Airline Weekly Lounge

Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about why Philippines Airlines Chapter 11 surprised no one. The two also discuss Porter's restart flights, and Ryanair's latest fight with Boeing.

The Airline Weekly team heads south to look at South African Airways’ restructuring and restart after an 18-month suspension. Can the notoriously poorly run airline emerge a successful carrier? We also touch on Norwegian Air’s results and the raft of budget carriers aiming to disrupt the transatlantic, again.

Airline Weekly Senior Reporter Edward Russell talks to PaxEx.Aero Founder and Editor Seth Miller about his experience onboard JetBlue's inaugural flight to London earlier this month. Can the carrier that helped reshape the New York market two decades ago, do the same on transatlantic routes to London?

How do airlines like the Boeing 737 Max now that it's been back in service for more than half a year? The Airline Weekly team consider this question as well as wondering if even more airlines will jump on the cargo bandwagon.

This week, Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward "Ned" Russell, the team behind Airline Weekly, look at why so many Latin American carriers are buying aircraft and if the OEMs are right that airlines are just starting a massive fleet-replacement cycle. It's early days, but the U.S. Senate passed a massive infrastructure spending bill, so will that mean NextGen could finally get off the ground? And why is Mesa Air struggling with maintenance? Stay ahead of aviation news with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

We have a special guest this week, Skift Editor at Large Brian Sumers, and he and host Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss why business travel may never be the same and question whether U.S. airline CEOs are being too optimistic when they say the market will come back in September. Is air rage more prevalent now than before the pandemic? And why did Sumers, a previously avid traveler, take his first commercial flight in more than a year and say the experience was "kinda gross?" Stay ahead of airline news with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

U.S. airlines are maintaining their bullish recovery outlooks even as Covid-19 Delta variant cases jump and mask requirements make a comeback. Reporter Ned Russell and Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss whether this is a realistic view or one tailored for shareholders. Later in the episode, they discuss the continuing U.S. travel restrictions and make their predictions on Boeing. Stay ahead of aviation news with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

Canada's Porter Airlines, despite not having flown a single flight since last March, is reimaging itself by ordering its first jets and moving some flights into Toronto Pearson. Reporter Ned Russell and Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about what that means for the quirky airline and wonder what Porter's raccoon spokescritter is named. Later in the episode, Ned and Madhu discuss what may be behind United's recent orders for new-technology aircraft (spoiler: it has nothing to do with networks). Stay ahead of aviation news at airlineweekly.com.

United made some news last week with its largest aircraft order, but there was more to the order than just the happy talk. Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss why United needed to upgrade its fleet, and why no one really knows when business travel will return (despite what they say). Stay ahead of aviation industry news with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

Boeing's largest 737 Max variant, the -10, took flight. Is it enough for Boeing to take on the mighty Airbus A321neo and all its variants? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan get into it and why Boeing may need to pull the trigger on a clean-sheet mid-market aircraft (or not). Meanwhile, American has a major pilot training bottleneck, and Europe's low-cost airline sector is mixing things up. Stay ahead of airline industry news at airlineweekly.com.

The U.S. and the EU ended a 17-year-long spat over which side provided more illegal state aid and agreed to drop tariffs, which means chocolate, wine, and exercise equipment may get cheaper. Huh? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan get into why that is, and also chew over why JetBlue is pruning its pandemic-era schedule. Read more essential airline news at Airline Weekly.

Southwest Airlines ordered 34 Boeing 737-7 Max aircraft, a strong sign of confidence in the once troubled airline program and a spot of good news for the beleaguered airframer. Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russel talk about what that means for both Boeing and Southwest and whether there is a capacity-traffic mismatch for the summer. Also, how realistic are United's plans for supersonic travel by 2029 (when Boom's overture doesn't yet have an engine)? Read the latest at airlineweekly.com.

