GOOD DAY, READERS.
Remember all that talk about airline mergers after fuel prices spiked? Our Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi has been tracking what the major CEOs are saying — and it mostly came to nothing. United's Scott Kirby said he doesn't see the carrier doing any deals for the foreseeable future. Southwest's Bob Jordan said any merger between two of the Big 4 carriers would be too much for regulators to approve.
JetBlue, once seen as the likeliest takeover target, carries too much debt for anyone to touch. And low-cost carriers say they're mostly not interested. The one exception: Allegiant CEO Greg Anderson thinks distressed carriers could still trigger deals — just not anytime soon.
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DON’T MISS THESE STORIES
About All that Airline M&A — CEOs Say There’s Nothing to Buy
by Meghna Maharishi
After a frenzy of speculation about airline M&A, talks have dried up. The industry is too consolidated for the big carriers to merge, and the smaller ones don't have viable partners.
Marriott’s EMEA Chief 100 Days In: A Region Running in Two Gears
by Luke Martin
The Iran war has turned Marriott’s EMEA region into two businesses at once. Jones’s bet is that Europe and Africa can carry the 20% of fee business the Middle East has lost — at least until a ceasefire changes the math.
Iran War Drives Middle East Tourism Slump — and a Global Demand Shift
by Rashaad Jorden
Demand didn't disappear. It just left the Gulf — and it's not clear when it's coming back.
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To understand how travel companies are preparing for an AI-mediated future, Skift Studio spoke with senior technology, product, and digital leaders across airlines, hospitality companies, travel platforms, and the broader travel technology ecosystem.
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The hospitality industry may be approaching a major technology divide.
In this clip from Good Morning Hospitality, Michael Goldin, Brandreth Canaley, and Jamie Lane discuss the growing gap between platforms being built for AI agents and those trying to bolt AI onto legacy systems.
While many operators are reluctant to change technology stacks, the conversation argues that long-term winners will be the companies that make it easy for AI agents to search, communicate, and transact on behalf of travelers.
The question is not whether the industry will adapt, but how quickly.
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