The Next Trip - An Aviation and Travel Podcast
The Next Trip is a weekly, internationally acclaimed podcast with aviation insiders Doug and Drew, who together bring more than 40 years of industry experience as a professional pilot and a hub operations manager at a major airline. Join them, and their frequent guests, as they create a network for other AvGeeks and travel enthusiasts to obsess about all things aviation. Doug and Drew discuss today’s aviation news, share personal operational stories, regale listeners with trip reviews, and engage in friendly AvGeek banter. All thoughts and opinions are their own. Visit us at www.nexttripnetwork.com
Boarding Pass 343: The Best Time to Book a Flight
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Doug is in Palm Springs on a family road trip and Drew is entertaining family from California. They say all aviation regulations are written in blood. Are nautical regulations the same? We discuss:
All aviation and nautical regulations are written in bloodWhen is the best time to book airline tickets?Breeze Airways starts service to BWI, DAY, and TTN (Trenton NJ)Airbus leans toward launching the A220-500JetBlue is the biggest winner from Spirit’s demiseParker from SLC asks about pilot crew pairing and influencer pilotsJohn from JAX asks how airlines ma...Boarding Pass 342: Next Golden Age Planes
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Doug is back from his W routing, doing SFO-LHR-IAD-LHR-SFO, and met up with Doug in DC. Drew is celebrating his airport’s 85th anniversary. We discuss:
DCA’s 85th birthdayThe sun is rising on Qantas’ Project SunriseAirlines get a break on fuel pricesMore airlines adding CMB to the route mapUpdates on Boom Overture, Archer Midnight, Heart Aerospace ES30, and JetZero Z4What are squawk codes?Those pesky transit visasJoin the Network!Â
Links from this episode:
Heart Aerospace ES30 tester low speed taxi
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Boarding Pass 341: Now Flying... Riyadh Air
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Doug and Drew catch you up on our last two weeks. Drew’s been busy welcoming new employees and showing them around airport operations while Doug talks about his trips to Barcelona and Rome. Drew gets his mom into a travel nightmare, but quickly finds a backup plan, and Doug gets training on night vision goggles. We discuss:
IATA’s Director General, Willie Walsh, sounds the alarmRiyadh Air takes to the skyTravel InsuranceListener commentsJoin the Network!
Link from this episode:
Doug’s non-touristy fine dining Rome restau...
Boarding Pass 340: Eivind Roald, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways
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We’re honored to have Eivind Roald, CEO of Norse Atlantic Airways, on the show today. Eivind talks about how he came into aviation from IT, left, but then was drawn back in. He was a VP for SAS before his aviation journey brought him to Norse Atlantic. We discuss Norse’s history and challenges and Eivind shares his ideas for how Norse grows, going forward, as well as the possiblity of a merger or acquisition.Â
We finish with Eivind talking about his favorite destinations around the world and in Norway.Â
J...
Boarding Pass 339: 737-7 Nears Certification
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Doug is excited to get back to flying after weeks at home and Drew is dealing with record bird strikes at the airport. We discuss:
Drew’s travel planningPossible customs chaos 737-7 certification progressNorse Atlantic is for saleGeography lessonÂJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 338: Summer Travel Forecasts
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Drew is back from a quick trip to Albuquerque and Doug was busy managing his family’s travel. We discuss:
Summer travel forecast Air France and Airbus litigation Runway closure at a major NYC airport New TSA pilot program in Boston UPS 2976 updateListener feedbackJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 337: Engine Deep Dive
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Drew is studying for his first Airport Operations certification and Doug had his hands full managing a kids’ carnival. We’re joined by our buddy and engine geek, Greg, from Cincinnati. We discuss:
How a jet engine worksAllegiant and Sun Country mergeBoeing may be launching a 757 size plane this decadeLufthansa increases stake it ITA to 90%United Flight Attendants get a huge raiseAn overview of the CFM Leap and PW1000G enginesListener SurveyWant to reach out to Greg or follow him? Find him at @gwpet01 on Instagram.
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Boarding Pass 336: In Memoriam - Spirit Airlines
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Darth Vader invaded Drew’s ops center and Doug had an emergency air return between layovers in paradise. We discuss:
A major airline just announced it is cutting cabin serviceNTSB releases information on 2022 China Eastern crashA United plane clipped a truck… while landing Spirit’s Board pulls the plug What happens after an airline shuts downFlight path guidance Bonus positive story to end the weekJoin the Network!
Last chance to take our listener survey!
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Boarding Pass 335: The 737-7/10 Close to Certification
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Doug has an Air Force flight delay and Drew is escorting 737s around the airport and scaring birds away We discuss:
LAX Theme Building (the Spider) Return of the MD11?The 737-7 and 737-10 near certificationFuel prices, yes fuel prices, againScope clauses, what are they, and what are the aircraft restrictions?Spirit’s last days?Take our listener survey!
