The 2025 Half-Time Airline Report

The 2025 Half-Time Airline Report

Author: Skift July 3, 2025 Duration: 23:33
In this episode, Gordon and Jay reflect on the first half of 2025 in the airline industry, discussing key trends such as global demand, the impact of the U.S. dollar, and the ongoing consolidation within the industry. They explore how weather patterns are affecting tourism, the economic implications of tariffs, and the potential for mergers and acquisitions as airlines navigate a changing landscape. Looking ahead, they highlight the importance of monitoring oil prices and supply chain issues as the industry moves into the second half of the year. Takeaways The first half of 2025 saw strong global demand for air travel. Weather conditions are impacting tourism patterns in Europe. The U.S. dollar's decline has significant implications for airlines. Tariffs have created uncertainty but the overall impact was modest. Consolidation discussions are prevalent in the airline industry. Airlines are exploring mergers and partnerships to strengthen their positions. The integration of Air India and Astara is a notable example of consolidation. The performance of the U.S. dollar affects international travel demand. Oil prices and supply chain issues will be critical in the second half of 2025. The airline industry is always subject to unexpected changes and challenges. Connect with Airline WeeklyLinkedIn: 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…