Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Fuel prices keep steadily rising after bottoming out in May. That's beginning to take a bite out the airline financial outlook for the third and fourth quarters. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, competition in Scandinavia.Reading List 3 U.S. Airlines Issue Warnings About Higher Third Quarter Fuel Costs SAS CEO Downplays Competition from Norwegian Air and Ryanair

How are airlines doing as the second-quarter earnings season wraps up? Generally good, but yield and cost concerns persist. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, Air Arabia’s impressive results. We are taking a summer hiatus for the next two weeks. Expect the next episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge on September 8.Reading List Air Arabia Unveils World-Leading Second Quarter Profits U.S. Airline Review: Top 10 Takeaways from Second Quarter Earnings

Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss the latest Airline Weekly profit rankings for the second quarter. Plus, the latest developments at Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific.

There was one thing in common across Air France-KLM, IAG, and JetBlue in the second quarter: Transatlantic travel demand is booming. That helped lift the first two to impressive profits. But, at the latter, it wasn't enough to offset numerous U.S. domestic challenges. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss.Reading List JetBlue Will Pay Dearly to End its Alliance With American Airlines Air France-KLM Looks to Spin-Off Loyalty Plan as Results Lag Peers British Airways and Iberia Parent IAG Sees No Travel Slowdown

Both Ryanair and Alaska Airlines reported some decline in yields in the second quarter and continuing into the third. But they also made clear: Overall travel demand remains robust on both sides of the Atlantic. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what's happening.Reading ListAlaska Airlines Sees Domestic Fares Weaken as Americans Take More International Trips

American Airlines and United Airlines just reported record second-quarter results, including double-digit operating margins. Will the magic continue through the third quarter and beyond? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss.Reading List American Airlines Raises Outlook After Strong Second Quarter Results United Airlines to Shrink Newark Departures 10% to Avoid Future Flight Disruptions Delta Results Lifted by Strong Europe and Latin America Demand

Norse Atlantic Airways President Charles Duncan is optimistic, if nothing else, about the longhaul low-cost airline’s future. But even with some summer profits under its belt, he and his team still spend nine months of the year planning for the low-demand winter season. Duncan chats with Edward Russell about the airline’s strategy a year after launch, and how it plans to make the aforementioned winter work.Reading List Long-Haul Discounter Norse Atlantic Sees London Expansion as Key to Profits More Airlines Use Next-Gen Tech to Sell Journeys on Other Carriers or Trains Cranky Flier Interview with Norse Atlantic President Charles Duncan

After a decade of reckless growth in the aughts, Norwegian Air made a strategically smart decision in its deal to buy regional Wideroe. The combination would, if approved by regulators, make Norwegian-Wideroe larger than SAS in terms of seats in the Nordics. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, JetBlue is ending its alliance with American Airlines.Reading List: Norwegian Air Steps Up Pressure on SAS With $105 Million Wideroe Deal What’s Next for American and JetBlue? What’s Next for American and JetBlue After Court Rejects Alliance

Delta Air Lines held an investor day this week where CEO Ed Bastian said business was “gangbusters.” That’s what Wall Street wanted to hear but it appears also true for a company that sees significant delta ahead, and is actively working to grow high-margin tertiary businesses. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the operational distress in the northeastern U.S. this week.Reading List Delta Sees ‘Gangbusters’ Recovery, Downplays Industry Concerns Delta Pins New Hopes on Gen Z and Millennials, Not Business Travelers United’s New York Distress Shows how Weather Can Royally Mess Up an Airline’s Operations

Indian airlines IndiGo and Air India grabbed headlines with orders at the Paris Airshow this week. Can the country support all of their planned growth? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the recovery for Alaska Airlines.Reading List IndiGo’s Giant Airbus Order Will Test Its and India’s International Aviation Ambitions Air India Seals $34 Billion in Aircraft Orders With Airbus and Boeing Alaska Airlines CEO: No Small Cities Face Axe – Yet