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Boarding Pass 334: Airfares Continue to Rise
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Aired on April 27, 2026
Drew is learning how to use a firearm at the airport and Doug just made his wine and cheese cruise in Amsterdam. We discuss:
The next big U.S. carrier reports 1st quarter resultsTrump opposed to some mergers, but not othersA European airline adds fees after tickets are soldAlaska says it is not increasing fares due to rising fuel costsListener feedbackLinks from this episode:
Take our listener survey!
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Boarding Pass 333: United and American?
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Doug is back from Frankfurt and Drew is playing airport cop catching speeders. We discuss:Â
No meowing on the frequency pleaseUnited Airlines moonshot merger dream with American AirlinesJetBlue reportedly looking to be acquiredAllegiant merger with Sun Country is approvedAirline cutbacks due to fuel pricesBusiest airports of 2025Contributor commentsJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 332: Jet Fuel Crisis
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Drew is back from Belgium and Holland with with a nonrev success story and Doug is recovering from his Japan vacation. we discuss:
Top 10 airlines and lounges for culinary options Energy crisis/Middle East updatesFirst U.S. airline reports 1st quarter resultsContributor commentsJoin the Network!
Links from this episode:
Keukenhof Gardens
Amsterdam Wine and Cheese Canal Cruise
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Boarding Pass 332: Jet Fuel Crisis
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Drew is back from Belgium and Holland with with a nonrev success story and Doug is recovering from his Japan vacation. we discuss:
Top 10 airlines and lounges for culinary options Energy crisis/Middle East updatesFirst U.S. airline reports 1st quarter resultsContributor commentsJoin the Network!
Links from this episode:
Keukenhof Gardens
Amsterdam Wine and Cheese Canal Cruise
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Boarding Pass 331: Air Canada Express 8646
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Doug is back from a family Spring break trip to Japan and Drew just got to fly a flight simulator for the first time in Denver. We discuss:
Artemis II has a successful, and awesome, launchOil prices and airfaresSayonara Air JapanKonnichiwa, or Namaste, to Willie Walsh at IndigoLGA runway incursion ARFF indexesNo more parallel landings at SFOJoin the Network!Â
Link from this episode:
AAAE Airport Management Jobs
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Boarding Pass 330: Listener Lounge
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This episode is dedicated to you, our listeners and contributors. Thanks for over 6 years of support, encouragement, and ideas!Â
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Boarding Pass 329: Air Taxis and Oil Prices
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Doug’s KC46 flight is canceled, and he reverts to the flight simulator, and Drew’s trip to Austin is canceled due to heavy loads, caused by South by Southwest, and a DC ATC center shutdown. We discuss:
FAA fast-tracks air taxi testingSouthwest leaves two major airports Coming flight cuts at Chicago O’Hare this summerAtlas expands its fleet with a surprise order Flight cancellations and increasing airfares Crew bunks on long-haul flightsJoin the network!Â
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Boarding Pass 328: The Concorde Room
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Drew is back from Germany and London while Doug is in London and fighting to stay awake. Special guest, Hunter, the Professor of Points writing for the Points Analyst and Travel Nerd Co blog, joined Drew on the trip and joins us on the episode. We discuss.Â
British Airways first class trip reviewIndigo CEO resignsBoeing has wiring issues on the 737 MaxFuel prices start affecting airfares Hunter shares what his favorite 3 travel credit cards are Listener commentsLinks from this episode:
Hunter’s British Airways A380 First Class review
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Boarding Pass 327: Aviation Chaos in the Middle East
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Doug is back from a domestic grind to Denver, Kona, and Chicago and Drew is back from a conference in Pennsylvania followed by a quick trip to Germany. We discuss:
Military action in IranUnited wants you to wear headphonesAmerican launching A321XLR over the AtlanticAirlines hit with pain at the pump with high fuel priesCrewmember sick calls at outstationsContributor commentsJoin the Network!
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Boarding Pass 326: ROTOR Act Fails
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Doug is back from London and Drew gets to sit in the tower for a snow event.
The ROTOR Act fails in CongressViolence in Mexico leads to flight chaos Trouble for Air New Zealand Update on Spirit’s bankruptcy Listener feedbackÂJoin the Network!
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Boarding Pass 325: Las Vegas Slump?
