Airlines Confidential Podcast

Scott McCartney

Hosted by Scott McCartney, Fmr. Travel Editor/"Mi…

  • 1 hour 9 minutes
    329- Scott McCartney with "Professor" Doug Parker on Route & Hub Profitability
    Host Scott McCartney with "Professor" Doug Parker on Route & Hub Profitability. Also: Traffic levels at O'Hare; TSA funding issues continue; Spirit plan calls for more shrinking; Listener takes issue with idea that General Aviation not paying fair share.
    18 March 2026, 4:01 am
  • 1 hour 8 minutes
    328 - Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Guest: Michael Huerta, Fmr Administrator, FAA
    Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Guest: Michael Huerta, Fmr Administrator, FAA. Also: The war and fuel prices; A change of the Homeland Security Administrator; Delta leadership changes; Listener feedback on the loyalty program pooling idea.
    11 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 11 minutes
    327 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Guest: Charlie Sultan, President Concur Travel
    Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Guest: Charlie Sultan, President Concur Travel. Topics: Major Middle East air travel disruptions; Elliot Management sells more SWA shares - says "mission accomplished"; Frontier shares drop; Spirit to drop billions in debt and push forward; An idea for an LCC to gain a competitive advantage; Listener input on Chris Sununu's ash tray comment, ATC improvement thoughts.
    4 March 2026, 12:00 am
  • 59 minutes 27 seconds
    326 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt, Guest: Chris Sununu, CEO, Airlines for America
    This week: Guest Co-Host: Henry Harteveldt, Guest: Chris Sununu, CEO, Airlines for America. Also: Spirit announces plan to emerge from bankruptcy; Dealing with the Nor'easter and DHS funding issues; United announces lower redemption costs for co-branded credit cardholders; Listener input on the suspension of the Trusted Traveler Program, and the labor situation at American.
    25 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 27 minutes
    325 - Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis. Guest: Sean Donohue, Fmr CEO, DFW Int. Airport
    Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis. Guest: Sean Donohue, Fmr CEO, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Also: Party Balloons (not drones) over El Paso Airport; Government shutdown & potential disruption in TSA operations; Two Elliott Mgt-aligned Board Members step down at SWA; Spirit & Frontier reduce number of planes; Labor concerns continue at AA, Does American have an internal cultural problem? Should DFW and Love Field ownership be combined? A pilot listener's personal experiences with major airline shutdowns.
    18 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    324 - Guest Co-Host, Charles Duncan, Guest: Scott Hamilton, Author, Founder, Leeham Company
    Guest Co-Host, Charles Duncan, Guest: Scott Hamilton, Founder & Managing Director, Leeham Company and author: The Rise and Fall of Boeing: And The Way Back. Also: Elliott Mgt sells some SWA shares; Spirit sells more Chicago gates; AA employees vote no confidence; International travel bookings down; Listener Q on hub economics.
    11 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 13 minutes
    323 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: David Seymour, COO, American Airlines
    Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: David Seymour, COO, American Airlines. Topics: AA hit hard by weather related operational issues; A good week for Southwest, cash pouring in, will Elliott Mgt cash out? American earnings drop; JetBlue down; NTSB report issued on chopper collision with AA flight; Big increase in flights by United at ORD; Listener questions: Is there room for a new airline? What's the cost to start service at an airport?
    4 February 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 19 minutes
    322 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: John Heimlich, VP/Chief Economist, AFA
    Guest CoHost Dave Hilfman. Guest: John Heimlich, VP/Chief Economist, Airlines For America. Also: Michael O'Leary and Elon Musk spar over Starlink; The latest Wall Street Journal airline scorecard; Is Castlelake an answer to Spirit's woes? American corrects "most profitable hub" statement on previous episode; Listener input on Southwest's new revenue prospects.
    28 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 34 minutes 51 seconds
    321 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz
    Host Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz. Topics: Do the rich fly Delta? Frontier not yet selling tickets for Spring/Summer - Did Barry Biffle run off with the scheduling system password? Looking at the Frontier-Spirit potential in a different way; ALPA appeals to Spirit bondholders; JetZero completes Series B Round; Listener thoughts on Basic Economy purchasing decisions, and American's seeming lack of investment in CLT.
    21 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 10 minutes
    320 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Guest: Don Carty, Chairman, Porter Airlines
    Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman, Guest: Don Carty, Chairman, Porter Airlines. Also: The Allegiant- Sun Country deal; Is Frontier-Spirit now more likely? Altimeter conflict - FAA putting out 5G plan for public comment; Airport debt increase rises; Expansion at (AUS) Austin, TX; SWA transformation progress; Listener input on baggage fee structure and an alternative method.
    14 January 2026, 12:00 am
  • 1 hour 14 minutes
    319 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt, Guest: Jeremy Bowen, CEO, Cirium
    Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt, Guest: Jeremy Bowen, CEO, Cirium. Topic: 2025 On Time Performance Award Winners. Also: Storms caused holiday travel challenges; Two operational mismanagement examples; American increases Chicago flights; Spirit burning through cash; Listener questions if Pratt & Whitney sponsorship impacts the podcast's news coverage.
    7 January 2026, 5:01 am
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