Podcasts about Air New Zealand

The Social Success Series is back with a brand new episode featuring a very special guest and hospitality's no-nonsense voice, Mr. Scott Eddy!  Scott Eddy joins the podcast to give audiences his perspective and insights on where the future of hospitality is headed, social media growth in hospitality, and how AI technology is the biggest innovation that the industry has ever seen. If you are looking to stay ahead of the hospitality technology curve by getting the latest hospitality information, tune in to the episode. Cassady Quintana: Welcome to the Social Success Podcast, where we have conversations with top hospitality professionals about successful digital marketing strategies, emerging trends, and how to connect with today’s travelers. I’m your host, Cassady Quintana. Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Social Success series. My name is Cassady Quintana and I am the brand ambassador here at Travel Media Group. And today we have an awesome guest. I am super excited, a hospitality influencer, celebrity to me. Super excited to have the no nonsense voice of hospitality. Mr. Scott Eddy, thank you so much for joining me. Scott Eddy: Thanks so much for having me, man. Cassady Quintana: Yeah, super excited. So, right now you’re in Spain. We talked a little bit about that, but for people that may be a little bit unfamiliar with you and your history, talk us through how you got involved in hospitality and how you got to where you are today. Scott Eddy: Yeah, so I actually didn’t come from a hospitality at all. I came from investment banking, which I think gives me a very different lens of the world. So I look at hospitality through psychology, positioning, ROI, branding human behavior before I even look at aesthetics, which actually means nothing. after my banking career ended, I went to Thailand on a two week trip, and after four days I called my mom. I was like, I’m never coming home. I love this place. And I ended up living in Bangkok for 11 years. So I went over there in 99, several years before social media came out. So for the next four or five years, I basically just partied my butt off all over Asia, made a lot of friends and just getting acclimated with the region. ’cause it was just, it’s like a different world over there. So then social media came out and I started the first digital agency in Asia, and we were the biggest for five years. And all my clients were hotels. So my very first client in this industry was the first Aman property on earth. Aman…, which was in Phuket. And that really taught me the whole quiet, luxury, luxury persona. Like that whole thing. It really like it was like a, like a, like a weight in my brain that is still there today. It’s really, really stuck with me and a lot of things that I learned from that project. Really, I use it every day. Cassady Quintana: Yeah. No, that’s awesome. I feel like a lot of the people I talk to and we talk to here, it’s kind of a similar story. They fall into hospitality, they don’t realize, and it happened to me too, like I was working just in normal social media marketing before I got into hospitality. And that’s kind of how it happens for a lot of people. So you live in hotels, you’re traveling constantly. A lot of people would only dream of that. I wish I could do something like that. So for you, at what point did you realize, like, this wasn’t travel anymore, but you could kind of turn that into your brand and a business for yourself? Scott Eddy: So, okay, so as I was doing the agency, and again, I just hired really smart people that worked at advertising agencies. And just watched them. But during that time, that’s when social media first came out. And I’m very early on every platform. I was probably first 2000 people on Twitter. And Twitter was it back then. So that’s actually where I built my brand. And I was the first American expat in every Asian country to have a million followers on Twitter, which back then got me headline news, which got me speaking gigs, which got me consulting gigs. So after a while, all my business was coming through my social media. And again, this is back when there was no term influencer, there was no term personal brand. There was no, that might have been a thing, but it wasn’t a thing. So eventually I just decided to sell the agency because it just made no sense to me to have a brick and mortar office paying 37 full-time employees when the clients are coming through my phone or my computer. Like, it just didn’t make sense. So I sold it and started traveling around. In total did 11 years in Thailand, one year in Philippines, one year in Sri Lanka, four years in Spain, one year in Portugal, and one year in London. And then I came back to the US in 2015, thereabouts. And that is when I literally blew up because that is when real budgets were starting to be applied to social media marketing. And I was approached by a PR agency as soon as I came back to be the travel host for the first video, for the first travel show that was gonna be a lifetime. And it was like a Anthony Bourdain type show. It was called Video Globetrotter. So that solidified me in the U.S. Then I just started doing just huge campaigns with F1, with Air New Zealand, with like, all these big brands. I was a brand ambassador for Lexus for two years. I mean, it was, it was very, very cool. But when I, before I came back to the States when I was in Europe, I was just looking at like what was gonna happen when I went back to the States and I was like, well, I don’t want to get a lease and like have like a normal life. I haven’t had a life for a very long time. So I ended up selling everything that I own while I was in Europe and even now. So I was born in Michigan, but I was grow, I grew up in Fort Lauderdale since I was little. I used to only have a storage unit in South Florida. So I used South Florida as a base in between all my trips. But I’m there two, three days. Like, I was just there this past weekend. I went to F1 and then I came to Europe right away. That’s awesome. So, yeah, I mean, it just happened. When did it happen? Who knows? But it just, I’ve been in the trenches of hospitality marketing for 17 years, since day one of social media. Not that we were doing social media strategies on day one. Back then it was like websites and SEO and graphic design. Remember when people paid for that? Cassady Quintana: Yeah. Scott Eddy: So the services side is very different now. But it’s fun. But it’s fun and hospitality, like it’s the greatest people in the world. Cassady Quintana: I couldn’t agree more. I mean, how could you not be happy with being able to travel to all these places and meet new people and stay in different hotels and you’ve experienced, a wide range of different hotels. So when you think back of all these places you’ve stayed at, for you what makes a memorable stay versus one that’s kind of forgettable? Scott Eddy: And I’ve had both. The difference is emotional impact. That’s it. Most luxury hotels today are physically beautiful. And emotionally empty. The industry has been become obsessed with that whole polished and everything else. But forget humanity. Guests don’t remember the sink design or the way the lobby looked. They remember how your people made them feel. And I’ll give you a perfect example, and this is not to put them down, but I just left Tulsa. I was there for eight days. I mean, you’re talking about Tulsa, Oklahoma. Like it’s not New York City, it’s not Paris, it’s not Hong Kong, it’s Tulsa. And I was at the Marriott there. And again, this is not a ultra luxury property, I’m telling you right now, I stay over 300 nights in hotels and have done so for the more than eight, nine years. This was the best employees, the best staff that I’ve ever met in my life, ever. And I’ve lived in Asia for 13 years. And Asia has, I mean, the best of the best. But I mean, it, it was crazy. Like the finance lady coming out and she’s like smiling and laughing with the staff. Have you ever seen finance person smile? Like that’s where the creativity goes to die. That’s the person who’s telling me, no, no, no, we don’t have the money for this. Like, it was unbelievable like every day I was just like pinching myself. I’m like, is this real? It was just, it was really crazy that the best experience that I’ve had ever in hospitality just happened. Cassady Quintana: Oh, that’s awesome. And I feel like this is something that a lot of hotels should be posting about on social media because I always say like, your hotel and the way it looks is part of the experience, but what makes it memorable or what makes it terrible for people is how the service was. So, and that can be hard to translate online. So when you are looking at a hotel, social media page for you, like what makes something make you gravitate towards it and wanna engage with it, rather than it being a promotional or sale. Like how can hotels translate that inhuman experience and how awesome their staff is and how awesome their staff makes you feel to social media so that potential guests can feel that through the phone? Scott Eddy: I mean, first off,I browse through social media profiles of hotels every day. I mean, I’m, I’m talking dozens and it’s, it’s honestly most of it just makes