Airline Weekly Lounge
The latest airline news with the editors of Airline Weekly
Skift
Show overview
Airline Weekly Lounge has been publishing since 2015, and across the 11 years since has built a catalogue of 426 episodes, alongside 2 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 200 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 24 min and 33 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 20 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 53 episodes published. Published by Skift.
From the publisher
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?
Latest Episodes
View all 426 episodesSpirit Airlines: The Post-Mortem
What's Going Wrong at JetBlue?
Will Washington Save Spirit Airlines?
Could United Really Merge with American Airlines?
Delta Confronts the Oil Price Crisis
Delta’s latest results are in and the fuel price challenge is front and center. Gordon, Jay, and Meghna dive into what the numbers say about the airline’s strategy and resilience. In part two, the conversation turns to Southwest and the next chapter of its transformation story. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries. 00:59 Delta Q1 Headline Numbers 01:54 Fuel Spike and Q2 Outlook 03:29 Earnings Call Tone 04:07 Premium Demand Holds 05:29 Main Cabin Inflection 06:48 Why Demand Stays Strong 11:12 High Fuel Means Consolidation 13:04 JetBlue Merger Speculation 17:42 Oil Volatility and 2008 Parallels 20:22 Premium Segmentation Tease 21:18 Delta Premium Basics 21:54 Tech Ops Profit Engine 22:27 Cargo Refinery Upside 23:14 Premium Seats Strategy 24:26 Post Pandemic Cost Reality 25:34 Wrap Part One 26:12 Listener Reminders Break 26:36 Idea Awards Spotlight 29:25 How To Enter Awards 31:35 Southwest 2.0 Pitch 33:23 Culture And Activist Push 35:34 Passenger Reactions Mixed 37:21 Middle Market Risk 39:44 Final Thanks Signoff
Who Will Lead IATA Next?
Gordon and Jay unpack major leadership moves shaping the industry, from Willie Walsh’s shift to IndiGo to Michael Rousseau’s departure from Air Canada. Later, they dive into fuel prices and what’s ahead for Alaska Airlines. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries. 02:26 JetBlue Seeks a Partner 04:42 Willie Walsh to IndiGo 08:25 IATA Succession Talk 11:11 Air India Leadership Rumors 12:00 Air Canada CEO Steps Down 18:50 What Are IDEA Awards 19:37 Who Can Enter 20:09 Airline Categories Explained 21:19 Quiz And Sample Forms 23:29 Back To Lounge News 23:53 Fuel Price Reality Check 24:49 Alaska Warns Bigger Loss 26:22 Mexico And Hawaii Demand Dip 28:41 Alaska Expands To Europe 30:33 Widebody Risk Debate 31:10 Why Buy Hawaiian 34:12 Seattle Long Haul Competition 37:35 Integration And Outlook 39:21 Wrap Up And Subscribe
An Aviation Crisis – with a Twist
In part one, Gordon and Jay unpack a whirlwind few days for the global airline industry, including fresh insights on jet fuel prices. In part two, the conversation turns to intriguing developments at Filipino low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries. 01:17 Fuel Price Crisis Update 04:57 Other Industry Headlines 05:31 Earnings Season Preview 09:18 Demand Strong Despite Costs 11:30 Listener Mail and Break 11:53 Skift Idea Awards Spotlight 16:53 Back From Break and Setup 17:25 Cebu Pacific Overview 20:43 Profitability and Challenges 21:39 Fuel Shock and Fare Hikes 26:23 Wrap Up and Subscribe
Making Sense of the Fuel Price Crisis
Fuel accounts for roughly 20–30% of an airline’s operating costs—so when prices surge, the impact can be immediate and significant. In this week’s show, Gordon and Jay break down how U.S. airlines are navigating this historic spike and explore what it could mean for supply and demand. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries. Approximate Time Stamps 00:36 Fuel Crisis Reality Check 01:59 JP Morgan Conference Setup 04:19 March Bad Luck Streak 05:23 Jet Fuel Spike Numbers 07:09 Fares Rising Demand Strong 09:49 Pulled Forward Bookings 13:43 Q1 Earnings and Weather 16:28 New Revenue Levers 18:03 Legacy vs LCC Pricing 19:33 Subscribe and Break Tease 20:17 IDEA Awards Introduction 21:08 Impact Over Scale 21:56 Finding Your Category 23:06 Quiz and Sample Forms 23:40 How to Submit 24:46 Awards Wrap and Next Topic 25:16 Why JP Morgan Matters 27:20 Delta Refinery Explained 31:25 American vs United O'Hare 35:19 Fuel Shock and Recession Risk 37:32 Volatility Is the New Normal
Jet Fuel Shock & Shutdown TSA Lines: Airlines Brace for a Volatile Spring
Jay Shabat is joined by Meghna Maharishi and Skift's Head of Research Seth Borko for a crossover Airline Weekly Lounge that hits two pressure points at once: a sudden jet fuel spike and the growing airport disruptions from the current US government shutdown. First, Seth breaks down what the fuel surge could mean for US carriers, using airline SEC disclosures to translate price moves into real dollars, and why the pain can vary by region even when the shock is global. Then Meghna walks through what travelers are feeling on the ground as TSA agents miss paychecks, security lines balloon at several airports during spring break, and Global Entry remains suspended, creating additional bottlenecks for international arrivals. The team closes with what to watch next, including signals expected from airline leaders at the upcoming JPMorgan Industrials conference. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
A Gulf Airline Crisis Like No Other
In a week when the world's busiest international airline ground to a halt and Gulf hubs faced aerial attack, Gordon and Jay explore the impact of the Iran war on the aviation industry. In part two, we take a closer look at the latest earnings from Qantas and Virgin Australia. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
Is Singapore Airlines Still A Profit Superstar?
