Airline Weekly Lounge
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?
Airshow Highs and Earnings Season Realities
In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss the highlights from last week's Farnborough International Airshow, reviewing the big deals and longer term impact of the event. In part two, the conversation turns to earnings season, with a Q2 round-up from the main U.S. carriers.
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00:00 Welcome and Agenda
01:21 Farnborough Show C
Why 2026 Is Aviation's Most Volatile Year Since COVID
The airline industry is navigating its most unpredictable period since the pandemic, with fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, premium travel demand, and aircraft shortages reshaping the competitive landscape. Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat break down the data behind the headlines, explaining why airlines remain profitable despite rising costs and unprecedented volatility.
They also explore the winners and losers across global aviation, from the Middle East's disrupted hub networks and Europe's consolidation wave to the changing competitive dynamics in the U.S. Plus, they preview what to watch as airlines report Q2 earnings and why premium cabins continue to...
How Many Planes Does the World Need?
Ahead of the Farnborough Airshow, for this special episode Gordon Smith and Meghna Maharishi are joined by Darren Hulst, Boeing's VP of Commercial Marketing. The conversation centers on the planemaker's latest Commercial Market Outlook, an annual report which asks how many aircraft the world will need in the decades to come.
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00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:45 Boeing Outlook Overview
01:33 Fuel Shock and Demand
04:28 How CMO Is Built
06:22 Big Headlines 44000 Jets
07:5
Can a "New Class of BNPL" Become a Strategic Loyalty Play?
ClarityPay recently partnered with JetBlue to introduce a new pay-later program that combines embedded financing, loyalty, and personalization to drive incremental revenue.
Learn more about ClarityPay here: claritypay.com/travel
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00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:28 What Airline Financing Means
00:55 Introducing Clarity Pay
01:45 Interview Begins Financing Shift
03:03 What Clarity Pay Does
04:12 Why BN
How Much is EasyJet Worth?
An approach from U.S. private equity firm Castlelake has reopened the question of what EasyJet is actually worth. Gordon and Jay run through the latest takeover chatter before setting the scene for Delta's Q2 earnings.
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00:00 Welcome and Agenda
00:41 Earnings Season Setup
01:26 Castlelake Bids for EasyJet
04:21 What a Takeover Means
05:52 EasyJet Value and Assets
08:31 EU Ow
Does SAS Really Need 40 A330neos?
Does SAS Really Need 40 A330neos?
In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss SAS Scandinavian Airlines' new widebody order and ask whether the carrier can justify that many additional planes.
In part two, the focus turns to Air New Zealand, where management has just published an updated turnaround plan.
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Is Las Vegas Out of Luck?
Las Vegas air traffic is down 6%. Gordon and Jay work through what's behind it, then turn to a U.S. market headed firmly the other way.
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01:55 Vegas Market Slump
03:55 Why Visitors Dropped
06:54 Premium Shift and Prices
11:00 Events and Seasonality
12:57 Gambling Competition Theory
16:00 Capacity Correction Debate
17:52 Airline Winners and Losers
19:32 Break and Listener Plug
20:22 San Diego Growth Story
22:09 Alaska vs Southwest Battle
23:14 Why San
What's the Most Profitable Airline in the World?
The latest Airline Weekly global earnings scoreboard is in and the airline on top may not be the one you'd expect. Jay joins Gordon and Meghna to sort the winners from the losers. Before that, we report back from the IATA AGM in Brazil, with the trends that mattered and essential insights from the conference floor. 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. 00:00 Welcome and agenda 00:35 First impressions in Rio 03:15 United CEO on engines 05:38 Canada market outlook 08:19 Finnair growth and hedging 10:02 JFK Terminal 1 revamp 13:10 Skift events announcement 14:35 IATA wrap and demand trends 16:45 Part two scoreboard kickoff 18:14 Top winners and Copa 21:07 More winners and US rank 25:57 Bottom losers and Frontier 31:07 Fuel market update 34:02 Final wrap and subscribe
The IATA AGM Debrief
Gordon joins Jay from Rio as the IATA AGM wraps. The two then turn to Brazil itself: one of the world's largest aviation markets, and one of its most consolidated — a combination that shapes everything from pricing to who gets to compete.
Presented by WEX.
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Inside the Minds of America's Airline CEOs
Gordon and Jay decode the most revealing CEO commentary from the Bernstein investor conference — what executives signaled about capacity, consolidation, and the months ahead. Then they look forward to the IATA AGM, one of the aviation industry's biggest gatherings, and what to watch for.
Presented by WEX.
