Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Airlines are sparring over Newark Liberty International Airport, as United claims the FAA is allowing low-cost-carriers to go over the 79 flight operations per hour cap. But Spirit and JetBlue refute that claim and say United should reduce its own operations if it wants fewer delays. Who's right? That's what Madhu Unnikrishnan and Edward "Ned" Russell discuss, before turning to how the lack of spare Airbus A220 parts is forcing AirBaltic to wet-lease a Boeing 737 from Ukraine International Airlines.

French Bee President Marc Rochet is confident the airline's upcoming Newark-Orly flights will be successful, because the key to the airline's wins so far is its simplicity, he said. But will it work? Rochet said simplicity — in fleet, in network, in product — is key to why the airline is working when so many other European leisure carriers have failed.

Southwest Airlines ordered 34 Boeing 737-7 Max aircraft, a strong sign of confidence in the once troubled airline program and a spot of good news for the beleaguered airframer. Editor Madhu Unnikrishnan and Airlines Reporter Edward "Ned" Russel talk about what that means for both Boeing and Southwest and whether there is a capacity-traffic mismatch for the summer. Also, how realistic are United's plans for supersonic travel by 2029 (when Boom's overture doesn't yet have an engine)?

Read the latest at airlineweekly.com.

European low-cost carrier easyJet isn’t doing as well as competing LCCs Ryanair and Wizz Air. But make no mistake: easyJet is doing well. The airline’s 20% operating profit margin for the April-through-September period puts it among the most profitable carriers in the world at the moment.

In the U.S., Delta and Alaska Airlines have been waging a battle for Seattle for years. And more recently, Delta and JetBlue are brawling in Boston. Is it possible all three airlines are making money at these highly contested airports? LATAM continues to rebound from the Brazilian recession. Avianca had a good summer despite labor strife and ending service to Venezuela. Finally, we close this episode looking at some growing and slowing airports.