Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 2: Postcards from the Hedge

Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 2: Postcards from the Hedge

Author: Skift July 29, 2015 Duration: 23:24
American Airlines doesn’t hedge its jet fuel, and now it’s enjoying the fruits of that somewhat contrarian strategy. Is AA onto something here? Is fuel hedging a smart play? Will other airlines mimic AA and reject hedging altogether? Those are some of the questions I ask Seth Kaplan in our second episode of The Airline Weekly Lounge. Also, while AA was on the right side of the fuel hedge bet, Air France/KLM was on the wrong side. The company was also on the wrong side of the euro-dollar bet and those two forces combined to further punish the already-limping airline pair. Back in America, Spirit Airlines had a great quarter by its own standards—but mediocre by its standards. Part of its difficulty was due to a softening revenue picture. Is such heated competition in the U.S. a surprise so soon after consolidation and with high oil prices such a recent memory? Lastly, we discuss WestJet, the subject of this week’s Airline Weekly’s cover story. The Canadian airline is clearly not afraid to changes its business model. We look at WestJet’s endeavors and more in this week’s episode.

Step inside the Airline Weekly Lounge, a podcast from Skift where the editors behind the industry publication gather for a deeper, more conversational look at the world of commercial flight. This isn't just a recap of headlines; it's a focused exploration of the complex forces shaping how airlines operate, compete, and ultimately survive. Each episode digs into the week's most intriguing developments, from fleet strategies and route networks to labor dynamics and the evolving culture of travel, always with a keen eye on the bottom line. The central, driving question remains: how do carriers actually turn a profit in this famously volatile business? You'll hear analysis that connects financial results to real-world operations, discussing everything from premium cabin innovations and loyalty program economics to airport politics and environmental pressures. The tone is informed and accessible, peeling back the layers on both major global network carriers and regional players. For anyone curious about the business realities behind their boarding pass, this podcast offers a regular dose of context and clarity, revealing the intricate balance of economics, service, and strategy that keeps the industry aloft. Join the editors in the lounge for a perspective that goes beyond the news cycle.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 423

Airline Weekly Lounge
Podcast Episodes
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 1: Can It Get Any Better? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:41
Our inaugural episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge went live today. Within it, Seth Kaplan and I discuss this golden age for U.S. aviation. Can profits get any better? Along those lines, Delta reported earnings last week…