Airline Weekly Lounge

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Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

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

  1. 18 HR AGO

    Southwest's Evolving Network

    Presented by American Airlines In part one, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat examine the huge changes taking place across Southwest Airlines' network and reveal the big winners and losers as the LCC's route map evolves. In part two, we discuss the key trends to watch for the coming season in the U.S. airline sector.  Episode Summary Southwest Airlines Leadership CEO Exit: Gary Kelly, former CEO and chairman, to step down amid pressure from Elliott Management, a hostile investor. Current Leadership: CEO Bob Jordan retains the board’s confidence; no imminent changes announced. Upcoming milestones: Investor Day: September 26, 2024. Board meeting: November 2024. Southwest’s Network Cuts Significant capacity reduction, including a 1% overall decrease in 2024. Q4 2024 will see an 8% reduction in seat capacity. Capacity cuts attributed to Boeing delays and internal decisions to improve financials. Southwest’s Top Airports Busiest Airports: Denver (up 87% in 10 years), Las Vegas, Baltimore, Chicago (Midway), and Dallas (Love Field). Capacity reductions in major markets: Fort Lauderdale (-34%), Atlanta (-27%), San Jose (-12%), Los Angeles (-12%). Future of Southwest Potential changes to in-flight products, boarding processes, and bag fees. Growth in Phoenix (+7%) and Nashville (+2%). Expanding corporate travel and adjusting ancillary revenue strategies. Boeing Delays Ongoing Boeing 737 MAX delivery delays have impacted Southwest’s operations and financial performance, contributing to network cuts. However, these delays are not the sole reason for capacity reductions. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    34 min

  2. 6 SEPT

    Qantas in Focus

    Presented by American Airlines In part one, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat take a closer look at Qantas and ask how major new projects could change its business. In part two, we turn our attention to Colombian national carrier Avianca and put its latest earnings in context. Episode Summary: Qantas performance: Qantas reported a 9% operating margin for the first half of 2023, stronger than 2019 levels. Domestic demand remains robust due to the vast distances in Australia and limited rail/road alternatives. Domestic market competition: Qantas faces limited competition domestically, with Rex Airlines scaling back and Bonza collapsing. Koala Airlines is a potential new competitor, but Qantas largely dominates through its mainline, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia. Qantas business breakdown: Qantas operates three core segments: domestic, international, and Jetstar (low-cost, domestic, and international). Their loyalty program is highly profitable, with a 19% operating margin in the first half of 2023. International markets: Key markets for Qantas include New Zealand, Singapore/Southeast Asia, Japan, the US, and the UK. Their international operations are profitable but lag behind domestic performance, with a 5% operating margin in early 2023. Project Sunrise: Qantas plans to launch nonstop flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York by 2026 with Airbus A350-1000s, aiming to boost its international market. Fleet investment: Qantas is heavily investing in new Airbus aircraft (A220s and A321XLRs) for domestic routes and retiring its older 737s. Boeing's Dreamliners (787-9s) remain important for international operations. Virgin Australia speculation: There are unconfirmed reports that Qatar Airways may acquire a 20% stake in Virgin Australia, which could complicate oneworld alliance dynamics, as Qantas and Qatar Airways are both members. Future outlook: Qantas is positioned for growth with strategic fleet upgrades and long-term plans, while maintaining dominance in the Australian market. Further insights will be featured in the Airline Weekly newsletter. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    32 min

  3. 30 AUG

    Busiest Global Airports: The Q4 2024 Preview

    Presented by American Airlines In this week’s show, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat examine the global airport capacity data for the coming quarter. Of the 100 busiest airports worldwide, we reveal the likely winners and losers for Q4 and ask what these capacity trends tell us about the industry’s broader direction of travel. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    26 min

  4. 23 AUG

    Our Air Canada Check-In

    Presented by American Airlines In part one, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the latest developments at Air Canada and find out what its international expansion plans could mean for future profitability. In part two, we examine the latest Q2 earnings from global carriers and discover who is leading the pack. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    31 min

  5. 16 AUG

    Jet2's Secret Sauce

    Presented by American Airlines In part one, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat examine the fascinating story behind British leisure carrier Jet2, and explain why it's an airline worth watching. In part two, we turn our attention to Azul to learn how the Brazilian firm fared in the second quarter. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    33 min

  6. 9 AUG

    The Q2 2024 Earnings Scoreboard

    Presented by American Airlines In part one, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat reveal which U.S. airlines had the best and worst second quarters of 2024. In part two, we turn our attention to the latest developments at European supergroup IAG, as it withdraws from a planned acquisition of Air Europa. This episode is presented by American Airlines. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    34 min

  7. 7 AUG

    Former American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja on Aviation's Current Inflection Point

    Today we’re bringing you a bonus episode featuring an exclusive interview with former American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Vasu Raja, who left American earlier this year after two years in the role and 20 years at the airline. Vasu sat with Skift Founder and CEO Rafat Ali as well as Airlines Reporter Meghna Maharishi, and offered some expert analysis about the current state of the airlines, including the overall slow down of the industry after years of growth during the pandemic recovery. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

    46 min

  8. 2 AUG

    How Was Q2 for JetBlue?

    In part one, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the latest earnings from JetBlue and examine the U.S. carrier's turnaround plan. In part two, we turn our attention to IndiGo and discover what makes it the world's most ambitious airline. Connect with Skift Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

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

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