The Air Show

Marty St. George, president of JetBlue with a wealth of experience in the airline industry, discusses his ambitious turnaround strategy for JetBlue. He focuses on restoring profitability while preserving the airline's unique culture. St. George dives into the challenges that emerged post-COVID, the impact of engine management, and enhancing customer experiences with premium offerings. He also emphasizes loyalty program enhancements and shares insights on strategic aircraft choices, illustrating the importance of efficiency and performance in aviation.

The A321XLR has entered service, signaling a new direction in long-haul flights. Experts discuss its potential to redefine routes and whether it simply replaces the Boeing 757. The conversation dives into its impressive range, along with the real-world challenges airlines may face. Additionally, the impact of Southwest Airlines possibly joining IATA is analyzed, and how this might change their international strategy. Overall, there's excitement about the A321XLR's role in connecting under-served markets and enhancing operational efficiencies.

Is the drama over? Is this a ceasefire? An agreement to cooperate? Brett Snyder, Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower discuss the recent détente between Southwest Airlines and Elliott Investment Management. Elliott gained five of Southwest's 13 board seats, and the two sides agreed to table the rest of their disagreements until Valentine's Day 2026. Will Southwest fix its revenue problem by then?We would like to thank Rokt for sponsoring this episode.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

The Boeing strike continues. On Wednesday, 64% of machinists rejected Boeing's negotiated proposal, extending the strike indefinitely. Earlier that day, Boeing's third-quarter earnings revealed an expected $6.2 billion loss and an official delay until 2026 of the 777X. It's not great, for really anyone. Jon Ostrower discusses the dynamics here with Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder. We would like to thank our sponsor, Intelsat.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

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.