Airline Weekly Lounge

Airlines globally will need more than 41,000 aircraft over the next 20 years, according to Boeing's latest outlook. Edward Russell sat down with Boeing's Vice President of Commercial Marketing Darren Hulst at the Farnborough Air Show to discuss the outlook. Also, what is Boeing's response in the so-called middle-of-the-market that Airbus has run away with with its A321neo?Get more essential airline news at Airline Weekly.

What's travel like in the U.S. now? Busy and, in some cases, like a T.J. Maxx, The Wall Street Journal's new travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson told Edward Russell of her 11 flight, six airline "stress test" of the system over the July Fourth holiday weekend. We also chat with her about her role and her view on covering airlines and the travel industry.

Scandinavian airline SAS is in bankruptcy after years of struggles. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss how the carrier could still struggle to extract needed savings, particularly from aircraft lessors. And, will Star Alliance’s new partnership with German rail operator Deutsche Bahn really reduce carbon emissions?More coverage of SAS's woes: SAS Joins List of Airline Failures and Bankruptcies Since Pandemic’s Start SAS Airlines’ Bankruptcy Follows Months of a Showdown Over Aircraft Leases Scandinavia’s SAS Files for Bankruptcy Protection in the U.S.

For those who hoped we'd have a resolution to the Spirit Airlines merger saga this week, no dice. The carrier delayed, again, a key shareholder vote on whether to merge with Frontier Airlines. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss the latest turns, and why JetBlue Airways is so keen to acquire Spirit. Also, the outlook for July Fourth holiday weekend travel in the U.S.

Are profits on approach for airlines in 2023? Edward "Ned" Russell and Jay Shabat discuss IATA's updated outlook, and Director General Willie Walsh's comments at the annual general meeting in Doha. Also, SkyWest Airlines has a novel approach to expanding the pool of pilots.

Why is Wizz Air CEO Joszef Varadi "happy" to compete with Ryanair and why does he think it's the legacy carriers that should be scared? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan, in his last appearance on the 'Lounge, discuss this and why Varadi is excited about the carrier's expansion in the Middle East. Then, the pair turn their attention on sustainable aviation fuel and what exactly "green hydrogen" may be and why the JetBlue-Spirit-Frontier saga would be a good plot line on "Days of Our Lives."

Delta Air Lines now forecasts its summer revenues will outpace 2019, a significant milestone in the U.S. airline industry's recovery. But all is not golden as costs, particularly fuel, are rising as well. Edward “Ned” Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan then head to Europe, discussing SAS' threat of a potential bankruptcy restructuring and Pieter Elbers' exit from KLM.

Just how bullish is IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta on India's airline market? Very, very bullish. But Edward "Ned Russell" and Madhu Unnikrishnan note that others have predicted that India's aviation market is about to take off (Kingfisher? Jet Airways?). So what makes Dutta so confident? Listen to this week's episode to find out.

Abra, the new holding company planned by Colombia's Avianca and Brazil's Gol, would knit together South America in what Copa CEO called a spider web (although he said he's not too concerned about it). In this week's episode, Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan take a look at what the new transnational company could look like and why Copa is doing well. And then they blame Alanis Morrissete for ruining the word "ironic." 

Tempers are flaring as airlines, unions, and even Congress point fingers at who's to blame for the pilot shortage. Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss an innovative program at Southern Airways Express as well as why Mesa CEO Jonathan Ornstein may have a point about foreign pilots flying into the U.S. and the challenges to changing the 1,500-hour rule. Later, the pair look into the great summer ahead for the European Big Three and why Azul is having a banner year.