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Doug is back from his new “usual”, Brisbane, Australia, and Drew discusses an ATC flow program as they transition from paper to electronic flight progress strips.Â
Paper to Electronic ATC flight progress stripsNew routes for FebruaryLufthansa Allegris business class seats Will Airbus launch the A350-2000?Canadians avoiding travel to the USLas Vegas Slump?ÂJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 324: El Paso Airspace Closure and E-tickets
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Drew is happy to finally be above freezing in DC and discusses runway closures and Doug is playing nonrev travel agent for family, We discuss:
Ski jumping (and other extreme sports) versus the Wright Brothers first flightDrones, lasers, airspace closures and confusion in El PasoSouthwest’s shaky assigned seat rollout Employee unease over American’s current leadershipJetBlue and United further expand partnership History of e-TicketsListener feedbackJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 323: Super Bowl LX Flights
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Doug was able to rendezvous with his parents in Brisbane and Drew managed through multiple irregular operations at work. We discuss:
Follow ups on grounding Canadian aircraft and DCA helicopter routesAirbus is close to launching the A220-500BWI expands with 142,000 sq ft of new spaceDEN airport sees record trafficBay Area airports bracing for Superbowl trafficRunway conditions from an airport and pilot perspective Delta, American, and United accomplishments over 100 yearsLinks from this episode:
Denver Stapleton Tower Tour
FAA Field Condition Chart
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...Boarding Pass 322: Remembering PSA 5342 and PAT 25
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Drew survives Winter Storm Fern, and the longest shift of his career, and Doug flew one of the last flights out of EWR before Fern shut down operations. We discuss:
Travel checklistsAmerican, Southwest, Boeing, and GE 2025 financial resultsDelta orders more Airbus widebodiesPresident Trump threatens to ground Canadian aircraftNTSB preliminary report on January 29 midair collisionRunway condition reportingListener Gordon question - is the 777 a dinosaur?Links from this episode:
NTSB Midair Collision Preliminary Report
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Boarding Pass 321: Winter Storm Fern
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Drew is taping from the airport in DC, where he is bracing for snow storm Fern, and Doug is in Newark preparing to fly out during the storm. We discuss:
The first 2 of the U.S. “Big 3” reported their 2025 results and projected 2026WestJet does a 180One of Drew’s predictions is already correctGLP-1 drugs and an impact on aviationWSJ 2025 Airline Rankings Airport architecture Listener feedbackÂJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 320: Delta Back to Boeing
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Drew flew to SFO for happy hour and Doug did AF mission planning which didn’t go as planned. We discuss:
Iran AirspaceOur 2026 predictionsAircraft emergency FAA tower alertsDelta finally orders the 787Allegiant merges with Sun Country Africa’s biggest airport begins constructionListener comments2026 Next Trip Predictions
Doug:
Geopolitical issues/airspace closures become the normBig E2 orders. (Maybe United)Alliance changes (does EK finally join)Airbus hints at a new plane ahead of BoeingÂDrew
 More 787-10s. American and United increase orders Indigo recovers from cre...Boarding Pass 319: Superpower
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Doug is back from another transpacific flight to Taipei and Drew conducted airport movement area training for firefighters. This will will be the first episode we’ve taped in 2026 and we’re officially on a (takeoff) roll! We discuss:
How good were our 2025 predictions?Military action in Venezuela disrupts Caribbean flightsAvelo reduces flying and staffAlaska orders over 100 aircraft and gets its first widebodyA Boom Overture updateListener commentsÂJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 318: A Fresh Start
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Doug and Drew look back at our travel for 2025 with friend of the show and world traveler, Ian. We discuss:
Global roundup for 2025 (most delayed airlines and busiest routes)Jetway jesusGate allocationListener feedback 2026 look-aheadÂJoin the Network!
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Extra Section 5: Oscar Munoz
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Aired on December 29, 2025
Doug and Drew are taking a week off. Enjoy this class episode from August 15, 2023 with Oscar Munoz of United Airlines.Â
Doug and Drew interview Oscar Munoz, recent CEO and Chairman of United Airlines. Oscar talks about how he turned around a major US airline and put it on a path to success. We talk about his new book “Turnaround Time” which chronicles his life and career and fulfilling his American dream. Oscar discusses with us:
How he put safety and people first as he turned Unite...Boarding Pass 317: Spirit's Holiday Lifeline and other Christmas Gifts
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Doug is back from Auckland and Denver and Drew is managing the busy pre-Christmas rush. We discuss:
Christmas passenger trafficUS government admits fault in January midair collision near DCSpirit Airlines gets a lifelineBarry Biffle is out as CEO of FrontierAn update on the 737-7 and 737-10US Customs Preclearance in foreign countriesListener commentsJoin the Network!
Links from this episode:
Doug’s Auckland Steak Restaurant recommendation:
Boarding Pass 316: Boeing Goes In-House
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Doug trains new pilots on touch and go landings in the KC46 and Drew is preparing for a Winter Ops event. We discuss:
More Airline Lounges for the new golden age of travelIndia’s Indigo airlines struggles under new pilot rest rulesFAA administrator’s conflict of interestBoeing buys back Spirit AeroSystemsCalifornia’s 79th Air Refueling Squadron Listener commentsJoin The Network!
