The Airways Podcast

Join Rohan Anand and Vinay Bhaskara as they reflect on a decade of the Airways podcast, analyze the current state of the US airline industry in 2026, and explore recent travel experiences, airline mergers, and industry trends. key topics Decade of the Airways podcast State of the US airline industry in 2026 Impact of Spirit Airlines’ demise Airline mergers and market consolidation Travel experienc...

In this episode, Rohan and Vinay explore the latest in aviation, including airport disruptions, airline capacity strategies at Chicago O'Hare, and the geopolitical impacts on global air travel, with a special focus on the Middle East conflict and its ripple effects. Key Topics * Current State of Air Travel and Personal Updates * Challenges in Air Travel Operations * FAA Intervention and Airline Ca...

This live update covers the recent civil unrest and airspace closures in Mexico, focusing on their impact on travel, safety, and local conditions. Rohan Anand-Mahajan provides real-time insights into flight cancellations, security issues, and resources for stranded travelers. Key Topics * Impact of civil unrest on air travel in MexicoFlight cancellations and airport closures in Puerto Vallarta and...

In Season 10, Episode 2 of the Airways podcast, Rohan and Vinay discuss the competitive landscape of the airline industry, focusing on the battle for Chicago O’Hare between American Airlines and United Airlines. They explore the implications of gate space, market share, and Southwest Airlines' impact. The conversation also touches on American Airlines’ challenges and future outlook, as well as Air...

In season 10, episode 1, Rohan Anand discusses the current situation at Chicago O’Hare, analyzing the evolution of airline hubs, carrier competition, the impact of the pandemic, and the airport's future outlook. Rohan highlights the challenges facing American Airlines and the importance of Chicago as a key aviation market. Takeaways Competition among airlines at Chicago O’Hare is intensifying. Chi...

In this episode of the Airways podcast, hosts Rohan Anand, Helwing Villamizar, and Vinay Bhaskara discuss the major themes and events in aviation for the year 2025. They cover the status of American Airlines, significant safety incidents, geopolitical impacts on air travel, developments in Indian aviation, the growth of Middle Eastern airlines, challenges faced by Spirit Airlines, and the dynamics...

Recorded just before the opening of the Dubai Airshow 2025 , this episode of the Airways Podcast captures Rohan, Vinay, and Helwing’s pre-show predictions—now contrasted with the major announcements breaking on Day 1. What the Crew Predicted vs. What Actually Happened In the episode, the hosts explore Emirates’ potential next steps, including discussions around the A350-1000 and long-haul fleet st...

⚠️ Programming Note: This episode was recorded a month ago , and due to scheduling delays, we’re only now releasing it. If the “Winners and Losers” segment feels slightly outdated, that’s the reason — but the conversation still offers highly relevant insights into Alaska Airlines and the broader U.S. airline landscape. 📌 Quick Industry Update (as of Sun, November 2, 2025): Since recording, Alaska...

In this episode of the Airways Podcast, hosts Helwing Villamizar and Rohan Anand engage with Hooman Yazhari, partner in Michelman & Robinson's restructuring and corporate practice group, to discuss the current state of the aviation industry, particularly in light of recent tariff changes and the challenges faced by airlines like Spirit Airlines. Hooman Yazhari helps businesses navigate transformat...

In this episode of the Airways podcast, hosts Rohan Anand-Mahajan, Vinay Bhaskara, and Helwing discuss the recent labor strikes at Air Canada, the implications for the airline industry, and the financial distress faced by Spirit Airlines. They explore the dynamics of labor relations, the impact of strikes on brand reputation, and the competitive landscape of the airline market. The conversation al...

In the first episode of season 9 of the Airways podcast, hosts Rohan Anand, Vinay Bhaskara, and producer Helwing Villamizar discuss the importance of mental health in aviation in light of the recent incidents affecting Air India and the broader implications of geopolitics on air travel. They delve into the stigma surrounding pilot mental health, the ripple effects of aviation disasters, and specul...

In season 6, episode 2 of the Airways Podcast, before we get to the main topics, we share our experiences flying on United’s CRJ550 and the new Airbus A321neo. We also discuss Delta’s A321neo, which is stylish but lacks practicality in seating and storage space. Finally, we give mixed reviews on Delta’s overall performance due to delays and operational inefficiencies, particularly at Boston Logan,...

