Hosted by Ben Baldanza, former CEO Spirit Airlines & Scott McCartney, former Wall Street Journal Aviation Editor/Columnist "The Middle Seat". Top stories, discussion, listener questions, and passenger complaints are all addressed head-on in each episode.
183 Available Episodes (183 Total)Average duration: 00:45:44
Apr 19, 2023
183 - Randy Babbitt, Principal, Babbitt & Associates
01:02:38
This week: Randy Babbitt, Principal, Babbitt & Associates, Fmr FAA Administrator; Delta reports Q1 loss; Ed Bastian says consumers still prioritizing travel; Is a $30/hr minimum wage coming to LAX? Reflections on earnings season; Listener questions: What does Cross-Check actually mean? Did JetBlue miss a big Frontier opportunity?
Apr 12, 2023
182 - David Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
00:59:32
This week: David P. Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration (TSA); Update on schedule cuts at NY & DC; Serious FAA staffing issues; Dutch court blocks Amsterdam Airport Schiphol from reducing flights; ATL ranked busiest in the world; Future Air Taxi framework; Listener input: DOJ/JetBlue/Spirit/Frontier, basis for pilot pay, future flight restrictions in the name of climate change. .
Apr 05, 2023
181 - Alex Wilcox, CEO, JSX
00:51:12
This week: Alex Wilcox. CEO, JSX; Correction on AA fare distribution channels; FAA requests fewer flights in NY & DC; Mandatory car seats on planes; Subsidies for airports in smaller communities? Listener input: Need more guest diversity, how to deal with abusive passengers, response to Mo Garfinkle interview.
Mar 29, 2023
180 - Philip Ordway, Managing Principal, Anabatic Investment Partners LLC
01:03:14
This week: Philip Ordway, Managing Principal, Anabatic Investment Partners LLC; Skytrax gives LGA 5 stars: We salute NY/NJ Port Authority's Rick Cotton and the late Bill DeCota; AA Shrinks Corporate sales department/restricts lowest fair purchase options; Listener input on DOJ actions, pilot recruitment & diversity pathways;
Mar 22, 2023
179 - Mo Garfinkle, Chairman, CEO, & Founder, Tailwind Consultants
01:02:55
This week: Mo Garfinkle, Chairman, CEO, & Founder, Tailwind Consultants; A different opinion on JetBlue/Spirit; United projects Q1 loss; What might 2023 year look like & is 2019 a fair comparison? Southwest announces post-meltdown followup plans; Schiphol adopts NATS technology; Flair Air sues over 4 repo'd planes; Listener Q: Why the Repo?
Mar 15, 2023
178 - John McDonald, Founder, Caeli Communications
00:50:35
This week: John McDonald, Founder, Caeli Communications; DOJ suit to block JetBlue/Spirit merger & Scott McCartney provides context and price comparison details; JetBlue plans NYC-Paris service; Listener Q: Do some personality types fit better at a particular airline? Do certain beverages taste better at 30,000 feet?
Mar 08, 2023
177 - Atif Elkadi, CEO, Ontario International Airport
01:00:36
This week: Atif Elkadi, CEO, Ontario International Airport; Forbes article follow-up: Ben's "Airline Monopoly" analogy explored in detail; How Delta Pilots 34% wage hike will affect others; American updates family seating policy; Explosive material in bag discover by TSA;
Mar 01, 2023
176 - Josh Marks, CEO, Anuvu
00:59:41
This week: Josh Marks, CEO, Anuvu; AA Chairman Doug Parker steps down; United and Frontier change family seating procedures; Max crash victims case vs Boeing dismissed; Private industry sustainable fuel initiative-how impactful?; Significant summer schedule cuts from AA and Lufthansa; Listener input: PRIA data transparency
This week: Geoff Hunt, Sr. VP Engineering & Technology, Pratt & Whitney: Another close call: United departing Maui; Air India orders 470 new planes; JetBlue says Spirit deal will result in big South Fla expansion; Scott's take on the deal; Listener feedback: 1500 hour rule discussion/pilot training.
Feb 15, 2023
174 - Mike Swiatek, Chief Strategy & Planning Officer, at Avianca
00:56:51
This week: Mike Swiatek, Chief Strategy & Planning Officer at Avianca and Chairman, Accessibility Working Group at IATA; Focus on Safety & Accessibility; United's Super Bowl ad swipes at Southwest; Biden SOTU attack on industry seating practices & Issues with A4A response statement; Listener follow-up on Colgan Crash comments.
Apr 19 | 01:02:38
183 - Randy Babbitt, Principal, Babbitt & Associates
Apr 12 | 00:59:32
182 - David Pekoske, Administrator, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Apr 05 | 00:51:12
181 - Alex Wilcox, CEO, JSX
Mar 29 | 01:03:14
180 - Philip Ordway, Managing Principal, Anabatic Investment Partners LLC
Mar 22 | 01:02:55
179 - Mo Garfinkle, Chairman, CEO, & Founder, Tailwind Consultants
Mar 15 | 00:50:35
178 - John McDonald, Founder, Caeli Communications
Mar 08 | 01:00:36
177 - Atif Elkadi, CEO, Ontario International Airport