Airlines Confidential Podcast

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Hosted by Ben Baldanza - former CEO Spirit Airlines & Seth Kaplan - Transportation Analyst for NPR's Here & Now / former publisher of Airline Weekly. Top stories, discussion, listener questions, and passenger complaints are all addressed head-on in each episode.

Ben Baldanza & Seth Kaplan


    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 48m AVG DURATION
    • 289 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Airlines Confidential Podcast

    289 - Guest Co-Host: Oscar Munoz; Guest: Steve Sisneros, VP Airport Affairs, Southwest Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 62:08


    This week: Scott McCartney's Guest Co-Host is Oscar Munoz; Guest: Steve Sisneros, VP Airport Affairs, Southwest Airlines, News: Real ID kicks in; SWA Bags Fly Free no more; Newark caps traffic - United takes biggest hit; Better ATC tech & better runway utilization; ATC leadership failures; Success pending ratification on United flight attendant contract; Delta's new confusing fare classes & subclasses; Listener Input: Conflicting opinions on EWR slot restrictions.

    288 - Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan; Guest: Richard Anderson, Fmr CEO, Delta Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 80:19


    This week: Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan; Guest: Richard Anderson, Fmr CEO, Delta Airlines; News: Airline fares drop; Newark personnel and technology forces contraction; SWA expands international service; United projects getting back into JFK; How might JetBlue benefit from a United alliance?

    287 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt; Guest: Adam Stahl, Acting Administrator, TSA

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 58:39


    This week: Guest Co-Host Henry Hardevelt; Guest: Adam Stahl, Acting Administrator, TSA; News: Real ID takes effect; US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy presents plan for ATC technology upgrade; What's happening at Newark? Gate reallocation drama with United & American in Chicago; Decline in business travel continues; Validity of JD Power survey? Listener input on Real ID, Affordable Skies Coalition.

    286 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman; Guest: Linda Jojo, Fmr EVP/CCO, United

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 62:55


    This week: Scott's Guest Co- Host is Maya Leibman; Guest: Linda Jojo, Fmr EVP/Chief Customer Officer, United. News: Rep. Sam Graves (R) proposes $15B ATC modernization; United cuts flights at Newark due to ATC equipment and staffing issues; Projected United - JetBlue partnership; How problematic will TSA enforcement of Real ID be? New less fun names for SWA fare bundles; A Freddie Awards recap; United & others seat count changes at ORD; Listener Q: Why is AA suing JetBlue, and what happened to JetBlue BOS-ISP?

    285 - Guest Co-Host: Christina Cassotis, Guest: John Pepper, VP/Corp. Development, Allegiant Air

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 64:25


    This week: Scott's Guest Co-Host is Christina Cassotis, Guest: John Pepper, VP/Corporate Development, Allegiant Air; News: Why has a proposed Allegiant-Viva Aerobus alliance been held up by DOT for 3 years? Earning news from AA, SWA, Alaska; Southwest assigns very generic names to fare classes; Alaska increasing flights to West Coast cities; Boeing pauses X-66; Jetzero gains more support; Dozens of JetBlue pilots taking buyout; Listener input on pilot training, airport staffing.

    284 - Guest Co-Host Doug Parker; Guest: Aengus Kelly, Exec. Director & CEO, AerCap Holdings

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 65:28


    This week: Scott's McCartney's Guest Co-Host is Doug Parker; Guest: Aengus Kelly, Exec. Director & CEO, AerCap Holdings: News: United reports positive earnings & offers two different projections; Spirit hires Dave Davis as CEO as speculation builds on a merger with Frontier; American teaming with AT&T to offer free Wi-Fi; Listener Q on potential reason for new administration's toughness on airlines.

    283 - Guest Co-Host: Dave Hilfman, Special Report: Chris Sloan on the Pacific Island Hopper

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 75:10


    This week: Scott's Guest Co-Host is Dave Hilfman, Special Report: Chris Sloan on the Pacific Island Hopper; News: Frontier, Delta, revenue lower than projected; United adding significant numbers of seats; What's happening with the NOTAM system? FAA still having trouble with technology; Avelo accepts contract to operate deportation flights; Listener Q: Is a Republic - SkyWest merger in the cards?

