Aircraft orders shifting, service types are switching, and one major airport is underwater in this week's show. Also in this episode: * Spirit fleet deferrals * United’s earnings, fleet adjustments, and eventually segmented “Polaris Plus” * American’s Flagship Business Preferred * Provo is American’s Future – Cranky Flier * Aegean A321LR play * Norse to CPT For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content,...

Often times the shortest distance between two airports is defined by politics more than geography. Last weekend that was more the case than usual. Also in this episode: * Iran and the joys of geopolitics in aviation * SAS leaving Star Alliance end of August * Breeze says it found profitability for March 2024 * LH cabin crew contract * New Boeing whistleblower * Stephan finally gets another PDX-LAX option * Lufthansa finally has...

Join us on another jaunt through the juicy world of aviation gossip, airline route news, and loyalty relaunches. Also in this episode: * OAK wants San Francisco in its name * Turkish Airlines adding DEN * Hainan A330neo order potential * Four more A380s being scrapped * UA canceled investor day * NYC Earthquake For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * New AI FF program * BAM: Credit...

We're skipping April Fool's Day in favor of some real news, including at least one story we were convinced should've been a joke. Also in this episode: * Boeing leadership * United dealing with the FAA, fewer planes than planned, and new E175 bins * FAA halts Sequim wing-walking flights, revokes owner’s pilot license * Breeze launches NDC integration with Priceline, a co-brand credit card, and Basic Economy * Japan plans new jet, possibly...

Newark air traffic is on the move, in a sense. Control of traffic to and from the airport will shift later this summer from the NYC-area's "N90" controllers to Philadelphia. Can that solve the ATC delays? Also in this episode: * Big Airbus orders from East Asia * JetBlue kills off LAX focus city, but not completely * Redeyes coming (eventually) to Southwest * XB-1 first flight * New biz seats for Malaysia Airlines (and no more A350...

Well, that's another week that Boeing probably wishes didn't happen… Also in this episode: * More bad news for Boeing from the NTSB * UA MAX 10 conversion to MAX 9 * UA 737 panel falling off and maintenance overall * LATAM 787-9 incident * Former Global Crossing chief to start up Florida-based A220 operator * Frontier UpFront Plus eurobiz play * Embraer E2 ETOPS-120 For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content,...

Hopefully not too shocking, of course. But maybe enough to keep you awake, unlike those pilots… Also in this episode: * Batik Air pilots suspended for falling asleep on a flight * IAG/Air Europa deal on ice again * NTSB is pissed at Boeing, and lobbyists aren't really helping * New United routes * China Southern to Mexico For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Electric cars * Self-service...

American Airlines placed a sizable single-aisle aircraft order this week. Perhaps the biggest surprise: Neither Boeing nor Airbus came out on top, at least in terms of total aircraft committed. Also in this episode: * An absurd trip to try Starlink on Hawaiian * BA adding inflight messaging * JetBlue/Spirit deal is dead * More Eclipse flights (DL 2nd frequency, WN contest with Omni) * Qantas new A220 in service * TK’s first flight to...

More baggage talk, plus buses, and an airline is out of business. Also in this episode: * Lynx out of business in Canada * Landline for AC @ YYZ * AA files JFK-HND to start 28 June, UA files GUM-HND for 1 May * AA agrees with the DOT on DL/AM ATI suspension * AA FF changes (and bag fees, too) * Avelo STS base: new routes and a LAS closure, plus a profitable quarter * Spirit suspending MHT For our Patreon subscribers we...

Revisiting a couple stories from the past few weeks, and they still don't make much sense. Plus lots of new news, too. Also in this episode: * Nolinor Ramps Up Capacity for Rising Northern Demand * Air Canada's chatbot gave a B.C. man the wrong information. Now, the airline has to pay for the mistake * Silly carry-on bag thoughts * Qantas domestic ETOPS * Icahn buys in to JetBlue * HA shareholders approved buyout * Allegiant...

What's the silliest reason you've ever heard of for planes to be removed from service? We might have a new top contender for that title. Also in this episode: * A321s (briefly) grounded because of no smoking signs * Indigo wet-leasing Qatar 737 MAX for Doha service * Copa to RDU * Finding the bottom in Orlando * Another (even more) absurd India bilateral request * New Go Wild pass from Frontier, again with a twist * Delta...

Why? because it leads to deliciousness later. But that has nothing to do with this week's conversation. Fortunately, we're joined by Ed in an effort to keep things on track. Also in this episode: * 737 MAX 7 deicing exemption & certification delay * STS base for Avelo * (B)OS * AA DFW long-haul expansion * Frontier BizFares * Blind passengers screwed by airline forms * Aeromexico cutting transborder routes this...

