Podcasts about baldanza

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.

On this week's episode, host Caryn Antonini is joined by guest Angela Baldanza, Founder and Culinary Director at Baldanza Group in New Canaan, CT. Angela is a self-taught instinctive cook who excels in creating organic soups and dishes, fresh salads and baked goods. Angela has a slightly unusual culinary path, having begun working in the fashion industry. And after a successful 25 year run at establishments such as Bloomingdale's and the Jones Apparel Group, she pivoted to the culinary world where she has drawn inspiration from her Italian family.For more information on this guest:@baldanzacafeCaryn Antoniniwww.cultivatedbycaryn.com@cultivatedbycarynThe Cultivated By Caryn show is a presentation of Park City Productions 06604 LLC ###Get great recipes from Caryn at https://carynantonini.com/recipes/

Baldanza talks about his long airline career that started at American and included transforming Spirit into an ultra-low cost carrier.

In this exciting episode, we talk to Mr. Ben Baldanza, former CEO of Spirit Airlines, and friend of co-host, Andrew Mastrandonas. From airline safety in the age of the pandemic to a host of other topics, we present this episode with one of America's top business executives.  More on Ben: After leaving US Airways, where Ben and Andrew worked together, Ben turned Spirit Airlines into America's largest "ultra-low-cost airline," generating billions of dollars in revenue. In addition, Ben serves on the boards of numerous iconic companies including Jet Blue, Six Flags Entertainment, India's Go First airlines, and other companies. Ben also co-hosts the highly regarded "Airline Confidential" podcast, link belowAirline Confidential Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5OPByrb159itFyszA4kUs7 To help Ukraine, Red Cross: https://www.icrc.org/en/where-we-work/europe-central-asia/ukraine Music Credits:I Need You by LiQWYDOfficial Youtube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8ioaRUlh2g

Michelle Baldanza, Vice President of Communications for the Fisher House Foundation and a retired Army officer, joined WMAL's "O'Connor and Company" radio program to discuss the great work that Fisher House does for our military. https://www.wmal.com/fisherhouse/ For more coverage on the issues that matter to you, visit www.WMAL.com, download the WMAL app or tune in live on WMAL-FM 105.9 FM from 5-9 AM ET. To join the conversation, check us out on Twitter: @WMALDC, @LarryOConnor and @PatricePinkFile See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben has been named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Leaders TWICE in the airline industry and is known as a trend setter...he's recognized widely for his role in transforming Spirit Airlines into the world's first “Ultra Low-Cost Carrier”...he's been a game changer at multiple airline companies over the last 3 and half decades. Today, Ben is the CEO of Diemacher and serves on the board of directors with JetBlue and Six Flags Entertainment. Welcome to the show, host of the Airline Confidential podcast, Ben Baldanza! Follow Ben: Websites: https://airlinesconfidential.com | https://diemacherllc.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-ben-baldanza/ Follow Mike:  IG, FB, LI, Clubhouse: https://linktr.ee/mikedicioccio Become A Patron: https://www.patreon.com/mikedup 7 Tips to Launch Your Podcast by Social Chameleon: https://www.socialchameleon.us SUBSCRIBE, SHARE & LEAVE A REVIEW!

Here is a fun article to read about today's guest: https://simpleflying.com/ben-baldanza/

Ben Baldanza is the CEO of Diemacher LLC. an Advisory Firm to help businesses restructure, raise revenues, reduce costs, go public, and strategically position themselves against larger competitors. Specialize in creative ways to win through disruption.   Ben serves on multiple boards including JetBlue Airways and Six Flags. He is also an adjunct professor of Economics at George Mason University. Prior to that, Ben was the CEO of Spirit Airlines from 2005-2016 and led the airline through a complete transformation of it's business model through their IPO.   We talk about his historical career, as well as the life that propelled him to exponential success.   To contact Ben Baldanza, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-ben-baldanza/ Welcome to Profiles in Success and thank you for listening!   For more visit: https://profilesinsuccess.com/ Work with us: https://www.bernhardtwealth.com/

