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Rating
4from
This podcast has
448 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
SkiftExplicit
No
Date created
2015/08/10
Latest episode
2026/10/01
Average duration
36 min.
Release period
7 days
Description
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?
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Check latest episodes from Airline Weekly Lounge podcast
Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster on Fuel, AI, and ATC Meltdowns
2026/10/01
Gordon Smith sits down with Virgin Atlantic CEO Corneel Koster on the sidelines of Skift Global Forum in New York. They discuss how fuel costs are weighing on the airline and why premium demand keeps holding up, before turning to recent air traffic control meltdowns that have disrupted transatlantic operations.
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Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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0:00 Introduction1:00 Becoming CEO of Virgin Atlantic3:00 The Iran War and a Challenging First Year4:00 Fuel Costs Have Doubled5:30 Transatlantic Demand and Cargo Revenue7:00 The Premium Cabin Bet9:00 Keeping Premium Feeling Special10:00 The Delta Relationship12:00 AI at Virgin Atlantic14:00 ATC Failures and Infrastructure16:00 Vision for Virgin Atlantic
What American, Southwest and United Told Investors
2026/09/24
Gordon is joined by Jay and Meghna to unpack the recent Morgan Stanley Laguna conference, where executives from American, Southwest and United set out where they think the market is heading.
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Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the airline and travel industries.
00:00 Welcome and Setup
00:45 Laguna Conference Themes
03:46 Demand Strong Costs Rising
08:12 Premium Push and Lounges
15:23 Airline Strategies Compared
18:25 Wrap Part One and Break
20:53 Part Two Fuel Update
22:58 Capacity Cuts Ahead
24:48 Merger Rumors Return
30:55 Regulators and Rail Parallels
36:09 Final Thanks and Subscribe
Airlines Post Record Revenues But Costs Catch Up
2026/09/17
Gordon and Jay open with why record revenues still aren't covering a sharp rise in costs, then turn to what JetBlue's latest outlook tells the rest of the industry.
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Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the airline and travel industries.
00:00 Welcome and Agenda
00:50 Why Costs Matter Now
02:37 Six Inflation Buckets
03:01 Fuel and Labor Pressures
05:00 Aircraft and Maintenance Crunch
06:22 Airport Infrastructure Inflation
08:47 Premium Service Costs
09:49 Borrowing Costs Rising
11:32 How Airlines Fight Inflation
14:19 Capacity Cuts and Pricing Power
18:15 Demand and Supply Behind Fare Hikes
21:01 OEMs and Next Aircraft Programs
22:23 Forum Plug and News Notes
23:32 Back From Break Global Forum
26:36 JetBlue Investor Update Numbers
31:14 Fort Lauderdale Strategy Post Spirit
34:34 Losses Bankruptcy Talk and Options
36:11 Merger Prospects United Southwest American
38:19 JetBlue Right of Reply Context
40:34 Wrap Up and Subscribe
The Air Canada Anko Inherits Monica Joan
2026/09/10
In part one, Gordon and Jay weigh the opportunities in front of Air Canada against the challenges that come with them. In part two, the conversation turns to China, and why the country's Big Three carriers had such a rough second quarter.
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Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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00:00 Welcome and agenda
01:38 Air Canada turnaround history
04:27 New CEO and headwinds
08:32 Competitive landscape and Aeroplan
14:25 Sixth freedom strategy explained
16:42 New aircraft and route growth
21:49 Forum plug and break
23:03 China big three losses
24:20 Why fares can’t rise
27:04 Fleet politics and economy
28:48 International bright spots
34:25 Wrap up and next week
Why US Airlines Are Betting Big on Europe in 2027
2026/09/03
In part one, Jay and Meghna discuss the latest transatlantic expansion announcements from United and American Airlines and what they reveal about how US carriers are rethinking their European strategies. In part two, the conversation turns to the A321XLR, the narrow body aircraft making these new routes possible, and whether its heavy reliance on premium demand is a strength or a risk.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
Connect with Airline Weekly
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X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/
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Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the airline and travel industries.