U.S. airline CEOs were encouraged by passenger traffic during the week's Memorial Day holiday, which marks the unofficial start of summer for the United States. But their European counterparts are less optimistic, and are hoping to avoid a second "lost" summer. Meanwhile, rumblings of mergers and acquisitions has caused no end of drama in Brazil. Stay ahead of the news with our weekly forecast and daily updates at Airline Weekly.

David Neeleman's new airline breezes to a ticket counter near you soon, as the first flights launch next week. Edward "Ned" Russell discusses his interview with Neeleman (in the May 24 issue) with Madhu Unnikrishnan. And why is Ryanair trying to make "fetch" happen? Learn more by subscribing to Airline Weekly.

In the first segment of this episode, Accenture's Jonathan Sullivan argues that domestic business travel is coming back around the world, particularly as companies ramp up their sales pipelines. One complicating factor, though, is that it's hard to have face-to-face meetings when most employees still are remote. In the second segment, Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about domestic summer demand and why Americans are falling back in love with their national parks. Stay up to date on the business of aviation at Airline Weekly.

Europe could reopen for vaccinated U.S. tourists sometime this summer, officials say. But it's already May. Will all the pieces be in place to salvage airlines' peak summer season? Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russell ponder that question. Also on this episode, Ned tells us about his field trip to American's Tulsa MRO, and is the world's largest airline right to pull all stored jets out of mothballs? Learn more by subscribing to Airline Weekly.

United CEO Scott Kirby says business travel is coming back, while Southwest CEO Gary Kelly says it could take years? Who's right? Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russell get into it. And we also take a look at the Mexico market and why Volaris is so bullish, as well as when business travel might return. Learn more by subscribing to Airline Weekly.

We're in the thick of U.S. airline first-quarter earnings, and executives almost across the board are optimistic that the industry has turned the corner. But is that optimism misplaced? Brazil, after all, offers a cautionary tale of how the virus isn't yet done with us. Stay on top of airline news with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

After not getting any aid from the Canadia government, Air Canada finally got about $5 billion in assistance. Skift Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russell and Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss what this might mean, why Latam is retiring its A350s, and what are they smoking at Frontier's HQ in Denver to add so many routes? Get more with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

It's a reunion for Brian Sumers, Skift editor at large, and Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan, as they debate whether there really is that much pent-up demand for travel. Airlines are banking on it. Brian thinks there is, but Madhu is skeptical. Where do you fall on the issue? Learn more at Airline Weekly.

Georgia's controversial new elections law caused a public relations nightmare for Delta Air Lines and its CEO Ed Bastian, whose first, tepid comment on the law caused immense blowback and calls to boycott the airline. Bastian reversed course and issued a more forceful condemnation, inviting Governor Brian Kemp's fury. Airline Weekly's Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward "Ned" Russell discuss the perils that lie in wait for companies when they weigh in on thorny social issues and why CEOs increasingly feel compelled to have an opinion on social and political matters. Stay ahead of aviation industry news at airlineweekly.com/subscribe

Qatar Airways thinks leisure and visiting friends and relatives traffic will rebound this summer, and it thinks it has the right fleet for the moment. And Eurowings is betting the same, planning its first routes in Europe than don't go through its home base in Germany. But the virus is surging in Europe, and the pace of vaccinations worldwide may not be keeping up with airlines' hopes. Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan dive into these topics and into why Wall Street is betting big on Frontier Airlines' stock market debut. Get daily updates at airlineweekly.com to better understand the industry.

U.S. airline CEOs are pretty confident that they've turned the corner. The pandemic isn't in the rearview mirror yet, but they're fairly certain travel will rebound this summer, and some think their airlines will return to profitability this year. Is that confidence misplaced? Will business travel ever be the same as it was? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan get into it. Get more essential airline news at airlineweekly.com

In this week's episode, Airline Weekly colleagues Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan get into why going public may not be the craziest idea of an airline, despite the once-in-a-century industry-wide crisis. They also look at why Lufthansa is opening its fortress hubs at Munich and Frankfurt to its own subsidiaries. And does IATA's Alexandre de Juniac really think leisure traffic will take off this summer? Get more essential airline news at airlineweekly.com/subscribe

