Airlines Confidential Podcast

This week: Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman; A look into the "major" report on airline fees from U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) chaired by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Budget allocations & potential for privatizing ATC in new administration; High hopes for DOT Admin Nominee Sean Duffy; Reaction to NYT stories on padding schedules and loyalty program; Listener input on Spirit's approach for the future, salute to Jun Tsuruta.

This week: Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Fmr Chairman, United; Plus: Andrew Watterson, COO, SWA, with Scott McCartney at ONT "State of the Airport" day in Ontario CA; News: Spirit's "Basic Economy Bankruptcy" moves forward; A discussion around change fees; Lund out, Ackerman in as Boeing head of quality; Arthur Frommer passes at 95; Listener Q on Aer Lingus incentives at Indianapolis, and follow up to Chris Sloan A321 XLR segment.

This week: Chris Sloan flies Iberia and reports on the A321 XLR inaugural flight; Plus: Facts, context, and perspective on the Spirit prepackaged bankruptcy plan, what Ben would say, and what happens next; Gunshots hit multiple aircraft; Court rules Oakland is not San Francisco.

This week: Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt, President, Atmosphere Research Group; Remembrance: B. Ben Baldanza passes at age 62 from ALS; News: New chairman & 5 new board members at SWA; Expected FAA changes in 2nd Trump Administration; SAF Policies; Is it time to privatize air traffic? Cirium holiday capacity projections; Back to work at Boeing; The raccoon at LaGuardia; Listener Q on increased labor costs.

This week: Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan, Fmr President, Norse Atlantic Airways; Guest: Frank Lorenzo, Fmr CEO, Continental Airlines; News: JetBlue, SkyWest, Frontier Q3 report; Frontier takes deliveries of new Airbus 320neo; Increased competition for LCCs; DOT new refund rule result for consumers; Canadian Transportation Agency proposes fining airlines per complaint; Listener input on SWA route structuring.

This week: Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh Int Airport; Gary Kelly steps down while Bob Jordan stays at SWA-Can the culture survive?; Boeing strike drags on; AA gets hit with largest ever accessibility related fine; PIT seeing big increase in VIP travelers; A Frontier deal for Spirit may be back in play; The job of an airport CEO; Listener input on product-based terminal assignment.

This week: Guest Co-Host Doug Parker, Fmr. CEO, American Airlines & Co-Founder, Breaking Down Barriers; News: United earnings report, Southwest stockholder Elliott Mgt calls for shareholder meeting; What makes a good Board Member? A discussion on SWA current dynamics; The AA / Skiplagged decision and an airline perspective on Skiplagging; FAA launches runway incursion audit; LAX traffic down; A listener/SWA employee comment.

This week: Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman, Fmr EVP/CIO, American Airlines; Guest: Patrick O'Keeffe, Fmr SVP – People, American Airlines; News: Delta forecasts weaker revenue; Some CrowdStrike context; Disagreement over Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); Are terminal robo-wheelchairs on the horizon? Boeing strike negotiations not going well; United announces unusual new foreign destinations; Listener Q's: Would consolidated check in be workable for airlines?

This week: Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman, Fmr SVP, Worldwide Sales at United Airlines; News: Is Spirit planning for a bankruptcy? SWA Board member Rakesh Gangwal buys 3.6M shares - Can improvements be made fast enough? International conflicts affecting travel; Spy transfers FAA infrastructure intel to Iran; United FAA safety review completed; Toyota invests more in VTOL maker Joby; Reflections from working with Bethune/Munoz/Kirby.

This week: Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Fmr Chairman & CEO, United Airlines; News from Southwest's Investor Day: The SWA plan to increase revenue; GAO report on FAA sites unsustainable systems; The story behind the Munoz transformation of United. Book: Turnaround Time: Uniting an Airline and Its Employees in the Friendly Skies. https://airlinesconfidential.com/book-list/