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EasyJet's Tricky Quarter and Atlanta's Crown
A rough quarter for easyJet has the numbers telling a stark story. In part one, Gordon and Jay dig into a -27% operating margin and the missteps, market pressures, and industry dynamics behind it. In part two, they answer a deceptively simple question: why does Atlanta — not New York, London, or Dubai — top the global rankings for passenger traffic?
Presented by WEX.
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The Airline Europe Wrote Off — and Shouldn't Have
Gordon and Jay unpack how Iberia engineered one of the most dramatic financial turnarounds in modern airline history. Plus: Singapore Airlines posts a solid start to the year, but its Air India stake is shaping up to be a costly bet.
Presented by WEX
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The Profit Gap Splitting U.S. Airlines
Gordon sits down with Skift airlines reporter Meghna Maharishi to break down a revealing Q1 earnings season for U.S. carriers — separating the standouts from the strugglers. Plus: the latest merger chatter swirling around the industry, and could a major Boeing order follow President Trump's visit to China?
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Spirit Airlines: The Post-Mortem
Spirit Airlines is the first major U.S. carrier to go out of business in more than two decades. In this special edition, Gordon is joined by Jay and Meghna to unpack what went wrong — from blocked mergers to shifting consumer demand — and what Spirit's collapse means for the future of low-cost flying in America.
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What's Going Wrong at JetBlue?
Gordon and Jay open with JetBlue's latest quarterly results, unpacking what's behind the airline's struggles and what it might take to get back on course. Then they turn to Norwegian, where a strong set of numbers tells a very different story.
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01:24 JetBlue Earnings Snapshot
03:31 Why JetBlue Is Struggling
07:40 Fort Lauderd
Will Washington Save Spirit Airlines?
Could the U.S. Government shore up Spirit Airlines? Gordon and Jay break down the latest industry chatter about the troubled carrier's future, including fresh commentary from President Trump. Then they shift gears to unpack Alaska Air Group's newest earnings report and what it signals about the carrier's post-Hawaiian merger trajectory.
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Could United Really Merge with American Airlines?
Will two of America's biggest airlines become one? Gordon and Jay dig into whether a United-American mega-merger is actually on the table and ask what further consolidation would mean for the industry. Plus: Qantas cuts capacity and Korean Air's latest financials.
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00:32 United American Merger Rumor
01:59 Regulatory and Fuel Context
05:05 Duf
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.
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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.
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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
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.
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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
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.
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Jet Fuel Shock and Shutdown Security 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 TS...
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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New from Skift: Executive Conversations Shaping the Travel Industry
We’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 ep...
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 De...
Breaking: Allegiant/Sun Country Merger - What’s Really at Stake?
In 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.
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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.
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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.
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The Joanna Geraghty Interview
Recorded on-stage at our recent Skift Aviation Forum, Gordon is in conversation with JetBlue CEO, Joanna Geraghty. We hear why the deck is stacked against smaller carriers in the U.S., and why she thinks 2026 will be a better year for the New York-based airline.
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Is Breeze in a Squeeze?
As Breeze Airways enters its fifth year of flying, Gordon and Jay discuss the challenges and opportunities for the David Neeleman-backed U.S. carrier. In part two, our attention turns to 2026, with a round-up of key industry topics to watch.
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In Conversation with DFW Airport CEO, Chris McLaughlin
Gordon sits down with Chris McLaughlin, Chief Executive Officer of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, for a special episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge. In this wide-ranging conversation, the pair discusses everything from route development and new terminals to AI and operational resilience.
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America's Airport All-Stars
Gordon and Jay reveal the major U.S. airports that are due to grow at an impressive rate in the coming quarter. From Texas to Tennessee, we break down the numbers and examine the factors driving rapid growth.
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Inside Qantas' Project Sunrise
In part one, Gordon shares an insider perspective on a major new Skift feature examining the business case for Qantas' 'Project Sunrise' ultra long-haul flights. In part two, attention swings to European carriers as Jay rounds up the most profitable airlines for the all-important Q3 peak season.
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Airlines in 2026: Flying into Trouble?
In this special episode, we bring you the full recording from our recent LinkedIn Live webinar (Click This Link For Video Version).
Titled ‘Airlines in 2026: Flying into Trouble?’, Gordon is joined by Jay and Meghna to set the scene for the year ahead, with all of the challenges and opportunities that it may bring.
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Even Emirates Can't Rest on its Laurels
In part one, Gordon and Jay reflect on the latest financial insights from Emirates, and examine the challenges that could lie ahead for the Dubai-based giant. In part two, the conversation turns to a disappointing set of Q3 results from KLM.
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