me wanna throw. It is ridiculous. We are in the most feel good, fuzzy warm feeling industry in the world. And they can’t stop taking these gorgeous pictures of rooms and dead pictures of an empty swimming pool. And like, it’s unbelievable. Most hotels, social media feels like it was approved by seven people in a boardroom and a legal department. That’s the problem. Everything is safe, polished, filtered, and emotionally flat human beings connect with people, not corporate perfection. When are you gonna wake up? Like, I don’t understand. It’s 2026. It’s almost as if they don’t have a calendar. Like show it, show the chef, show the bartender, show the housekeeper, show them, show humor. I mean, like, it’s crazy. Cassady Quintana: And I think that’s the thing, like when Instagram first came out, it was that opposite, right? We need the perfect photo, we need the perfect shot. We have to use the perfect filter. And now it’s, it’s kind of gone to the opposite. And maybe this is with AI becoming so pertinent in all of these things, but people want to see that real moment. Because it’s hard to imagine yourself in a perfect photo of a hotel room. Like, I wanna see someone enjoying their coffee, or like you said at the pool, things like that. So obviously you’ve followed this since it’s started and it’s changed. We’ve seen new trends. We’ve seen Instagram change its algorithm completely. So beyond that human emotion, is there anything else that you think hoteliers are still getting wrong in 2026 with their social media? Scott Eddy: I mean, the biggest mistake hotels are still making is thinking that content is the strategy. Content is not the strategy. Content is the vehicle. Emotional relevance is the strategy. Anybody can create content. Now, do you have a phone? You can create content, you have AI, it can create content. So the value is no longer in simply producing the content. The value is in perspective, storytelling, culture, trust, leadership, and emotional connection. That is the number one. Most hotels still have no clear voice online. What I love to ask hotels. I love to say, what is your brand personality? They don’t know how to answer. Like, how do you not know that there’s no founder visibility, there’s no staff involvement, there’s no community building. God help you if you can find a GM. They’re heading in the office. There’s no understanding of platform psychology. I was talking to a guy who is part of a group of a hotel group, and they own 11-17, they owned a bunch of hotels. And I asked him about one of the properties. So before we hopped on the call, I went on every platform to see where they are, how active they are. That way I have the ammunition. We get on the phone and I ask him, what about X, Y, Z property? I couldn’t find them on TikTok. Why aren’t they, oh, I don’t like TikTok. That wasn’t a question. Cassady Quintana: Right. Scott Eddy: And then, with me, I dive deeper. I’m like, why don’t you like it? kids dancing. Come on. That’s the way it started. I said, the average, the average age demographic that’s most active right now is 38 to 57. Luxury brands are killing it on TikTok. I love when people say can’t sell luxury on social media. What? These are the people that aren’t on their phones. Right. Come on, man. Cassady Quintana: No, and I love that you mentioned that because especially TikTok, it had that, that image, especially in 2020 of just being that platform where people dance. But it goes beyond that now because we’re starting to see integrations with, Booking.com on TikTok and Expedia on Instagram. Like, there the conversation of is important is long gone. Now it’s, why are you not on this? It’s kind of almost weird and embarrassing if you’re not on social media. Like, what do you mean you’re not on social media? ’cause that is, and especially my, I’m older, gen Z, but as these new demographics start to have buying power, this is where we’re searching. Likeand it, and like you said, TikTok is now that age group of 30 to 50. Like those are the people with the most buying power. So what do you mean, like that it, and it’s hard to get people to see that sometimes because when they have that preconceived notion of what social media is, to try and get them to a point of believing in it is tough. But I mean, the proof is in the pudding. We can show them how important that is. So kind of in that same world, I mean we’re seeing a lot of influencers in hospitality now. And we actually, I did an exercise last week where I was searching, hotels and the most viral videos and most of them came from influencers. So where do you see the value with influencers in hotels and maybe where do you see that continue to go? Scott Eddy: The problem with the whole influencer space, and I hate that word so much. Just because influencers ruined, just like marketers ruin the term marketing. Influencers have ruined the term influencers. I mean, it’s just such a egotistical. Ridiculous word. It’s just such a saturated market. So much so that I don’t even work in South Florida and I rarely work in Florida. And if I can avoid it, I rarely work in the U.S. I’d much rather work overseas. South Florida, it’s like all the big cities are just saturated. So, I mean, of course in between all my trips I get offered to do a million free things and I’m like, bro, I’ve been building my brand for 17 years. Like I’m not in the intern stage right now. Like, I already built my brand. I don’t, I don’t need your $20 meal for Instagram posts. I appreciate it though. But I mean, most hotels, they still evaluate influencers completely wrong. They obsess over follower accounts instead of trust and audience alignment. I can’t tell you how many times, so if somebody doesn’t know me, they don’t follow me on LinkedIn or a lot of other platforms and they just look from the outside looking in and they just see a big audience. So the first thing they’re gonna say, okay, this guy’s an influencer. Which I don’t mind. I still being an influencer, I hate it. But doing that is still a lot of what I do. Because yes, I travel with a video guy. They’re get and a photographer, one of the top photographers in hospitality by the way. And they both arrive here on Friday and we’re going on a cruise. So I do travel with a video guy and we do long form storytelling. We do a lot of things and we do complete photo shoots and this and that, but they always want my distribution. So like, I would never run away from that because I have a very good audience. I’m deep in the wine world. I’m deep in the finance world. I mean, my audience spends, so I know creators with massive audiences that couldn’t drive a booking if their life depended on it. Meanwhile, smaller niche creators, which strong trusts absolutely crush it because their audience actually listens to them. Listen, it’s the micro influencers that are killing it right now. Their engagement rates are in the teens, people like me, people with over a million followers, generally if you have a anywhere from one to 3% engagement rate, you’re killing it. I get very high engagement. So I mean, I just figured it out two days ago because I’m launching a new website and new media kit and whatnot. I just did my media kit or my engagement rate on Instagram so far in 2026 and I’m at 6.5%. Oh, that’s awesome. I mean, that’s like top tier, right? For somebody in my space. But I mean, most macro, most big, I think they call ’em mega like over one, two, 3 million. You’re lucky if you get one to 2%, but the numbers still work out to somebody who has 20,000 who’s getting an 11% engagement rate. Things like that. So, I mean, hotels need to stop treating creators like vending machines. Here’s a free room now, make us viral. It’s not a strategy. I can’t tell you how many hotels tell me that they want to go viral if I can help them. And I, and I asked them, I’m like, what is getting going viral gonna do for you? And they can’t answer going viral 90% of the time, does nothing. My photographer that I traveled with, he did a hyperlapse video on a river cruise that we were on of like a locks opening up and closing. It was very cool. I think it got like 12 or 15 million. I’ve never even gotten those numbers. I mean, he’s still sitting, like, he didn’t gain a hundred thousand followers. He didn’t get 10,000 brands commenting oor wanting to work with him. Viral does nothing without a proper strategy attached to it. What I mean? So the, the problem is these brands, they don’t do the research. I can’t tell you how many times I get reached out to and they’re like, Hey, we want you to do this campaign. And I’m like, this is not even my niche. Oh, sorry. It was a copy and paste email. Well, no kidding. Of course. It was like, it just, listen, over the next few years, creators are gonna evolve into, and they already are full blown media companies, production, distribution, consulting, storytelling, community building, all of it. The creator economy, let me tell you, and I’d much rather call it that than influencer space. It’s becoming one of the most powerful engines in hospitality because the bigger AI gets, and listen, a lot of these companies will go to the wayside. But AI, the technology is here. The bigger AI gets, the more valuable humans are gonna be. Cassady Quintana: