The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Boeing hinted it would launch a new aircraft, and it did: The 777-8F, a freighter variant of its 777X program. Launch customer Qatar Airways put in an order for up to 50 of the new aircraft. Meanwhile, Ryanair's normally bullish...

Cathay Pacific is struggling under new travel restrictions from the Hong Kong government, and the lack of any significant support from the government means it’s back in the red. Hosts Edward “Ned” Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan also discuss cargo’s continued...

The rollout of 5G wireless technology threatened major disruptions to the U.S. air transport system until it didn’t, in a crisis that J.P. Morgan analyst Jamie Baker likened to Y2K. Hosts Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward “Ned” Russell also discuss the...

Airbus and Boeing have split the commercial aircraft market for a while, but analysts say Boeing could become the junior partner if it doesn't come up with something for the middle of the market. Hosts Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward "Ned"...

It should have been a great holiday season for the U.S. industry, with bookings approaching 2019 levels, but a combination of Omicron-related crew shortages and terrible weather forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights. Edward Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan dig...

Who is Robert Isom? Madhu and Ned discuss American Airlines' new CEO, and recount retiring CEO Doug Parker’s long career. Also, Southwest Airlines is cautious for 2022, while Azul charges ahead with the bulls.

This week Edward Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan mull the new Omicron variant, and what impact it may — or may not — have on the airline recovery. Also, how EasyJet and SAS did during their 2021 fiscal years (hint: Lots...

This week Edward Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan chew over what they heard at the second annual Skift Aviation Forum on November 17. They look at why optimism reigns among airline CEOs, who believe the third quarter was the inflection point,...

This week in the 'Lounge, Ned and Madhu discuss the U.S. reopening for vaccinated travelers and what that means for airlines. But what caught their attention was the strong rebound Brazil's airlines have made. After a terrible second quarter marked...

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...

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...

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...