Graham and Lewis return to discuss the challenges facing airlines as they ramp-up operations heading into the northern hemisphere summer, notably amid staffing shortages and rising fuel prices. They also take a look at the competition to purchase Spirit Airlines, after JetBlue Airways threw its hat into the ring for the US ultra-low-cost carrier, weeks after Frontier Airlines had agreed to purchase its rival. They further consider whether the move reflects growing interest in consolidation as regions emerge from the pandemic. Music credit: Tea K Pea "highabove"/Creative Commons How Russian airspace restrictions are adding hours to some Europe-Asia flights https://www.flightglobal.com/networks/how-russian-airspace-restrictions-are-adding-hours-to-some-europe-asia-flights/148245.article Spirit’s board to weigh pros and cons of competing offers https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/spirits-board-to-weigh-pros-and-cons-of-competing-offers/148179.article JetBlue would dismantle Spirit as ultra-low-cost competitor, become ‘larger JetBlue’ https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/jetblue-would-dismantle-spirit-as-ultra-low-cost-competitor-become-larger-jetblue/148177.article IATA chief insists airlines and airports not to blame for staff shortages https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/iata-chief-insists-airlines-and-airports-not-to-blame-for-staff-shortages/148172.article Air Baltic chief on Ukraine solidarity, Russia exit, airspace closures and IPO plans https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/air-baltic-chief-on-ukraine-solidarity-russia-exit-airspace-closures-and-ipo-plans/148148.article Atlanta regains title of world’s busiest airport in domestic travel-dominated 2021 ranking https://www.flightglobal.com/networks/atlanta-regains-title-of-worlds-busiest-airport-in-domestic-travel-dominated-2021-ranking/148225.article EasyJet cuts first-half loss as it aims restore pre-crisis summer capacity https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/easyjet-cuts-first-half-loss-as-it-aims-restore-pre-crisis-summer-capacity/148241.article Outbound travel drives Heathrow to busiest month since pandemic https://www.flightglobal.com/networks/outbound-travel-drives-heathrow-to-busiest-month-since-pandemic/148223.article Asia-Pacific reopenings see airlines boost international capacity https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/asia-pacific-reopenings-see-airlines-boost-international-capacity/148221.article SAS chief urges airline industry to ‘get real’ as he laments missed consolidation chance https://www.flightglobal.com/strategy/sas-chief-urges-airline-industry-to-get-real-as-he-laments-missed-consolidation-chance/148192.article