Skift Airline Weekly Lounge

What does post-pandemic life like for a destination carrier like Hawaiian Airlines? CEO Peter Ingram joins Edward Russell to discuss the airline's recovery and outlook, including the long-awaited reopening of Japan. Plus, what Hawaiian might do with the new Boeing 787s that arrive soon.

Flying through London is getting a little better with the end of capacity caps at Gatwick Airport. But constraints remain in place at Heathrow until the end of October, and British Airways has already reduced its schedules through the winter. And always eager Ryanair is ready with more seats to grab market share, Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss the situation. Also, American Airlines' regional strategy.

The Lufthansa Group has spent the better part of 20 years trying to improve its fortunes through consolidation. Some deals, like of Swiss, have been winners, others, like of Austrian and Brussels, not so much. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss Lufthansa's aim, and what a potential ITA Airways deal could mean for the group. Also, what's in the Inflation Reduction Act for airlines.

Meet Steve Sisneros, the airport czar at Southwest Airlines. As vice president of airport affairs, he oversees current and future real estate at the carrier's 121 airports. Edward Russell and Sisneros chat about Southwest's new facilities in Denver and Phoenix, and the status of Terminal 0 plans in Los Angeles.

Southwest Airlines had a secret weapon in the second quarter: Its fuel hedges. That helped propel it to an impressive 17% operating margin. High oil prices pulled down the results of most other U.S. airlines during what was an otherwise strong quarter. Also, Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what’s next for JetBlue and Spirit now that they’ve agreed to merge.

Airlines globally will need more than 41,000 aircraft over the next 20 years, according to Boeing's latest outlook. Edward Russell sat down with Boeing's Vice President of Commercial Marketing Darren Hulst at the Farnborough Air Show to discuss the outlook. Also, what is Boeing's response in the so-called middle-of-the-market that Airbus has run away with with its A321neo? Get more essential airline news at Airline Weekly.

What's travel like in the U.S. now? Busy and, in some cases, like a T.J. Maxx, The Wall Street Journal's new travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson told Edward Russell of her 11 flight, six airline "stress test" of the system over the July Fourth holiday weekend. We also chat with her about her role and her view on covering airlines and the travel industry.

Scandinavian airline SAS is in bankruptcy after years of struggles. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss how the carrier could still struggle to extract needed savings, particularly from aircraft lessors. And, will Star Alliance’s new partnership with German rail operator Deutsche Bahn really reduce carbon emissions? More coverage of SAS's woes: SAS Joins List of Airline Failures and Bankruptcies Since Pandemic’s Start SAS Airlines’ Bankruptcy Follows Months of a Showdown Over Aircraft Leases Scandinavia’s SAS Files for Bankruptcy Protection in the U.S.

For those who hoped we'd have a resolution to the Spirit Airlines merger saga this week, no dice. The carrier delayed, again, a key shareholder vote on whether to merge with Frontier Airlines. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss the latest turns, and why JetBlue Airways is so keen to acquire Spirit. Also, the outlook for July Fourth holiday weekend travel in the U.S.

Are profits on approach for airlines in 2023? Edward "Ned" Russell and Jay Shabat discuss IATA's updated outlook, and Director General Willie Walsh's comments at the annual general meeting in Doha. Also, SkyWest Airlines has a novel approach to expanding the pool of pilots.

Why is Wizz Air CEO Joszef Varadi "happy" to compete with Ryanair and why does he think it's the legacy carriers that should be scared? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan, in his last appearance on the 'Lounge, discuss this and why Varadi is excited about the carrier's expansion in the Middle East. Then, the pair turn their attention on sustainable aviation fuel and what exactly "green hydrogen" may be and why the JetBlue-Spirit-Frontier saga would be a good plot line on "Days of Our Lives."

Delta Air Lines now forecasts its summer revenues will outpace 2019, a significant milestone in the U.S. airline industry's recovery. But all is not golden as costs, particularly fuel, are rising as well. Edward “Ned” Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan then head to Europe, discussing SAS' threat of a potential bankruptcy restructuring and Pieter Elbers' exit from KLM.

Just how bullish is IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta on India's airline market? Very, very bullish. But Edward "Ned Russell" and Madhu Unnikrishnan note that others have predicted that India's aviation market is about to take off (Kingfisher? Jet Airways?). So what makes Dutta so confident? Listen to this week's episode to find out.

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.

In a surprise move, JetBlue Airways unveiled an unsolicited bid for Spirit Airlines, potentially derailing the latter’s deal with Frontier Airlines. But, given the potential market clout a larger ULCC could be to JetBlue, especially on busy Florida routes, maybe it’s not such a surprise. Edward “Ned” Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss the merger machinations, and the word from European airlines at the recent Airlines for Europe summit.