    282 - Guest Co-Host: Oscar Munoz, Guests: Milind Tavshikar, SmartKargo & Marco Ferrara, Delta

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 67:43


    Guest Host: Oscar Munoz, Guests: Milind Tavshikar, CEO, SmartKargo & Marco Ferrara, Mngr Product/Strategy, Delta; Ted Christie out as Spirit CEO: Republic buying Mesa; Info on new Executive Aviation focused MBA program at U of Colorado; Airline stocks take another beating; United adding interesting Asian flights; Economic changes potential effects on Southwest; Listener feedback on Southwest, and shades position during boarding and deplaning.

    281 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan; Guest: Eamonn Brennan, Fmr Director General, Eurocontrol

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 54:50


    This week: Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan; Guest: Eamonn Brennan, Fmr Director General, Eurocontrol; News: Trans Canada booking data conflicts; Potential market share shifts related to fees; Alaska/Hawaiian increasing Asian service from Seattle; Listener input: Lots about SWA, but not much about JetBlue's situation, YTD stock prices, and future pilots getting hours as a CFI.

    280 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt; Guest: Justin Jones, EVP Operations, Southwest Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 79:15


    This week: Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt; Guest: Justin Jones, EVP Operations, Southwest Airlines. Recorded in Dallas TX at Cirium OTP Board Meeting; News: Heathrow power failure; International travel slowdown; Report issued on Delta CRJ incident; Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford nominated to head FAA; SWA earns world's lowest cancellation rate; Could the SWA bag rule change be problematic? Listener input on shades during takeoff and landing.

    279 - Guest Co-Host: Maya Leibman; Guest: Elise Eberwein, Fmr EVP, American Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 70:46


    This week: Scott's Co-Host is Maya Leibman; Guest: Elise Eberwein, Fmr EVP, American Airlines; News: Crisis communication; Delta celebrates 100 Years; Revised earnings projections from United, Delta; The SWA transition; Spirit's quick exit from bankruptcy; Listener Q's on airlines deferring OEM deliveries.

    278 - Big Southwest Bag/Policy Changes - Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 63:39


    This week: Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis; News: Big bag news & changes at Southwest; Can SWA remain SWA? Cost of enplaned passenger (CPE) & the structure around airport funding; AA asks for a NE Alliance deal review; Staffing requirement change at DCA; A Scott Mini-Rant on Axios fare data conclusion; Listener Q on the future of SWA, & a look ahead to Southwest 3.0.

    277 - JetBlue's Top Senior Leadership - Joanna Geraghty, CEO and Marty St. George

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 60:04


    This week: JetBlue's Top Senior Leadership - Joanna Geraghty, CEO and Marty St. George, President. News: The SWA go-around to avoid Flexjet in Chicago; SWA routes and distribution changes; Frontier makes significant moves in Atlanta; A rant from Scott; Some very much appreciated listener input.

    276 - Guest Co-Host Doug Parker; Guest: Sara Nelson, Pres., Association of Flight Attendants

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 83:36


    This week: Scott's Guest Co-Host is Doug Parker; Guest: Sara Nelson, President, Association of Flight Attendants; Topics: Organized labor, Partners and mergers, Delta 4819 flight lands, flips upside down, crew performs with excellence, all survive; A drop in government travel, A4A seeks congressional funding to fix the FAA; Spirit restructuring deal approved; AA announces routes expansion at ORD.

    275 - Guest Co-Host Chris Sloan with info on BermudAir

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 56:06


    This week: Guest Co-Host Chris Sloan with info on BermudAir; Several see Spirit as attractive; British Airways & Virgin participate in love triangle; Las Vegas "Supplemental" Airport in the works; American adds to BOS-LGA; Tom Doxey to Southwest as CFO; DCA incident news update; Boeing steps up deliveries; Listener comments on open skies in the new administration, post DCA crash reactions. Next week: The Delta crash and SWA layoffs.

