The Air Show
Episodes
Oil, and the Rest of the World
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. airlines may be cautiously optimistic about the effect that high oil prices will have on their bottom line, but not so much executives at non-U.S...
United’s Media Day Extravaganza
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder report back from United's media day where new hard products were shown off on several different aircraft. It was al...
Euphoria Sweeps the Airlines
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
U.S. airlines gave an update of the business at the JP Morgan Industrials Conference and, despite the state of the world and spiking fuel prices, they...
The Myriad Aviation Angles in The War In Iran
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The war in Iran sent a massive wave of disruption to flights operating throughout the region and any flight crossing overhead because it's a majo...
A Path for Spirit/The Chicago Drama
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Spirit Airlines has a plan to save itself by adjusting to seasonal demand, pivoting into more premium seats and shrinking its debt and lease obligatio...
United Changes MileagePlus To Reward Cardholders
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
United announced major changes last week to its MileagePlus loyalty program. It soon will offer the biggest incentives to credit cardholders, while re...
Where in the World is Steve Giordano
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers welcome one of the most well travelled humans on the planet, Steve Giordano. He's founder of Nomadic Avi...
Frontier Goes Back to Big and Traditional
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There was a great deal of intrigue surrounding Frontier Airlines not for what it did, but for what it didn’t do – sell tickets beyond early April ...
Southwest’s Big Changes are Done, Now What?
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Southwest made big changes in the past year, including the introduction of checked bag fees and assigned seating. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett...
Allegiant and Sun Country: An Obvious Combination?
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Allegiant announced it will buy Sun Country with the deal expected to close later this year. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder debate the possible benefit...
The 787-10 is having a moment
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Boeing's 787-9 has been the sexy airplane in the Dreamliner lineup until now, with the 787-10 occupying a smaller niche. But more recently, the 7...
ATR Bets on JSX
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ATR has built an aircraft that should interest U.S. airlines because of its low relative operating costs on short routes. But with larger airlines unw...
American Remakes Its Schedule
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers break down six notable network changes that American recently announced, including changing its bank structure at DFW, g...
Revenue Management 201
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder offers a more advanced (and less time-consuming) lesson on revenue management — in response to the recent Airlines Confidential episode...
Condor CEO shows his stripes
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Condor is one of Europe's only remaining independent long-haul airlines. It may not stay that way for long. Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower spoke ...
The essential Dubai Airshow recap
06 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower is back from Dubai Airshow with news and highlights to share with Brett Snyder, plus listener feedback from our recent episode about Delt...
What's wrong with Delta, part 1
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A listener wrote to us: "I'm a United employee, so I do enjoy hearing about how much everyone except UA and DL sucks. That said, a more chal...
Airlines cope with FAA chaos + we take your questions
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder and Jon Ostrower talk about the DOT and FAA ordering airlines to cut flights and the response from the airlines and the teams of people (...
Alaska's shifting priorities
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder check in on Alaska Airlines' post-merger strategy, its network changes and new attention for San Die...
What’s wrong with American Airlines, part 3/x
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower, Brett Snyder, and Brian Sumers finish their three-part series on American by talking through the airline's leadership issues. Leade...
Sir Tim Clark's strategic leadership at Emirates
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers interview Emirates president Sir Tim Clark about his long career at the airline, including key decisions about aircraft ...
(J)on the road again
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower updates Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers on some recent developments in the aviation space: Airbus's A220-500, Avelo's deal with E...
The Transatlantic Evolution
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss how the expansion of transatlantic joint ventures has affected the U.S.-to-Europe market. Consumers now have far...
What's wrong with American Airlines, part 2/x
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We continue our series focusing on American Airlines, and this episode is about the airline's brand. Thank you to all our listeners who sent in c...
Sun Country's CEO on the Future of Ultra-Low-Cost Carriers
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jude Bricker, the CEO of Sun Country Airlines, joins Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder at the APEX Global EXPO 2025 in Long Beach to talk about Spirit Air...
Spirit goes back to bankruptcy
11 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Once again, Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy. Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers talk about the challenges Spirit will face, even if it dutifully f...
What's wrong with American Airlines, part 1/x
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's time to start looking under the hood at American Airlines. As promised before our summer break, Jon Ostrower, Brett Snyder, and Brian Sumers...
Alaska's global premium plan takes shape
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With network changes, new routes and new "brand expressions," Alaska Airlines is starting to solidify its plan to transform into a global ai...
Checking in on Southwest
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Southwest is in the midst of a transformation. Brian Sumers, Jon Ostrower, and Brett Snyder discuss how it’s going so far. It was a rough second qua...
Flyadeal’s CEO and the future of low cost
31 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers welcome Steven Greenway, CEO of Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier Flyadeal, for a primer on Saudi aviation, the airline’...
