Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

It's a busy earnings week with American, Southwest, Alaska, and JetBlue all reporting. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat preview what they're listening for ahead of the airline calls on Thursday, January 26. Plus, EasyJet's strong December quarter revenues suggest their network shift to southern Europe is working.Reading List American Airlines Sees First Full Year of Profitability Since 2019 Southwest Airlines Vows to Return to Recovery Plan by March After Meltdown Alaska Airlines’ Exposure to Tech Sector Hits Carrier’s Bottom Line JetBlue Boasts 50 Percent Jump in TrueBlue Loyalty Enrollment in 2022 EasyJet Financials Lifted by High Demand and Ancillary Revenues

Was that a hint of an Irish accent when United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby took down the U.S. industry for being unprepared for the post-Covid operating reality? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the U.S-China air service recovery is in the hands of government officials.Reading List United CEO Says U.S. Airline Industry Unprepared for Post-Pandemic Realities by Edward Russell Geopolitics Get in Way of Resuming U.S.-China Flights as Demand Surges by Edward Russell

Welcome to fourth quarter airline earnings season. Oil prices have come down from the peak of the year but labor costs are climbing as the system of pulleys and levers that determine the industry's costs continue to fluctuate. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what they're looking at as airlines report. Plus, the ongoing evolution in air service to small cities across the U.S.Read this week’s issue of Airline Weekly: https://airlineweekly.com/issues/Read the latest aviation headlines at AW Daily: https://airlineweekly.com/aw-daily/

Southwest Airlines faced a holiday debacle with over 15,000 flight cancellations, impacting its fourth-quarter results. Despite the setback, the airline is expected to recover. Eurocontrol data shows a European country leading in air traffic recovery. The podcast discusses Southwest's IT challenges, financial impacts, Eurocontrol's air traffic report for Europe, and the slow recovery of tourism in Germany versus the growth in Greece's aviation industry.

It's been quite the year in aviation. From Covid variants to staffing shortages and flight disruptions, and industry dealmaking, 2022 took us for some interesting turns — but then what year does not? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what they'll be following in the New Year. Enjoy the last Airline Weekly Lounge episode of 2022.Read daily coverage of the airline industry at https://airlineweekly.com/aw-daily/Subscribe to Airline Weekly at https://airlineweekly.com/subscribe/

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines unveiled ambitious plans this week. The latter ordered up to 300 new Boeing aircraft, 200 of them 787s. CEO Scott Kirby claims the deal will cement United's status as the so-called U.S. flag carrier. And the former aims to recover its pre-pandemic profit margins in just two years. Can Delta and United do it? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss in the 'Lounge.Read more about United and Delta on Skift.For deeper insights into aviation, subscribe to Airline Weekly.

Labor is making big headway at U.S. airlines. The Air Line Pilots Association reached an agreement-in-principal with Delta Air Lines in a deal that could set a new benchmark for pilot pay if ratified. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss the ramifications this week. Plus, IATA's brightening financial outlook for 2023.Read more about Delta Air Lines at Skift: https://skift.com/tag/delta-air-lines/Get essential airline industry news at https://airlineweekly.com/

EasyJet is making good on its recovery plan. From expanding at slot-constrained airports like Lisbon and opening new seasonal bases in Greece, the airline is on its way back to the black. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss EasyJet's results for the fiscal year that ended in September. Plus, the Air India-Vistara merger.You can read more about EasyJet at Skift. For in-depth coverage of aviation, subscribe to Airline Weekly.

Airlines want more planes to meet travel demand but, with supply chains backed up, there are few new models to go around. That's good news for aircraft lessors with more than 90 percent of leases being renewed, up from around 60 percent historically, Air Lease Corp. Executive Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy said at the Skift Aviation Forum. Listen to Airline Weekly Editor Edward Russell's discussion with Udvar-Hazy at the forum.

Thanksgiving travel in the U.S. is back, said Airlines for America President and CEO Nicholas Calio. But while it will be as busy as it was three years ago, it will also be different as more people take blended trips and make it a Thanksgiving week. Calio and Edward Russell discuss the holiday outlook, plus the U.S. industry's recovery, operations, and air traffic control staffing.For daily coverage of the airline industry follow along at https://airlineweekly.com/aw-daily.For deep coverage of the airline industry, subscribe at https://airlineweekly.com/.