Airline Weekly Lounge

With earnings season well underway, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat examine the key trends and finer details from JetBlue and Volaris - two of the largest low-cost carriers in the Americas.

Fresh out of United's Q1 earnings call, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the headline numbers and critical trends facing the U.S. carrier.

In this week's episode, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat dig into Delta's latest earnings report to find out what's making the U.S. carrier one of the industry's biggest success stories.

In this week's episode, Gordon Smith is joined by Ashab Rizvi from Skift Research to discuss the key findings from a new report into the low-cost, long-haul airline sector.

In this special edition of the Airline Weekly Lounge, we sit down with Ryanair Group CEO Michael O'Leary. No subject is off the table as we discuss everything from social media to Southwest's business model.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the global airports that look set to be the big winners and losers in the coming quarter.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the latest developments from the Lufthansa Group and explain why the German flag carrier is trailing competitors. We also review the key aviation highlights from the J.P. Morgan Industrials Conference in New York.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss a new strategy from American Airlines to win back domestic market share and boost loyalty. We also examine the impact of Turkish Airlines' Australian debut on Qantas and other major carriers.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat examine the latest results from IAG to find out how they compare with Air France-KLM. We also take a deep-dive into Latin America to explore the fortunes of Latam Airlines.

Today we feature a portion of our Skift’s Megatrends for 2024, as Skift Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit is joined by Airlines Editor and Reporter Gordon Smith and Airline Weekly Senior Analyst Jay Shabat, to discuss our some of our most "problematic" Megatrends. They cover the continuing supply chain issues faced by the aviation sector, and the impacts of the burgeoning climate crisis on the business of travel. You can see all of Skift’s Megatrends for 2024 right now at Skift.com/megatrends.

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss how Thai Airways has shaken off its pandemic problems and emerged as one of the world's most profitable carriers.

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 Russel Producer: 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 in a good year turns a modest profit. In bad years, it loses money. So why is Shai Weiss so confident the airline will turn a profit next year? Jay Shabat and Edward Russell settle in for a cuppa to discuss. Plus, EasyJet's results. Reading List Virgin Atlantic CEO Focused on Return to Profitability in 2024 Virgin Atlantic Pressures UK for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Support EasyJet Raises Profit Outlook After ‘Record’ Summer, Orders More Airbus Planes