but not against war. That is pushing organizers to postpone events or to take on the risk themselves. It’s a growing issue, and Saudi Arabia’s calendar has been paying the price.

Waymo Picks Ramp for Its First Business Travel Expense Partner: Exclusive

by Dennis Schaal
October 28, 2026

Waymo’s receipts will now flow straight into a spend platform used by more than 70,000 businesses. That should fix a pain point for road warriors, and it’s a signal that Waymo wants a bigger slice of corporate travel.

MakeMyTrip Uses an Air Travel Dip to Reach Beyond Flights

by Peden Doma Bhutia
October 26, 2026

The fight in Indian online travel is moving away from flights and hotels toward the supply nobody has fully digitized yet.

Airlines Are Counting on a Starlink Tailwind

by Meghna Maharishi
October 26, 2026

Airline executives are betting that Starlink will be one way to grow revenue and attract more customers to offset soaring fuel costs.

PS’s CEO on Running the Private Terminal and the Power of Restraint

by Colin Nagy
October 23, 2026

PS has built one of the more defensible businesses in premium travel on a 90-minute window and nearly a decade of regulatory groundwork. For hotels, lounges, and clubs chasing the same customer, the lesson is that protecting a guest's attention can be worth more than monetizing it.

SUBSCRIBE TO PER DIEM

Watch or Listen

Airfares have increased nearly 19% year over year, but U.S. passenger volumes are essentially flat.

In this clip from the Skift Travel Podcast, Seth Borko and Sarah Kopit examine why airlines are charging significantly more without carrying more passengers, and what that reveals about pricing power, rising costs, and the health of travel demand.

Get The Full Episode

Skift Travel 200

SEE THE ST 200 →

Delta Urges Heathrow to Walk Back Decision