    274 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman, Guest: Jim Compton, Fmr Vice Chairman, United

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 75:06


    This week: Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman, Guest: Jim Compton, Fmr Vice Chairman/Chief Revenue Officer of United Airlines. Topics: Pricing: Favorite Superbowl ads; United brings back stroopwafels; PSA 5342/PAT 25 Crash info update; JetBlue ending BOS-LGA service; United asking for American gates in ORD? Frontier reports interesting numbers.

    273 - Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz; Focus: A Tragic Week in Aviation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 42:27


    This week: Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz; News: A tragic week in aviation; Context and elements to consider; Frontier (again) tries to buy Spirit; Is the American-JetBlue Northeast Alliance back on the table? Listener input on Spirit's attempt at upgraded services, plus differing thoughts on the work of the TSA and Fmr Admin David Pekoske.

    272 - Scott McCartney - Island Edition from Hawaii

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 20:40


    This week: Scott McCartney - Island Edition from Hawaii; News: David Pekoske out as TSA Administrator; American reports good times-bad times; Operating margin numbers; Wall Street Journal's latest performance rankings; On Point Loyalty's report on loyalty program values; Lister comments: Comparing AOPA to NRA goes to far.

    271 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt, Travel Industry Analyst

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 65:00


    This week: Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt; SWA rejects outgoing DOT "chronically late" fine, DOT sues SWA; Service increase coming to TLV; A Delta - United near collision over PHX; Spirit announces layoffs; Can GoBig/GoComfy upsells drive significant revenue? AMEX GBT / CWT merger challenged by US Dept of Justice; Azul Abra/Avianca looking to merge; Nick Calio retiring from A4A; Air Wisconsin changing operations.

    270 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 63:47


    This week: Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan, Fmr President, Norse Atlantic; News: Tough week for air travel; Questions around wheel well stowaways; Ed Bastian's Sphere presentation & numbers behind Delta's earnings report; Overall capacity changes taking hold; Bill Swellbar report referenced; Bob Jordan's 737 store open for business; Fmr Boeing CEO says time to design a new airplane; Listener Q's on service classes and privatizing ATC.

    269 - Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis; Guest Jeremy Bowen, CEO, Cirium

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 69:52


    This week: Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh Int. Airport; Guest Jeremy Bowen, CEO, Cirium; News: Context around recent airliner crashes; DOT fines JetBlue 2MM for chronic lateness; Silver Airways files Ch11, Alaska shares and others up significantly in 2024; 2025 expectations; Elements of Airport-Airlines communication and collaboration; Listener feedback on Doug Parker travel tip to avoid checking bags and a Question on how much time does Spirit have?.

    268 - Guest Co-Host Doug Parker, Guest: Nick Calio, Pres/CEO, Airlines for America

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 50:31


    This week: Guest Co-Host Doug Parker, Fmr CEO, American Airlines. Guest: Nick Calio, President/CEO, Airlines for America; News: New FAA Commissioner Jan 20th; Investor David Bonderman passes; Is Alaska's expanding international service from SEA sustainable? Infrastructure constraints. Listener Q's on best travel tips, privatizing ATC. Happy Holidays/New Year - Next episode: Jan 8, 2025

    267 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman; Guest: Jim Butler, CFO, Gatwick Airport

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 57:29


    This week: Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman; Guest: Jim Butler, CFO at London Gatwick Airport / Managing Director at Global Infrastructure Partners; News: TSA screening numbers; Some projections indicate travel rebound; Is Frontier adding big seats up front a good idea? Listener comments on airlines being likened to Amazon, JetBlue-Southwest merger viability.

    266 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 56:54


    This week: Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman; A look into the "major" report on airline fees from U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) chaired by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT); Budget allocations & potential for privatizing ATC in new administration; High hopes for DOT Admin Nominee Sean Duffy; Reaction to NYT stories on padding schedules and loyalty program; Listener input on Spirit's approach for the future, salute to Jun Tsuruta.

