Lewis Harper
Based in London, Lewis has been editor of Airline Business since 2021, having joined the publication as managing editor in 2016. His reporting covers the global airline sector, with Europe a key focus. Lewis also edits the Airline Business Newsletter and Airline Business’s daily publications at industry events, and he co-hosts the Airline Business Podcast. He previously worked in senior production roles at FlightGlobal and a variety of publications covering industries such as chemicals and defence.
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Airline BusinessHow KLM went from group’s star performer to problem child
While work to transform Air France has begun to bear fruit, KLM’s performance has been deteriorating over the past couple of years
NewsDutch challenges evident as Air France-KLM profits fall
Air France-KLM saw its third-quarter earnings impacted by a higher-than-expected cost increase at its Dutch operation, as it gave further details on the “firm measures” it is taking to tackle what it describes as a “structural” challenge
Airline BusinessWeek 44 2024: Chinese carriers report, Spirit's new Frontier and Boeing woes
The coming week is a bumper one in the third-quarter earnings season, with carriers around the world set to report.
Airline BusinessIndiGo chief points to GTF peak and 2030 progress after first loss in two years
Two years into his tenure at IndiGo and Pieter Elbers is back where he started, describing a loss-making fiscal second quarter for the Indian low-cost carrier.
Airline BusinessNorwegian learning to take the rough with the smooth
Norwegian’s latest earnings reflect a year in which cost pressures and growth constraints are continuing to counterbalance a largely positive demand picture.
NewsLoss-making IndiGo calls peak of GTF groundings
IndiGo believes groundings of its Airbus A320neo-family aircraft for inspections of their Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan (GTF) engines is likely to have peaked in the mid-70s during its fiscal second quarter.
NewsNorwegian growth plans hit as Boeing delivery delays lengthen
Norwegian has cut its forecast capacity growth for 2025 as it recalibrates its plans to absorb the impact of worsening Boeing delivery delays.
Airline BusinessUpbeat Icelandair seeing end of ‘irrational’ capacity as inbound recovers
Icelandair Group expects its profitability to improve in the final quarter of 2024 and into 2025 as its business transformation, a more ‘rational’ capacity situation and the return of inbound travellers boost fortunes
Airline BusinessIATA sustainability chief on airline ‘compliance anxiety’ as key dates loom
Marie Owens Thomsen is frustrated about government inaction on SAF and CORSIA, but optimistic regarding what might come from ’radical collaboration’ between stakeholders
Airline BusinessWeek 43 2024: Market softness, Southwest pressure and GTF latest
The earnings season kicks into gear this week, with Icelandair, Southwest Airlines, Volaris and Norwegian among those due to outline their July-September performances.
Airline BusinessLatin American airlines frustrated as SAF inaction continues
The global sustainable aviation fuel industry might be small today, but that does not stop inequalities already existing in terms of the regional production split.
Airline BusinessWeek 41 2024: Will Spirit enter restructuring?
US low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines will be in the spotlight this week after stories last week suggested it might be on the verge of a bankruptcy filing
Airline BusinessDoes improving air cargo performance indicate stucturally higher yields?
A tough 2023 for the air cargo sector led many stakeholders to predict another difficult year in 2024, but as the peak season approaches, this year appears to be turning out better than expected.
Airline BusinessWhy new Finnair chief Kuusisto is focusing on the customer experience
Finnair might have overcome an existential double-crisis in recent years, but that does not mean the job is done
Airline BusinessWeek 40 2024: Will lower fuel costs or ‘normalisation’ win out?
With just over a week to go until the third-quarter earnings season begins, commentary on airline fortunes reflects pressure on results from different sources
Airline BusinessAirlines call for global policies and collaboration in net-zero push
IATA uses World Sustainability Symposium to argue regional differences in sustainability policies are counterproductive and that SAF production must be incentivised by governments
NewsEU ‘undermining’ airline competitiveness with sustainability policies: IATA chief
IATA director general Willie Walsh has criticised the European Union’s approach to sustainability, accusing the bloc of damaging the competitiveness of its airlines.
Airline BusinessWhy IATA chief economist expects ‘huge airline windfall’ from lower oil prices
Falling Brent prices and a narrower crack spread are good news for airlines, according to IATA’s Marie Owens Thomsen
NewsAirlines frustrated as Shell defends Rotterdam SAF refinery pause
Shell insists that it paused building work at its 820,000 tonne/year biofuel refinery in Rotterdam “for the right reasons”, even as the airline industry laments the lack of SAF available today
NewsAmerican Airlines chief warns net-zero targets in danger of being missed
Stakeholders are not doing enough to ensure the commercial air transport sector addresses its environmental impact, in the view of American Airlines chief executive Robert Isom.