
Airlines Confidential Podcast
Hosted by Scott McCartney, Fmr. Travel Editor/"Middle Seat" Columnist for The Wall Street Journal. Top Stories, C-Suite Guests, Listener Q's. The Leading Podcast Reaching Travel Industry Insiders, Frequent Flyers, & Aviation Geeks. Created by & Dedicated to Ben Baldanza.
Latest episodes

Jun 18, 2025 • 1h 6min
292 - Guest Co-Host: Christina Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh International Airport
This week: Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis; Topics: Info on Air India 171, Crisis Management; A recap of the IATA meeting; Paris Air Show is underway; Listener input on Controller staffing

Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 2min
291 - Guest Co-Host Doug Parker; Guest: Robert Crandall, Fmr CEO/Chairman, American Airlines
This week: Guest Co-Host Doug Parker; Guest: Robert Crandall, Fmr CEO/Chairman, American Airlines. Topics/News: Reflections on Scott's Richard Anderson interview; Backstory of presenting the renderings for the Robert L. Crandall Campus; Summer travel starting off slightly slower; SAF discussion at IATA in Delhi; Alaska postpones aircraft delivery; Price differentials on single vs multi-ticket.

Jun 4, 2025 • 49min
290 - Guests Greg John, CEO Infinity Flight Group; David Seymour, COO, American
This week: Guests: Greg John, CEO Infinity Flight Group, and an Operational Update from David Seymour, COO, American. News: The United & JetBlue collaboration compared to other partnership agreements; Frontier CEO Barry Biffle comments and airline stock prices rise; FAA staff departures as reported by WSJ reporter Andrew Tangel; Listener praise for Richard Anderson.

May 28, 2025 • 1h 2min
289 - Guest Co-Host: Oscar Munoz; Guest: Steve Sisneros, VP Airport Affairs, Southwest Airlines
This week: Scott McCartney's Guest Co-Host is Oscar Munoz; Guest: Steve Sisneros, VP Airport Affairs, Southwest Airlines, News: Real ID kicks in; SWA Bags Fly Free no more; Newark caps traffic - United takes biggest hit; Better ATC tech & better runway utilization; ATC leadership failures; Success pending ratification on United flight attendant contract; Delta's new confusing fare classes & subclasses; Listener Input: Conflicting opinions on EWR slot restrictions.

May 21, 2025 • 1h 20min
288 - Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan; Guest: Richard Anderson, Fmr CEO, Delta Airlines
This week: Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan; Guest: Richard Anderson, Fmr CEO, Delta Airlines; News: Airline fares drop; Newark personnel and technology forces contraction; SWA expands international service; United projects getting back into JFK; How might JetBlue benefit from a United alliance?

May 14, 2025 • 59min
287 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt; Guest: Adam Stahl, Acting Administrator, TSA
This week: Guest Co-Host Henry Hardevelt; Guest: Adam Stahl, Acting Administrator, TSA; News: Real ID takes effect; US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy presents plan for ATC technology upgrade; What's happening at Newark? Gate reallocation drama with United & American in Chicago; Decline in business travel continues; Validity of JD Power survey? Listener input on Real ID, Affordable Skies Coalition.

May 7, 2025 • 1h 3min
286 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman; Guest: Linda Jojo, Fmr EVP/CCO, United
This week: Scott's Guest Co- Host is Maya Leibman; Guest: Linda Jojo, Fmr EVP/Chief Customer Officer, United. News: Rep. Sam Graves (R) proposes $15B ATC modernization; United cuts flights at Newark due to ATC equipment and staffing issues; Projected United - JetBlue partnership; How problematic will TSA enforcement of Real ID be? New less fun names for SWA fare bundles; A Freddie Awards recap; United & others seat count changes at ORD; Listener Q: Why is AA suing JetBlue, and what happened to JetBlue BOS-ISP?

8 snips
Apr 30, 2025 • 1h 4min
285 - Guest Co-Host: Christina Cassotis, Guest: John Pepper, VP/Corp. Development, Allegiant Air
Christina Cassotis, the dynamic CEO of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, co-hosts with John Pepper, VP of Corporate Development at Allegiant Air. They dive into the regulatory hurdles stalling Allegiant's alliance with Viva Aerobus after three years. Discussion also touches on the airline industry's financial health, the operational readiness for new airports, and the rising challenges low-cost airlines face in the post-pandemic landscape. Tune in for insights on the future of low-fare aviation and the complexities of the ongoing pilot shortage.

6 snips
Apr 23, 2025 • 1h 5min
284 - Guest Co-Host Doug Parker; Guest: Aengus Kelly, Exec. Director & CEO, AerCap Holdings
Doug Parker, former chairman and CEO of American Airlines, joins Aengus Kelly, CEO of AerCap Holdings, to discuss the intricate world of aviation. They dive into United's promising earnings amidst economic uncertainties and the leadership changes at Spirit Airlines, hinting at potential mergers. Kelly shares insights on aircraft leasing dynamics and the impact of tariffs on the industry, while Parker highlights American's strategy for offering free Wi-Fi to enhance customer loyalty. Their candid reflections shine a light on a constantly evolving sector.

Apr 16, 2025 • 1h 15min
283 - Guest Co-Host: Dave Hilfman, Special Report: Chris Sloan on the Pacific Island Hopper
Guest co-host Dave Hilfman, an airline industry veteran, joins Emmy-winning producer Chris Sloan to dive into the fascinating Pacific Island Hopper route. They share anecdotes about island-hopping adventures and the unique experiences of both crew and passengers. The discussion also touches on the challenges faced by airlines, including economic pressures and FAA modernization struggles. Additionally, they explore the potential merger between Republic Airways and SkyWest, examining its implications for regional air travel.