Absolutely. We, we say that all the time, especially because AI is gonna fuel the tech. But at the heart of hospitality is the people and it will always be the people. And you can’t replace that people to people emotion. And like you said earlier in this episode about how that’s what you remember the most right. Is how the staff made you feel. And AI will never be able to do that. So I’m glad you brought up AI because we are seeing that start to shape the traveler journey. Like I mentioned with the integrations with Expedia and Instagram and their AI agents that are building these itineraries. So where do you think AI and social media and hospitality are headed now and in probably the next couple of years? Scott Eddy: I honestly think that most of the hospitality industry still underestimates how massive this shift is. This is bigger than social media. This is big tech, bigger than mobile phones, bigger than websites. AI is fundamentally changing how humans make decisions, right? We’re moving from search behavior to recommendation behavior. And that changes everything. Your website is no longer the front door to your brain. AI is becoming the front door. Yeah. Travelers are increasingly asking ai what hotel fits their personality, what cruise line matches their lifestyle, where they should go for a specific emotional experience. Yeah. So now your digital footprint matters more than any more than ever. Consistency matters more than ever. The brands that survive this next era are gonna be the brands that feel the most human, have the clearest voice and create the strongest emotional connection online, generic corporate garbage. You’re done. Cassady Quintana: Yeah. Yeah. And I mean, and we’re already in the middle of that. I feel like we know a lot of us, we don’t necessarily know how big AI is gonna be and where we’ll be this time next year. I mean, I bet in just a few weeks we could be having this conversation again and it would be something new. So course it’s definitely always changing and I recommend everyone that’s listening to this episode to follow you because this is the kind of stuff that you’re talking about and you’re following and it’s, it’s super important. Hotels are busy and a lot of the time they don’t have the time to do the research. So if they can find people like you to get that information from, it’s extremely helpful because it’s, it’s changing every single day. So if you can stay up to date and understand it and what’s going on and how you need to adjust your social strategy and your marketing strategy as a whole, you’re gonna be ahead of the pack. And so with that, thank you for all that awesome information. I kind of wanna shift gears to get to know you a little bit more Sure. With some rapid fire questions. So first thing that comes to mind that you can think of. So favorite hotel you’ve ever stayed in? Scott Eddy: I have a couple, but let’s say Kuda Duke in Maldives. Cassady Quintana: Alright. I love that. Scott Eddy: It’s insane. Insane. Cassady Quintana: Okay. And then what do you think is the most underrated destination right now? Scott Eddy: Right now? Sri Lanka. I lived in Colombo for a year. It’s seriously underrated. I think it’s, I mean, and it’s already bubbling, right? But I think it’s just gonna explode soon. Cassady Quintana: Is there a best time of year to visit there? Scott Eddy: Just like, you’re in Orlando, right? Cassady Quintana: Yeah, I’m in Orlando. Scott Eddy: So, so just like us, winter time is their high season just like Florida. Cassady Quintana: Okay. Noted. Perfect. Okay. Do you have any travel habits that you swear by? Scott Eddy: Yeah. I, and this is a life habit. I mean, just ’cause my whole life is travel, but I wake up super early every day and I’m up for the sunrise and I go for sunrise walks. If you ever follow, especially my Instagram stories, I’d post sunrise almost every day. I think there’s no better way to start the day. I think it’s impossible to have a bad day when you start the day like that. Cassady Quintana: Right. That’s why they recommend you get 10 minutes of sunlight every morning. Right. There’s, there’s something to that. So definitely everyone follows Scott’s Instagram so you can get that morning motivation for your walks. Okay. One hotel that is crushing social media right now, or one that you’ve seen recently that you loved? Scott Eddy: Wow. That is a great question. Wow. That’s a good question. . You can, there’s a lot out there you can tell. I didn’t really go over your notes, . Cassady Quintana: That’s okay. Scott Eddy: I never do. ’cause that’s like the, that’s when you get the raw answers? Cassady Quintana: Exactly. And then you overthink it. Scott Eddy: Let’s go back to that. Let me think about that for a couple minutes. Cassady Quintana: Okay, perfect. Well that was the last rapid fire question I had. So maybe people just need to follow you and find out later.. Scott Eddy: But let’s talk about brands as a whole. So like, I love, I love fun luxury and I guess they would call them luxury lifestyle or whatever, but I love the one hotels. Okay. All over. I really love, so if you really follow, I used to be, I used to do a lot of work with Ritz Carlton pre pandemic and now they’re just garbage. But horse, the guy who co-founded it started Capella. Capella Hotels is really cool, really fun. It’s just, I like brands that don’t take themselves too seriously. I mean, I hate the whole corporate stuffy stuff. And listen, I’m titanium bonvoy, like I stay in Marriott properties all over the world. Just so I can hit that status. Right. It’s easy because they’re large, they’re boring. The marketing is, I mean it’s, it’s so vanilla, it’s so beige. It’s so like, like it’s forgettable in 10 seconds. Never used to be, and it’s interesting. I remember when W first came out when they were Starwood. W was awesome. I mean fun, great, great, great. Like the marketing was like, just so off the chart and now they just look like any other hotel. Cassady Quintana: Which is so interesting. ’cause social media is like the place to be crazy and be fun because there are really no rules. And like why wouldn’t you be, especially if you were that at one time and your competitors are doing that. Why? I wanna, I wanna know like what the logic is behind that. Like are they trying to keep an image or? Scott Eddy: No? Well, well the ones that are that fly a big flag like Marriott and Hilton and that, they always hide behind, oh, well I can’t do that. ’cause of brain guidelines. Right? So you can’t show fun. Of course you can, right? They just hide behind the rule book and everything takes 15 approvals. So by the time you do have a good idea and you want to execute it, it’s gone. Cassady Quintana: It’s too late. The trend is over. Scott Eddy: It’s about speed. Cassady Quintana: Absolutely. Yeah. Well, I’ll definitely go check out those brand Instagram pages. ’cause that’s the kind of stuff I like to look at. I mean, that’s what makes me as a traveler, I don’t really have much brand loyalty. So I like to do research and look at their Instagram pages and social media, and I’m gonna pick the one that looks the most fun to me. So super important. Okay. Well as we wrap up, Scott, I’m so excited we had this conversation, but for anybody that’s listening, what are you up to next? Where can they find you? You have any campaigns or exciting things coming up? Scott Eddy: I mean, I’m pretty much, I mean, you’re all of this month I’m going, so the, the the top vacation club company and now they’re transforming into just hotels. Nice. But, it’s called Ante in Mexico. So they just launched their ultra luxury cruise line here in the med couple weeks ago. And we’re going out there to film and, and to shoot. That’s the cruise we’re joining on Saturday. And then I’m spending the last two weeks this month in Rome. And then next month I, I’m going to Ellie Miami the first week of June. And then I go to Sicily to speak at a conference. And yeah, so I’m going nonstop and at the same time I’m doing a whole rebrand. So in the next few days I’m launching new website, new logo, new everything. So it’s fun. Cassady Quintana: Well, perfect. By the time this episode comes out, you’ll have your full rebrand. Scott Eddy: There you go. Cassady Quintana: So when people listen to this and they find you, you’ll be ready. So, perfect. Well, I’m excited to, to watch your travels and of course I’m connected with you on LinkedIn and love to see everything that you’re up to. I’ll make sure to follow your Instagram too so I can get that morning inspiration for my Sunrise walks. But thank you so much for taking a little bit of your time out of your day. I know you’re super busy with travel and things going on, so I really appreciate it and I know our listeners do. So thanks for joining me. Scott Eddy: Thanks for having me, man. Cassady Quintana: All right, cool. Well, thank you everybody for listening to another episode of the Social Success Series, and we’ll see you next time. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcast so you don’t miss an episode. The Social Success Podcast is produced by Travel Media Group. Our editor is Brandon Bell with Cover Art by Bary Gordon. I’m your host Cassady Quintana, and we hope you enjoyed this episode.

