The Air Show
Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss the business of the sky on this aviation podcast.
Episodes
98 episodes
Allegiant Drops The Drama
Just a few months after selling its ill-fated hotel in Florida, Allegiant completed one of its most profitable quarters in recent memory. Now, it needs to focus on how it can make its acquisition of Sun Country a winner. With the deal now close...
The Government’s Role In Spirit’s Demise
Spirit is the first major airline to have abruptly shut down in the U.S. since 1991. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder explain how the government, from the Obama Administration to now, all had a role in the company's demise.Tha...
The A220-500, An Airplane Palate Cleanser
The Airbus A220 Stretch, aka the A220-500, is a plane that's stalked the industry since the C Series was launched in 2008. But it sure looks like Airbus is getting closer to bringing it to reality. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder ta...
The Government is Making Things Worse
There’s been overwhelming weirdness in the decisions coming out of the federal government, and it is creating real harm in this industry. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about the President weighing in about a rumored United-American merger,...
We Have to Talk About Mergers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said recently that the administration would like to see one of the larger airlines buy one of the smaller ones. At around the same time, Bloomberg reported that United talked about buying American. Jon Ostrow...
Breeze's Lukas Johnson Sounds Off
Brian Sumers talks with Lukas Johnson, Breeze Airways' opinionated chief commercial officer, to get his views on demand, fuel costs, credit card revenues and the power of an airline's brand. He also tells us who he thinks should replace Robert ...
Oil, and the Rest of the World
U.S. airlines may be cautiously optimistic about the effect that high oil prices will have on their bottom line, but not so much executives at non-U.S. airlines. Fuel is really expensive out there for them. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett ...
United’s Media Day Extravaganza
Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder report back from United's media day where new hard products were shown off on several different aircraft. It was also on full display that the airline has been preparing for the next downturn with strategies that a...
Euphoria Sweeps the Airlines
U.S. airlines gave an update of the business at the JP Morgan Industrials Conference and, despite the state of the world and spiking fuel prices, they basically said everything is awesome. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder explain the...
The Myriad Aviation Angles in The War In Iran
The war in Iran sent a massive wave of disruption to flights operating throughout the region and any flight crossing overhead because it's a major aerial thoroughfare between India, Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe. Jon Ostrower and Brett S...
A Path for Spirit/The Chicago Drama
Spirit Airlines has a plan to save itself by adjusting to seasonal demand, pivoting into more premium seats and shrinking its debt and lease obligations. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder break down whether the move will revive the Spirit brand. Pl...
United Changes MileagePlus To Reward Cardholders
United announced major changes last week to its MileagePlus loyalty program. It soon will offer the biggest incentives to credit cardholders, while removing perks from other flyers. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss why it's a good thing th...
Where in the World is Steve Giordano
This week, Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers welcome one of the most well travelled humans on the planet, Steve Giordano. He's founder of Nomadic Aviation Group and star of the YouTube channel "Cockpit Casual." They talk about the business of ferry...
Frontier Goes Back to Big and Traditional
There was a great deal of intrigue surrounding Frontier Airlines not for what it did, but for what it didn’t do – sell tickets beyond early April until just recently. But what is clear is that there is a shift under the brand new CEO Jimmy Demp...
Southwest’s Big Changes are Done, Now What?
Southwest made big changes in the past year, including the introduction of checked bag fees and assigned seating. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about where the shifts take the airline with two Southwest executives – COO Andre...
Allegiant and Sun Country: An Obvious Combination?
Allegiant announced it will buy Sun Country with the deal expected to close later this year. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder debate the possible benefits and risks of this combo.Reach top leadership and decision-makers at airlines around t...
The 787-10 is having a moment
Boeing's 787-9 has been the sexy airplane in the Dreamliner lineup until now, with the 787-10 occupying a smaller niche. But more recently, the 787-10 has excited Alaska, United, Delta and others. Jon Ostrower and Brian Sumers explain what's dr...
ATR Bets on JSX
ATR has built an aircraft that should interest U.S. airlines because of its low relative operating costs on short routes. But with larger airlines unwilling to take a chance on a turboprop, ATR is hoping public charter operator JSX will change ...
American Remakes Its Schedule
Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers break down six notable network changes that American recently announced, including changing its bank structure at DFW, going big in Chicago, putting more premium-heavy planes into rotation, and more.Reach to...
Revenue Management 201
Brett Snyder offers a more advanced (and less time-consuming) lesson on revenue management — in response to the recent Airlines Confidential episode — in the final episode of 2025.Thank you for listening to The Air Show this year. Your c...
Condor CEO shows his stripes
Condor is one of Europe's only remaining independent long-haul airlines. It may not stay that way for long. Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower spoke to Condor CEO Peter Gerber about the carrier's path forward now that its majority shareholder w...
The essential Dubai Airshow recap
Jon Ostrower is back from Dubai Airshow with news and highlights to share with Brett Snyder, plus listener feedback from our recent episode about Delta Airlines.We would like to thank Plusgrade fo...
What's wrong with Delta, part 1
A listener wrote to us: "I'm a United employee, so I do enjoy hearing about how much everyone except UA and DL sucks. That said, a more challenging series of episodes might be 'what's wrong with DL or UA'...so tell us where you think we suck, a...
Airlines cope with FAA chaos + we take your questions
Brett Snyder and Jon Ostrower talk about the DOT and FAA ordering airlines to cut flights and the response from the airlines and the teams of people (listeners to this podcast) who are helping us all through it. They also respond to questions a...