John Strickland and Garth Lund break down the latest developments and economic realities of the global airline business.
Episodes
Ep 10: Lufthansa Group wins the TAP Air Portugal bid
23 Oct 2026 · 32 min
In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund discuss Lufthansa Group’s winning bid for a stake in TAP, the Azores Airlines sale, and the latest news on Norse Atlantic. What we cover: Lufthansa Group’s winning bid for 44.9% of TAPAzores Airlines: five bidders to submit offers for a majority…
Ep 9: Volotea downsizes as European airlines adjust to higher fuel costs
14 Oct 2026 · 27 min
In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund take a deep dive into Volotea’s restructuring as high fuel prices put pressure on European airlines. What we cover: • Volotea’s restructuring and proposed fleet reduction to 30-35 aircraft • Norse Atlantic’s winter schedule: US down to a single…
Ep 8: European airlines prepare for a challenging winter season
15 Sept 2026 · 36 min
In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at some of the actions taken by European airlines in light of a persistently challenging operating environment. What we cover: Ryanair's winter capacity reductionStrategic reset for Air BalticHow Norse Atlantic is adapting to challenging…
Ep 7: Strong Q2 revenue partially offsets higher fuel bill for European network carriers
20 Aug 2026 · 43 min
In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at June quarter results for the European network airlines where strong premium and long-haul revenue helped to offset the impact of higher fuel prices. What we cover: Air France-KLM, IAG and Lufthansa Group June quarter results Wizz Air June…
Ep 6: Softer yields and higher fuel prices hit European LCC profitability
30 Jul 2026 · 34 min
Both easyJet and Ryanair reported similar trends for the June quarter with softer yields and higher fuel expenses hitting profitability. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund discuss industry highlights from the first set of June quarter results and what renewed conflict in the Gulf…
Ep 5: How European airline consolidation is progressing
27 Jun 2026 · 32 min
easyJet has recently been the subject of several bids by Castlelake to acquire the airline. The move comes amid a broader trend of M&A activity in the sector. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at ongoing consolidation among key European airlines. What we dive into: Castelake's…
Ep 4: How Europe's three large LCCs are weathering a challenging environment
29 May 2026 · 33 min
Ryanair recently published an impressive set of results for the past financial year and announced that it is nearly debt-free. Meanwhile, easyJet saw non-fuel cost inflation increase over the past six months. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund review recent performance and outlook for…
Ep 3: European network airlines deliver a strong Q1
14 May 2026 · 36 min
Q1 saw almost across-the-board margin improvement among Europe's network airlines but higher fuel prices have put a damper on expectations for the rest of 2026. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at how the three network airlines groups in Europe performed in Q1 and the lessons…
Ep 2: How are airlines managing the impact of the Iran conflict?
16 Apr 2026 · 29 min
Between higher fuel prices, shifting demand, and airspace closures, the Iran conflict has impacted both the demand and supply side of the air travel market. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at how airlines are managing the effects of the crisis. What we dive into: Fuel price…
Ep 1: Why is IAG delivering double the margin of its rivals?
27 Mar 2026 · 33 min
While Lufthansa and Air France-KLM navigate complex turnarounds, IAG is delivering a 15% operating margin. In our debut episode of Airline Insight, John Strickland and Garth Lund break down the strategic divide between Europe’s "Big Three" and what 2026 holds for the sector. What we dive into: The…