
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

Jul 6, 2022 • 44min
143 - Mike Arnot, Principal, Juliett Alpha Media Relations
This week: Mike Arnot, Principal, Juliett Alpha Media Relations: Plus an expanded listener Q & A edition. Airport restaurants, Seat Pricing, and more. Shout-outs.

Jun 29, 2022 • 51min
142 - Nina Jonsson, Chairman FLYHT Aerospace Solutions/Vice Chair Icelandair
This week: Nina Jonsson, Chairman, FLYHT Aerospace Solutions/Vice Chairman Icelandair; European employee labor actions & operational issues; What not to do in a crash; SkyWest removes seats to operate under Part 135. Why?; Listener Q on Slot Controls, WestJet Canadian service reduction; Shout-Outs

Jun 22, 2022 • 1h 3min
141 - Joe Lopano, CEO, Tampa International Airport
This week: Joe Lopano, CEO, Hillsborough County Aviation Authority; US Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg Talks with Airline CEOs; American's Regionals Envoy & Piedmont pilots receive 2 year 50% pay increase-will it help retention?; Continued input & discussion on the pilot shortage topic; Shout-outs.

Jun 15, 2022 • 55min
140 - Shashank Nigam, CEO, SimpliFlying
This week: Shashank Nigam, CEO, SimpliFlying; An update from Chris on the JetBlue & Frontier offers for Spirit; Covid testing requirement dropped for inbound USA air travelers; Startup Norse Atlantic: 3000 applicants for 50 pilot positions; Listener input: ALPA issues doc on training/pilot shortage; Q: Who gets the armrest? Shout-outs

Jun 8, 2022 • 48min
139 - Peter Robison, Author, Flying Blind
This week: Peter Robison, Author, Flying Blind: The 737 MAX Tragedy and the Fall of Boeing; Delta floats big positive news but is lower capacity/higher fares an issue? KLM: Don't bring luggage through Amsterdam; FAA tightens oversight on Boeing; Listener suggestion on FAA pilot medical standards; plus shout-outs.

Jun 1, 2022 • 47min
138 - Jonathan Sutter, Sr. Dir., J.D. Power Travel Practice
This week: Jonathan Sutter, Senior. Director, J.D. Power Travel Industry Practice; Aligning summer capacity with staffing; ALPA strike authorization at Alaska; Update: A4A Rest Rules Case; Listener Q: Are turboprops set for a resurgence? ALPA says no pilot shortage? Shout-out to those who serve.

May 25, 2022 • 55min
137 - Sean Donohue, CEO, DFW International Airport
This week: Sean Donohue, CEO, DFW International Airport; AerCap predicts a shortage of Aircraft; Congressional UFO hearings; AA v. Sabre: Jury awards $1 to AA, not $300MM; Listener Q's on discontinued routes and subsidized service; Shout-outs.

May 18, 2022 • 55min
136 - Daryl Taylor, VP/GM, FAL USA at Airbus America
This week: Daryl Taylor, VP/GM, Airbus, America - Recorded LIVE on location from the Airbus assembly line, Mobile AL for a major announcement; Also, is Delta leading the industry with expanded FA pay? Listener Qs: Does Southwest have a halo around its brand? Shoutouts to ATC at PBI, and to Braniff.

May 11, 2022 • 54min
135 - Jay Sorensen, President, IdeaWorksCompany
This week: Jay Sorensen, President, IdeaWorksCompany LLC; The passing of Fmr Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; Boeing moving HQ to DC - Why?; The need for 13,000 pilots each year; Listener Q's involving pilot scope clauses, outsourcing, the 1500 hour rule; Shout-out to Delta Club employees.

May 4, 2022 • 55min
134 - Chris Sloan Reports on Flying in Alaska
This week: Chris Sloan reports on the unique experience of flying in Alaska and quizzes Ben & Chris on Ultra Av Geek trivia; Southwest bullish on business travel; Avianca merges with Viva; Chaos at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport; Frontier's high ancillary revenue; Listener Q: Financial risk to buy a ticket on AA? Complaint involving Spirit & Carnival-Fine or Whine? Shout out to Tuskegee Airman Sgt. Victor Butler for his 100th Birthday.