It's been a long, hard road for Western Sydney International Airport, but after decades of the can being kicked down that road, the wait is finally almost over: Sydney's newest gateway will open its doors to freight next month, and to passengers in October. With Jetstar given the honours of the inaugural passenger flight, and Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and QantasLink to follow over coming months, other pieces of the puzzle are also falling into place as road networks open and the new metro lays its final tracks. On this week's Australian Aviation Podcast, Jake and David arm doors and cross-check as Western Sydney Airport finally begins taxiing out and prepares for its take-off roll. Plus, as the Iran conflict (hopefully) nears its end, has the impact of fuel price shocks on airfares been as simple as we'd all thought?

Patrick’s back for another chat on TYP and as always, we had fun. This time we talk about the increasing number of people using AI to make themselves look younger, more muscular and in general, more aesthetically pleasing (in their mind anyway). We chat about people falling in love with AI, which of course - and not surprisingly - ended in a discussion around sex bots. Yuck. We spoke about the idea of transhumanism - people becoming a fusion of biology and technology - and the potential consequences of this pursuit. Scientists using wool as a material to heal bones, growing stem cells in space, LED lighting and cellular energy production, silence being eliminated from modern life, the advancement of humanoid robots being used in China for street management (whatever that means), Air New Zealand using humanoid robots as travel companions.. and lots more. Enjoy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand has indicated its long-running engine problems may have come to an end. Air New Zealand's chief has claimed the airline reached a breakthrough in Brazil this weekend after years of crippling engine issues. Aviation industry expert Grant Bradley explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand has indicated its long-running engine problems may have come to an end. Air New Zealand's chief has claimed the airline reached a breakthrough in Brazil this weekend after years of crippling engine issues. Aviation industry expert Grant Bradley explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it death by a thousand flight cuts? Air New Zealand's trimming its schedule again as the jet fuel crisis bites. Earlier this month, the airline revealed it was cutting five percent of its flights. Now it's nibbling at its schedule from August to October. The national carrier won't provide specifics but said less than two percent of customers travelling during this time will be affected, and the majority can still fly the same day. New Zealand Airports Association CEO Billie Moore spoke to Lisa Owen.

Air New Zealand is making yet more cuts to domestic and international flights in the coming months, as it grapples with volatile jet prices. It's already cut dozens of flights over the next three months into Dunedin. Dunedin travel agent Vincent George spoke to John Campbell.

Conferences on our shores are driving up international delegation numbers, which have surged more than 50% annually. According to Stats NZ, arrivals are near pre-Covid levels, with more than 16 thousand people coming in the first quarter. International delegates contributed more than $54 million to the economy, with visitors spending an average $500 per day. Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Ryan Bridge with last week's Air New Zealand expansion in Christchurch, there are more options. She says having direct flights between Christchurch and Singapore, Perth and Tokyo, will make a big difference. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conferences on our shores are driving up international delegation numbers, which have surged more than 50% annually. According to Stats NZ, arrivals are near pre-Covid levels, with more than 16 thousand people coming in the first quarter. International delegates contributed more than $54 million to the economy, with visitors spending an average $500 per day. Business Canterbury CEO Leeann Watson told Ryan Bridge with last week's Air New Zealand expansion in Christchurch, there are more options. She says having direct flights between Christchurch and Singapore, Perth and Tokyo, will make a big difference. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar on a turbulent moment to be at the controls of the national carrier. 

A landmark moment, that's how Christchurch Airport is describing the launch of three new direct international flights from the city. Air New Zealand announced the new routes from Christchurch to Singapore, Tokyo and Perth at tourism event TRENZ in Auckland this morning. Tourism reporter Tess Brunton has more.

