Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

The editors of Airline Weekly discuss the most interesting developments within the commercial airline industry. In keeping with Airline Weekly’s style, conversation generally centers on one question: How do you make money in this industry? 

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Leisure
176
The Recovery Will Start When?
Ned and Madhu digest United's third-quarter earnings in this latest episode of the Lounge and observe that airline CEO predictions about the recovery run the gamut from United CEO Scott Kirby's extreme bullishiness to the more cautious optimism expressed...
27 min
177
Delta‘s Premium Leisure Bet
This week in the Lounge, Madhu and Ned breakdown Delta's third-quarter earnings, and take bets on whether premium leisure is the travel trend of the future that CEO Ed Bastian thinks it is. Also, Southwest burns out and United wants its Pratt & Whitney-p...
20 min
178
It‘s Anyone‘s Guess When Business Travel Returns
Airline Weekly's' Edward "Ned" Russell heard a variety of forecasts for when business travel will return at the IATA Annual General Meeting this week in Boston. He and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss whether Emirates President Tim Clark is right that business...
22 min
179
The Pandemic Exacerbated Labor Issues at U.S. R...
Airline Weekly's Edward Russell reports back on the annual Regional Airline Association Leaders Conference, where executives said their long-standing labor issues expanded during the crisis. Also, Madhu and Ned discuss Qatar Airways' results, and the Ame...
24 min
180
Live From the Skift Global Forum
This week's episode of the 'Lounge comes to you live from the TWA Hotel at New York Kennedy during the Skift Global Forum 2021. The Airline Weekly team discusses why Air France-KLM Group CEO Ben Smith was "pleasantly shocked," incoming Southwest CEO Robe...
23 min
181
Boeing‘s Forecast Shows Why This Crisis Is Unli...
This week the Airline Weekly team chews over why Australia's competition regulator denied Qantas and Japan Airlines a joint venture. Will Fly Play buck the odds and make low-cost longhaul work? And, with gratuitous references to unicorns, Sasquatches, wh...
27 min
182
Philippine Airlines‘ Bankruptcy Was a Long Time...
Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about why Philippines Airlines Chapter 11 surprised no one. The two also discuss Porter's restart flights, and Ryanair's latest fight with Boeing.
24 min
183
Will South African Make a Comeback?
The Airline Weekly team heads south to look at South African Airways’ restructuring and restart after an 18-month suspension. Can the notoriously poorly run airline emerge a successful carrier? We also touch on Norwegian Air’s results and the raft of bud...
29 min
184
JetBlue Makes The Water Jump to London
Airline Weekly Senior Reporter Edward Russell talks to PaxEx.Aero Founder and Editor Seth Miller about his experience onboard JetBlue's inaugural flight to London earlier this month. Can the carrier that helped reshape the New York market two decades ago...
24 min
185
Who's Next on the Cargo Bandwagon?
How do airlines like the Boeing 737 Max now that it's been back in service for more than half a year? The Airline Weekly team consider this question as well as wondering if even more airlines will jump on the cargo bandwagon.   
25 min
186
Latin American Carriers Binge on Aircraft Orders
This week, Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward "Ned" Russell, the team behind Airline Weekly, look at why so many Latin American carriers are buying aircraft and if the OEMs are right that airlines are just starting a massive fleet-replacement cycle. It's earl...
20 min
187
Will Business Travel Ever Be the Same?
We have a special guest this week, Skift Editor at Large Brian Sumers, and he and host Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss why business travel may never be the same and question whether U.S. airline CEOs are being too optimistic when they say the market will come...
22 min
188
Too Much U.S. Optimism?
U.S. airlines are maintaining their bullish recovery outlooks even as Covid-19 Delta variant cases jump and mask requirements make a comeback. Reporter Ned Russell and Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss whether this is a realistic view or one tailored for...
23 min
189
Porter's Big Order
Canada's Porter Airlines, despite not having flown a single flight since last March, is reimaging itself by ordering its first jets and moving some flights into Toronto Pearson. Reporter Ned Russell and Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about what that mean...
29 min
190
Behind the Veil of United's New Aircraft Order
United made some news last week with its largest aircraft order, but there was more to the order than just the happy talk. Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss why United needed to upgrade its fleet, and why no one really knows when busine...
25 min
191
The Boeing Max-10 Takes Flight
Boeing's largest 737 Max variant, the -10, took flight. Is it enough for Boeing to take on the mighty Airbus A321neo and all its variants? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan get into it and why Boeing may need to pull the trigger on a clean-shee...
27 min
192
Boeing and Airbus End Their Trade Spat – For Now
The U.S. and the EU ended a 17-year-long spat over which side provided more illegal state aid and agreed to drop tariffs, which means chocolate, wine, and exercise equipment may get cheaper. Huh? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan get into why t...
26 min
193
Southwest to the Max
Southwest Airlines ordered 34 Boeing 737-7 Max aircraft, a strong sign of confidence in the once troubled airline program and a spot of good news for the beleaguered airframer. Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russel talk abou...
23 min
194
European Airlines Fear Another Lost Summer
U.S. airline CEOs were encouraged by passenger traffic during the week's Memorial Day holiday, which marks the unofficial start of summer for the United States. But their European counterparts are less optimistic, and are hoping to avoid a second "lost" ...
25 min
195
JetBlue's Founder Breezes Into the Skies Again
David Neeleman's new airline breezes to a ticket counter near you soon, as the first flights launch next week. Edward "Ned" Russell discusses his interview with Neeleman (in the May 24 issue) with Madhu Unnikrishnan.  And why is Ryanair trying to make "f...
26 min
196
Zoom Deals Vs. Real Deals
In the first segment of this episode, Accenture's Jonathan Sullivan argues that domestic business travel is coming back around the world, particularly as companies ramp up their sales pipelines. One complicating factor, though, is that it's hard to have ...
36 min
197
Is It Time to Book That European Vacation?
Europe could reopen for vaccinated U.S. tourists sometime this summer, officials say. But it's already May. Will all the pieces be in place to salvage airlines' peak summer season? Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russell pond...
25 min
198
Who's Right: Kirby or Kelly?
United CEO Scott Kirby says business travel is coming back, while Southwest CEO Gary Kelly says it could take years? Who's right? Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russell get into it. And we also take a look at the Mexico mark...
25 min
199
Is Your Airline a Pollyanna or Cassandra?
We're in the thick of U.S. airline first-quarter earnings, and executives almost across the board are optimistic that the industry has turned the corner. But is that optimism misplaced? Brazil, after all, offers a cautionary tale of how the virus isn't y...
28 min
200
Ottawa Lends a Hand to Air Canada
After not getting any aid from the Canadia government, Air Canada finally got about $5 billion in assistance. Skift Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russell and Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss what this might mean, why Latam is retiring it...
26 min