Delta's being bold
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers discuss Delta’s new routes from Los Angeles to Hong Kong and Chicago, planned for next June. Is this…all about Unite...
The latest on the Air India crash
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower, Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers discuss what is known — and unknown — after the release of the preliminary report on the fatal Air Ind...
A very geopolitical air show
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower talks with Brian Sumers about this year's Paris Air Show, including the new "stretched" A220, ATR's strategic move in...
Boeing looks ahead (with special guest Darren Hulst)
14 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Darren Hulst, Boeing's vice president of commercial marketing, joins Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder on this episode to talk about the company&apos...
The JetBlue-United partnership says a lot about the industry
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a few weeks since JetBlue and United announced their partnership, and Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder have some analysis about what it sa...
JetZero has potential
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Will the next major competitor to Boeing and Airbus be JetZero and its blended wing passenger airplane? Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder talk about JetZe...
Michael O'Leary knows what the %$# he's doing
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers discuss Ryanair's recent financial performance and its chief executive's extremely disciplined focu...
What's next for U.S. regionals
22 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With Mesa set to merge into Republic, Brian Sumers, Jon Ostrower, and Brett Snyder look at what's coming for a shrinking industry. They ask wheth...
Caviar, ottomans, and more premium inventions
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode is about the finer things. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss the ever-escalating race to premium, including United's forthcoming...
A Newark state of mind
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder discuss EWR's air traffic control staffing and equipment issues, and the decision to relocate operations...
What you need to know about Boeing, tariffs and Chinese aviation
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Impacts from the trade war with China are landing at Boeing and in U.S. aviation more broadly. Due to high tariffs, Chinese airlines are declining to ...
Are Spirit and Sun Country a Match?
25 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder has been watching Spirit's network strategy closely, and this week he floats the idea that Spirit is not only becoming more like Sun...
Some China news, United's earnings, and your questions
18 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers talk about United's earnings call, and the challenges surfacing for Boeing now with delivering aircraft to Chinese ...
Uncertainty reigns and this industry feels the pain
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
With economic uncertainty casting a shadow over the U.S. economy, Brian Sumers, Brett Snyder, and Jon Ostrower dive into the impact this will have on ...
The homework years
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower brings the latest news from Airbus’s recent summit in Toulouse: planned innovations in aircraft, efficiency and sustainability, despite...
What's certain is uncertainty
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amid economic and political uncertainty in North America, everyone is trying to read the tea leaves, memes and booking data to figure out what's ...
The next leader of the FAA + Spirit's growing debt
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Brett Snyder, Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers discuss President Trump's pick for FAA administrator: Bryan Bedford, CEO of Republic Airwa...
Demand is softening
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amid uncertainty in the U.S. economy and political climate, airlines say they're seeing softness in domestic demand. How bad is it? Brian Sumers ...
It's sexy to be nominated at the CNAs
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder's annual Cranky Network Awards is the event of the year and the place to be for the airline industry professionals that some people ...
Change is hard
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Southwest Airlines is in a major transition — layoffs, an activist investor, and a changing product. Of course, it's an especially major transi...
United Makes a Move to Dominate Chicago
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
United thinks it has found a way to once and for all make the airline Chicago's dominant player, but American is still standing in the way. Jon a...
Now Boom moves on to the hard part
13 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Sumers, Brett Snyder, and Jon Ostrower discuss Boom's recent supersonic test flights — a big achievement for the start-up — and the cha...
An American tragedy on the Potomac
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss the tragic collision of American Eagle flight 5342 and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter near Washin...
JetBlue turns to connections
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brian Sumers puts Brett Snyder on the hot seat on a bunch of things going on at US airlines this month. They discuss schedule changes JetBlue made in ...
Spirit's next act
17 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As it plans to emerge from bankruptcy, America's first ULCC is trying to reinvent itself as a more upscale airline with higher costs. Spirit Airl...
This is not a predictions episode
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's our final episode of 2024! Brett Snyder, Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower chat about what 2025 may bring: mergers and a new regulatory environm...
Ben Minicucci on Alaska's global ambitions
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Minicucci joins the show to discuss Alaska's big news today — and then some. Minicucci talks about the airline's aggressive growth pla...
Is 'durable and differentiated' enough for Delta?
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The top U.S.-based airline continues to play it cool. Delta's execs were casual during the airline's most recent investor day — yes, Delta...
Marty St. George on his second act at JetBlue
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Marty St. George joins the show this week to discuss his second stint at JetBlue, this time as president. With Brian Sumers, Jon Ostrower and Brett Sn...
A321XLR - Revolution or Replacement?
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The A321XLR entered service with Iberia on November 14, and so begins the next generation of long-haul, narrowbody flying. Will this usher in an era o...
Southwest's détente
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Is the drama over? Is this a ceasefire? An agreement to cooperate? Brett Snyder, Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower discuss the recent détente between Sou...
