Simon Wright, The Economist's industry editor, discusses the airline industry's turbulent recovery post-pandemic. He dives into which airlines are more likely to thrive, weighing long-haul versus short-haul and no-frills versus luxurious carriers. The conversation also touches on the surge of unruly passengers and contrasting financial fates of airlines like Delta and EasyJet. Additionally, Wright sheds light on the cultural implications of increased Latin American migration to Mexico and the rejuvenation of traditional Japanese public bathhouses.
Which carriers will thrive? Long-haulers or short-hoppers? The no-frills or the glitzy? The bailed-out or the muddled-through? Our industry editor scans the skies. Record numbers of Latin American migrants heading for America’s southern border mask another trend: many are stopping and making a home in Mexico. And Japan’s storied but declining public bathhouses get hipster makeovers.