    265 - Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Fmr Chairman, United; Andrew Watterson, COO, SWA

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 59:51


    This week: Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Fmr Chairman, United; Plus: Andrew Watterson, COO, SWA, with Scott McCartney at ONT "State of the Airport" day in Ontario CA; News: Spirit's "Basic Economy Bankruptcy" moves forward; A discussion around change fees; Lund out, Ackerman in as Boeing head of quality; Arthur Frommer passes at 95; Listener Q on Aer Lingus incentives at Indianapolis, and follow up to Chris Sloan A321 XLR segment.

    264 - Chris Sloan Reports on the A321 XLR Inaugural Flight

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 53:35


    This week: Chris Sloan flies Iberia and reports on the A321 XLR inaugural flight; Plus: Facts, context, and perspective on the Spirit prepackaged bankruptcy plan, what Ben would say, and what happens next; Gunshots hit multiple aircraft; Court rules Oakland is not San Francisco.

    263 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt, Pres. Atmosphere Research Group

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 63:15


    This week: Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt, President, Atmosphere Research Group; Remembrance: B. Ben Baldanza passes at age 62 from ALS; News: New chairman & 5 new board members at SWA; Expected FAA changes in 2nd Trump Administration; SAF Policies; Is it time to privatize air traffic? Cirium holiday capacity projections; Back to work at Boeing; The raccoon at LaGuardia; Listener Q on increased labor costs.

    262 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan; Guest: Frank Lorenzo

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 89:09


    This week: Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan, Fmr President, Norse Atlantic Airways; Guest: Frank Lorenzo, Fmr CEO, Continental Airlines; News: JetBlue, SkyWest, Frontier Q3 report; Frontier takes deliveries of new Airbus 320neo; Increased competition for LCCs; DOT new refund rule result for consumers; Canadian Transportation Agency proposes fining airlines per complaint; Listener input on SWA route structuring.

    increased frontier airbus swa continental airlines skywest host charles lccs norse atlantic airways canadian transportation agency
    261 - Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh Int Airport

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 73:27


    This week: Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis, CEO, Pittsburgh Int Airport; Gary Kelly steps down while Bob Jordan stays at SWA-Can the culture survive?; Boeing strike drags on; AA gets hit with largest ever accessibility related fine; PIT seeing big increase in VIP travelers; A Frontier deal for Spirit may be back in play; The job of an airport CEO; Listener input on product-based terminal assignment.

    260 - Guest Co-Host Doug Parker, Fmr. CEO, American Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 65:21


    This week: Guest Co-Host Doug Parker, Fmr. CEO, American Airlines & Co-Founder, Breaking Down Barriers; News: United earnings report, Southwest stockholder Elliott Mgt calls for shareholder meeting; What makes a good Board Member? A discussion on SWA current dynamics; The AA / Skiplagged decision and an airline perspective on Skiplagging; FAA launches runway incursion audit; LAX traffic down; A listener/SWA employee comments.

    259 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman & Guest Patrick O'Keeffe, Fmr SVP, People, American

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 74:09


    This week: Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman, Fmr EVP/CIO, American Airlines; Guest: Patrick O'Keeffe, Fmr SVP – People, American Airlines; News: Delta forecasts weaker revenue; Some CrowdStrike context; Disagreement over Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF); Are terminal robo-wheelchairs on the horizon? Boeing strike negotiations not going well; United announces unusual new foreign destinations; Listener Q's: Would consolidated check in be workable for airlines?

    258 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman, Fmr SVP, United Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 59:28


    This week: Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman, Fmr SVP, Worldwide Sales at United Airlines; News: Is Spirit planning for a bankruptcy? SWA Board member Rakesh Gangwal buys 3.6M shares - Can improvements be made fast enough? International conflicts affecting travel; Spy transfers FAA infrastructure intel to Iran; United FAA safety review completed; Toyota invests more in VTOL maker Joby; Reflections from working with Bethune/Munoz/Kirby.

