Airlines Confidential Podcast

This week: Doug Parker, Fmr CEO, American Airlines, outlines serious TSA safety concerns. Ben's AI "New Voice Option" (NVO); Spirit & JetBlue go it alone - Next moves? New proposed rule for handling wheelchairs; Fare fact errors made by Tim Wu on CNBC; Listener Qs on useful life of a commercial aircraft, business model for airport lounges.

This week, the podcast delves into aviation safety improvements, American Airlines' policy changes, and the evolution of the travel advisor role. They discuss new Brisbane flights, challenges faced by travel agencies, and the importance of personalized service in the industry. The episode also explores airline pricing strategies, flight attendant perceptions, and solutions for efficient boarding and overhead bin usage.

This podcast covers a range of topics including increased baggage fees, Delta's Amex credit limit for fuel, management changes at Boeing, American Airlines' ticket policy changes, and how airlines decide to serve new airports. Special focus on Maya Leibman's 30-year career in the airline industry and the impact of technology on air travel operations and future business ventures.

This week: Brett Snyder, President & Chief Airline Dork, Cranky Flier; Delivery and backlog numbers for Boeing & Airbus; Carl Icahn picks up two JetBlue Board seats; The Atlantic article on carry-ons reaches a questionable conclusion; Listener Q on skipping a leg; Why did Spirit focus on A319s?

Guest Jay Sorensen, Ancillary Revenue, A la Carte Pricing, Frequent Flyer (FFP) Consultant, discusses challenges in increasing airline prices and profitability of loyalty programs. The importance of thorough research before implementing aviation laws and regulations is emphasized. Loyalty programs' revenue generation, pandemic's impact on airline travel and ancillary revenues are explored. Concluding conversation includes industry insights and hypothetical worst-case scenario if the Boeing 737 MAX never returns to service.

This week in the podcast, they discuss Boeing's challenges in 2024, JetBlue's new seat fee program, Frontier's Bizfair bundle, American Airlines post-Super Bowl strategy, and listener questions about Basic Economy threat to ULCCs and airline hubs.

This week: Dorothy Robyn, Public Policy Consultant/Writer; The latest Wall Street Journal Airline Rankings; Additional earnings reports; Has Amelia Earhart's plane been found? Frontier adds new routes to other's hubs; Listener Q's on pilot opportunities, plus an explanation of the LOPA.

Marian Boyd, member of Boyd Group International, discusses the recent ruling blocking the JetBlue-Spirit merger. They critique the ruling, discuss the need for a fifth competitor in the airline industry, reflect on rapid expansion and bankruptcy, and share their experience organizing a conference. They also discuss Spirit Airlines' engine issues and their potential financial impact.

This week, aviation expert Jon Ostrower discusses the JAL Evacuation, the Alaska Door Plug, and the current Boeing fiasco. The episode also covers the appointment of Joanna Geraghty as the new JetBlue CEO. The speakers explore the challenges faced by ultra-low-cost carriers (ULCCs) and the rise of smaller airlines offering better services.

Hosts discuss recent air travel accidents and on-time performance of airlines in 2023; Delta's efficient fleet and Tokyo crash; Aviation incidents and the need for improved evacuation procedures; Importance of engineering and trust in the airline industry.