Airline Weekly Lounge

How are airlines doing as the second-quarter earnings season wraps up? Generally good, but yield and cost concerns persist. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, Air Arabia’s impressive results.  We are taking a summer hiatus for the next two weeks. Expect the next episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge on September 8. Reading List Air Arabia Unveils World-Leading Second Quarter Profits U.S....

Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss the latest Airline Weekly profit rankings for the second quarter. Plus, the latest developments at Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific.

There was one thing in common across Air France-KLM, IAG, and JetBlue in the second quarter: Transatlantic travel demand is booming. That helped lift the first two to impressive profits. But, at the latter, it wasn't enough to offset numerous U.S. domestic challenges. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Reading List JetBlue Will Pay Dearly to End its Alliance With American Airlines Air France-K...

Both Ryanair and Alaska Airlines reported some decline in yields in the second quarter and continuing into the third. But they also made clear: Overall travel demand remains robust on both sides of the Atlantic. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what's happening. Reading ListAlaska Airlines Sees Domestic Fares Weaken as Americans Take More International Trips

American Airlines and United Airlines just reported record second-quarter results, including double-digit operating margins. Will the magic continue through the third quarter and beyond? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Reading List American Airlines Raises Outlook After Strong Second Quarter Results United Airlines to Shrink Newark Departures 10% to Avoid Future Flight Disruptions Delta Res...

Norse Atlantic Airways President Charles Duncan is optimistic, if nothing else, about the longhaul low-cost airline’s future. But even with some summer profits under its belt, he and his team still spend nine months of the year planning for the low-demand winter season. Duncan chats with Edward Russell about the airline’s strategy a year after launch, and how it plans to make the aforementioned wi...

After a decade of reckless growth in the aughts, Norwegian Air made a strategically smart decision in its deal to buy regional Wideroe. The combination would, if approved by regulators, make Norwegian-Wideroe larger than SAS in terms of seats in the Nordics. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, JetBlue is ending its alliance with American Airlines. Reading List: Norwegian Air Steps Up Pres...

Delta Air Lines held an investor day this week where CEO Ed Bastian said business was “gangbusters.” That’s what Wall Street wanted to hear but it appears also true for a company that sees significant delta ahead, and is actively working to grow high-margin tertiary businesses. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the operational distress in the northeastern U.S. this week. Reading List De...

Indian airlines IndiGo and Air India grabbed headlines with orders at the Paris Airshow this week. Can the country support all of their planned growth? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the recovery for Alaska Airlines. Reading List IndiGo’s Giant Airbus Order Will Test Its and India’s International Aviation Ambitions Air India Seals $34 Billion in Aircraft Orders With Airbus and Boeing...

Air Canada is flying double-daily high-density Boeing 777s — its equivalent of an Airbus A380 as Mark Galardo put it — to Athens this summer to meet some of the best travel demand it has ever seen. Galardo, the airline's executive vice president for revenue and network planning, joined host Edward Russell in the Lounge to chat about summer demand, Air Canada's recovery, and the evolving Canadian d...

The mood in Istanbul at the IATA Annual General Meeting was definitely jubilant this year. Despite all the challenges airlines face — and, frankly, when do they not face challenges? — attendees celebrated strong demand, cheaper fuel, and other tailwinds. Will the good times continue? Edward Russell, fresh off the plane back, and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the industry's sustainability challenge and...

U.S. airports saw roughly 300,000 more travelers than in 2019 over the Memorial Day weekend holiday, a sign of a busy summer to come. Are airlines ready? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, Delta is hit with a greenwashing lawsuit.

Icelandair had a rough few years before and during Covid. But the airline believes it has turned the financial corner, and forecasts its best results in seven years. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, Turkish Airlines’ big plans for Anadolujet. Reading List Icelandair Rides High Yields to Profits Turkish Airlines to Spin Off Low-Cost Carrier Anadolujet

Air Canada lost money in the first quarter of 2023. But that's no surprise. Wintertime losses are common for the carrier. But the red ink was minimal, setting it up for a strong year. Plus, a discussion about San Francisco's struggling airline market. Jay Shabat is joined by Madhu Unnikrishnan to discuss Air Canada's Q1 earnings and what's going at SFO. Reading List Air Canada Posts a Loss Despite...

