200 - Doug Parker, Fmr Chairman & CEO, American Airlines
Aug 16, 2023
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Former Chairman & CEO of American Airlines, Doug Parker, discusses challenges facing the airline industry, the importance of consolidation, and CEOs' responsibility to employees and addressing social issues. The hosts analyze Frontier Airlines' year-long passes and pricing strategies for new routes. They also celebrate reaching 200 episodes and discuss the decision to use International Arrow engines for Spirit A319.
Frontier's year-long passes experiment with pricing and customer response to fill seats and attract customers.
Ticket prices on new routes are primarily determined by demand and market dynamics, considering historical pricing data from existing routes as a reference point.
Deep dives
Frontier's year-long passes are an experiment to determine pricing and customer response
Frontier's year-long passes are an experiment to determine pricing and customer response. The airline offers various types of passes and sets different price points. The pricing strategy is focused on filling seats and attracting customers. Frontier considers factors like demand, historical pricing, and revenue generation when setting prices. The success of these passes will be evaluated over time to make adjustments and determine if they can be reintroduced in the future.
Determining ticket prices on new routes is mainly based on demand rather than cost
Ticket prices on new routes are primarily determined by demand and not cost. Airlines aim to strike a balance between filling seats and maximizing revenue. They consider historical pricing data from existing routes as a reference point. However, pricing on new routes is highly influenced by market demand and competition. Airlines carefully analyze market dynamics, customer behavior, and competing offers to set competitive prices that attract passengers while still generating profits.
Airline pricing is based on marginal costs rather than average costs
Airline pricing is based on marginal costs rather than average costs. While the average cost of running an airline can be high due to various factors, the incremental costs of filling additional seats on existing flights are relatively low. Airlines use pricing strategies that aim to cover marginal costs and offer competitive prices to attract passengers. The industry's pricing dynamics are driven by supply and demand, with prices rising when demand exceeds supply and falling when supply exceeds demand.
Selecting IAE engines for Spirit's A319s was a preexisting decision and supported by its benefits
The decision to choose IAE engines for Spirit's A319s had already been made before Ben Baldanza's tenure at the company. However, he supported this decision as IAE offered a powerful engine. The partnership between two major manufacturers, IAE and Pratt & Whitney, provided a competitive advantage for the A320 family over the 737. It allowed airlines to negotiate separately for engines and aircraft, potentially resulting in better overall deals. The presence of engine options provided more flexibility for airlines compared to the 737, which solely used GE engines.
This week: Celebrating 200 episodes! Our Guest is Doug Parker, Fmr CEO, American Airlines; Also: Hawaiian, Southwest, & others respond to Maui fires; NTSB report on United flight rapid descent; SWA starts offering free same-day flight changes on all fares; Listener Q's: Frontier's annual pass program odds for success? How are prices set on a new route?
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