Christchurch businesses are hoping the new non-stop international flights announced by Air New Zealand, will give the city another boost. Business Canterbury chief executive Leeann Watson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Three new non-stop Air New Zealand flights launching later this year will connect Christchurch directly to Perth, Singapore and Tokyo. But will the resurgence of Christchurch see tourists skipping over the North Island to get there? Debbie Robertson, is the general manager of Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, an iwi-owned, luxury wellness spa on the Rotorua lakefront. Robertson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 20 May, 2026, we ask Regulation Minister David Seymour if 267 regulators in New Zealand is too many. Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson tells us if it's landed three more Air New Zealand international flights because Auckland Airport is charging too much. In an exclusive interview, we hear why new Breakers coach Gordon Herbert was attracted to the NBL. And on The Huddle, Jack Tame and Maurice Williamson tell us why they want more detail on plans to slash public servants. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Christchurch flights are being hailed as a key step for global connectivity. From October, Air New Zealand will fly direct between Christchurch and Singapore, Tokyo and Perth. Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says Christchurch is in a really good place, and more people will want to experience the city. "People want to come and visit, they want to go to events, they want to see the place, they want to access the South Island - and so I'd say that's the primary draw card." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's taking a massive financial hit off the back of soaring fuel costs. It's on track for a full year loss of up to $400 million, full year pre-tax loss. The national carrier's forecasting fuel price increases of more than 30 percent for the second half of the year, driven by war in the Middle East. Air New Zealand CEO Nikhil Ravishankar spoke to Lisa Owen.

Air New Zealand's woes are expected to last for as long as the war in Iran continues. The national carrier's revealed its looking at staff redundancies and more flight reductions due to the surging cost of jet fuel. It's now forecasting a full-year pre-tax loss of up to $390 million. Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking run rates won't get worse, but fluctuating jet fuel prices will keep weighing on the airline's financial results. He says fuel dropping from $200 to $150 is helpful, but it's not down enough considering normal prices are around $85. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's CEO says the airline will trim more flights, with a forecast it'll be $390 million in the red this financial year. It's blaming the fuel cost hike lifting spending $240 million more than expected. The airline told NZX it's already reduced overall capacity three to five percent since the Iran war began. Nikhil Ravishankar says cuts may continue even after jet fuel prices ease, with cuts for August to October announced soon. "We either sort of roll over the changes that we've made into July - or we might have to go a bit further, depending on what fuel's doing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 May, 2026, we confront Labour leader Chris Hipkins on his claim not one person outside of Newstalk ZB is raising Covid lockdowns with him. Air New Zealand's chief executive tells us how it'll cope with a loss of nearly $400 million. A Christchurch City Councillor on his warning that Airbnb is turning parts of the city into "ghost communities". And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson tell us if they think Robbie Williams is worth a reported $3 million to bring to New Zealand. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The airline said its cutting 5 percent of routes and consolidating others - with a full-year pre-tax loss of almost 400 million dollars.

Chris Finlayson discusses coalition government's stability; Air New Zealand cuts more flights; Wegovy pill may make weight loss treatment cheaper in NZ; Duane Mann on the rising popularity of rugby league; Homes needed for wild Kaimanawa horses.

Air New Zealand is cutting more flights, blaming the high cost of jet fuel. Nelson Regional Development Agency visitor destination manager Craig Boodee spoke to John Campbell.

Air New Zealand's cutting another set of flights on top of its already stretched network. On top of cancellations across May and June announced last month, the airline's now axing further flights across July, citing rising jet fuel costs. It says this will impact around 2% of passengers travelling nationwide. Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore told Mike Hosking when you break down this number regionally, it could be up to 20% of seats being cut in some places. She says it'll be broader than just Nelson and Tauranga and will be a case of piecing all the cuts together. Moore told Hosking it's hurting a bit more over here as the network had been shrinking already. She says most countries have been growing their networks while ours has been declining, so it's cuts on top of cuts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get $200 back after your first payment of $500 with Melio (affiliate) - https://milestomemories.com/go/melio/ Higher award fees, less lounge access, and one pretty wild new way to sleep on a plane. In this episode of MTM Travel, Shawn and Mark talk through Air New Zealand's new SkyNest bunk beds, Virgin Atlantic's uglier award surcharges, American cutting more basic economy benefits, Spirit's possible liquidation, and United tightening access to Polaris lounges. What we cover: Shawn's Minneapolis meetup recap and Hyatt Centric stay The Fairmont Bermuda / Accor points reimbursement follow-up Air New Zealand's SkyNest bunk beds and whether they beat business class for sleep Virgin Atlantic's higher award fees and why the value keeps slipping American removing more elite perks from basic economy Spirit's possible liquidation and what it could mean for fares United restricting Polaris lounge access for many Star Alliance partners Links: Free newsletter Track your travel credit cards for free with Travel Freely Miles to Memories Facebook group Diamond Patreon and Gold Membership MTM Travel podcast Miles to Memories website Fairmont follow up - https://milestomemories.com/fairmont-hamilton-princess-billing-error/ Skynest - https://milestomemories.com/air-new-zealand-skynest-economy-beds/ Virgin hikes - https://milestomemories.com/virgin-atlantic-just-hiked-award-fees-again/ AA basic economy changes - https://milestomemories.com/american-removes-elite-benefits-in-basic-economy/ United Polaris access changes - https://milestomemories.com/united-restricts-polaris-lounge-access-for-star-alliance-partners/ Episode Guide 0:00 Welcome to MTM Travel 4:54 Fairmont Bermuda and the Accor points refund mess 8:47 Air New Zealand's SkyNest bunk beds 13:30 Virgin Atlantic award fees jump again 16:59 Using Virgin points for AMC popcorn and drinks 18:46 American removes more basic economy elite perks 20:04 Spirit may liquidate and fares could get worse 23:04 United restricts Polaris lounge access for partner flyers What do you think about Air New Zealand's bunk-bed idea? Would you pay extra for four hours of real sleep, or would you still rather have a traditional business class seat? Advertiser Disclosure: This site/channel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site/channel (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.