Jamie is the creator and director of the award-winning docu-series Wild Lands. Wild Horses. Jamie thrives on driving creative ideas from beginning to end. As an Art Director/ Creative Director over the past 14 years, she has helped develop some of the most recognizable brands in the world. _ A horse lover since birth, Jamie quit her job to follow her passion - photographing wild horses all across the Western United States. With a greater outreach from a growing Instagram following, she has been inspired to do even more. Utilizing her talents, Jamie created her own production company that concentrates on bringing animal causes to the public through film & photography. Jamie's latest project, the docu-series Wild Lands. Wild Horses will help bring awareness to the wild horse cause.⠀

In this episode of Equestrian Pulse, Heather Wallace speaks with Jamie Baldanza and Deb Lee Carson the equine photographers and filmmakers behind the docuseries Wild Lands, Wild Horses. “Wild Lands Wild Horses” is an exploratory docu-series traveling across 10 states within 150M+ acres of public lands. Wild Horse advocates and photographers, Jamie Baldanza & Deb Lee Carson, transports us through America’s western landscape bringing national awareness to the majestic yet politically complicated lives of America’s Wild Horse. To learn more visit https://www.thismustanglife.com/wildlandswildhorses and follow on Instagram @thismustanglife and @spirithorsewoman. Support the show (https://www.facebook.com/equestrianpulsepodcast)

The airline industry is renowned for its safety, but the pandemic threw a curveball into the mix. How did airlines fare in terms of creating a safer travel experience in the wake of the virus, and how did our efforts compare to those of other industries? Ben Baldanza, former CEO of Spirit Airlines returns to share his thoughts on airline safety during and beyond the pandemic.  "The idea is to make flying touchless, with less time spent face to face. The virus will end at some point, but the sense of risk has changed completely." -Ben Baldanza Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode  Why the future of flying is touch-free:  5 years from now touchless check-ins and minimal personal contact will be a norm and will be worthy investments. What the pandemic means for bigger planes:  It could take a couple of years to build back demand. Smaller, narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 Max, Airbus A320s, and A321s will have an advantage.  How aviation has prioritized safety since the start of the virus:  From the onset of the coronavirus, the aviation industry has done its part in visible safety precautions, from mask mandates to putting up shields at airports. As an industry, we've shown an operational AND biological commitment to safety.   Guest Bio -  Ben Baldanza is an industry veteran. Previously the CEO and President of Spirit Airlines, today he serves as the CEO for Diemacher, LLC, and is an Independent Board Director at JetBlue Airways. Ben is also a Forbes Contributor, co-host of the Airlines Confidential Podcast, and has been featured on multiple platforms including Fox Business News, The Today Show, and CNBC. Ben is an Adjunct Professor of Economics at George Mason University.    To find out more, go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-ben-baldanza https://www.forbes.com/sites/benbaldanza/ https://diemacherllc.com/about https://airlinesconfidential.com/   Learn More About Your Host: Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEM's, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.  Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

The Ultra-Low-Cost-Carrier model has exploded worldwide. After doing exceedingly well during two previous downturns, 9/11 and the 2008 recession, these carriers are once again gearing up for rapid expansion as we emerge from COVID-19. Frontier is the first passenger carrier to announce hiring during the COVID crisis. Spirit is rumored to start up interviews again soon. Despite this impressive feat, the arrogant attitude towards the ULCC’s has continued amongst some pilots even after they’ve seen explosive growth and contractual gains.We sat down with former Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza to make sense of it all. We talk about winners and losers. Is Delta delusional to think they can be cash neutral in Q2? We discuss timelines for bankruptcies and possible mergers. We learn what’s next from a true expert and industry insider who has served as a high-level leader within pretty much every major airline.Listen to this fascinating interview with JetBlue Board Member and Former Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza and Raven’s own ULCC Pilot, Jason DuVernay. We hope you enjoy this candid inside perspective and much as we did.    Timestamps:[02:18] How has Ben's fascination with strategy and board games affected the way he leads in business?[07:35] Breeze Airlines: How will they disrupt?[14:44] Industry Status: Optimism in quarterly reports, delusional?[24:50] ULCC comparisons[29:37] Q2 Cash neutral, a pipe dream?[35:00] Why haven't we seen much success with ULCC's using wide-body aircraft?[39:15] Passengers who fly ULCC's; cheap or smart? An economics lesson.[42:52] Cares Act 2: Should pilots be excited about their recall?[44:51] "Hope is not a strategy," United's candor.[48:02] CASM: Are ULCC's able to outlast legacy price pressure?[50:43] Is consolidation something we should be preparing for? Ben's Five bold predictions for the US airline industry in 2021[1:00:22] Canceled: Spring Break 2021[1:04:30] What keeps Ben up at night?[1:09:18] What is Ben optimistic about?www.RavenCareers.comPlease give us a 5-star review and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raven-careers-aviation-podcast/id1533084162Follow along:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raven-career-developmentFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ravencareers/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RavenCareerDevelopment Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://ravencareers.com/get-alerts/Email us: podcast@ravencareers.com Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven CareersThe statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers. 

