What's Going Wrong at JetBlue?

What's Going Wrong at JetBlue?

Author: Skift April 30, 2026 Duration: 33:03
Gordon and Jay open with JetBlue's latest quarterly results, unpacking what's behind the airline's struggles and what it might take to get back on course. Then they turn to Norwegian, where a strong set of numbers tells a very different 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. 01:24 JetBlue Earnings Snapshot 03:31 Why JetBlue Is Struggling 07:40 Fort Lauderdale and JFK Strategy 11:15 Spirit Bailout Tangent 14:50 JetForward Plan and Levers 18:23 Fuel Shock and Demand Strength 19:34 Break and Subscribe Plug 20:06 Norwegian Reset and Q1 Results 23:26 What’s Driving the Turnaround 24:23 Europe Capacity Cuts and Demand 28:32 Fuel Supply and Industry Mood 31:15 Wrap Up and Final Thanks

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: 100

Airline Weekly Lounge
Podcast Episodes
The Profit Gap Splitting U.S. Airlines [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:00
Gordon sits down with Skift airlines reporter Meghna Maharishi to break down a revealing Q1 earnings season for U.S. carriers — separating the standouts from the strugglers. Plus: the latest merger chatter swirling aroun…
Spirit Airlines: The Post-Mortem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:35
Spirit Airlines is the first major U.S. carrier to go out of business in more than two decades. In this special edition, Gordon is joined by Jay and Meghna to unpack what went wrong — from blocked mergers to shifting con…
Will Washington Save Spirit Airlines? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:08
Could the U.S. Government shore up Spirit Airlines? Gordon and Jay break down the latest industry chatter about the troubled carrier's future, including fresh commentary from President Trump. Then they shift gears to unp…
Could United Really Merge with American Airlines? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:38
Will two of America's biggest airlines become one? Gordon and Jay dig into whether a United-American mega-merger is actually on the table and ask what further consolidation would mean for the industry. Plus: Qantas cuts…
Delta Confronts the Oil Price Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 S…
Who Will Lead IATA Next? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
Gordon and Jay unpack major leadership moves shaping the industry, from Willie Walsh’s shift to IndiGo to Michael Rousseau’s departure from Air Canada. Later, they dive into fuel prices and what’s ahead for Alaska Airlin…
An Aviation Crisis – with a Twist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:46
In part one, Gordon and Jay unpack a whirlwind few days for the global airline industry, including fresh insights on jet fuel prices. In part two, the conversation turns to intriguing developments at Filipino low-cost ca…
Making Sense of the Fuel Price Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:14
Fuel accounts for roughly 20–30% of an airline’s operating costs—so when prices surge, the impact can be immediate and significant. In this week’s show, Gordon and Jay break down how U.S. airlines are navigating this his…
A Gulf Airline Crisis Like No Other [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:17
In a week when the world's busiest international airline ground to a halt and Gulf hubs faced aerial attack, Gordon and Jay explore the impact of the Iran war on the aviation industry. In part two, we take a closer look…