Airline Weekly Lounge

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 if Spirit Merger Blocked Azul Escapes Potential Bankruptcy With Aircraft Lessor Agreements

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.Reading List Airlines Adapt Amid Russia's Ukraine War AirAsia Looks to China to Drive Budget Airline’s Recovery

Singapore Airlines and Copa Airlines were two champions of the December quarter with standout financial results. What set them apart from the pack? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss on the Airline Weekly Lounge.Reading ListSingapore Airlines Looks Beyond Strong Profits to Big Things From Air India DealCopa’s Stars Aligned in Fourth Quarter

Spirit Airlines lags other U.S. airlines in financial performance. In fact, it lost money last year while most of its peers produced profits. Can it fix its cost problems and restore order? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss on the latest Airline Weekly Lounge. Plus, is Azul in trouble?Reading List Spirit Airlines Struggles to Control Costs as It Awaits Fate of JetBlue Merger Brazil’s Azul Eyes Potential Restructuring Chile’s JetSmart Enters Fray as Potential Spoiler to Viva Air-Avianca Merger

A goodbye to the Boeing 747, the Queen of the Skies. The planemaker delivered the last off the line of the iconic jumbo jet to Atlas Air on Tuesday.Reading List Skyfaring: A Journey with a Pilot by Mark Vanhoenacker Atlas Air celebrates the final 747 delivery with a tribute to the Queen (Flightradar24)

It's a busy earnings week with American, Southwest, Alaska, and JetBlue all reporting. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat preview what they're listening for ahead of the airline calls on Thursday, January 26. Plus, EasyJet's strong December quarter revenues suggest their network shift to southern Europe is working.Reading List American Airlines Sees First Full Year of Profitability Since 2019 Southwest Airlines Vows to Return to Recovery Plan by March After Meltdown Alaska Airlines’ Exposure to Tech Sector Hits Carrier’s Bottom Line JetBlue Boasts 50 Percent Jump in TrueBlue Loyalty Enrollment in 2022 EasyJet Financials Lifted by High Demand and Ancillary Revenues

Was that a hint of an Irish accent when United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby took down the U.S. industry for being unprepared for the post-Covid operating reality? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the U.S-China air service recovery is in the hands of government officials.Reading List United CEO Says U.S. Airline Industry Unprepared for Post-Pandemic Realities by Edward Russell Geopolitics Get in Way of Resuming U.S.-China Flights as Demand Surges by Edward Russell

Welcome to fourth quarter airline earnings season. Oil prices have come down from the peak of the year but labor costs are climbing as the system of pulleys and levers that determine the industry's costs continue to fluctuate. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what they're looking at as airlines report. Plus, the ongoing evolution in air service to small cities across the U.S.Read this week’s issue of Airline Weekly: https://airlineweekly.com/issues/Read the latest aviation headlines at AW Daily: https://airlineweekly.com/aw-daily/

Southwest Airlines faced a holiday debacle with over 15,000 flight cancellations, impacting its fourth-quarter results. Despite the setback, the airline is expected to recover. Eurocontrol data shows a European country leading in air traffic recovery. The podcast discusses Southwest's IT challenges, financial impacts, Eurocontrol's air traffic report for Europe, and the slow recovery of tourism in Germany versus the growth in Greece's aviation industry.

It's been quite the year in aviation. From Covid variants to staffing shortages and flight disruptions, and industry dealmaking, 2022 took us for some interesting turns — but then what year does not? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what they'll be following in the New Year. Enjoy the last Airline Weekly Lounge episode of 2022.Read daily coverage of the airline industry at https://airlineweekly.com/aw-daily/Subscribe to Airline Weekly at https://airlineweekly.com/subscribe/