Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss the business of the sky on this aviation podcast.
Épisodes
The MAX 10 is Certified
29 oct. 2026 · 35 min
The FAA just certified Boeing's 737 MAX 10 after years of delays. It's the 17th and final 737 derivative, and Jon Ostrower tells Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder about the changes Boeing made along the way (including levered landing gear that took years to engineer), where airlines will fly it, and…
The US Softens Its Stance On Mexico...For Now
22 oct. 2026 · 34 min
Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder explore the pressures reshaping Mexico’s aviation industry, from Mexico City’s airport constraints and the rise of Felipe Ángeles International Airport to escalating U.S. regulatory disputes. They explain how safety downgrades, slot and cargo restrictions, and the…
American: THE Premier Global Airline Based in the U.S.
15 oct. 2026 · 36 min
American Airlines has the ambition to become “the premier global airline based in the U.S." Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about how realistic (or unrealistic) that could be, and what that could mean for premium cabins, a stronger global network with trans-Pacific routes, and a renewed push at…
A Joint Venture Primer
8 oct. 2026 · 37 min
Alaska Airlines recently announced its plan to join American’s immunized joint ventures over the North Pacific and over the Atlantic. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder talk about the competitive and regulatory stakes, and how decades of airline policy, open-skies agreements, and…
The Air Show Live at Alaska Investor Day
1 oct. 2026 · 52 min
Alaska Airlines President and CFO Shane Tackett joins Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder in front of a live audience in Seattle to talk about Alaska's media and investor day. They talk about the company's push into premium travel, its plans for 737 MAX 10 transcontinental service, free…
Lounges Are The New Moneymaker
25 sept. 2026 · 39 min
Airline lounges have evolved from exclusive perks into a powerful revenue engine driven by memberships, premium tickets, and credit card partnerships. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder unpack the increasingly complicated rules behind lounge access, the rise of premium card lounges, and…
An Extra Long Range Summer is Coming
17 sept. 2026 · 34 min
Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder dissect the airlines’ plans for summer 2027, led by the rapid rollout of the Airbus A321XLR. It's supposed to be the game changer for longer, thinner routes, and they examine how United, American and Air Canada are each approaching the aircraft a little differently…
American Needs More Urgency
27 août 2026 · 40 min
Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder unpack American Airlines's latest course corrections to play catch-up with Delta and United, from adding more premium seats and bringing back screens to reshuffling senior leadership. It's good news, but is it happening quickly enough? Thanks to this week's sponsor…
Southwest's COO on the MAX 7 and Ops Fixes
20 août 2026 · 37 min
Southwest’s Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson joins Brett Snyder to talk about the certification of the MAX 7, the airline’s operational troubles, and yes, even Andrew’s responsibilities themselves. Thank you to Points, a Plusgrade company and SkyGo for sponsoring this week's episode.
The Shifting Role of LaGuardia
6 août 2026 · 35 min
LaGuardia is one of the most congested airports in the country, and the way that airport has been used has changed dramatically over time. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder dig into LaGuardia’s service over the years and where it might go in the future. Thank you to Points, a Plusgrade…
The Air Show Attends An Air Show
31 juil. 2026 · 31 min
Jon Ostrower is back to talk about what he saw at the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK. He tells Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder about the breakthrough of a Saab 340B modified with a hybrid electric power design, how the show was surprisingly weighted towards the defense industry, and…
The Unsettled Transpacific
23 juil. 2026 · 32 min
Transatlantic strategies are pretty well set for North American carriers, but transpacific strategies are definitely not. Delta seems to be making its move now, though Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder disagree on whether this should have happened earlier. This week, we talk about that and all the…
Mergers Improve Competition
16 juil. 2026 · 27 min
The U.S. Government Accountability Office came out with a new report on airline competition and the challenges for lower-cost airlines. But Brett Snyder and guest host Courtney Miller, founder and managing director of Visual Approach, poke holes in why this report isn’t all that useful, even if…
Is There Room For An All-Premium Airline?
9 juil. 2026 · 32 min
A listener asked why can’t an airline be successful doing either a premium or, at least, an elevated experience? Something like a resurrected Midwest Express? Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder explain how the economics – from segmentation to upselling – make it pretty hard for that to be viable.…
The Unique Hawaiian Interisland Market
26 juin 2026 · 36 min
Hawaiʻi is more than paradise, it's also home to the unique and complex interisland market. Between the dramatically shifting demand and the nature of the flying that limits the choice of fleet, Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder talk about how airlines like Hawaiian and Southwest have to successfully…
Gossip, Hot Topics, and Jumpseats at IATA
18 juin 2026 · 31 min
Brian Sumers and Jon Ostrower are back from the IATA annual general meeting in Rio. They tell Brett Snyder about what they saw and heard, from how US airlines aren't worried about the price of fuel to the way fares are moving differently in the US compared to Europe. Thank you to Points, a…
Jon Says U.S. Airlines Are Going In Reverse
5 juin 2026 · 33 min
U.S. aviation, the world’s original air travel marketplace, is going backwards rapidly. That's what Jon Ostrower argues, and he says there are signs in things like premium, capacity and airports. He'll try to convince Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder that America's aviation industry is on the verge…
Fort Lauderdale: The Most Interesting Airport in America
21 mai 2026 · 27 min
With its largest airline – Spirit – out of business, FLL has become a fascinating airport where airlines are all jockeying for position. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about which airlines are trying to get a leg up in Fort Lauderdale and, for that matter, all of South Florida.…
Allegiant Drops The Drama
14 mai 2026 · 31 min
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 closed, Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers, and Brett Snyder…
The Government’s Role In Spirit’s Demise
7 mai 2026 · 28 min
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. Thanks to Plusgrade for sponsoring this episode.