Breaking Down Japan Airlines and British Airways

Breaking Down Japan Airlines and British Airways

Author: Skift February 13, 2025 Duration: 37:59
In this episode of the Airline Weekly Lounge, hosts Gordon Smith and Jay Shabat delve into the current state of Japan Airlines and British Airways. They explore Japan Airlines' historical performance, recent financial trends, and the challenges it faces in a competitive market. The discussion then shifts to British Airways' recent changes to its loyalty program, which have sparked significant public reaction. The hosts analyze the implications of these changes and the competitive landscape between British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, concluding with insights into the future of both airlines. Read the latest issue of Airline Weekly. Takeaways Japan Airlines has experienced a decline in operating margins over the years. The airline's profitability peaked in 2012, making it the most profitable airline globally at that time. The Hawaii-Japan market was a significant revenue source for JAL, which has diminished post-pandemic. North America has become a strong market for Japan Airlines, contributing to its recent performance. British Airways is transitioning to a revenue-based loyalty program, moving away from distance-based rewards. The announcement of BA's loyalty changes has led to public uproar and dissatisfaction among frequent flyers. Virgin Atlantic is capitalizing on the dissatisfaction with BA's loyalty program changes. The competitive landscape between British Airways and Virgin Atlantic is intensifying due to these changes. JAL is showing signs of potential recovery, with hopes for improved margins in the future. The airline industry is evolving, with more airlines likely to adopt revenue-based loyalty systems. Connect with Airline Weekly LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/airline-weekly/ X: https://x.com/Airline_Weekly/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/airlineweekly/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/ WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/ Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the airline and travel industries.

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 64: Rising Sun [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
Japan Airlines is enjoying a charmed life right now. How good is it? In 2016, JAL was the most profitable of the large global airlines outside the U.S. All Nippon Airlines is also doing pretty well. ANA has narrowed the…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 63: All Smiles at American [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:25
While the revenue story has improved for U.S. carriers, the cost story has become a headwind. Still, as American Airlines demonstrated in its fourth quarter results, costs are a headwind that can be overcome. With that,…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 62: United on Top [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:53
By just a tenth of a percent, United’s fourth quarter operating profit margin bested that of Delta—and likely that of American, which reports later—making United, for the quarter, No.1 among the Big Three U.S. carriers.…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 61: Worse, But Still Good [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:45
Rising labor costs at Delta dented its fourth quarter results significantly—but not enough to prevent the airline from posting a terrific profit for 2016. And the big story within the story is that revenues have stopped…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 60: Around and Around [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:45
SAS has tried and tried to turn itself around, but to no avail—at least judging by its recent earnings report. In fact, on profits alone, the airline’s third quarter was a step backward. What’s going wrong, and can it be…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 59: Kicking Off 2017 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:29
Call it our year-in-preview show. In this first episode of 2017, we look at some of the more interesting stories that are ushering in the airline industry’s new year. Of course, 2017 doesn’t promise answers to all our qu…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 58: Lufthansa's Ambitions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:09
If anybody needed a reminder that the airline business is an interesting business, they got it last week as Air Berlin announced it will be handing over a big chunk of itself to arch competitor Lufthansa. Will Air Berlin…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 57: South African Airways Is Troubled [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:42
South African Airways finally published its fiscal year results for the 12 months ending March 2015. Yes, that’s 2015. And the result—a $442m net loss—wasn’t worth the wait. But with the Ebola scare and high oil prices n…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 56: Frontier Airlines CEO Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:14
Because Frontier Airlines is a non-publicly-traded carrier (which, for one thing, means it doesn’t have earnings calls), it’s all the more interesting to interview the airline's CEO Barry Biffle. Of course, we asked abou…
Airline Weekly Lounge Episode 55: Canadian Continuity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:17
Despite a major oil bust and the weakening currency that followed, Canada’s airlines continue to plod along. Make no mistake, macro issues are leaving a mark on the earnings reports of Air Canada and WestJet, but the sto…