    257 - Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Fmr Chairman & CEO, United Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 71:08


    This week: Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Fmr Chairman & CEO, United Airlines; News from Southwest's Investor Day: The SWA plan to increase revenue; GAO report on FAA sites unsustainable systems; The story behind the Munoz transformation of United. Book: Turnaround Time: Uniting an Airline and Its Employees in the Friendly Skies. https://airlinesconfidential.com/book-list/

    256 - Jeff Martin, President/CEO, Aero Design Labs

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 45:01


    This week: Jeff Martin, President/CEO, Aero Design Labs; Plus: Southwest's challenges; Alaska - Hawaiian a done deal with special DOT conditions - now what? Potential next moves for Hawaiian's Peter Ingram; JetBlue lounges coming soon; Listener Q on flight data. Next week: Oscar Munoz, Guest Co-host.

    255 - Rob Gurney, Fmr CEO, Oneworld Alliance

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 66:44


    This week: Rob Gurney, Fmr CEO, Oneworld Alliance, Also: Amy Spowart, Pres/CEO NAA & David Richardson, Pres Aero Club of Washington DC on the Wright Brothers Trophy; Plus: New format announcement; Lots about the situation at Southwest; Boeing on strike; AA F/A contract ratified; 2 airport collisions.

    254- Vasu Raja, Fmr. Chief Commercial Officer, American Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 52:33


    This week: Vasu Raja, Fmr. Chief Commercial Officer, American Airlines; Also: Sept. 11th reflection; JetBlue revises earnings guidance; DOT decides to evaluate award programs instead of addressing flight delay causes; Orlando & Las Vegas market data; Listener input on keeping labor in mind at Spirit.

    253 - Dominic Gates, Aerospace Journalist, The Seattle Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 47:54


    This week: Dominic Gates, Aerospace Journalist / Boeing Reporter, The Seattle Times; Plus: SAS emerges from bankruptcy with new owners Air France/KLM and more; Norse Atlantic trims fleet, puts focus on 787-9s, joins GDS; Canada based Flair seeks new partners; A SeaTac hack; Airlines gained/lost share in key markets; Listener response to Spirit ticket tax story. Additional tributes to Ben Baldanza.

    252 - Suzanne Neufang, CEO, Global Business Travel Association

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 59:53


    This week: Suzanne Neufang, CEO, Global Business Travel Association; Breaking News: Which airline might trigger Congressional action on "Taxable Transportation"?; TSA Labor Day weekend projections; Mike Spanos out as Delta's EVP/COO; John Laughter & Allison Ausband assume operational responsibilities; Listener Q on 1st class boarding; an equipment change by AA on BOS-MIA.

    251 - David Seymour, COO, American Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 55:13


    This week: David Seymour, COO, American Airlines; The Alaska-Hawaii situation in depth; JetBlue leverages TrueBlue; Shares down on multiple carriers; Breeze blows down Avelo's neck in New Haven; Questions & comments: Southwest vs Spirit new in-flight experience; Listeners thank Ben Baldanza.

    250 - An announcement from Ben Baldanza

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 64:47


    This week: An announcement from Ben Baldanza; Plus, never before told Ben stories as Scott McCartney welcomes back Seth Kaplan, Chris Chiames, and Chris Sloan as guests to salute Ben; News: Air & Cruise travel demand; Aircraft delivery delays; Capacity discussion; Delta reliability; Listener Q: What would you do if you were CEO at SWA?

    249 - Bob Jordan, CEO, Southwest Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 46:22


    This week: Bob Jordan, CEO, Southwest Airlines; Airlines as an economic indicator; Will Spirit's new fare classes be the solution to current woes? DOT lays out new rules on family seating; Boeing has a new leader: Robert K. “Kelly” Ortberg; Two airlines cut Austin routes; Listeners input on the SWA boarding process and aircraft types, plus fees.