Ryanair gave Boeing a boost, and let bygones be bygones, by ordering up to 300 new 737 Maxes. It’s the European discounter’s largest-ever order. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss the deal. Plus, Air France-KLM and IAG’s first-quarter results. Reading List Ryanair Looks East With New Boeing 737 Maxes From Its Largest Order Ever Air France-KLM Eyes Expansion in Booming South America With Potenti...

Alan Joyce took over Qantas Airways just as the Great Recession descended in 2008. He set about turning around its money-losing longhaul business, forging new international ties, and cementing Qantas' dominance of the Australian domestic market. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss Joyce's legacy and the challenges that confront incoming CEO Vanessa Hudson. Plus, Lufthansa's somewhat concerning f...

JetBlue has a New York problem. The city that made the airline could hold it back this summer if the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control staffing issues are as bad as forecast. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, WestJet pursues a new, least bad strategy. Reading List Q&A With WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech JetBlue Sounds Alarm on New York Flight Delays This Summer D...

Airline Weekly’s Jay Shabat is joined by former Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan to discuss United Airlines’ and Alaska Airlines’ first quarter earnings reports from earlier this week.  The conversation starts with United’s challenges in January and February, and notes investors will tolerate it if they have a strong March and the rest of the year. United is working to rectify its problems...

Delta Air Lines kicked off the first-quarter earnings season this week. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what they expect. Plus, can American Airlines catch up to the pack? Reading List Delta Margin Recovery to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels in Second Quarter American Airlines Expects a Good First Quarter, the Second Is an Open Question American, Still Less Profitable than Delta and United, Attempt...

Atlanta retained its title as the world’s busiest airport last year, shocker we know. But more interesting is the rise of the Denver and Istanbul airports — to third and seventh busiest, respectively — that were not even in the top 10 in 2019. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss, plus the unfortunate shortage of air traffic controllers in the New York-area this summer. Reading List What’s the Wo...

Lufthansa is closer than ever to a deal for Italy's state-owned carrier, Alita..., oops, ITA Airways. But can Lufthansa turn loss-making ITA into a gem? That remains to be seen. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss, plus the Istanbul Airport's impressive growth. Reading List Lufthansa Still Keen on ITA Airways Deal But Wants Price Discounted Over Heavy Losses Can Consolidation Lift Lufthansa? Ist...

Big changes are underway in Saudi Arabia and India, with both poised for rapid growth in airline traffic. Each, however, is taking a distinct approach with respect to protecting their domestic airlines. Airline Weekly’s Jay Shabat discusses with Skift’s Asia editor Peden Doma Bhatia.  Related Stories How India Is Preparing for Its Goal of 1 Billion Airline Passengers What You Need to Know About Sa...

U.S. airlines presented at a major investor event in New York last week. What did they say? Airline Weekly's Jay Shabat discusses with special guest Brian Sumers of The Airline Observer. Plus, a look at an airline in the Philippines with a very unique business model... and a very unique aircraft configuration.  Related Stories: Rival CEOs at JetBlue, United and American Rally Together to Challenge...

It’s official: The U.S. Justice Department just sued to block JetBlue and Spirit from merging. Will it win? That’s anyone’s guess, but JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said he plans to fight the regulator. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the latest results from Azul and Thai Airways. Reading List U.S. Sues to Block JetBlue and Spirit Merger JetBlue Prepares for a Fight With Justice Department...

Airlines face wide-ranging fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine a year ago in February. The biggest is the airspace closure, but the war has also triggered a surge in global energy prices while western sanctions are pressuring Russian airlines. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, why you need an accounting degree and years of experience to decipher AirAsia-parent Capital A's numbers....