Delta Confronts the Oil Price Crisis

Delta Confronts the Oil Price Crisis

Author: Skift April 9, 2026 Duration: 41:43
Delta’s latest results are in and the fuel price challenge is front and center. Gordon, Jay, and Meghna dive into what the numbers say about the airline’s strategy and resilience. In part two, the conversation turns to Southwest and the next chapter of its transformation story. Follow the Hosts:  Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Jay Shabat – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meghna Maharishi - ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 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. 00:59 Delta Q1 Headline Numbers 01:54 Fuel Spike and Q2 Outlook 03:29 Earnings Call Tone 04:07 Premium Demand Holds 05:29 Main Cabin Inflection 06:48 Why Demand Stays Strong 11:12 High Fuel Means Consolidation 13:04 JetBlue Merger Speculation 17:42 Oil Volatility and 2008 Parallels 20:22 Premium Segmentation Tease 21:18 Delta Premium Basics 21:54 Tech Ops Profit Engine 22:27 Cargo Refinery Upside 23:14 Premium Seats Strategy 24:26 Post Pandemic Cost Reality 25:34 Wrap Part One 26:12 Listener Reminders Break 26:36 Idea Awards Spotlight 29:25 How To Enter Awards 31:35 Southwest 2.0 Pitch 33:23 Culture And Activist Push 35:34 Passenger Reactions Mixed 37:21 Middle Market Risk 39:44 Final Thanks Signoff

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
Philippine Airlines‘ Bankruptcy Was a Long Time Coming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:46
Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan talk about why Philippines Airlines Chapter 11 surprised no one. The two also discuss Porter's restart flights, and Ryanair's latest fight with Boeing.
Will South African Make a Comeback? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:02
The Airline Weekly team heads south to look at South African Airways’ restructuring and restart after an 18-month suspension. Can the notoriously poorly run airline emerge a successful carrier? We also touch on Norwegian…
JetBlue Makes The Water Jump to London [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:06
Airline Weekly Senior Reporter Edward Russell talks to PaxEx.Aero Founder and Editor Seth Miller about his experience onboard JetBlue's inaugural flight to London earlier this month. Can the carrier that helped reshape t…
Who's Next on the Cargo Bandwagon? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:45
How do airlines like the Boeing 737 Max now that it's been back in service for more than half a year? The Airline Weekly team consider this question as well as wondering if even more airlines will jump on the cargo bandw…
Latin American Carriers Binge on Aircraft Orders [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:55
This week, Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward "Ned" Russell, the team behind Airline Weekly, look at why so many Latin American carriers are buying aircraft and if the OEMs are right that airlines are just starting a massive…
Will Business Travel Ever Be the Same? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:35
We have a special guest this week, Skift Editor at Large Brian Sumers, and he and host Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss why business travel may never be the same and question whether U.S. airline CEOs are being too optimistic…
Too Much U.S. Optimism? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:09
U.S. airlines are maintaining their bullish recovery outlooks even as Covid-19 Delta variant cases jump and mask requirements make a comeback. Reporter Ned Russell and Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss whether this is a…
Porter's Big Order [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:55
Canada's Porter Airlines, despite not having flown a single flight since last March, is reimaging itself by ordering its first jets and moving some flights into Toronto Pearson. Reporter Ned Russell and Editor Madhu Unni…
Behind the Veil of United's New Aircraft Order [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
United made some news last week with its largest aircraft order, but there was more to the order than just the happy talk. Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan discuss why United needed to upgrade its fleet, and w…
The Boeing Max-10 Takes Flight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:49
Boeing's largest 737 Max variant, the -10, took flight. Is it enough for Boeing to take on the mighty Airbus A321neo and all its variants? Edward "Ned" Russell and Madhu Unnikrishnan get into it and why Boeing may need t…