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Airlines Confidential Podcast

Airlines Confidential Podcast

Scott McCartney 344 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

Hosted by Scott McCartney, former Travel Editor and 'Middle Seat' columnist for The Wall Street Journal, this podcast covers top stories in the airline industry, features C-suite guests, and answers listener questions. It is designed for travel industry insiders, frequent flyers, and aviation enthusiasts. The show was created by and is dedicated to Ben Baldanza.

Episodes

350 - Scott McCartney with Delta CEO Ed Bastian. Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt
350 - Scott McCartney with Delta CEO Ed Bastian. Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt Aug 19, 2026 01:18:25 Scott McCartney with Delta CEO Ed Bastian. Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt. Also: Leadership changes at American Airlines - is it enough? The two American #2482 flights; Apollo to acquire EasyJet; Additions to AA & SWA Boards of Directors; European passport control delays; Listener Q: Did the AA Board make a mistake?
349 - Scott McCartney with Jay Sorensen, CEO, IdeaWorks: Ancillary Revenue in Depth
349 - Scott McCartney with Jay Sorensen, CEO, IdeaWorks: Ancillary Revenue in Depth Aug 12, 2026 01:12:09 Scott McCartney with Jay Sorensen, CEO, IdeaWorks Company: Ancillary Revenue in Depth. Bag fees, Seat options, co-branded credit cards, lounges, and more.
348 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: Dr. Jeremy Stone, CEO, EERO Group
348 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: Dr. Jeremy Stone, CEO, EERO Group Aug 5, 2026 01:20:01 Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: Dr. Jeremy Stone, CEO, EERO Group ( www.eero.nexus/direct ) Also: JetBlue, Frontier report numbers; JetZero to receive $3B; Spirit's former HQ sold; A look at On Time Performance stats courtesy of Cirium; Listener Q's on operations at gates at ORD.
347 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: Greg Anderson, CEO,  Allegiant Travel Company
347 - Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: Greg Anderson, CEO, Allegiant Travel Company Jul 29, 2026 01:21:33 Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Charles Duncan. Guest: Greg Anderson, CEO,  Allegiant Travel Company. Plus: Farnborough Air Show's military focus; Thoughts from  EAA  AirVenture Oshkosh; SWA, United, Alaska, American reports numbers; JetBlue wins bid for former Spirit gates at LGA. 
346 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz
346 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz Jul 22, 2026 00:42:07 Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Oscar Munoz. Topics: More earnings news. A deeper dive into fare data - current fares vs 10 years ago; Investors showing more interest in airlines; A look at the current state of industry competition.
345 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman
345 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman Jul 15, 2026 00:57:58 This week: Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Topics: The fate of EasyJet - Apollo tops Castlelake offer; Earnings season starts with Delta, huge fuel cost increases, refinery income; Tribute to aviator Wally Funk; Thoughts on Delta's new Basic Business Class options; Anko van der Werff appointed CEO at Air Canada; Listener input on post-event audio recordings, Avelo adding routes a
344 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: Joerg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways
344 - Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: Joerg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways Jul 1, 2026 01:14:26 Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: Joerg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways. Also: Two go-arounds at Boston Logan; GAO report issued on airfares indicates strong competition persists; Aviation Week Boeing and Airbus CEO interviews reveal two very different outlooks; Improved ATC system starts taking shape; Listener Q: How to compete in CLT. Happy July 4th! Next episode: July 15th.
343 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis
343 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis Jun 24, 2026 01:05:58 Host Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis. Topics: Prix Versailles names Pittsburgh International among world's most beautiful airports, praises biophilic design; Thoughts from IATA Transport Summit on backordered aircraft, passenger compensation; Issues around E261; European bag fee confusion; Japan Airlines President Mitsuko Tottori bans crew drinking on layovers; Hawaiian cuts
342 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host and Guest Chris Chiames
342 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host and Guest Chris Chiames Jun 17, 2026 01:10:07 Host Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host and Guest Chris Chiames. Topics: The complexity of the Cruise Industry vs Airlines, Working for legendary CEOs. Plus: News from the IATA World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro; Consumers changing views on travel; Scott Kirby continues to talk about an American takeover; A difficult day at Chicago's ORD; Listener input on FAA safety inspection programs
341 - Guest: Glen Hauenstein, Fmr. President, Delta Air Lines
341 - Guest: Glen Hauenstein, Fmr. President, Delta Air Lines Jun 10, 2026 01:29:03 Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt & Host Scott McCartney, with Glen Hauenstein, Fmr. President, Delta Air Lines. Also: A look beyond the public press release on leadership shakeup at Southwest & SWA's corporate culture; Report from the Caribbean Tourism Organization conference in NYC; Listener input: Bipartisan praise for FAA Administrator, Bryan Bedford; Thoughts on redundant Texas airports. Bonus e
340 - Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan. Guest: Erik Olund, CEO, Sky Chefs
340 - Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan. Guest: Erik Olund, CEO, Sky Chefs Jun 3, 2026 01:11:30 Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan. Guest: Erik Olund, CEO, Sky Chefs. Also: A summary of the CAPA Airline Leader Summit in Charleston SC, Boeing Max7 closer to certification; What might happen with Spirit's LGA slots? SWA fare hikes holding; Scott Kirby downplays a JetBlue acquisition; Breeze expands at CHS; Listener feedback on Bryan Bedford's Biden Administration comment.
339 - Scott McCartney with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford
339 - Scott McCartney with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford May 27, 2026 01:02:55 Scott McCartney with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. Topics: Airspace management, equipment modernization, controller staffing, and more. Also: Weather and a sinkhole, and Spirit's eye popping March numbers tell the unfortunate story.

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