In part one, Gordon and Jay review the latest numbers from Singapore Airlines and explain why context is key when determining success. In part two, we preview the annual results from British Airways and Iberia's parent company, IAG. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
American Airlines Is Falling Behind. Here’s Why
Delta and United are dominating airline profits while American falls behind, and Frontier struggles to recover. Jay Shabat and Meghna Maharishi break down airline earnings, American’s leadership pressure, and Frontier’s turnaround strategy. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
Icelandair: Moving in the Right Direction?
In part one of this week's show, Gordon and Jay crunch the latest financials from Icelandair and discuss how it plans to become sustainably profitable. In part two, the conversation turns to global airports, as we reveal the major hubs with the biggest shifts in capacity for Q2. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
Japan Airlines vs. ANA: Who's On Top?
In this week's show, Gordon and Jay discuss the latest results from Japan's two mega-airline groups. With inbound visitor numbers soaring, but domestic air travel down, we analyze the key financial and operational metrics separating ANA from JAL. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
U.S. Earnings Season: Half-Time Report
In part one of this week's show, Gordon and Jay discuss the latest quarterly earnings from American Airlines and JetBlue. In part two, the discussion turns to Ryanair, with a deep dive into its financials and 2026 strategy. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
New from Skift: Executive Conversations Shaping the Travel Industry
trailerWe’re sharing a preview of a new podcast from Skift called Skift Take Sessions. Skift Take Sessions is a weekly, journalist-led podcast built from the most important conversations shaping the global travel industry. Each episode features candid interviews with CEOs and senior leaders across airlines, hotels, and travel platforms, recorded live at Skift events and expanded with context around why the conversation matters now and what we learned. Hosted by Wil Slickers, the show brings listeners inside executive-level thinking from leaders at companies like Hilton, Expedia Group, Airbnb, JetBlue, and more. New episodes drop every week. Listen and follow Skift Take Sessions: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/skift-take-sessions/id1871511773 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4oKApv7z0I65VpySjh9rqP?si=2e8f1e3e83e8459d Skift.com: https://skift.com/skift-travel-podcasts/
Delta vs United: Premium Boom, Economy Squeeze
It is earnings season, and this week on the Airline Weekly Lounge, Jay Shabat and Meghna Maharishi break down Q4 2025 results from United and Delta, recorded on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. They compare operating margins, unpack how fuel price differences shaped the quarter, and dig into what United’s call revealed about demand, costs, and competitive pressure points. Key themes include the growing gap between premium and main cabin performance, why leaders say domestic softness is more about supply than demand, and how ultra-low-cost carrier capacity cuts could set up a rebound in economy results. On the Delta side, they cover the airline’s push to diversify revenue through areas like MRO, cargo, and loyalty, plus what Delta’s new widebody order signals for fleet and network strategy, including selective international expansion. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
Allegiant–Sun Country Merger: What’s Really at Stake?
bonusIn this special edition of the Airline Weekly Lounge, Gordon is joined by Jay and Meghna to discuss Allegiant's plan to acquire Sun Country Airlines for $1.5 Billion. Fresh off the phone with Allegiant CEO, Greg Anderson, Meghna offers first-hand executive insights, while Jay delves into the data to discover the impact of the proposed tie-up. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
Inside the Ethiopian Airlines Playbook
Ethiopian Airlines is one of African aviation's outstanding success stories. We explore how the carrier grew profitably, built global reach, and what its strategy means for the future of the sector. In part two, Gordon and Jay set the scene for Q4 earnings season, with a focus on U.S. airlines. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.
The David Neeleman Interview
Recorded on-stage at our recent Skift Aviation Forum, Gordon sits down with aviation legend David Neeleman. In this fast-paced discussion, few topics are left on the table, as we hear Neeleman's views on everything from the health of the U.S. airline industry to sustainable aviation fuels. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – LinkedIn Jay Shabat – LinkedIn Connect with 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 airline and travel industries.