Boeing still ain't going
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Boeing strike continues. On Wednesday, 64% of machinists rejected Boeing's negotiated proposal, extending the strike indefinitely. Earlier th...
United's network: PDEWs and PQ
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
United Airlines is making moves and announcing splashy new routes — the kind you might expect from an airline with a healthy balance sheet and an in...
American and Southwest play opposites
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder and Jon Ostrower discuss Q2 2024 data for the domestic airline market. American Airlines faced significant challenges. Southwest, in cont...
Southwest is ready to change
03 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder recaps his trip to Dallas for Southwest Airlines' investor day, even though we already knew the news: assigned seating, expanded ext...
Alaska and Hawaiian: now what?
25 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Now that the U.S. government has approved the merger, Brett Snyder, Brian Sumers, and Jon Ostrower talk (and speculate) about how Alaska might navigat...
A strike lands at Boeing
19 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It was a busy week in the aviation world in the Pacific Northwest. We'll get to the Alaska-Hawaiian merger soon — this week Jon Ostrower, Brett...
Frequent flyer programs on notice
12 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. Department of Transportation informed the four biggest airlines it would like more information about their frequent flyer programs because it...
The Airbus episode
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers discuss Airbus — its history, its engineering and development strategies, and its approach toward sales. Ost...
The Air(mail) Show
29 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's August and we've been on vacation recently, so our inbox is pretty stuffed with emails, feedback and questions from you. Brian Sumers a...
The Great Battle of Connecticut
21 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Avelo found a good thing in New Haven and grew into Hartford. Breeze had been in Hartford, but now it's going into New Haven. Despite these see...
The Air Show goes to an airshow
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower spent time at this year's Farnborough International Airshow, and he brought back all kinds of knowledge to share. Who had the most o...
The ULCC cycle of death
25 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It is not looking great for ultra-low-cost carriers based in the U.S. — especially Frontier and Spirit. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss what&a...
Alaska searches for light in winter
18 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Alaska Airlines is on a mission to do something about its dark, dismal winters (and no, we're not just talking about this past winter's foib...
Delta is still on top
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Delta had a strong second quarter and its executives were more talkative than usual about the state of the industry. Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower dis...
Can airlines learn from WestJet?
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The last twelve years have been a transformative era for WestJet — management has added complexity and made strategic decisions yielding mixed resul...
Boeing's unforced error
28 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower talks with Brett Snyder about the two days he spent at Boeing this week, touring factories and walking the line and hearing from Boeing e...
Southwest faces its biggest challenge
20 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Weeks ago, we planned to discuss Southwest's underperformance — but so much has happened since then. Legacy-loving Southwest now has an activis...
The IATA AGM report + Ben Smith interview
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers interview Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith, and they catch up with Brett Snyder about this year's IATA annual general m...
The Scott Kirby interview
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
United CEO Scott Kirby joins Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower for a wide-ranging interview from the IATA general meeting in Dubai. Kirby discussed Boeing...
The spectacular failure of American's commercial strategy
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Vasu Raja — American's chief commercial officer who remade the airline's distribution strategy and network to less-than-stellar performanc...
Searching for the new Frontier
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As cost-conscious airline passengers increasingly trade up for tickets on legacy carriers, what's a ULCC to do? Brian Sumers, Jon Ostrower and Br...
What’s Next For Embraer
16 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Brazilian manufacturer has a decision to make. Should it focus on what it already does well, including regional jets, small narrowbodies, and busi...
Don't call them airlines
09 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
JSX and Contour have completely different business models, but they both have something in common. They are able to take advantage of a loophole tha...
American's puzzlingly rigid journey to remake distribution
02 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
American Airlines has a bold, new strategy that forgoes managed corporate bookings for direct bookings while remaking its entire sales effort. With th...
Airlines are 'Boeing-level angry' about Pratt & Whitney
25 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's not just Boeing that's causing acute headaches for airlines. Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan engine, which has been in opera...
United and Delta: a class all their own
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Two U.S. airlines have reported earnings so far, and it's United and Delta: two airlines that increasingly have a lot in common. Brett Snyder and...
A tale of two cities
11 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Or: what happened in Boston and Seattle when Delta established hubs there. Brett Snyder, Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower discuss how Alaska defended its...
India rising
04 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers discuss the current moment in Indian aviation, focusing on the two largest carriers in the market. At Air India, Campbel...
The Boeing episode
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Ostrower recaps and explains a very tumultuous week at Boeing: a shake-up in its executive leadership, prompted by the leadership of four U.S. air...
Does JetBlue have a real plan?
21 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers discuss the recent moves of JetBlue and the early signs of what the airline's new leadership is planning, post-NEA ...
Welcome to The Air Show
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Three top commentators/reporters on the business of aviation and airlines join forces in this new podcast. Jon Ostrower (The Air Current), Brian Sumer...