Imaginez embarquer pour un long vol et, au lieu de vous contorsionner sur votre siège, vous glisser dans un vrai lit… superposé. Ce qui ressemble à une promesse de science-fiction est en train de devenir réalité avec Air New Zealand, qui s'apprête à lancer une innovation majeure baptisée Skynest.Le principe est simple, mais potentiellement révolutionnaire : proposer, en classe économique, un espace dédié au repos avec de véritables couchettes. Concrètement, il s'agit de modules comprenant six lits superposés, installés dans la cabine. Chaque passager pourra réserver un créneau – environ quatre heures – pour venir s'y allonger, avec draps, oreillers et éclairage tamisé. Une sorte de mini-dortoir volant, accessible moyennant un supplément.Et ce supplément est loin d'être symbolique : selon les premières estimations communiquées par la compagnie, l'accès à Skynest pourrait coûter 250 euros pour une session de quelques heures. Autrement dit, un passager en classe économique pourrait, pour ce prix, s'offrir une vraie phase de sommeil allongé sans payer le billet complet en classe affaires, souvent plusieurs fois plus cher.D'un point de vue économique, l'idée est très intéressante. Les compagnies aériennes cherchent depuis longtemps à maximiser la rentabilité de chaque mètre carré dans un avion. Or, les sièges premium – business ou première classe – occupent beaucoup d'espace pour un nombre limité de passagers. Avec Skynest, Air New Zealand invente une nouvelle catégorie intermédiaire : une expérience premium… vendue à la demande. Autrement dit, on ne paie plus pour un siège plus large, mais pour un usage temporaire d'un espace de confort.Ce modèle s'inscrit dans une tendance plus large de “désagrégation” des services aériens. Comme pour les bagages ou le choix du siège, le confort devient un produit modulable. On achète un billet de base, puis on ajoute des options selon ses besoins. Résultat : la compagnie augmente ses revenus unitaires, tout en attirant une clientèle prête à payer un peu plus pour mieux voyager sans passer en business class.Mais il y a aussi des contraintes. D'abord, l'espace : installer ces couchettes implique de sacrifier des sièges classiques, donc de réduire la capacité globale. Il faut donc que le supplément payé compense cette perte. Ensuite, la logistique : rotation des passagers, nettoyage entre chaque usage, gestion des réservations… tout doit être parfaitement orchestré.Enfin, reste la question du marché. Les vols très long-courriers, comme ceux reliant l'Europe à la Nouvelle-Zélande, sont particulièrement adaptés à ce type d'offre. Sur des trajets de plus de 15 heures, la possibilité de dormir allongé devient un argument décisif.Si le succès est au rendez-vous, il est probable que d'autres compagnies suivent. Et à terme, cela pourrait redéfinir notre manière de voyager en avion : non plus assis du décollage à l'atterrissage, mais en alternant, comme dans un train de nuit… version ciel. Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.

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Link Up w/The Morning Sickness Digitally All Over:Instagram: @hms_98_official, @bosskupd, @bretvesely, @dickToledoX/Twitter: @HMSon98, @DickToledo, @bretveselyFacebook: @HMSKUPDYouTube: @hmspodcast9320, @98kupdRequest/Call in/Wakeup Song line:(IN AZ) 602.585.9800More HMS: holmbergpodcast.com, 98kupd.comEmail: dtoledo@98kupd.com, bvesely@98kupd.com, bbogen@98kupd.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

U.S. airline executives say higher fares due to the Iran war have not dampened demand for tickets yet—but analysts say that could change with a protracted conflict in the Middle East. Key Facts Looking at ticket sales for the six largest U.S. airlines, the average transaction grew by 2% (American Airlines) to 16% (Delta Air Lines) for the week ending March 8 compared to the previous week, according to new data from Consumer Edge, a provider of consumer spending data. Speaking Tuesday at a J.P. Morgan investor conference, executives of major U.S. airlines agreed travel demand remained robust enough to offset much of the huge spike in jet fuel prices caused by the war in Iran.  Several executives suggested travelers are locking in summer airfares now before rates climb further. Jet fuel, which typically accounts for one fifth to one quarter of airlines' operating expenses, was $3.93 a gallon Tuesday on the Argus U.S. Jet Fuel Index—up 57% since the U.S. and Israel began airstrikes on Iran 18 days ago.  How Robust Is Travel Demand? The strong demand airlines are seeing now may be short-lived, as some of this strength “may reflect consumers booking trips ahead of potential fare increases tied to rising jet fuel costs,” Jeff Windau, senior analyst at Edward Jones, wrote in a note to investors, adding “tax refunds are likely to provide a short-term boost to discretionary travel spending.” A protracted war could make Americans less willing to spend on higher airfares. “If oil prices remain elevated for an extended period, travel demand could soften as inflation further constrains consumers' disposable income,” Windau wrote. One big factor that could dampen travel demand would be a drop in the stock market. “As long as the stock market goes up, higher-income people will feel more confident in a way that lower income people won't, and that impacts their discretionary spending,” Michael Gunther, senior vice president of research and market intelligence at Consumer Edge, told Forbes. Could Premium Passengers See Bigger Fare Hikes? Instead of raising airfare prices across the board, airlines may decide to hike some fare classes, such as premium and business class, before others. Generally speaking, the legacy airlines—American, Delta and United—attract higher-income customers who are less price sensitive than those who favor budget airlines. At the J.P. Morgan conference Tuesday, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the upper arm of the K-shaped economy, representing the most affluent Americans, was still strong “and we serve the top end of that K, and probably the highest end of that K,” noting the wealthiest demographic “is, candidly, a bit immune to what goes on with geopolitical events.” But while U.S. airlines “would like to charge more, they know they can't just go out and start charging 20% more, 30% more,” Katy Nastro, spokesperson for the flight-deal company Going, told Forbes this month. “I don't think we can assume premium travelers are just going to eat up this additional cost and lie down and take it.”  Will Airlines Cut Back Their Schedules? For now, U.S. airlines are operating with their schedules mainly intact from before the war. But if the Middle East conflict continues, domestic carriers may begin to rein in capacity to offset their increased costs from jet fuel prices. Around the world, some carriers have already begun cutting flights. Scandinavia's SAS said it plans to nix roughly 1,000 flights in March and April, Air New Zealand announced it would reduce capacity by 5% through early May and Vietnam Airlines warned it soon may have to scrub flights from its schedule What We Don't Know How long the war will continue. “The duration of the Iran conflict will be a key factor for the travel industry,” wrote Windau to investors. “Airport delays associated with the partial government shutdown, ongoing headlines about geopolitical tensions, and rising costs all have the potential to weigh on consumer sentiment and discretionary travel plans.” Read the full story on Forbes: By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher https://www.forbes.com/sites/suzannerowankelleher/2026/03/18/iran-war-airfares-climbing/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A fuel squeeze is driving higher airfares and stronger demand for Air New Zealand, particularly on international routes. Long-haul fares have jumped 25% over the past year, trans-Tasman 20%, and domestic flights 10%. Jet fuel stocks have climbed to 51.4 days, according to the latest figures. Chief Executive Nikhil Ravishankar told Mike Hosking long-haul is 'a double-edged sword' – costly in fuel but buoyed by rising demand, with New Zealand being one of the safer passages available. He says that's why they're being careful about how much long haul flying they consolidate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 21st of April, BNZ's Chief Economist looks ahead to the inflation data set to be released this morning, and Air NZ CEO Nikhil Ravishankar discusses the latest on jet fuel stocks and price increases. Buckle up – Mike names the five National MPs seemingly behind the discontent within the party. Kiwi actor Karl Urban discusses the final season of The Boys and expresses his love for Mike watching the Warriors. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With long-term care workers in Nova Scotia on strike, a woman whose father is in one of those facilities says the province needs to understand how crucial those workers are to families like hers. Anthropic says its new AI model is so good it poses a grave cybersecurity risk. Our guest says its hard to separate the truth from the hype when most of the information is coming from the company itself.A conservationist shares his concern after the US Senate votes to end a moratorium on new mining projects in an enormous watershed near the Minnesota-Ontario border. We'll hear from a Quebec man who made the decision to follow some smoke to its source -- and ended up saving five people from a house fire. A Houston ice-cream shop owner tells us customers are raving about a seasonal favourite: crawfish-flavoured ice cream, which comes with a full-sized crustacean on top.Air New Zealand introduces bunk beds on economy flights, with a couple of caveats -- one of which is: no couples. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that warns romantic pairs: you'll be separated at berth.