What can we expect from the airlines in 2021? How will they change and what will drive their business? In this episode, economist and former CEO of Spirit Airlines, Ben Baldanza shares the changes we'll need to make as an industry.    "Everybody will have to adjust their business model in some way, shape, or form." -Ben Baldanza Three Things You'll Learn In This Episode    How a decrease in business travel will impact the industry:  As fewer corporate travelers take to the skies, many airlines will need to adapt their strategies and start making space for more lower-cost options. This will impact the existing low-cost carriers, who will be forced to compete in a different manner.   What less business travel means for wide-body producers:  With corporate travelers flying less frequently internationally, the need for widebody aircraft will be reduced. This will affect Boeing and Airbus production rates significantly but it's not all doom and gloom. There will be opportunities elsewhere.   Where the opportunities lie going forward:  Despite the challenges, there is still opportunity for growth in our business. It's just time to shift our focus into how we'll make all our passengers feel comfortable throughout the travel experience.   Guest Bio -  Ben Baldanza is the CEO of Diemacher, LLC, an Independent Board Director at JetBlue Airways, and former CEO and President of Spirit Airlines. A Forbes Contributor and co-host of the Airlines Confidential Podcast, Ben is an economist and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Economics at George Mason University. Ben is an industry veteran and has been featured on multiple platforms including CNBC, Fox Business News, and The Today Show among others.    To find out more, go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-ben-baldanza https://www.forbes.com/sites/benbaldanza/ https://diemacherllc.com/about https://airlinesconfidential.com/ Learn More About Your Host:   Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEM's, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers.    Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.

The Ultra-Low-Cost-Carrier model has exploded worldwide. After doing exceedingly well during two previous downturns, 9/11 and the 2008 recession, these carriers are once again gearing up for rapid expansion as we emerge from COVID-19.  Frontier is the first passenger carrier to announce hiring during the COVID crisis. Spirit is rumored to start up interviews again soon. Despite this impressive feat, the arrogant attitude towards the ULCC's has continued amongst some pilots even after they've seen explosive growth and contractual gains. We sat down with former Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza to make sense of it all. We talk about winners and losers. Is Delta delusional to think they can be cash neutral in Q2? We discuss timelines for bankruptcies and possible mergers. We learn what's next from a true expert and industry insider who has served as a high-level leader within pretty much every major airline. Listen to this fascinating interview with JetBlue Board Member and Former Spirit CEO Ben Baldanza and Raven's own ULCC Pilot, Jason DuVernay.  We hope you enjoy this candid inside perspective and much as we did.     Timestamps: [02:18] How has Ben's fascination with strategy and board games affected the way he leads in business? [07:35] Breeze Airlines: How will they disrupt? [14:44] Industry Status: Optimism in quarterly reports, delusional? [24:50] ULCC comparisons [29:37] Q2 Cash neutral, a pipe dream? [35:00] Why haven't we seen much success with ULCC's using wide-body aircraft? [39:15] Passengers who fly ULCC's; cheap or smart? An economics lesson. [42:52] Cares Act 2: Should pilots be excited about their recall? [44:51] "Hope is not a strategy," United's candor. [48:02] CASM: Are ULCC's able to outlast legacy price pressure? [50:43] Is consolidation something we should be preparing for? Ben's Five bold predictions for the US airline industry in 2021 [1:00:22] Canceled: Spring Break 2021 [1:04:30] What keeps Ben up at night? [1:09:18] What is Ben optimistic about? www.RavenCareers.com Please give us a 5-star review and leave a comment on Apple Podcasts! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/raven-careers-aviation-podcast/id1533084162 Follow along: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raven-career-development Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ravencareers/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RavenCareerDevelopment   Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://ravencareers.com/get-alerts/ Email us: podcast@ravencareers.com   Hosted by Jason DuVernay, Raven Careers The statements made in this show are our own opinions and do not reflect, nor were they under any direction of any of our employers. 

