Airline Weekly Lounge Skift

Abra, the new holding company planned by Colombia's Avianca and Brazil's Gol, would knit together South America in what Copa CEO called a spider web (although he said he's not too concerned about it). In this week's episode, Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan take a look at what the new transnational company could look like and why Copa is doing well. And then they blame Alanis Morrissete for ruining the word "ironic." 

Tempers are flaring as airlines, unions, and even Congress point fingers at who's to blame for the pilot shortage. Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss an innovative program at Southern Airways Express as well as why Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein may have a point about foreign pilots flying into the U.S. and the challenges to changing the 1,500-hour rule. Later, the pair look into the great summer ahead for the European Big Three and why Azul is having a banner year.

Airlines are sparring over Newark Liberty International Airport, as United claims the FAA is allowing low-cost-carriers to go over the 79 flight operations per hour cap. But Spirit and JetBlue refute that claim and say United should reduce its own operations if it wants fewer delays. Who's right? That's what Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward "Ned" Russell discuss, before turning to how the lack of spare Airbus A220 parts is forcing AirBaltic to wet-lease a Boeing 737 from Ukraine International Airlines. 

Edward “Ned” Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan are in the thick of first quarter earnings. The takeaway so far: demand changed for the better in March but summer may not be as rosy as many hoped, at least for travelers. Staffing concerns continue to weigh on schedules, threatening limited and pricey options for those with pent-up demand to travel.

Cape Air CEO Linda Markham warns that the U.S. industry’s every-airline-for-themselves approach to easing the pilot shortage may not be the best way to address supply. Edward “Ned” Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss her comments, and our favorite spokes-seagull. Then, Delta Air Lines was the industry’s bellwether on financials with the recovery turn it saw in March apparently set to carry other U.S. airlines back to the black.

It’s that time of year again: earnings! Delta Air Lines kicked off the first quarter results season with better than expected financials that reflected the two halves of the quarter; one characterized by Omicron and the other by pent-up demand. Edward “Ned” Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan also discuss how the U.S. pilot shortage has spread to mid-size carriers Alaska Airlines and JetBlue.