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Airlines Confidential Podcast

Scott McCartney
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
United Airlines
American Airlines
Airline Pricing
Loyalty Programs
Delta Airlines
Air Traffic Control
Low Cost Carriers
Aviation Safety
FAA
Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Ben Baldanza
American Airlines Flight 5342
Army Blackhawk Helicopter
American Foundation For Suicide Prevention
Frontier Airlines
Boeing
Airline Labor Relations
Pittsburgh International Airport

Hosted by Scott McCartney, Fmr. Travel Editor/"Middle Seat" Columnist for The Wall Street Journal. Top Stories, C-Suite Guests, Listener Q's. The Leading Podcast Reaching Travel Industry Insiders, Frequent Flyers, & Aviation Geeks. Created by & Dedicated to Ben Baldanza.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes323Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for Airlines Confidential Podcast

Latest Episodes

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 r... more

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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 co... more

YouTube

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 diffe... more

YouTube

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; Expansio... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

David Seymour
Chief Operating Officer at American Airlines and Army veteran
American Airlines
Episode: 323 - Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: David Seymour, COO, American Airlines
John Heimlich
Vice President and Chief Economist for Airlines for America
Airlines for America
Episode: 322 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: John Heimlich, VP/Chief Economist, AFA
Oscar Munoz
Former CEO of United Airlines
United Airlines
Episode: 321 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz
Don Carty
Chairman of Porter Airlines, formerly the CEO of American Airlines and Virgin America.
Porter Airlines
Episode: 320 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Guest: Don Carty, Chairman, Porter Airlines
Phil Washington
CEO of Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport
Episode: 315 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan, Guest Phil Washington, CEO, Denver Int. Airport
Scott Kirby
CEO of United Airlines, architect of the airline's transformation
United Airlines
Episode: 313 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz, Fmr CEO United, Guest: Scott Kirby, CEO, United
Alex Cruz
Former CEO of British Airways and current executive chairman of Port Aventura World.
Port Aventura World
Episode: 312 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman, Guest Alex Cruz, Fmr. CEO, British Airways
Alex Mans
Founder and CEO of FLYR, an AI company revolutionizing airline retailing
FLYR
Episode: 311 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt. Guest: Alex Mans. Founder & CEO, FLYR
Andrew Watterson
Chief Operating Officer of Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Episode: 310 - Scott McCartney with Guests: Andrew Watterson & Jay Sorensen

Host

Scott McCartney
Former Travel Editor and 'Middle Seat' Columnist for The Wall Street Journal, Scott McCartney brings extensive industry knowledge to discussions about the airline sector, leveraging his background to explore significant trends and challenges in the aviation market.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 285 ratings
  • Wishy-washy and pro-industry, not pro-consumer

    I like all things aviation so I enjoyed listening for 2 years, but the show tended toward wishy-washy chatter, especially when conservative guests rotated through. The last straw was the guy with the drawl who read and agreed with a letter about how the US has become an unwelcoming place to foreign travelers. Minutes earlier, he'd said there was no reason for the government shutdown and he was just happy it was over. (Even Oscar Muñoz, former United CEO, had acknowledged the other side of the sh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    paul4792
    United States2 months ago
  • WAY TOO POLITICAL WITH LITTLE INSIGHT

    11/28/25 update. Hyper political host Scott is an embarrassment to the industry. Interjects politics into every question and show to the point that it’s vomit inducing. Oscar couldn’t define revenue management if you handed him a dictionary so don’t look for much in terms of hard hitting insights from him.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Crazy192837
    United States2 months ago
  • 5 star show

    I’ve listened to the show from the very beginning. The Richard Anderson/Doug Parker episode finally inspired me to write a review.

    This show is officially required listening for ANYONE interested in commercial aviation. This episode in particular should win a people’s choice award. So enjoyable from start to finish. Please more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sidestep
    United States4 months ago
  • Always excellent

    Always a good listen. I look forward to Scott and his co-host’s weekly discussion of topics from the airline world. The guests are always relevant and give great insight into today’s airline world. Bottom line: From the Baldanza question to the mailbag questions the show keeps me entertained and wanting for more. Always. Keep up the great work Scott!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mtee2
    United States4 months ago
  • Fun but biased and wishy-washy

    I like all things aviation so I enjoy listening, but the show tends toward wishy-washy chatter, especially when conservative guests rotate through.

    By conservative, I mean, defending entrenched airlines no matter what (and having a little fun boosting tiny or low-quality carriers that will never challenge the majors).

    I'd relish real talk about markets, pricing and efficiency. They'd do well to study the work of a real economist like Hubert Horan. There's no mystique to airlines: they are ruth... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    paul4792
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The podcast is recognized for featuring knowledgeable guests who offer valuable insights, making it a must-listen for airline professionals.
Listeners appreciate deep insights into the airline industry and find the discussion engaging and informative for those interested in commercial aviation.
However, some reviews criticize a perceived bias towards industry perspectives rather than a consumer-friendly discussion, leading to mixed receptions among certain audiences.
Overall, the content is often viewed as both entertaining and educational, maintaining a following among aviation enthusiasts and industry professionals.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

322 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: John Heimlich, VP/Chief Economist, AFA
Q: Do you think American can turn its operation around?
Yes, they can make these changes, but they need to act more like a speedboat than an aircraft carrier to adjust quickly.
323 - Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: David Seymour, COO, American Airlines
Q: What changes are you considering for long-term improvements in operations?
David emphasized the need for continued investment in technology to improve communication and coordination during irregular operations, rather than just increasing crew or aircraft numbers.
323 - Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: David Seymour, COO, American Airlines
Q: What happened that American seems to have had a more difficult time handling this storm and recovering from this storm?
David explained that the storm hit five of American's nine hubs in close succession, which created a compounding effect that significantly impacted operations, particularly at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport.
321 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz
Q: What do you think about Charlotte's airport and American Airlines' investment there?
Oscar agrees with Scott's assessment that American Airlines takes Charlotte for granted and suggests it might be more profitable for American to invest in competitive markets instead.
321 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz
Q: Are airlines underestimating how much aircraft seat layout affects the perceived value of basic economy?
Oscar Munoz suggests airlines are aware of the issue but prioritize the broader pricing strategies over fixing minor leaks in revenue caused by aircraft seat layouts.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Airlines Confidential Podcast

What is Airlines Confidential Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Featuring in-depth conversations surrounding the airline industry, this series engages listeners by discussing the latest developments, challenges, and innovations affecting the sector. Key topics include airline mergers, operational strategies, customer service, and the evolving competitive landscape. With insights from seasoned industry leaders and experts, episodes often explore how economic, political, and technological changes shape airline operations. The show is known for its candid discussions and relatability, making it suitable for aviation professionals, travelers, and enthusiasts seeking a deeper understanding of the industry's dynamics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Airlines Confidential Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Airlines Confidential Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Airlines Confidential Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Airlines Confidential Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for Airlines Confidential Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does Airlines Confidential Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Airlines Confidential Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Airlines Confidential Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Airlines Confidential Podcast:

1. The Air Show
2. Airline Weekly Lounge
3. AvTalk - Aviation Podcast
4. Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast
5. Pilot to Pilot

How many episodes of Airlines Confidential Podcast are there?

Airlines Confidential Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 323 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Airlines Confidential Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Airlines Confidential Podcast?

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Airlines Confidential Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on Airlines Confidential Podcast?

Recent guests on Airlines Confidential Podcast include:

1. David Seymour
2. John Heimlich
3. Oscar Munoz
4. Don Carty
5. Phil Washington
6. Scott Kirby
7. Alex Cruz
8. Alex Mans

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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