Air New Zealand will soon offer a solution that involves climbing into a triple-tier bunk bed in economy. What's the catch? Greg and Holly discuss the need for bunk beds in economy class on long flights.

American travelers are prioritizing stability over deals, airlines are testing whether passengers will pay for sleep in economy, and Saudi Arabia is scaling back parts of its tourism ambitions to focus on what actually drives demand. On today's Skift Daily Briefing, Sarah Dandashy breaks down why predictability is reshaping travel decisions, what Air New Zealand's new $495 Skynest product signals for airline strategy, and how Saudi Arabia is recalibrating Vision 2030. This episode is presented by Lodgify! Articles Referenced: Honorable Mention: @AskAConcierge on IG How Cartels Conflict and Live Tourism Are Redrawing the American Travel Map The $495 Nap Bunk Beds Are Coming to Economy Class This Fall Saudi Arabia Scraps Tourism Funding in Vision 2030 Shake Up Connect with Skift LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftnews Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social X: https://twitter.com/skift Subscribe to @SkiftNews ↗ and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Pakistan's Army Chief is in Iran as Israel and Lebanon are set to talk today. President Trump threatens to fire the Fed Chair.  A judge orders damaged Camp Mystic buildings remain untouched. Ticketmaster loses in court. Plus, Air New Zealand rolls out bunk beds for economy passengers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Conway Jr. Hour 2 (4.15)

Airlines are now treating the fuel crisis as a long term issue. The conflict in Iran, which has closed the Strait of Hormuz, has forced airfare rises and route cuts. Board of Airline Representatives NZ Executive Director, Cath O'Brien, says airlines have to look well ahead. "At the moment, we're planning for the season that runs October to March. As we plan ahead, we have to plan networks on a totally changed basis of cost. And I think that's the real challenge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

நீண்ட தூர விமானப் பயணங்களில் economy வகுப்பு பயணிகளும் படுத்து உறங்கும் வாய்ப்பினை வழங்கும் புதிய திட்டத்தை Air New Zealand அறிவித்துள்ளது. இதுகுறித்த செய்தியை எடுத்துவருகிறார் றேனுகா துரைசிங்கம்.

