The Air Show

United Airlines is making moves and announcing splashy new routes — the kind you might expect from an airline with a healthy balance sheet and an innovative network chief. And still, there were some surprise additions to United's plans. Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers discuss Patrick Quayle's approach, including the airline's out-of-the-box new routes from Newark and Tokyo Narita.We would like to thank Rokt for sponsoring this episode.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

Dive into the contrasting fortunes of American and Southwest Airlines as they navigate Q2 2024 challenges. Discover how American faced significant hurdles while Southwest thrived amidst market fluctuations. Delve into the rise of new ultra-low-cost carriers like Avelo and Breeze, showcasing their financial ups and downs. Explore the evolving in-flight experience with free Wi-Fi innovations aimed at enhancing passenger satisfaction. This engaging discussion highlights the dynamic landscape of the airline industry.

Brett Snyder, an aviation expert known for his insights from industry events, shares his recent experience at Southwest Airlines' investor day. He highlights the airline's new strategies like assigned seating and expanded legroom, aiming to boost customer satisfaction. The discussion dives into the challenges of modernizing operations and the tension with activist investor Elliott Management. With humor and critical analysis, Brett examines whether these changes will suffice to please investors and transform Southwest's future.

Now that the U.S. government has approved the merger, Brett Snyder, Brian Sumers, and Jon Ostrower talk (and speculate) about how Alaska might navigate the logistics of acquiring Hawaiian. Alaska has a lot of work to do to combine the airlines' fleet, loyalty programs, and network strategy. It also needs to do something highly unusual for a U.S. airline — run two full-service brands on a single operating certificate.We would like to thank our sponsors, Intelsat and TCG Digital.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

It was a busy week in the aviation world in the Pacific Northwest. We'll get to the Alaska-Hawaiian merger soon — this week Jon Ostrower, Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers talk about the strike by the largest group of workers at Boeing, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). The strike, the first in 16 years, affects production on the 737, 767, and 777 lines. Boeing's financial response includes a hiring freeze, travel cuts, and furloughs (and more).We would like to thank our sponsors, Rokt and TCG Digital.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

The U.S. Department of Transportation informed the four biggest airlines it would like more information about their frequent flyer programs because it is concerned about hidden pricing, extra fees, devaluation of rewards and miles, and reduced competition. Brian Sumers, Brett Snyder and Jon Ostrower discuss DOT's apparent interest in this crucial aspect of the airline business, the timing (and the politics) of the inquiry, and the potential for regulatory intervention.We would like to thank our sponsors, Intelsat and TCG Digital.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

This week Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers discuss Airbus — its history, its engineering and development strategies, and its approach toward sales. Ostrower and Sumers also explain how Airbus’ relentless desire to make its aircraft incrementally better over time has given it an advantage over Boeing (at least for now).We would like to thank Ferrovial and TCG Digital for sponsoring The Air Show.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

It's August and we've been on vacation recently, so our inbox is pretty stuffed with emails, feedback and questions from you. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder read feedback from a former CEO (whose former company was the subject of a recent episode) and answer listeners' questions about the fate of ULCCs in Europe, Southwest's metal needs, exemplary C-suite behavior, and more.We would like to thank Ferrovial and TCG Digital for sponsoring The Air Show.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

Avelo and Breeze Airlines are going head-to-head in New Haven, shaking up the local aviation scene. The showdown unfolds with Avelo's stronghold in Hartford now challenged by Breeze's new routes. Historical comparisons to the Revolutionary War add a fun twist to their rivalry. The discussion dives into airline technology advancements and the struggle for gate access, illustrating the competitive dynamics at play. As strategies clash, travelers may find themselves at the heart of this airborne battle.

Jon Ostrower spent time at this year's Farnborough International Airshow, and he brought back all kinds of knowledge to share. Who had the most orders (and does anyone care)? What airplane is going to be able to take off on its own? Who might very well be running Boeing by the time this episode goes live? It's all there this week. A programming note: This is our last episode before a two week break. We'll be back the week of August 19.We would like to thank Ferrovial and TCG Digital for sponsoring The Air Show.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.