
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 2, 2021 • 50min
086 - Ken Quinn, Flight Safety Foundation
This week: General Counsel & Secretary of the Flight Safety Foundation & top ranked aviation lawyer Ken Quinn; The Belarus hijacking of a Ryan Air flight;Our roving reporter Chris Sloan reviews the inaugural flight of Breeze. A Southwest complaint-Fine? or Whine? Listener questions & shout-outs.

May 26, 2021 • 31min
085 - Brian Kough, Aviation Week
This week: An interview with Brian Kough, Aviation Week's Senior Director of Forecast & Aerospace Insights; Ryan Air's subsidy case; How Americans getting fatter affects operating envelope rulings; Can Delta legally require new employees to be vaccinated?

May 19, 2021 • 36min
084 - Paul Kinstedt COO, Republic Airways
This week: An interview with Paul Kinstedt COO, Republic Airways; The 737-Max update; Frontier tries to cramp Avelo Airlines in Burbank, A listener question on the return of change/cancelation fees; A bag fee hassle-Fine? or Whine? The week's Shout-outs.

May 12, 2021 • 39min
083 - Colby Harvey, CEO of Rizse
This week: From MRO Americas: Colby Harvey CEO of Rizse; Air France & KLM raising more capital; Are airlines being both bullish and pessimistic? Breeze changes course on structuring Flight Attendant position; A question about aircraft maintenance; This week's shout outs.

May 5, 2021 • 47min
082 - On-Site @ MRO Orlando
This week: From MRO Americas an interview w/ Lydia Janow, Managing Dir. Events/Tradeshows @Aviation Week; Our Roving Correspondent Chris Sloan reviews the 1st JetBlue A220 flight & The 1st Flight of new airline Avelo; Summer capacity projections, listener questions, shoutouts.

Apr 28, 2021 • 30min
081 - Avelo Airlines Takes Flight
This week: Southwest reports a profit due to government funding; Avelo Airlines debuts; Atlanta gets replaced as world's busiest airport; Should the mask mandate be extended?; Listener comments, Fine or Whine? and shout-outs.

Apr 21, 2021 • 44min
080 - David Grizzle, Fmr FAA COO
This week: David Grizzle former FAA COO talks public vs private, technology implementation, his tour of duty in Afghanistan & much more; Another issue with the 737-Max; Canada's approach to supporting it's airlines; Listener questions/corrections; This week's shout outs.

Apr 14, 2021 • 30min
079 - Summer Capacity Projections
This week: A look at how summer capacity is shaping up; Impact on the US cruise industry; Will vaccination cards become mandatory for travel? Say goodbye to the hellish experience of Gate 35X at DCA;
A listener asks if his "nice guy" gesture cost Delta $800; Shout-outs of the week.

Apr 7, 2021 • 44min
078 - Declan Ryan
This week: Special Guest Declan Ryan Chairman/President Viva Air on low cost carriers as an investment & much more; Also, what to keep an eye on in the proposed 2 Trillion dollar infrastructure bill; New guidance from the CDC; A pilot listener comment on Scope negotiations; Passenger complaint: My vouchers are expiring-they won't extend them, Fine? or Whine?

Mar 31, 2021 • 36min
077 - Have a Seat
This week: The scope of pilot union contracts; Frontier introduces a new type of lighter weight seat; A look at Frontier and Sun Country IPOs; Listener question about low-cost transatlantic service; and shout-outs of the week.