Much of the world is trapped at home and shopping online. Who's transporting all those goods? Airlines, and cargo. has been the one silver lining in the airline's terrible pandemic year. But it's not a savior; airlines still are losing money. Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan talk all things cargo and look at why United is buying more Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Stay informed about essential aviation news with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

Norwegian's retrenchment is providing opportunities for all sorts of airlines, like Finnair, United, and Virgin Atlantic, Airline Weekly colleagues Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan say in this week's episode. And just why is much of the media coverage of United Flight 328 wrong, when the aircraft's systems and its crew acted just as they should have in an emergency? Stay ahead of aviation news by subscribing to Airline Weekly.

United's plan to bridge the "last mile" with electric aircraft is ambitious, especially since the FAA hasn't approved any electric engines for flight yet. Meanwhile, Spirit could have its 2019 capacity back by this summer. Airline Weekly colleagues Ned Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan take a look at these issues as well as why Aeromexico's bankruptcy and Interjet's inability to pay its fuel bills might help Volaris. Don't miss out on the latest news in the aviation industry. Subscribe to Airline Weekly.

Sun Country has been planning to go public for more than a year, but it made it official now, during the worst crisis to hit the airline industry. Airline Weekly colleagues Edward Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about why the low-cost-carrier is going public now, what's happening with Air Canada, and whether Copa will be a Wall Street darling again. Stay ahead of aviation news with a subscription to Airline Weekly.

The six largest U.S. airlines have reported their fourth-quarter and full-year 2020 results, and while we knew last year was historically bad, it doesn't look like this year will be any better. Airline Weekly colleagues Edward Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan dig into the earnings and when travel will start to rebound. Become an Airline Weekly subscriber at https://airlineweekly.com

Airbus has a winner with the A220, and airlines are just starting to discover what they can do with the aircraft’s size and range. Chris Sloan, publisher of theairchive.net joins for a discussion on the A220 and the Boeing 737 Max.

Expedia Vice President Air Partnerships Julie Kyse joins the Airline Weekly Lounge to let us know how data can help airlines recover. We will be on hiatus until the first week of January. Enjoy your holidays, no matter how you celebrate.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport moved quickly to safeguard public health when the coronavirus began to spread in the U.S. What changes will be permanent? CEO Sean Donohue explains in this week's episode. To participate live in events like this, please visit https://forum.skift.com

The airline industry is just one part of the larger travel ecosystem, and no one sector has been immune to the effects of a once-in-a-century pandemic. Skift Hospitality Reporter Cameron Sperance joins us for a state-of-play on the hospitality and cruise industries. To participate in Airline Weekly Lounge live, register at forum.skift.com.

Last week Skift and the Airline Weekly team hosted our first conference devoted to aviation. Guests including Southwest CEO and Chairman Gary Kelly, Air France CEO Anne Rigali, and Air Lease Corp. Executive Chairman Steven Udvar-Házy discussed the current state of the industry. For today's podcast, the Airline Weekly team connects the dots between the conversations. To participate in weekly recordings of Airline Weekly Lounge, register on our conference site.

Brett "Cranky Flier" Snyder joins Airline Weekly Lounge Live after trying Hawaiian Airlines' new rapid-response test from LAX. The process, aimed to allow travelers to avoid Hawaii's 14-day quarantine, was confusing, he said. And Cranky updates us with his latest installment of "Skeds of Airlines."

Capt. Joe DePete, president of the Air Line Pilots Association, argues that airlines are critical infrastructure, and pilots are essential workers. The industry needs more federal support in order to ensure it can bounce back when demand returns, or the economy as a whole will suffer, he says. Join us on November 19, 2020 for Skift Aviation Forum and learn from CEOs and leaders at Delta Air Lines, Air France, Virgin Atlantic, Ryanair, and more.

