Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 71: Delta Keeps Dealing

Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 71: Delta Keeps Dealing

Author: Skift April 25, 2017 Duration: 33:30
Delta saw its operating profit margin slashed severely in the first quarter compared to last year’s Q1. Nonetheless there are plenty of reasons to smile—that’s how good things are at Delta right now—including beating rival United Airlines, which posted a much smaller profit. But the game isn’t over, and United has plenty of valuable cards to play, including improvements to its hub connections and operations. Also, what do the first few earnings reports tell us about the overall U.S. airline market in 2017? Canada's WestJet, meanwhile, has announced plans for its own ultra-low-cost carrier. Is this purely a defensive move? Is it smart? Will they even go through with it? And lastly, Alitalia workers rejected a restructuring plan. Could this mean the end for Italy’s long-time flag carrier? At the very least, it’s a reasonable question.

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 105: Satisfaction in Sydney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:39
Qantas continues to romp. In the first half of 2018, the flying kangaroo posted a 9% profit margin—one point better than in the same period last year. And with that, Qantas is working on its fourth consecutive calendar y…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 104: Better, But Not Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:52
Revenues and margins improved for Cathay Pacific in the first half of 2018, and the second half is usually better for Cathay. Still, will it be enough to lift the Hong Kong carrier out of its malaise? Fuel costs dented S…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 103: Canadian Conundrum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:44
Thanks to rising costs, it’s no surprise profits have declined at Air Canada and WestJet. But rising costs alone don’t explain how these Canadian carriers continue to consistently underperform their U.S. peers by a notic…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 102: U.S. Airlines Sing the Blues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
So far all U.S. carriers have reported shrinking year-over-year profits in the second quarter. But nobody’s margin decline was worse than that of JetBlue, which posted a 9% operating margin, down from 19% the year before…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 101: Delta Holds Up Well [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
Rising costs aren’t keeping Delta down. Delta overcame a 33% year-over-year increase in fuel costs to produce more than $1.2b in net profits (excluding special items) and a handsome 16% quarterly operating margin. In fac…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 100: Frontier's Wild Ride [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:59
Frontier Airlines has had one of the most topsy-turvy histories of any airline, and its first-quarter earnings report was no exception. Sporting a wild animal on each tail, the airline has been soaring in recent years. I…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 99: Say it Ain’t so, Mexico! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:15
Things haven’t gotten better in Mexico. Although Aeroméxico is at least coping better than its domestic competitors, all of which posted negative first-quarter margins in the double-digits. To make matters worse, constru…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 98: Ryanair’s Resilience [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:54
Despite a 29% year-over-year increase to its labor costs, Ryanair still posted a positive profit margin in the first quarter. Ryan’s eastern European counterpart, Wizz Air, meanwhile faced an even more daunting 43% rise…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 97: Canadian Carriers Trading Places? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:45
For the moment, WestJet is the more profitable carrier. But in recent years, Air Canada has closed the gap and, in the first quarter of 2018, we see signs that Air Canada—after years of giving chase—might overtake its lo…