Padre di famiglia, medico chirurgo e docente presso l'Università degli Studi di Bologna, molto stimato e apprezzato, è stato, a partire dalla fine degli anni '70, tra i responsabili del movimento di Comunione e Liberazione più vicini al fondatore don Luigi Giussani. Muore il 26 maggio 1999 in un incidente stradale. Il 29 maggio 2020 è stata introdotta la causa di canonizzazione dall'arcivescovo-abate di Modena-Nonantola Erio Castellucci.Sito: https://www.sacrequestioni.org/Video YT: https://youtu.be/AvK4h7Ep_UwLo spezzone è tratto dal video "Breve biografia per immagini e clip" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZz19SYNMpM&feature=youtu.be

The so-called "Brat Pack of Aviation" - under the guidance of Bob Crandall from American Airlines in the late-1980s - have all gone on to become important figures in the U.S. airline industry.But perhaps one of the quartet which also included Tom Horton, David Cush and Doug Parker who emerged as a true innovator is Ben Baldanza.After leaving American Airlines in 1991, he had a string of executive positions at Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines and Avianca and U.S. Airways before landing the stewardship of Spirit Airlines.Spirit's new private equity owner gave Baldanza the freedom to put in place some of the most dramatic changes ever seen in U.S. aviation (mirroring many of those at Ryanair in Europe), giving him a reputation as an innovator with an edge.He left Spirit in 2016 and now has a number of board positions, an academic role at George Mason University and his own aviation podcast, called Airlines Confidential. Baldanza joins us as the latest guest on How I Got Here.HIGH is a weekly show produced by PhocusWire and Mozio, aimed at getting the inside stories behind startups and innovation in travel and transportation.It's hosted by PhocusWire's editor in chief, Kevin May, and Mozio co-founder and CEO David Litwak.

Tune in to learn about the future of tourism for visitor attractions from a global expert and leader with a foot in each camp. Ben Baldanza sits on the Board of Directors for both Six Flags theme parks and Jet Blue airline, having spent a decade as CEO of Spirit, Ben is also an Adjunct Professor of Economics with George Mason University and is a cohost on Airlines Confidential. Ben calls for the tourism industry to work together, explains what to expect in market forces and consumer behavior under COVID-19, discusses price theory in the face of changing demand and emphasizes the role of data science in navigating recovery. LEARN MORE Tune in to Airlines Confidential at https://airlinesconfidential.com/.

If your strategy aims at changing the world, then it can surely encourage a positive domino effect. In this episode, Mitch Russo interviews Ben Baldanza the CEO of Diemacher LLC, Independent Board Director of JetBlue Airways, and podcast host of Airlines Confidential. As an accomplished leader, Ben has worked with American Airlines. From there, at an increasing level of responsibility, he went to Continental, Northwest, and US Airways until 2005, when he accepted the role of President of Spirit Airlines. Ben’s journey paved the way to standing out and changing how airlines function. He shares the four pillars that make any consumer-facing business a powerful proposition. He also narrates how he and his Spirit Airline team converted over time from an airline that was low-cost by default to an airline that was low-cost by design.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!Here’s How »Join Your First Thousand Clients Community today:mitchrusso.comMitch Russo LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your strategy aims at changing the world, then it can surely encourage a positive domino effect. In this episode, Mitch Russo interviews Ben Baldanza the CEO of Diemacher LLC, Independent Board Director of JetBlue Airways, and podcast host of  Airlines Confidential. As an accomplished leader, Ben has worked with American Airlines. From there, at an increasing level of responsibility, he went to Continental, Northwest, and US Airways until 2005, when he accepted the role of President of Spirit Airlines. Ben’s journey paved the way to standing out and changing how airlines function. He shares the four pillars that make any consumer-facing business a powerful proposition. He also narrates how he and his Spirit Airline team converted over time from an airline that was low-cost by default to an airline that was low-cost by design. Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! Here’s How » Join Your First Thousand Clients Community today: mitchrusso.com Mitch Russo LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ben Baldanza, the former CEO of Spirit Airlines, talks about the state of the airline industry; what it will take for airlines to survive the COVID-19 downturn and what managing for the future of air travel might look like. In their discussion, Ben and Eric talk about the biggest decisions that airlines are facing, and what we might see as the new normal for passengers.