Boeing's grounded 737 MAX has been in the news a bunch recently, with European regulators and some airlines predicting it will be back in the air by year's end. What regulatory steps remain before the FAA approves it for flight, and what emerged in the investigation on why the aircraft's software malfunctioned? Aviation Week Air Transport and Safety Editor Sean Broderick helps break it down. To participate in events like this live, please register at Forum.skift.com.

Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan is joined by Skift hospitality reporter Cameron Sperance to discuss the state of leisure and business travel. Join events like this live by registering at https://forum.skift.com/mondays-airline-weekly/

PaxEx.aero founder Seth Miller joins us live from Philadelphia International Airport for an update on the passenger experience during this pandemic. The pandemic provides both opportunity and risk for airlines and their suppliers. With traffic light, now could the time to innovate, but with cash tight, do airlines and their suppliers have the wherewithal?

Few other airlines were as associated with luxury intercontinental travel than Singapore Airlines was before the pandemic. But when Covid travel restrictions went into force, Singapore's core business all but evaporated, and unlike many of its rivals, it has no domestic market at all to fall back on. For airline industry intelligence every Monday morning, subscribe at Airline Weekly.

Brian Sumers, Skift senior aviation business editor, and Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan asked just why airlines are eliminating change fees (when passengers have complained about them forever). Are airlines ready to transport vaccines? To join events like this live, visit https://forum.skift.com

Accenture's Jonathan Keane sketches four scenarios the airline industry could face, ranging from a "remarkable return" to "the darkest days." How should airlines prepare for a very uncertain post-pandemic future? Join future events like this at https://forum.skift.com/mondays-airline-weekly/

IATA Regional Vice President for the Americas Peter Cerdá explains the patchwork of travel restrictions that is making air travel in Latin America difficult and why governments in the region should invest more in air transport infrastructure. Get the latest aviation industry intelligence at https://airlineweekly.com

More Europeans may be taking their summer holidays, but it still was a historically bad quarter for the continent’s airlines, especially for those that staked their fortunes on long-haul premium traffic. Join us live for similar events at https://forum.skift.com

Skift Senior Aviation Business Editor Brian Sumers joins host Madhu Unnikrishnan to examine why the heads of four U.S. and European airlines are asking for quarantine rules to be eased. Also, how much more time do you have to fly in a passenger Boeing 747? For more about the business of aviation, please visit https://airlineweekly.com

This week host Madhu Unnikrishnan is joined by Amy Burr, managing director of JetBlue Ventures, and Nirali Shah, director, Vantage Airport Group. To stay on top of essential aviation industry news, please visit Airline Weekly.

How has the passenger experience changed during the pandemic? In no good way, says Seth Miller, founder and editor of PaxEx.aero. Although less-full flights mean more space, airlines are halting or limiting food service, keeping lounges closed, and changing the way IFE is delivered. These are all good and necessary measures, Miller notes, but the passenger experience as we knew it is changing. Understand more about the airline industry with Airline Weekly.

Chris Jones, McCarran International Airport chief marketing officer, discusses the steep drop off in traffic when Las Vegas closed down and how traffic is slowly starting to recover now that many shelter-in-place restrictions are easing. Listen to how McCarran is “betting against the spread” by mandating social distancing, disinfecting public areas, and encouraging mask use. Understand more about the aviation industry with this week"s issue of Skift Airline Weekly.

Bombardier exits the commerical aviation market, and Mitsubishi considers what comes next with the MRJ. Aerospace journalist Jon Ostrower of The Air Current joins host Madhu Unnikrishnan to explain what he calls the rapidly moving tectonic plates in the airframer world. Dive deeper into industry news with the latest issue of Skift Airline Weekly.

Covid-19 claimed its latest airline victim with the bankruptcy of Latam. Just how did one of the largest and most successful airlines in Latin America land in such dire straits? And what does its bankruptcy filing mean for Delta, which has a significant investment in Latam, and for connectivity in South America? Join Skift Airline Weekly’s editors as they hash out what happened and for when they think shorthaul traffic might start to rebound. Dive deeper into industry news with the latest issue of Skift Airline Weekly.