Skift Airline Weekly Lounge

Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss Frontier Airlines' bold new strategy which will see it cut capacity in Las Vegas and Florida. We also review the latest developments from Japan where the country's biggest carriers are enjoying a spike in premium demand.

Ryanair has its problems, but it is doing much better than most. As the Irish low-cost giant posts its latest earnings, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat pick through the numbers and assess what the future could hold for the airline.

As airline earnings season continues to gather momentum, this week we examine the fortunes of United and easyJet. Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the major developments and identify the key trends at these two very different carriers. 

This week has seen major courtroom drama as the proposed JetBlue-Spirit merger was blocked by a U.S. judge. In this special episode, Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat discuss the implications of the ruling and assess the likely knock on impact for the wider airline industry.

Boeing's 737 Max is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. An Alaska Airlines 737-9 lost a door plug after a sudden decompression on January 5 that prompted the FAA to temporarily ground all Max 9 variants with door plugs. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, JetBlue's leadership transition and outlook. Reading List Buttigieg on Boeing 737 Max 9’s Return: ‘Until It Is Ready, It’s Not Ready’ Alaska Cancels 737 Max 9 Flights Through Saturday as It Awaits FAA Approval for Inspections United Airlines Finds Loose Bolts on At Least 5 Boeing 737 Max 9 Planes JetBlue Names Joanna Geraghty as CEO, First Woman to Lead a Major U.S. Airline

What does Air France-KLM think of the future? It's bullish. Jay Shabat and Edward Russell discuss the group's recent investor day. Reading List Air France-KLM Bullish on the Future TAP Air Portugal Sale Delayed Up To a Year, Air France-KLM CEO Says The Airline Weekly team outlines the significant changes at Air France-KLM since Ben Smith became CEO in 2018. The airline, which was underperforming compared to its peers, has seen considerable improvements, particularly in the operating margin of Air France, which was notably low in 2019. Key strategies discussed include the transformation of Air France's short-haul routes, particularly moving operations at Orly Airport to their low-cost carrier, Transavia France. This move aims to address the historic losses in domestic routes. They also touch on the expansion of the Flying Blue loyalty program and the integration of SAS's loyalty program. The hosts discuss the airline's fleet strategies, focusing on Air France KLM's preference for the Airbus A350 and Boeing

Delta, JetBlue, and Southwest all dropped updates on the fourth quarter outlook in recent weeks. The verdict? Travel demand is good, fuel is down, and operations are largely better than expected. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat disucss. Plus, the state of airline labor relations in the U.S.  Reading List Delta Lays Out the Case For Continued Strength Flight Attendants Want More from U.S. Airlines. It Might Take a Strike to Get There. The flight attendants of CHAOS (Planet Money)

There are three big reasons for Alaska Airlines proposed $1.9 billion merger with Hawaiian Airlines: scale, loyalty, and premium traffic. And there are lots of questions too. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Reading List Alaska Airlines in Deal to Buy Hawaiian Airlines for $1.9 Billion Alaska Airlines Needs New Growth – That’s Why It’s Looking to Buy Hawaiian Alaska-Hawaiian Merger Faces a Justice Department Wary of Airline Combos What Could an Alaska-Hawaiian Loyalty Program Look Like? Think Marriott Bonvoy 8 Airline Mergers That Shaped Today’s U.S. Industry

Virgin Atlantic in a good year turns a modest profit. In bad years, it loses money. So why is Shai Weiss so confident the airline will turn a profit next year? Jay Shabat and Edward Russell settle in for a cuppa to discuss. Plus, EasyJet's results. Reading List Virgin Atlantic CEO Focused on Return to Profitability in 2024 Virgin Atlantic Pressures UK for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Support EasyJet Raises Profit Outlook After ‘Record’ Summer, Orders More Airbus Planes

With the team out for the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, we're bringing you another session from the recent Skift Aviation Forum: Air Lease Corp. Executive Chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy in conversation with Brian Sumers of The Airline Observer. Enjoy!