The MAX continues to dominate news cycles, but there's lots more out there also worth talking about. Also in this episode: * MAX 9 is back in service, but that's far from the end of the story * MAX 8 delivery to China Southern * Ryanair buying homes near DUB * Delta/Aeromexico Joint ops busted by MEX issues * American gets Haneda Slots for JFK route, but United may get a consolation prize thanks to Hawaiian * IAD Lego model moves to...

Winter weather is giving the industry some troubles, but there's still plenty of hot news to discuss.. Also in this episode: * Delta's A350-1000 order, plus a new 738 config and the A321 premium config is coming soon * Southern Airways Express to Loudon (and eAAgle off the runway at ROC (and KL off the runway at GOT)) * Akasa Orders a bunch of MAXen * Air India A350 PaxEx * Alaska Airlines to YYZ (but dropping PAE-HNL and a couple...

We're on the road this week, hanging out in Antwerp with some friends and talking travel. Also in this episode: * LATAM new liveries * Air India adding SEA/LAX/DFW (ZRH, CGK, FCO, KUL) * AUS new concourse * AAdvantage Updates for 2024 For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Michigan man charged in Meijer mPerks fraud scheme * Travel tales in Antwerp And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

Two major aviation incidents to start the year is not a good look for 2024. Here's hoping things calm down in a hurry. Also in this episode: * The JAL crash at Haneda * The Alaska Airlines depressurization event over Portland For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * Seth made a couple amateur mistakes this week * New Starlux CCs are cool looking * Capital A spins off AirAsia to AirAsia X And plenty...

As 2023 comes to a close we're talking about status earned, how we value it, and what the year ahead holds. We've also got Ed from PizzaInMotion and MilesToGo on the show to try to keep us in line. It almost works. Also in this episode: * Turkish gets major slot boost in Australia * Some unusual plays by FlyingBlue after a mispriced business class award * Approval of Norwegian/Wideroe merger after further review * South African Airways Aims To Triple Fleet | Aviation Week...

Long flights come with challenging performance requirements. Delta looks to shed some weight restrictions and United may be adding some next year. Also in this episode: * Porter/Alaska partnership * AA 787 Deferral * Airbus finally gets its mega Turkish order * JAL first A350-1000 delivery * QF first A220 delivery * WestJet to Seoul * BA operating to Stansted because City still closes on the weekend * Mexicana converting...

Maybe it'll work, but there are some half-baked plans being bandied about. And we're not a fan of that unless they're our half-baked plans. Also in this episode: * New Nuuk airport for 2024 * New Vegas airport * Delta to launch SEA-TPE * United to launch SFO-BCN * Delta A330s stranded in Goose Bay * EWR/IAD-JNB going to 772 * Two cargo bits * Fake engine parts guy arrested For our Patreon subscribers we have...

Alaska Airlines is buying Hawaiian Airlines. There are lots of reasons the deal makes sense, but more than a few questions we have about how it will play out. Also in this episode: * FAA/DOT rules changes for certifications and aircraft monitoring * Visa rules for Malaysia are changing, with major regional tourism impacts * Tulum’s new airport is alive * UA A321neo enters service * UA goes GEO For our Patreon subscribers we have...

No, really, I have no idea what to put here. Also in this episode: * Relatively Successful Thanksgiving Travel Day * Allegiant back at MCO * Oneworld is opening a lounge in Seoul * AS new award charts coming * AA finally kills SEA long-haul * Kittens on a plane * Kiss-and-tell from off-duty crew For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including: * EK  AC/UA * Etihad and FlyingPoo *...

Thanksgiving week but we're all avoiding the worst of the travel challenges, so that's a win. Also in this episode: * More Dubai Air Show bits * Quick Haneda follow-up (It was, unsurprisingly, not quick) * Connect Airlines certificate revoked * Alaska’s revised reward charts * Delta wants Porto, JetBlue wants Lisbon * United’s A321neo inaugural moves up 2 weeks * United IAH B development * United to Tulum *...

With the 2023 Dubai Air Show underway there are plenty of new orders to talk about. And lots of other news, too. Also in this episode: * Norse Atlantic Weighs Alliance Options With Larger Airlines * United Airlines tweaks frequent flyer program to reward credit card spending * ITA A321neo 4-class cabin * Emirates, flydubai, airbaltic and more all ordering at the Dubai Air Show * Maybe a major Airbus Order from Turkish and Riyadh Air MAX...

More cuts coming in Austin, this time American Airlines slashing its mini-hub there. But at least maybe it has a good reason? Also in this episode: * Allegiant earnings * Siem Reap gets a new airport * Delta FFDO FO charged with threatening Captain * New loos at MIA * Schiphol cuts trigger US response * EI/AA codeshare expansion * Icelandair adding PIT/YHZ * Titan Air flight with a melted window For our Patreon...