Inside the Minds of America's Airline CEOs

Inside the Minds of America's Airline CEOs

Author: Skift June 4, 2026 Duration: 38:22
Gordon and Jay decode the most revealing CEO commentary from the Bernstein investor conference — what executives signaled about capacity, consolidation, and the months ahead. Then they look forward to the IATA AGM, one of the aviation industry's biggest gatherings, and what to watch for. Presented by WEX. 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. 00:00 Welcome and Agenda 00:35 Coffee Confessions and Naps 02:14 Bernstein Conference Setup 03:11 JetBlue Buyout Rumors 05:39 Kirby Shuts It Down 08:39 Southwest Take on Mergers 12:42 JetBlue Response and Outlook 16:07 Fuel Prices and Guidance 20:07 Break and Listener Mail 20:30 IATA AGM Rio Preview 21:37 What IATA Is and Why It Matters 25:34 Key Themes Fuel Middle East Sustainability 27:53 Questions to Ask CEOs 32:31 Aircraft Supply Crunch 36:40 Wrap Up and Subscribe

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: 50

Airline Weekly Lounge
Podcast Episodes
What American, Southwest and United Told Investors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:30
Gordon is joined by Jay and Meghna to unpack the recent Morgan Stanley Laguna conference, where executives from American, Southwest and United set out where they think the market is heading. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smit…
Airlines Post Record Revenues But Costs Catch Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:56
Gordon and Jay open with why record revenues still aren't covering a sharp rise in costs, then turn to what JetBlue's latest outlook tells the rest of the industry. Follow the Hosts: Gordon Smith – ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
The Air Canada Anko Inherits [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:16
In part one, Gordon and Jay weigh the opportunities in front of Air Canada against the challenges that come with them. In part two, the conversation turns to China, and why the country's Big Three carriers had such a rou…
Why US Airlines Are Betting Big on Europe in 2027 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
In part one, Jay and Meghna discuss the latest transatlantic expansion announcements from United and American Airlines and what they reveal about how US carriers are rethinking their European strategies. In part two, the…
Qatar Airways: Skift Global Forum Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:33
In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss some of the biggest talking points at Qatar Airways, as the airline's CEO, Hamad Ali Al-Khater, prepares to join the Skift Global Forum in New York next month. In part two, the convers…
Skift Global Forum 2026: Aviation Preview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:57
In this week's show, Gordon and Jay discuss two industry giants that are due to speak at the Skift Global Forum 2026 in New York between September 22-24. The conversation kicks off with Air Canada before turning to Virgi…
Turkish Airlines' Turbulent Quarter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:41
In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss a mixed set of Q2 results for Turkish Airlines. In part two, the conversation turns to Allegiant Air, with the U.S. carrier now taking Sun Country under its wing. Follow the Hosts: Gor…
Swiss Shines But Lufthansa Lags [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:58
Swiss out-earned the entire Lufthansa Group network division it belongs to last quarter, while the core Lufthansa brand slid back into an operating loss. Gordon and Jay work through how a fuel bill undid a solid demand q…
Airshow Highs and Earnings Season Realities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:33
In part one, Gordon and Jay discuss the highlights from last week's Farnborough International Airshow, reviewing the big deals and longer term impact of the event. In part two, the conversation turns to earnings season,…
Why 2026 Is Aviation's Most Volatile Year Since COVID [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:40
The airline industry is navigating its most unpredictable period since the pandemic, with fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, premium travel demand, and aircraft shortages reshaping the competitive landscape. Gordon Smit…