00:00 Welcome and agenda
02:05 United Europe expansion
04:52 American routes and Philly hub
09:37 Why transatlantic is shifting
11:19 Partners and new entrants
15:29 Delta moves and break
16:39 A321XLR overview
17:58 Who ordered the XLR
19:57 Delta skips the XLR
25:35 Economics and range limits
30:36 Wrap up and subscribe
Qatar Airways: Skift Global Forum Preview
2026/08/27
In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss some of the biggest talking points at Qatar Airways, as the airline's CEO, Hamad Ali Al-Khater, prepares to join the Skift Global Forum in New York next month. In part two, the conversation focuses on impressive Q2 profitability at Kuwait's Jazeera Airways.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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 SGF Preview
01:06 Qatar CEO Transition
02:55 Qatar Financial Snapshot
05:34 Gulf Conflict Impacts
08:25 Sponsorships and Fleet Orders
12:47 Cabin Innovation and QSuite
15:37 Premium Economy Question
16:47 Skift Global Forum Details
18:14 Middle East Pivot
18:42 Jazeera Airways Surprise Profits
21:01 Why Jazeera Is Winning
25:07 Resilience and Kuwait Airways
30:08 Airline Weekly Return
31:06 Wrap Up and Subscribe
Skift Global Forum 2026: Aviation Preview
2026/08/20
In this week's show, Gordon and Jay discuss two industry giants that are due to speak at the Skift Global Forum 2026 in New York between September 22-24. The conversation kicks off with Air Canada before turning to Virgin Atlantic. For the latest agenda and to book your ticket, visit live.skift.com
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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 Forum Preview
00:52 Skift Global Forum Lineup
02:25 Air Canada Earnings Snapshot
04:44 Aeroplan Stake Sale
12:16 Questions for Mark Galardo
17:38 Break and Return
18:33 Virgin Atlantic New CEO
24:38 Virgin Profitability Challenges
31:07 Routes and Leisure Focus
36:57 Events and Closing Notes
Turkish Airlines' Turbulent Quarter
2026/08/13
In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss a mixed set of Q2 results for Turkish Airlines. In part two, the conversation turns to Allegiant Air, with the U.S. carrier now taking Sun Country under its wing.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
Connect with Airline Weekly
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/
X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/
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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
00:54 Turkish earnings overview
02:47 Why margins fell
05:16 Middle East disruptions
07:12 Gulf competition returns
08:56 Cargo boosts revenue
11:18 Q3 outlook and seasonality
12:46 Air Europa stake update
16:23 Wrap Turkish and break
17:17 Allegiant merger context
18:10 Best US margins
19:41 Product and distribution shifts
22:01 Demand and Florida focus
24:12 Fuel flexibility model
25:21 Pilot retention challenge
26:52 Forum announcements and close
28:31 Final subscribe reminders
Swiss Shines But Lufthansa Lags
2026/08/06
Swiss out-earned the entire Lufthansa Group network division it belongs to last quarter, while the core Lufthansa brand slid back into an operating loss. Gordon and Jay work through how a fuel bill undid a solid demand quarter, and why Swiss keeps outperforming its much larger sibling.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
Connect with Airline Weekly
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/
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WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the airline and travel industries.
00:00 Welcome and Setup
01:05 Q2 Headline Numbers
02:45 The 60 40 Airline
06:38 Ritter on Strikes and Costs
10:12 Turnaround Strategy Levers
15:22 Fleet Retirements and TAP Angle
18:44 Part Two Break
19:08 Group Airlines and TAP Debate
23:06 Austrian Brussels Eurowings Check
25:25 airBaltic Stake Watch
26:42 Europe Big Three Scorecard
29:30 Gulf Hub Traffic Shifts
31:30 Events and Closing Thanks
Airshow Highs and Earnings Season Realities
2026/07/30
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.
Connect with Airline Weekly
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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.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
00:00 Welcome and Agenda
01:21 Farnborough Show Context
04:34 Biggest Orders and Lessors
07:45 Airline Deals Roundup
12:33 What Success Looks Like
14:38 Next Gen Aircraft Talk
18:16 Emirates and Airbus Plans
21:58 United A321XLR Cabin Tour
24:05 Q2 Earnings Pivot
24:42 US Margins Ranking
29:14 Industry Pricing Power
32:03 American Airlines Deep Dive
41:00 Wrap Up and Sign Off
Why 2026 Is Aviation's Most Volatile Year Since COVID
2026/07/23
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 drive the industry's strongest financial results.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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 to Skift Playbooks
02:35 Why Oil Sets the Tone
06:28 Airline Profits in Context
10:39 Gulf Disruption and Recovery
12:00 Demand Trends and Rerouting
17:03 Premium Boom Everywhere
19:31 Supply Crunch and Delays
25:37 Unit Costs Beyond Fuel
26:57 Skift Aviation Forum Plug
30:00 Back to Europe Volatility
30:57 Europe Consolidation Outlook
31:36 TAP Sale and EasyJet Bids
33:43 Why IAG Outperforms
34:09 Tourism Boom and Loyalty
37:27 US Market After Spirit
40:29 Premium Gap Delta vs Spirit
44:07 US Consolidation and American Chase
48:05 Q2 Earnings Season Themes
53:04 Global Airlines Scoreboard
57:22 Wrap Up and Subscribe
How Many Planes Does the World Need?