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Boarding Pass 315: Record Breaking Travel... Again
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Drew is back from 3 days in Dublin and Doug is back from Osaka. Drew just had his first airport winter ops event. We discuss:
Our travelsEarly season snowThanksgiving travel numbers and 2026 travel trendsUnexpected growth at a major airportImpact of the government shutdown comes into focusThe FAA is investigating airlines after the shutdownListener feedbackÂJoin The Network!
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Boarding Pass 314: The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You
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Doug is celebrating Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago and Drew managed to escape from work in time for Thanksgiving dinner in Richmond. How does Doug plan on getting home on the busiest travel day and how does Drew plan to get to Ireland for Christmas Markets?. We discuss:
Airbus A320 ELAC emergency software updateNew Pacific Airlines shuts downThe Boeing 767 lives on with new orders for the KC46 Airline holiday menusDOT’s new Golden Age of TravelJoin the Network!
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Boarding Pass 313: Dubai Airshow
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Doug tapes during another trip to Taipei and Drew finishes his airport scavenger hunt. We discuss:
Orders pour in from DubaiAirbus teases a new modelAn Alaska pilot is sentenced from his 2023 fire handle incidentUpdate on UPS 2976Aircraft lightsListener feedbackJoin the network!
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Boarding Pass 312: Aviation Recovers
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Doug is back from London and Drew lost a fight with a windsock. We discuss our weeks in flight and airport ops as well as the latest aviation news:
Aurora Borealis wows pilots and passengers Government shutdown ends and aviation recovers2 airlines serving the UK, Eastern Airways and Blue Islands, shut downFAA extends MD11 grounding to its predecessor, the DC10Windsocks - what are they and what do they doNear miss at LAXListener commentsJoin The Network!
Links on this episode:
FAA National Airspace System Status
Boarding Pass 311: UPS 2976
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Doug is back from Taipei and Drew has a busy week at airport ops. We discuss:
More nonrev adventures Thanksgiving travel numbers and a way too early weather forecast More government shutdown issues impacting aviationSecurity scare in DCUPS Flight 2976Engine failuresLinks from this episode:
Doug’s Taipei whisky tasting place: Style Liquor and WhiskyFAA MD11 Emergency Airworthiness DirectiveJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 310: Hawaiian (Airlines) Sunset
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Doug is back from a whirlwind nonrev trip to Germany with his dad. We remember the history of Hawaiian Airlines as its airline code and operating certificate are laid to rest. We discuss:
Doug and Dale’s amazing, and fast, nonrev adventureGood bye Hawaiian AirlinesCreeping 777-9 certification delaysATC controllers not getting paid as shutdown drags on The COMAC 919 gains traction in AsiaListener commentsJoin The Network!
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Boarding Pass 309: Weather Balloons
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Drew is back from a weekend in Quebec City and Doug is preparing for a nonrev adventure with his dad. We discuss:
Birds on approach pathTravelers Aid people are interesting Engine shortagesEK9788 - ACT Airlines 747-400BCF crash in Hong KongAmerican Airlines 3rd quarter numbersUnited flight 1093 severely damaged at 36,000ftWhat are weather balloons? Listener feedbackJoin The Network!
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Boarding Pass 308: PanAm
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Doug is back from his narrow body style trip to NYC and Hawaii, via Denver, and Drew is loving runway inspections between flights (literally) and helping lost pigeons in the terminal. We discuss:
A Pan Am rebirth?Boeing delivery newsAnother U.S. airline posts great Q3 numbersLots of great contributor feedbackÂJoin The Network!
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Boarding Pass 307: FAA Staffing and Aircraft Maintenance Checks
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Doug and Drew are back from trips over the Pacific to Taipei and Honolulu. Our buddy Patrick returns to the show to talk about dragging aircraft around the airport and Drew around Oahu on a packed 2-day trip. We discuss:
Getting to Taiwan around a typhoonNonreving to Hawaii and backQuestions on moving aircraftThe government shutdown starts affecting ATCUnited announces 6 new routes for summer 2026Delta 3rd Quarter resultsAirplane maintenance checksTwo perfect days on OahuJoin the Network!Â
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Boarding Pass 306: Boeing's New Design
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Drew has to check the runway after a bird strike report and Doug is getting ready to go back to Taipei. We discuss:
Passengers grabbing bags in emergenciesNo more PLAYtime Lufthansa Group announces long-haul fleet plansAmsterdam backtracks on fee hikesBig, BIG news from BoeingRunway lightsJoin The Network!
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