"Captain" Bob interviews Michelle L. Baldanza from the Fisher House Foundation. Fisher House Foundation is best known for a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. These homes are located at major military and VA medical centers nationwide, and, in Europe, close to the medical center or hospital it serves.

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus...

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus on Chinese aggression and Vietnamese resistance, instead highlighting Vietnam’s use of East Asian classical culture as an ideological threat to China.  As such, Sino-Viet relations, read through the seven interrelated biographies covered here, should be understood as a process of negotiation and compromise. Ricarda Brosch is a curatorial assistant at the Asian Art Museum Berlin (Museum fur Asiatische Kunst Berlin Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz), which is due to reopen as part of the Humboldt Forum in 2019. You can find out more about her work by following her on Twitter @RicardaBeatrix or getting in touch via ricarda.brosch@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus... Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus on Chinese aggression and Vietnamese resistance, instead highlighting Vietnam’s use of East Asian classical culture as an ideological threat to China.  As such, Sino-Viet relations, read through the seven interrelated biographies covered here, should be understood as a process of negotiation and compromise. Ricarda Brosch is a curatorial assistant at the Asian Art Museum Berlin (Museum fur Asiatische Kunst Berlin Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz), which is due to reopen as part of the Humboldt Forum in 2019. You can find out more about her work by following her on Twitter @RicardaBeatrix or getting in touch via ricarda.brosch@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Ming China and Vietnam: Negotiating Borders in Early Modern Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2016), Kathlene Baldanza explores the complex diplomatic exchanges between China and Vietnam from the 13th to the 17th centuries. Drawing on vast material of both Chinese and Vietnamese primary sources, Baldanza challenges conventional narratives that focus on Chinese aggression and Vietnamese resistance, instead highlighting Vietnam’s use of East Asian classical culture as an ideological threat to China.  As such, Sino-Viet relations, read through the seven interrelated biographies covered here, should be understood as a process of negotiation and compromise. Ricarda Brosch is a curatorial assistant at the Asian Art Museum Berlin (Museum fur Asiatische Kunst Berlin Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz), which is due to reopen as part of the Humboldt Forum in 2019. You can find out more about her work by following her on Twitter @RicardaBeatrix or getting in touch via ricarda.brosch@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hip-BoneMusic's monthly interview series, "Bone2Pick". June 2013: Michael Davis interviews Ben Baldanza. http://www.hip-bonemusic.com

More than anything, Spirit Airlines' business model is built on low fares, which it uses to stimulate demand and fill its planes. But what happens when fuel prices drop, enabling airlines like JetBlue to drop fares too? In a wide-ranging interview, we asked Spirit's CEO Ben Baldanza about such “fare compression.” We also asked him about the possibility of Spirit chasing corporate traffic (like Ryanair). How will A320-NEOs change Spirit's network? Other topics included Spirit's pilot contract and the notion that Spirit is “stealing traffic” from other airlines. Lastly, we learned why it's “crazy” to call Spirit a “no-frills” airline and why Baldanza loves the Tonka-truck yellow livery. This is our first CEO interview in The Airline Weekly Lounge. It went so well that we plan to make this a regular feature.

Today we have the CEO of Spirit Airlines Ben Baldanza. Spirit Airlines is the largest Ultra Low Cost Carrier in the western hemisphere. Prior to joining Spirit, Baldanza held executive positions at other airlines including US Airways, Continental Airlines and American Airlines. Baldanza earned his BA in economics from Syracuse and an MA in transportation and economics from Princeton. In the interview, Ben discusses the importance of knowing your product and marketing exactly the service you offer. Spirit airlines has been able to distinguish themselves by unbundling their services and offering only the essentials allowing them to provide significantly lower fares, thus they also transformed their branding to demonstrate to customers what makes them different.  Ben Baldanza is interviewed in Miami by Startup Grind's Miami chapter director Jason Ibarra.

Rachael Baldanza talks about David Park's Male Nudes at the Water, on view in the Paint Made Flesh exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery, October 25, 2009-January 3, 2010