2026/07/18
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.
Connect with Airline Weekly
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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 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
07:55 Where Growth Comes From
10:29 Neutral Forecast and Investment
12:40 Break and Return
13:24 Premium Cabin Boom
17:59 ULCCs After Spirit
20:23 Farnborough Airshow Preview
21:30 Supply Chain Complexity
23:58 Where to Read CMO
24:22 Wrap Up and Subscribe
Can a "New Class of BNPL" Become a Strategic Loyalty Play?
2026/07/16
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
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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 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 BNPL Must Evolve
05:27 BNPL Meets Co-Brand Cards
06:33 Data Trust and White Label
07:49 Personalized Underwriting Example
09:16 JetBlue Partnership and Loyalty
11:42 Measuring Success Metrics
13:10 Future of Brand Control
14:21 Advice for Travel Brands
16:01 Where to Learn More
16:39 Subscribe and Closing
How Much is EasyJet Worth?
2026/07/09
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.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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
00:41 Earnings Season Setup
01:26 Castlelake Bids for EasyJet
04:21 What a Takeover Means
05:52 EasyJet Value and Assets
08:31 EU Ownership Rules
09:44 Who Could Be Next
10:46 Wizz Air and Finnair
19:37 More Targets Aegean to Condor
28:42 Jet2 and Package Holidays
32:33 Break and Listener Notes
33:08 Delta Q2 Preview
33:50 Industry Trends Demand Costs
39:21 Delta Margin and Fuel Outlook
41:20 Wrap Up and Next Dates
Does SAS Really Need 40 A330neos?
2026/07/02
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.
Follow the Hosts:
Gordon Smith – LinkedIn
Jay Shabat – LinkedIn
Meghna Maharishi - LinkedIn
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 World Cup Banter
01:48 SAS Order Breakdown
03:52 AF KLM Vision for SAS
05:07 Copenhagen Hub Consolidation
08:16 Network Growth and Fleet Mix
14:09 Why Copenhagen Wins
17:22 Airshow Timing and Industry Chatter
18:56 Group Rebrand Speculation
23:23 Part Two Air New Zealand Setup
24:58 Air NZ Challenges Fuel and Engines
28:50 Our Future Plan Priorities
32:25 Customer First Means On Time
34:12 Subscribe Forum Earnings Wrap
36:21 Final Thanks and Sign Off
Podcast reviews
Read Airline Weekly Lounge podcast reviews
Stefanr.22 2026/06/30
Lots of mumbling
I have tried to give this podcast a go for a while, as I work in aviation and enjoy aviation podcasts. These two hosts go off on red herring tangents ...
Nebke 2026/03/19
Good show getting better
This is a good show and the hosts are great. It has continued to improve over time and I hope they begin to release longer episodes.
mtee2 2025/09/28
Good info, inconsistent delivery
I like the podcast and usually the topics as well. What drives me crazy is having to constantly adjust the audio volume so I can hear what Jay is sayi...
Hirhino 2025/08/20
Want to be great but unlistenable
The narration is awful: audio and delivery. These two are very smart and I believe know their content but they are not meant for podcasting.
Crazy192837 2025/07/25
Utterly unlistenable
Audio is so bad, it makes the podcast unlistenable.
As anti American hosts as you can get. Jay is clearly butthurt over Trump. Can’t even report air...
Mjc3000 2025/04/24
Audio Quality
Content is find for mindless commutes. Jay seems like a lovely person but his speaking volume and microphone is not meant for podcasting. Need a consi...
amm201125 2025/03/27
Unlistenable
Jay is just unlistenable. Every other word is uuuuhhhhhh. It’s beyond nails on a chalkboard
sirobin171 2024/12/10
Blessed
I have noticed that the podcast is getting more and more religious over time. I came to inform myself about aviation not religion.
Corporate Pilot 2024/08/08
Good show
Please get better microphones and recording instruments. Sometimes it’s hard to hear what you guys are saying. Maybe you should invest a better microp...
DFR91 2023/12/07
Great Content, Terrible Production
The quality of the episodes is terrible, even though the content is great.
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