It was a busy week for Airbus and particularly Boeing in Dubai. The airframers racked up more than 330 firm orders for new aircraft from Emirates, Ethiopian, FlyDubai, and others at the airshow. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, Korean Air's summer quarter results. Reading List Emirates’ Tim Clark on ‘Trust’ in Boeing, Supply Chain Issues and the End of Innovation Emirates Makes $52 Billion Deal With Boeing At Dubai Airshow

Ryanair and Singapore Airlines had good summers, and the former will be among the most profitable globally. Both, however, are watching industry schedules closely as they look forward through the winter. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Reading List Ryanair Expects Summer Revenue Surge to Continue as Competitors Slow Growth Singapore Airlines Doubles Down on Strategic Initiatives as Competitors Recover

American Airlines CEO Robert Isom joined Edward Russell on stage at the Skift Aviation Forum on November 1. Enjoy their wide-ranging discussion from the year-end holiday outlook to international growth and boosting loyalty revenues. Reading List American Airlines CEO Seeks to Boost Revenue and Enhance Loyalty Program American Airlines CEO Defends Direct Selling Push in Face of Travel Agent Complaints American Airlines Had a Rough Quarter, but Points to 2024 Tailwinds

Hawaiian Airlines and Volaris are two very different carriers. But they have one thing in common right now: A lot of planes affected by the issues with certain Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines on Airbus A320neo-family aircraft. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Reading List Volaris Cuts Capacity Growth as Pratt & Whitney Engine Issues Ground 16 Planes Airbus A320neo Pratt Engine Issues to Ground 650 Planes Next Year Hawaiian Airlines Defends Tokyo Haneda Flight Rights as United Seeks to Expand

If one thing's clear from the airlines that have reported third-quarter results it's that the U.S. domestic travel recovery has plateaued. That's not necessarily bad, passenger numbers are above 2019 levels, but the industry's higher cost structure could make a low-growth environment challenging. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the latest from Routes World in Istanbul. Reading List American Airlines Had a Rough Quarter, but Points to 2024 Tailwinds United Faces Higher Costs – and What Else We Learned on the Earnings Call Air France-KLM’s SAS Takeover: Do Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm Hubs Stay? Fast-Growing Istanbul Airport Wants More Budget Airline Competition AirAsia, Chastened from Pandemic Losses, Takes Disciplined Approach to Growth Royal Jordanian, Wizz Air Weigh Costs of Israel-Hamas War

The reaction to Delta Air Lines' controversial loyalty program changes so far have proved more bluster than anything else. Its profit, and outlook, remain sound even as U.S. domestic demand slows to "steady." Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, Virgin Australia is (finally) back in the black. Reading List Delta Profit Intact After Controversial SkyMiles Changes The U.S. Economy’s Secret Weapon: Seniors With Money to Spend Virgin Australia Back to Profitability but Still Faces Uphill Battle Versus Qantas

SAS is making some big changes. As part of its bankruptcy restructuring, Air France-KLM, along with other investors, will take a minority stake in the Scandinavian airline prompting a new commercial alignment and its move to the SkyTeam — not "StarTeam" — Alliance. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, has United ordered too many planes? Learn more and register for the Skift Aviation Forum on November 1 in Fort Worth, Texas. Reading List Air France-KLM to Take Stake in SAS Under $1.2 Billion Deal Portugal to Sell Majority Stake in National Airline TAP United Buys 110 Airbus and Boeing Planes Amid Persistent Capacity Constraints

Breeze Airways founder and CEO, and perennial airline entrepreneur, David Neeleman sat down for a wide ranging conversation with Brian Sumers at the Skift Global Forum in New York this week. On stage, Neeleman spoke of everything from soft fall travel demand to Breeze's international plans, and his views of sustainable aviation fuels. Reading List Breeze Sees Softer Bookings as Airline Growth Outpaces Fall Travel Demand Spirit Airlines Stuns with Forecast of Steep Third-Quarter Loss JetBlue Founder Neeleman’s 5th Act Breeze Airways Is Finally Taking Off

Mexico's airlines face two countervailing trends: the reopening of the U.S. to new growth countered by new restrictions at the country's busiest airport, Mexico City International. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, what U.S. airports grew most the over the past 10 years? Reading List Mexico’s Airlines Lifted by U.S. Upgrade but Face Quagmire in Mexico City Giant Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver Airports Anticipate Big Growth This Year Delta’s Expansion in Austin May Be Too Little, Too Late to Catch American and Southwest

Slower bookings and "heightened" airfare discounting are hurting Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines this quarter. That means potentially deep losses for the ultra low-cost carriers. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what happened. Plus, the latest on the Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engine situation. Reading List Spirit Airlines Stuns with Forecast of Steep Third-Quarter Loss Airbus A320neo Pratt Engine Issues to Ground 650 Planes Next Year