Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss Frontier Airlines' bold new strategy which will see it cut capacity in Las Vegas and Florida. We also review the latest developments from Japan where the country's biggest carriers are enjoying a spike in premium demand.

Ryanair has its problems, but it is doing much better than most. As the Irish low-cost giant posts its latest earnings, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat pick through the numbers and assess what the future could hold for the airline.

As airline earnings season continues to gather momentum, this week we examine the fortunes of United and easyJet. Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the major developments and identify the key trends at these two very different carriers. 

This week has seen major courtroom drama as the proposed JetBlue-Spirit merger was blocked by a U.S. judge. In this special episode, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the implications of the ruling and assess the likely knock on impact for the wider airline industry.

Boeing's 737 Max is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. An Alaska Airlines 737-9 lost a door plug after a sudden decompression on January 5 that prompted the FAA to temporarily ground all Max 9 variants with door plugs. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, JetBlue's leadership transition and outlook.Reading List Buttigieg on Boeing 737 Max 9’s Return: ‘Until It Is Ready, It’s Not Ready’ Alaska Cancels 737 Max 9 Flights Through Saturday as It Awaits FAA Approval for Inspections United Airlines Finds Loose Bolts on At Least 5 Boeing 737 Max 9 Planes JetBlue Names Joanna Geraghty as CEO, First Woman to Lead a Major U.S. Airline

What does Air France-KLM think of the future? It's bullish. Jay Shabat and Edward Russell discuss the group's recent investor day.Reading List Air France-KLM Bullish on the Future TAP Air Portugal Sale Delayed Up To a Year, Air France-KLM CEO Says The Airline Weekly team outlines the significant changes at Air France-KLM since Ben Smith became CEO in 2018. The airline, which was underperforming compared to its peers, has seen considerable improvements, particularly in the operating margin of Air France, which was notably low in 2019. Key strategies discussed include the transformation of Air France's short-haul routes, particularly moving operations at Orly Airport to their low-cost carrier, Transavia France. This move aims to address the historic losses in domestic routes. They also touch on the expansion of the Flying Blue loyalty program and the integration of SAS's loyalty program. The hosts discuss the airline's fleet strategies, focusing on Air France KLM's preference for the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 and 777 models, and the potential risks of relying heavily on a single aircraft type.Shabat and Russell also cover Air France KLM's business strategy, including their approach to fleet diversification and cost-cutting measures, and they speculate on potential future developments, like the acquisition of Air Europa if IAG's deal falls through, and the impact of Air France-KLM's stake in SAS.Hosts: Jay Shabat and Edward RusselProducer: Jose Marmolejos

Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest all dropped updates on the fourth quarter outlook in recent weeks. The verdict? Travel demand is good, fuel is down, and operations are largely better than expected. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat disucss. Plus, the state of airline labor relations in the U.S. Reading List Delta Lays Out the Case For Continued Strength Flight Attendants Want More from U.S. Airlines. It Might Take a Strike to Get There. The flight attendants of CHAOS (Planet Money)

There are three big reasons for Alaska Airlines proposed $1.9 billion merger with Hawaiian Airlines: scale, loyalty, and premium traffic. And there are lots of questions too. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss.Reading List Alaska Airlines in Deal to Buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 Billion Alaska Airlines Needs New Growth – That’s Why It’s Looking to Buy Hawaiian Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Faces a Justice Department Wary of Airline Combos What Could an Alaska-Hawaiian Loyalty Program Look Like? Think Marriott Bonvoy 8 Airline Mergers That Shaped Today’s U.S. Industry

Virgin Atlantic's CEO is confident in the airline's profitability next year; EasyJet reports positive results. The hosts discuss Virgin Atlantic's sustainable aviation fuel and financial performance. They also analyze the US-India market, LA market potential, and Delta's competitiveness. Additionally, they talk about Mr. Branson, easyJet's fiscal year results, and European carriers' winter performance.

Steven Udvar-Hazy, Executive Chairman of Air Lease Corp, discusses the challenges of aircraft purchases and sustainability targets, reasons behind not ordering the 777X, the potential impact of Airbus A321XLR on transatlantic flights, geopolitical risks and the leasing business in air travel, and the role of LCCs and ULCCs in the airline market.