Airline Weekly’s Jay Shabat is joined by former Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan to discuss United Airlines’ and Alaska Airlines’ first quarter earnings reports from earlier this week. 

The conversation starts with United’s challenges in January and February, and notes investors will tolerate it if they have a strong March and the rest of the year. United is working to rectify its problems in Florida and has a lot of aircraft coming along in the next few years to put somewhere. The company has also benefited from a trend in premium leisure travel, which has helped fill the seats in the premium cabins. The three big U.S. carriers – United, Delta, and American – are doing well compared to the domestic carriers. They have the advantage of the demand being strong, and a lot of foreign carriers cutting capacity during the pandemic.

Next, they discuss Alaska Airlines and mention that the company reported negative 4.6 operating margin for the first quarter, which is not good compared to their positive 2.5% operating margin in 2019. Alaska has historically had weak first quarters, and they sometimes lose money in January and February, but they have been a very successful and profitable airline. They also discuss where Alaska fits in the overall U.S. airline picture, as it is not a low-cost carrier like Frontier nor a full-service airline like Delta and United.

Reading List

• Alaska Airlines Optimistic Despite January and February Stumbles
• United Sees 2023 as Setting Course for Its Post-Pandemic Future

Delta Air Lines kicked off the first-quarter earnings season this week. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what they expect. Plus, can American Airlines catch up to the pack?

Reading List

• Delta Margin Recovery to Near Pre-Pandemic Levels in Second Quarter
• American Airlines Expects a Good First Quarter, the Second Is an Open Question
• American, Still Less Profitable than Delta and United, Attempts to Catch Up

Atlanta retained its title as the world’s busiest airport last year, shocker we know. But more interesting is the rise of the Denver and Istanbul airports — to third and seventh busiest, respectively — that were not even in the top 10 in 2019. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss, plus the unfortunate shortage of air traffic controllers in the New York-area this summer.

Reading List

• What’s the World’s Busiest Airport? Atlanta, Yet Again
• Delta, United, JetBlue, American to Cut New York Flights This Summer to Reduce Delays
• American and United Cut Spring Flights Due to Pilot Shortage, Aircraft Delays

Lufthansa is closer than ever to a deal for Italy's state-owned carrier, Alita..., oops, ITA Airways. But can Lufthansa turn loss-making ITA into a gem? That remains to be seen. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss, plus the Istanbul Airport's impressive growth.

• Lufthansa Still Keen on ITA Airways Deal But Wants Price Discounted Over Heavy Losses
• Can Consolidation Lift Lufthansa?
• Istanbul Airport Lands EasyJet, Wizz Air Among 15 New Airlines Helping Drive Growth

Big changes are underway in Saudi Arabia and India, with both poised for rapid growth in airline traffic. Each, however, is taking a distinct approach with respect to protecting their domestic airlines. Airline Weekly’s Jay Shabat discusses with Skift’s Asia editor Peden Doma Bhatia. 

Related Stories

• How India Is Preparing for Its Goal of 1 Billion Airline Passengers
• What You Need to Know About Saudi Arabia’s Bet on a New National Airline
• Skift India Daily: A Billion Air Travelers Expected by 2040 — How Adani Airports Is Preparing
• Middle East Set to Be One of the Fastest-Growing Airline Markets

U.S. airlines presented at a major investor event in New York last week. What did they say? Airline Weekly's Jay Shabat discusses with special guest Brian Sumers of The Airline Observer. Plus, a look at an airline in the Philippines with a very unique business model... and a very unique aircraft configuration. 

Related Stories:

• Rival CEOs at JetBlue, United and American Rally Together to Challenge Justice Department
• To Hear CEO Ed Bastian, It’s Delta’s World, We Just Live In It

It’s official: The U.S. Justice Department just sued to block JetBlue and Spirit from merging. Will it win? That’s anyone’s guess, but JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said he plans to fight the regulator. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, the latest results from Azul and Thai Airways.

Reading List

• U.S. Sues to Block JetBlue and Spirit Merger
• JetBlue Prepares for a Fight With Justice Department if Spirit Merger Blocked
• Azul Escapes Potential Bankruptcy With Aircraft Lessor Agreements

Airlines face wide-ranging fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine a year ago in February. The biggest is the airspace closure, but the war has also triggered a surge in global energy prices while western sanctions are pressuring Russian airlines. Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss. Plus, why you need an accounting degree and years of experience to decipher AirAsia-parent Capital A's numbers.

Reading List

• Airlines Adapt Amid Russia's Ukraine War
• AirAsia Looks to China to Drive Budget Airline’s Recovery

Singapore Airlines and Copa Airlines were two champions of the December quarter with standout financial results. What set them apart from the pack? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss on the Airline Weekly Lounge.

Reading List

Singapore Airlines Looks Beyond Strong Profits to Big Things From Air India Deal

Copa’s Stars Aligned in Fourth Quarter

Spirit Airlines lags other U.S. airlines in financial performance. In fact, it lost money last year while most of its peers produced profits. Can it fix its cost problems and restore order? Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss on the latest Airline Weekly Lounge. Plus, is Azul in trouble?

Reading List

• Spirit Airlines Struggles to Control Costs as It Awaits Fate of JetBlue Merger
• Brazil’s Azul Eyes Potential Restructuring
• Chile’s JetSmart Enters Fray as Potential Spoiler to Viva Air-Avianca Merger