Ned Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan make the water jump across the Atlantic this week, where Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and Ryanair reported results. Optimism abounds for 2022, and competition is heating up, with Ryanair playing offense and Lufthansa defense. And in South America, Azul has its eyes on a big prize: Latam Airlines Group.

Skift Airline Weekly Lounge

European Competition Heats Up

Earnings season continues, with JetBlue, Hawaiian, and Spirit rounding out the U.S. carriers. Once again, all eyes are on the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year. Ned Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan chew over why JetBlue has reason for hope. Meanwhile, the best thing that anyone can say about Boeing is that its loss narrowed, and the Airline Weekly team looks at what's going on with the airframer. Finally, Avianca had its day in court.

JetBlue‘s Hopes, Boeing‘s Struggles

Ned and Madhu digest United's third-quarter earnings in this latest episode of the Lounge and observe that airline CEO predictions about the recovery run the gamut from United CEO Scott Kirby's extreme bullishiness to the more cautious optimism expressed by Southwest CEO Gary Kelly and Avianca CEO Adrian Neuhauser. And will Norse Atlantic make a go of low-cost longhaul? Find out in this week's show.

The Recovery Will Start When?

This week in the Lounge, Madhu and Ned breakdown Delta's third-quarter earnings, and take bets on whether premium leisure is the travel trend of the future that CEO Ed Bastian thinks it is. Also, Southwest burns out and United wants its Pratt & Whitney-powered 777s back for what could be a blockbuster Summer 2022 across the North Atlantic.

Delta‘s Premium Leisure Bet

Airline Weekly's' Edward "Ned" Russell heard a variety of forecasts for when business travel will return at the IATA Annual General Meeting this week in Boston. He and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss whether Emirates President Tim Clark is right that business travel will return next year or Avianca CEO Adrian Neuhauser is correct to be more pessimistic in predicting half of all business travel is gone forever. Later, the Airline Weekly team discusses sustainability and how IATA plans to reach its ambitious climate goals.

It‘s Anyone‘s Guess When Business Travel Returns

Airline Weekly's Edward Russell reports back on the annual Regional Airline Association Leaders Conference, where executives said their long-standing labor issues expanded during the crisis. Also, Madhu and Ned discuss Qatar Airways' results, and the American Airlines and Southwest Airlines pilot union objections to vaccine mandates.

The Pandemic Exacerbated Labor Issues at U.S. Regionals

This week's episode of the 'Lounge comes to you live from the TWA Hotel at New York Kennedy during the Skift Global Forum 2021. The Airline Weekly team discusses why Air France-KLM Group CEO Ben Smith was "pleasantly shocked," incoming Southwest CEO Robert Jordan's concerns about hiring, and what the Justice Department hopes to accomplish with its suit agains

Live From the Skift Global Forum

This week the Airline Weekly team chews over why Australia's competition regulator denied Qantas and Japan Airlines a joint venture. Will Fly Play buck the odds and make low-cost longhaul work? And, with gratuitous references to unicorns, Sasquatches, white whales, and other mythical animals, Ned and Madhu discuss Boeing's $9 trillion aerospace outlook. 

Boeing‘s Forecast Shows Why This Crisis Is Unlike Others

Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about why Philippines Airlines Chapter 11 surprised no one. The two also discuss Porter's restart flights, and Ryanair's latest fight with Boeing.

Philippine Airlines‘ Bankruptcy Was a Long Time Coming

The editors of Skift Airline Weekly discuss the most interesting developments within the commercial airline industry. In keeping with Skift Airline Weekly’s style, conversation generally centers on one question: How do you make money in this industry? 

hubhopper

Skift Airline Weekly Lounge

hubhopper