In the season six premiere of the Airways Podcast, we explore major seating changes across multiple airlines: 1. Southwest Airlines' revolution: * Shift to assigned seating * Impact on the airline’s iconic boarding position model * Introduction of extra legroom seating (approximately 36% of seats) 2. IndiGo's new offering: * Launch of "stretch seats" for enhanced passenger comfort 3. Spirit Airlin...

In this season finale, we dive into the latest developments in the aviation industry: 1. EU Approves ITA-Lufthansa Tie-Up: The European Union has approved Lufthansa's takeover of ITA Airways, marking a significant step in consolidating the European aviation market. 2. Boeing Acquires Spirit AeroSystems: Boeing announced its acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems, a strategic move to bolster its supply...

In this episode, the Airways Podcast crew discusses the state of the U.S. airline industry in the first quarter of 2024, which saw mixed financial results for major and regional airlines. While some carriers managed to eke out small operating profits, others suffered significant losses, reflecting the aviation industry's ongoing production challenges and uneven recovery among major operators. Host...

Since Generative AI hit the mainstream in early 2023, the airline industry has been researching how to implement the tool into their business models. In fact, according to a recent study , at the end of 2023, nearly 100% of airlines were creating programs to implement generative AI into their operations. Thor Olof Philogène knows this well. As CEO and co-founder of leading insights platform Stravi...

In this episode, the Airways Podcast crew returns with full force after tamdem travels to Asia and South America to discuss their trips, followed by Korean Air and Japan Airlines’ aircraft orders, the management shake up at Boeing and United Airlines’ FAA audit. Hosted by: Helwing Villamizar, Rohan Anand, and Vinay Bhaskara Produced by: Helwing Villamizar Music: Fesliyan Studios Episode Links Kore...

In episode seven, season five of The Airways Podcast, join host Vinay Bhaskara and special guest, Indian aviation expert and former President of the Bangalore Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Devesh R. Agarwal, as they delve deep into India Aviation. India's aviation industry is experiencing significant growth. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the country will become the wo...

In episode six, season five of The Airways Podcast, join the crew and special guest, aviation analyst and author Jay Shabat, as they delve deep into the art of analyzing the commercial airline industry. They discuss how external factors impact commercial aviation, the relationship between airlines and local economies, the challenges in building new airports, Delta Air Lines’ fleet strategy, and ev...

In the latest episode of The Airways Podcast, join the crew and special guest Jens Kuhlen, President for North America at Gategroup, as they delve deep into the intricacies of the airline catering industry. Gategroup’s subsidiary, Gate Gourmet (Switzerland, 1992), began as a catering service for Swissair. Over the years, it has grown into a global company with the most comprehensive catering netwo...

The fourth quarter and full year 2023 financial reports from major US airlines provide the crew valuable insights into their performance and the overall state of the aviation industry. American Airlines' Haneda Airport tentative approval and GOL's Chapter 11 Filing are also part of the mix in episode five of the fifth season of the Airways Podcast. The crew also discusses Delta Air Lines and Aerom...

In this episode of the Airways Podcast, the crew delves into the topic of the JetBlue-Spirit merger block and its implications for both airlines. They discuss the potential outcome of the legal battle and how it could shape the future of both carriers. Additionally, they explore the broader implications for the competitive landscape of the U.S. airline industry as a whole. The Legal Battle and Reg...

In this episode, hosts Helwing, Rohan, and Vinay are back to discuss what has been an unnerving start of the year for commercial aviation. Japan Airlines A350-900 Crash at Tokyo Haneda Airport On January 2, 2024, a runway collision occurred at Tokyo Haneda Airport between Japan Airlines Flight 516, an Airbus A350-900, and a De Havilland Canada Dash 8 operated by the Japanese Coast Guard. Flight 51...

The Season 5 premiere of The Airways Podcast features an informative conversation between Airways ’ Chris Smith and Olov Lindström, the Norse Atlantic Airways (N0) Fleet Chief Pilot and the first person to captain a Boeing 787 to Antarctica. During the episode, Capt. Lindström takes us on a deep dive into the special preparations necessary to make the flight to Antarctica as safe as possible. On N...

In this last episode of season 4 of the Airways Podcast, hosts Helwing, Rohan, and Vinay discuss their bold and not-so-bold predictions for what’s to come in 2024 for our beloved commercial aviation industry. We also want to thank all our listeners for their support and the time they've spent listening to our podcast in 2023. Your feedback and engagement have been invaluable to us, and we can’t wa...