The Air Show

The last twelve years have been a transformative era for WestJet — management has added complexity and made strategic decisions yielding mixed results for the current business climate. But it's a more interesting and complicated story than that, as Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss. We would like to thank TCG Digital for sponsoring this episode.Questions, responses or feedback? Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

Jon Ostrower talks with Brett Snyder about the two days he spent at Boeing this week, touring factories and walking the line and hearing from Boeing executives...and what happened when the NTSB heard what was going on. Visit theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

Weeks ago, we planned to discuss Southwest's underperformance — but so much has happened since then. Legacy-loving Southwest now has an activist investor, which bought more than 10 percent of company shares and has launched an effort to blow up the board and fire CEO Bob Jordan. Brett Snyder, Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers discuss the post-pandemic state of Southwest that likely led Elliott Investment Management to make this play for control, and the play itself. Questions, comments, or suggestions? Get in touch with us: theairshowpodcast.com

Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith and industry expert Brett Snyder discuss the IATA AGM, elevator interactions with airline executives, and insights into the US vs. European aviation industries. They also cover aircraft manufacturing challenges, KLM's aircraft replacement strategy, and engine partnerships in a light-hearted and informative episode.

United CEO Scott Kirby discusses Boeing, United's competitors, and US-based ULCCs. Topics include challenges to airplane manufacturers, route profitability, airline failures, and strategic innovations in the industry.

Vasu Raja — American's chief commercial officer who remade the airline's distribution strategy and network to less-than-stellar performance — is now out of a job.  What happens next? Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers discuss Raja's ouster, the unfinished projects that will be left for his successor and CEO Robert Isom, and more.Would you like to reach top talent at global airlines with a message on our podcast? Get in touch with us at theairshowpodcast.com.

As cost-conscious airline passengers increasingly trade up for tickets on legacy carriers, what's a ULCC to do? Brian Sumers, Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder discuss the new strategies Frontier Airlines is adopting in the face of this trend: new fare families to match the legacy airlines, changes to its network, and its fleet strategy (and order book).Would you like to sponsor future episodes of The Air Show? Get in touch with us here.

The Brazilian manufacturer has a decision to make. Should it focus on what it already does well, including regional jets, small narrowbodies, and business jets? Or should it take a chance and build a bigger airplane that might compete directly with the 737 and A320 families? Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers discuss Embraer’s dilemma in this week’s episode. We would like to thank Plusgrade and Uplift for their sponsorship of The Air Show.Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

JSX and Contour have completely different business models, but they both have something in common.  They are able to take advantage of a loophole that allows them to run their operations more flexibly in terms of pilots, security, and more under Parts 135 and 380. The industry is divided on whether this is good or bad, but it has generated some real debate in Washington. Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder talk about what's happening as well as the pros and cons.We would like to thank Plusgrade and Uplift for their sponsorship of The Air Show.Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.

American Airlines has a bold, new strategy that forgoes managed corporate bookings for direct bookings while remaking its entire sales effort. With the first quarter over and done, how is that plan-turned-strategy working out so far? This week, Brian Sumers, Brett Snyder and Jon Ostrower discuss the first indicators of American's grand plan.We would like to thank Plusgrade and Uplift for their sponsorship of The Air Show.Visit www.theairshowpodcast.com to get in touch with us.