    248 - Bill Swelbar, Chief Industry Analyst, Swelbar-Zhong Consultancy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 51:21


    This week: William Swelbar, Chief Industry Analyst, Swelbar-Zhong Consultancy; Southwest short on communicating some big changes; A look at Delta's IT meltdown; American down and projects worse; Listener Q on SWA employee reaction to changes.

    247 - Allison Pohle, Travel Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 38:57


    This week: Allison Pohle, Travel Reporter, The Wall Street Journal; Evacuating an aircraft; American comes to agreement with flight attendants; Exploding soda at Southwest; United reducing capacity; IT debacle hits airlines hard, especially Delta; Takeaways from TSA Administrator David Pekoske on stats & plans; Listener takes issue with Scott on fees; Q's on air traffic controller hiring lawsuit, fee display dropdowns.

    246 - David Pekoske, Administrator, TSA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 65:19


    This week: David Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Delta and other's earnings; Delta announces partnership with Riyadh Air; Cirium seat data released; Rakesh Gangwal joins Southwest Airlines Board of Directors; Listener Q on bad weather flight decisions.

    245 - Boeing in the News

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 37:56


    This week: Boeing pleads guilty to defrauding the government; Boeing to buy back supplier Spirit AeroSystems; and more Boeing news; The fee-based travel economy-Have fees gotten out of hand?; Universal Hydrogen burns through $100MM; SWA Q3 revenue down; Listener Q on Spirit Airlines furloughing while increasing executive pay.

    244 - Scott McCartney interviews Ben Baldanza

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 29:49


    This week: Scott McCartney interviews Ben Baldanza, Fmr CEO, Spirit & current Board Member JetBlue: Ben has been selected to receive National Aeronautic Association 2024 Wright Trophy; FAA looking at new public charter rules; The Basic Economy misnomer with almost incomprehensible policies; SWA flight low altitude situations cause concern; Listener input: APUs, should a pilot stay at Spirit.

    243 - Tim Toerber, VP Business Development, Assaia

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 33:26


    This week: Tim Toerber, VP Business Development, Assaia; A focus on Southwest - changes coming, overstaffing, the impact of Elliott Investment Management, and more; Mishandled bag numbers; Alaska must pay for a trademark they don't use; Listener suggestions for Southwest.

    242 - Sammy Patel, VP/Commercial, Vantage Airport Group & Simon Gandy, EVP/COO, New Terminal One JFK

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 56:38


    This week: Sammy Patel, VP/Commercial, Vantage Airport Group & CEO Midway Partnership and Simon Gandy, EVP/COO, New Terminal One: Rebuilding JFK: FAA understaffing continues; DOT issues minor fine to foreign carriers over passenger refunds; Increased flights to TLV; GBTA, business travel types, numbers, & average trip cost; Listener input: Differentiating between lower cost carriers; Unfair to blame F/A's for American operational issues.

    241 - Michael Landguth, Pres. & CEO, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2024 44:13


    This week: Michael Landguth, Pres. & CEO, Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority; American CEO Robert Isom fires CCO Vasu Raja, actual margins, a brain drain, and more @ AA;  Weather issues at DFW; FAA meets with Boeing; A near collision at DCA; Listener Q: If Spirit went bankrupt how would other airlines react?

    240 - Chris Sloan: In depth on Hawaiian Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 47:14


    This week: Chris Sloan: In depth on Hawaiian Airlines; Also: The reality of the London-Singapore flight story; Adding clarity to Frontier's pricing/change fee policy; Remembering Norm Mineta; Listener input: Calling out Allegiant on a "rip-off" ticketing fee, Expedia's multiple brands. Bonus interview content from AFA available at https://airlinesconfidential.com/afa2024

    239 - Simon Newton-Smith, SVP Americas, EL AL Israel Airlines

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2024 37:52


    This week: Simon Newton-Smith, SVP Americas, EL AL Israel Airlines; Cirium seat capacity growth data; Airlines For America sues DOT over fee listings; FAA reauthorization bill signed; Congress misunderstands aircraft capacity & evacuation reality; A change in Boeing assembly line process; Listener comments.

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