Bryce and Ren break down Aston Martin's cash crunch, check in on a community portfolio that's outperforming, and hear a timely pitch for an EV ETF as fuel prices reshape consumer behaviour. Then Luke Laretive returns with a sharp portfolio review full of lessons on concentration, overlap and investing young.In this episode:00:00 Episode Preview & Intro01:46 Iran War Market Impact04:44 Aston Martin Crisis Explained08:10 Luxury Brands: Winners vs Losers09:10 Community Portfolio09:42 Portfolio Performance Update11:59 Josh's Investing Story & Pitch13:28 EV ETF Pitch (DRIV)13:56 EV Demand Data16:21 Risks of the EV Boom18:29 Pimp My Portfolio with Luke Laretive19:13 Lachie's Portfolio Breakdown21:02 Luke's First Impressions22:01 Infratil (IFT) Deep Dive24:24 Other Stock Picks Critiqued26:15 ETF Fees and Overlap Discussed27:20 Final Thoughts & Wrap UpStocks & ETFs mentioned: Betashares Diversified All Growth ETF (ASX: DHHF), Betashares Electric Vehicles and Future Mobility ETF (ASX: DRIV), Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), Telix Pharmaceuticals (ASX: TLX), Pro Medicus (ASX: PME), Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT), Global X AI Infrastructure ETF, Catapult (ASX: CAT), Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA), BYD, Infratil (ASX: IFT), Air New Zealand, Kingfish, Ryman Healthcare (NZX: RYM), BHP (ASX: BHP), IGO (ASX: IGO), Pilbara Minerals (ASX: PLS), Delta Lithium (ASX: DLI)———Want to get involved in the podcast? Record a voice note or send us a messageAnd come and join the conversation in the Equity Mates Facebook Discussion Group.———Want more Equity Mates? Across books, podcasts, video and email, however you want to learn about investing – we've got you covered.Keep up with the news moving markets with our daily newsletter and podcast (Apple | Spotify)We're particularly excited to share our latest show: Basis PointsListen to the podcast (Apple | Spotify)Watch on YouTubeRead the monthly email———Looking for some of our favourite research tools?Download our free Basics of ETF handbookOr our free 4-step stock checklistFind company information on TIKRResearch reports from Good ResearchTrack your portfolio with Sharesight———In the spirit of reconciliation, Equity Mates Media and the hosts of Equity Mates Investing acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peopletoday.———Equity Mates Investing is a product of Equity Mates Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's no surprise regional flights are some of the first on the chopping block for Air New Zealand. The airline says rising jet fuel prices are making it cut about four percent of flights, including many for Tauranga and Nelson. Affected customers will be told this week - and most put on same-day alternative flights. It axed more than a thousand flights in March. Airports Association chief executive, Billie Moore, says it's not just about reducing fuel costs. "One return flight to New York, for instance, would use the same amount of fuel as 170 return flights to New Plymouth. So this is about broad commercial optimisation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 7 April, 2026, we ask a former CIA officer if Donald Trump's serious with tomorrow's midday deadline for Iran. Air New Zealand's cutting flights - we talk to the Airports Association chief executive on who'll be affected. Fancy a bird? Why Oamaru is giving them away. And on The Huddle, Jordan Williams and Carmen Parahi debate whether the Prime Minister should know how many Maori he has in Cabinet. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MOSAIC rule and the demand for Sonex Aircraft, rising jet fuel prices impacting airlines, JetBlue evaluating a merger, Essential Air Service, the Enhanced AT-CTI Initiative, and United Airlines' Relax Row in economy class. Also, SpaceX Starlink for GA pilots, a Southwest flight experience, and a conversation with the NTSB. Aviation News FAA's MOSAIC Rule To Help General Aviation Contributes To Sonex Failure The FAA's MOSAIC rule (Modernization of Special Airworthiness Certification) expands what can be certificated as light-sport aircraft using consensus standards. It broadens sport pilot privileges to give access to more aircraft types. The general aviation industry expected MOSAIC to create new opportunities for pilots and aircraft manufacturers. But unintended consequences may have arisen from removing limitations on light sport aircraft and making heavier aircraft available as entry-level airplanes. A drop in demand has contributed to Sonex Aircraft’s closure. Video: Sonex is Closing: A Message from Mark Schaible https://youtu.be/wl9H0N_r8kE?si=P_sAI7Wl_2vOJKo0 US airlines face fuel-driven financial shakeout Global oil prices are up. Brent crude is roughly 50% higher than a year ago. Jet fuel is up around 90% compared to a year ago. Since fuel typically accounts for 20% or more of an airline's total costs, we can expect higher fares, fuel surcharges, and capacity cuts. Profits could take a hit if airlines can't pass higher costs on to consumers fast enough. JetBlue Explores Selling Itself — Advisors Are Looking At United, Southwest And Alaska As Buyers JetBlue is reportedly evaluating selling itself to a competitor, such as United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, or Southwest Airlines. Any such deal could raise antitrust issues, and there is pressure to reach one soon, before the current political climate changes. Presque Isle council recommends JetBlue to keep serving airport After talking with JetBlue and American Airlines at a joint meeting with the airport advisory board, the Presque Isle City Council voted 5-2 to recommend JetBlue to continue serving the city's airport for the next four years. The Council's recommendation next goes to the U.S. Department of Transportation for a final decision on the Essential Air Service award, which may take several months. See the DOT Essential Air Service page. University of Maine at Augusta may start training air traffic controllers The FAA's Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) is a non-funded partnership between the FAA and approved institutions. The Enhanced AT-CTI Initiative was created to allow qualified institutions to provide students with equivalent FAA Academy air traffic control training. Program graduates are placed directly into a facility, with FAA oversight. They can immediately begin localized training at an air traffic facility. These graduates still must pass the Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) and meet medical and security requirements. United Relax Row: 777 & 787 Economy Seats That Transform Into A “Couch” United Airlines is introducing the Relax Row in economy on long-haul flights. Passengers can reserve a row of three seats, which can become a “lie-flat mattress-like space” for families with small children or passengers who want more space. Launching in 2027, the Relax Row will be available on more than 200 Boeing 787s. By 2030, the service will be available on Boeing 777s. Air New Zealand has licensed its Skycouch to United Airlines. See: Air New Zealand Wins the Award for Best Single Achievement in the Passenger's Experience United Airlines Relax Row will enable economy passengers to lie flat, long haul Air New Zealand Upgrades Family-Friendly “Economy Skycouch” Mentioned SpaceX Starlink and GA: 400 Starlink Internet for GA Pilots: Safety, Costs, and Future Tech with Sporty's Bret Koebbe + GA News Starlink Internet for Small Planes and General Aviation Starlink Update: New In-Motion Speed Limits (and What It Means for Pilots) Savvy Aviation Founder Mike Busch Receives AOPA's Richard G. McSpadden General Aviation Safety Award Hosts this Episode Max Flight, our Main(e) Man Micah, and Max Trescott.

We may not have seen the end of cutbacks to flight schedules. Jetstar has reduced domestic and trans-Tasman flights due to rising fuel prices, following a similar move by Air New Zealand earlier this month. Airports Association Chief Executive Billie Moore says these will probably be the main cutbacks. But she told Mike Hosking airlines are thinking strategically, and more flights could be scrapped if the conflict continues. Moore says the issue right now is with the price of fuel, not the supply of fuel. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cost of the conflict in the Middle East is hitting airlines hard with fuel doubling in price in some regions. Some of the world's largest airlines, such as Emirates are based in the region, and have been dealing with rolling air space closures.Air New Zealand is also affected, cutting flights and suspending its earning guidance. CNN Anchor, Correspondent and Business editor-at-large Richard Quest spoke to Corin Dann.

A consumer watchdog is warning passengers to know their rights as Air New Zealand slashes hundreds of flights across the country in the wake of the global fuel crisis. The airline is cutting 11,000 mostly domestic flights between now and early May. That will affect about 44,000 passengers. Air New Zealand says the cuts are necessary to help keep flying affordable as the war in the Middle East forces jet fuel prices up. Consumer New Zealand chief executive Jon Duffy spoke to Lisa Owen.

Air New Zealand is cancelling 1100 - affecting 44,000 passengers throughout the country over the next two months. Nelson is one city where some flights will be cancelled, its mayor Nick Smith spoke to Corin Dann.

Call for the government to encourage working from home to ease fuel costs; Nelson's mayor responds to Air New Zealand flight cancellations affecting the region; Expert says the government must act to secure New Zealand's long-term energy supply; Child Cancer Foundation reports a surge in families needing support; Fuel companies warned over pricing as costs climb.

Air New Zealand has ruled out entirely cutting routes, as it faces huge cost pressures over jet fuel.CEO Nikhil Ravishankar said the airline would focus on trimming off-peak flights and reducing frequency, but he couldn't say which regions would be most impacted. New Plymouth mayor Max Brough spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The price of flying has already gone up and could take off again if the war in the Middle East continues. Air New Zealand raised it fares this morning and said it could be forced to raise them again and also review routes. It all comes back to the price of aviation fuel, and the critical Hormuz strait which is a shipping route for up to 20 percent of the world oil is essentially closed due to the conflict. So what does it mean for the travelling public? Travel agent Vincent George spoke to Lisa Owen.

The latest on financial market volatility on the back of spiking oil prices as Air New Zealand suspends its earning guidance. Business commentator, NBR journalist Nicholas Pointon, also discusses Forsyth Barr's commentary it is the best reporting season since 2022.

Our national carrier is flying through turbulent skies, with grounded planes, global conflict, and growing criticism from politicians and passengers Air New Zealand is struggling in a booming aviation market, and new fears the war in Iran raise fuel costs and questions over whether the national carrier can regain altitudeFind The Detail on Newsroom or RNZ Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details