Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 79: Turkish Airlines' Turnaround

Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 79: Turkish Airlines' Turnaround

Author: Skift August 15, 2017 Duration: 31:34
After losing $300m in 2016 as a result of some horrific exposure to terrorism and political tumult, things are looking up for Turkish Airlines. In its second quarter, the airline posted a 5% operating profit margin and with that likely will turn a profit for the full calendar year. How did Turkish do it? Other airlines facing some political duress include Korean Air and Asiana. South Korea’s two major carriers are caught in a crossfire of political tension among the U.S., China and North Korea. Nonetheless, both managed to grow second-quarter profits year over year. In Europe, Lufthansa, IAG, and Air France/KLM are all enjoying what seems to be a rising tide. But none of them is enjoying it as much as Ryanair.

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
What Happened to Thomas Cook? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:49
The UK government this week engages in another set of inquiries on why Thomas Cook went bankrupt, which is the perfect time to ask Skift Europe Editor Patrick Whyte, who has been covering the story, what happened. How di…
Interview: Airlines for America's Chief Economist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:51
Back in the aughts, Airlines for America's Chief Economist John Heimlich often showed a slide with an alarming statistic: Coffee giant Starbucks' market capitalization was more than that of the entire U.S. airline indust…
Airline Execs at Skift Global Forum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:49
In this episode of the Skift Airline Weekly Lounge podcast, Skift Travel Senior Aviation Business Editor Brian Sumers and I discuss the interviews we did on stage at Skift Global Forum in New York City, Sept. 18–19. Air…
Interview: Southwest's Andrew Watterson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:27
Andrew Watterson, Southwest's chief revenue officer, had a few minutes to talk to Skift Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Skift Travel Senior Aviation Business Editor Brian Sumers at the Boyd Group's Internati…
Interview: Las Vegas' Rosemary Vassiliadis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:27
Rosemary Vassiliadis, director of aviation for Clark County, Nevada, leads operations at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport and oversees four other airports in southern Nevada. Vassiliadis thinks airlines are flat…
Interview: Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:56
Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram isn't too worried about increasing competition from U.S. and Japanese carriers on routes to Hawaii. During an an interview with Skift Airline Weekly Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan in Las Veg…
Interview: AirBaltic CEO Martin Gauss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:50
AirBaltic was an early adopter of the Airbus A220, back when it was the Bombardier CSeries. The aircraft is perfectly designed for the Baltic carrier's missions, and CEO Martin Gauss is enthusiastic about the model. He t…
Interview: Flybe CEO at IATA General Meeting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:52
Just before stepping down as CEO of British regional carrier Flybe, Christine Ourmieres-Widener took a minute to talk to Skift Airline Weekly at the IATA Annual General Meeting in Seoul. Ourmieres-Widener’s two years at…
Interview: Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:03
Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said he envies American Airlines CEO Doug Parker for the scale and potential for profitability that U.S. carriers have from a large domestic market. Parker, the chief of the U.S.’s…