The Air Show
- Episodes
- 118
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 12, 2026
About the podcast
Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss the business of the sky on this aviation podcast.
Episodes 118
U.S. Airport Costs Just Keep Rising
How are U.S. airports funded, and why can major projects be so expensive? Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers explain how airports rely on different funding structures and passenger fees, and how that influences …
Show notes
How are U.S. airports funded, and why can major projects be so expensive? Brett Snyder and Brian Sumers explain how airports rely on different funding structures and passenger fees, and how that influences which airlines fly where.
Thanks to the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Pilots and Points, A Plusgrade Company for sponsoring this episode.
The Wildly Overblown JetBlue Panic
JetBlue's loyalty bonds plunged, bankruptcy fears spread, and the stock followed. Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder look at how JetBlue got here – including the failed Spirit deal – and whether the panic is …
Show notes
JetBlue's loyalty bonds plunged, bankruptcy fears spread, and the stock followed. Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder look at how JetBlue got here – including the failed Spirit deal – and whether the panic is overblown.
Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Alaska–Hawaiian pilots and Tulsa International Airport.
The MAX 10 is Certified
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 …
Show notes
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 what its extra seats mean for capacity.
Thanks to the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Pilots and Flex Pay by Upgrade for sponsoring this episode.
The US Softens Its Stance On Mexico...For Now
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 …
Show notes
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 Delta-Aeroméxico partnership became entangled – and what the latest concessions could mean for airlines’ growth plans.
Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Alaska–Hawaiian pilots, Plusgrade, and Tulsa International Airport.
American: THE Premier Global Airline Based in the U.S.
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 …
Show notes
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 LAX.
Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Alaska–Hawaiian pilots, Plusgrade, and SkyGo.
A Joint Venture Primer
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 …
Show notes
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 consolidation shaped today’s global partnerships.
Thanks to this episode's sponsors: Alaska–Hawaiian pilots, Plusgrade, and Tulsa International Airport.
The Air Show Live at Alaska Investor Day
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 …
Show notes
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 Starlink Wi-Fi, and more.
Thanks to SkyGo and PlusGrade for sponsoring this week's episode.
Lounges Are The New Moneymaker
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 …
Show notes
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 why overcrowding is forcing airlines to rethink the airport experience.
Thanks to Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Pilots, SkyGo and PlusGrade for sponsoring this week's episode
An Extra Long Range Summer is Coming
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 …
Show notes
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 with routes to Europe and Asia.
Thanks to the Alaska-Hawaiian Airlines Pilots and Flex Pay by Upgrade for sponsoring this episode.
American Needs More Urgency
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 …
Show notes
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 Flex Pay by Upgrade.
Southwest's COO on the MAX 7 and Ops Fixes
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 …
Show notes
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
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 …
Show notes
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 company for sponsoring this week's episode.
The Air Show Attends An Air Show
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 …
Show notes
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 more.
Thank you to SkyGo for sponsoring this week's episode.
The Unsettled Transpacific
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 …
Show notes
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 airlines that are trying to cement their place across the Pacific.
Thank you to SkyGo for sponsoring this week's episode.
Mergers Improve Competition
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 …
Show notes
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 it’s not a bad report itself.
Thank you to Points, a Plusgrade company and SkyGo for sponsoring this week's episode.
SHOW NOTES: GAO's report, "AIRLINE COMPETITION: Indicators Suggest
Increased Competition in the Past Two Decades, but Lower-Cost Airlines Face Challenges" - https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-26-107740.pdfIs There Room For An All-Premium Airline?
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 …
Show notes
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.
Thanks to SkyGo for sponsoring this episode.
Got your own question? Send it to [email protected]
The Unique Hawaiian Interisland Market
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 …
Show notes
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 navigate this important market.
Thanks to SkyGo for sponsoring this episode.
The Air Show will be taking a break for the July 4th weekend. We'll be back the following week.
Gossip, Hot Topics, and Jumpseats at IATA
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 …
Show notes
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 Plusgrade company, for sponsoring this week's episode.
SHOW NOTES:
The number of times Scott Kirby has been mentioned on the show
Jon Says U.S. Airlines Are Going In Reverse
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 …
Show notes
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 of a major structural shift.
Thank you to Points, a Plusgrade company, for sponsoring this week's episode.
Fort Lauderdale: The Most Interesting Airport in America
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 …
Show notes
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.
Thank you to Points, a Plusgrade company, for sponsoring this week's episode.
Allegiant Drops The Drama
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 …
Show notes
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 explain how the acquisition fits into Allegiant's strategy for growth.
The Government’s Role In Spirit’s Demise
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 …
Show notes
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.
The A220-500, An Airplane Palate Cleanser
The Airbus A220 Stretch, aka the A220-500, is a plane that's stalked the industry since the C Series was launched in 2008. But it sure looks like Airbus is getting closer to bringing it to reality. Jon …
Show notes
The Airbus A220 Stretch, aka the A220-500, is a plane that's stalked the industry since the C Series was launched in 2008. But it sure looks like Airbus is getting closer to bringing it to reality. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about why it was a threat to Boeing then, but not to Boeing now.
We would like to thank Delight.ai for supporting The Air Show.
The Government is Making Things Worse
There’s been overwhelming weirdness in the decisions coming out of the federal government, and it is creating real harm in this industry. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about the President weighing in about …
Show notes
There’s been overwhelming weirdness in the decisions coming out of the federal government, and it is creating real harm in this industry. Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about the President weighing in about a rumored United-American merger, Trump's suggestion that the government bail out Spirit, and the heated transcripts of an FAA meeting around who could fly what at O'Hare.
We would like to thank Plusgrade for supporting The Air Show.
Show Notes:
U.S. DOT/FAA - Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) Scheduling Reduction Meeting Transcripts – https://www.regulations.gov/document/FAA-2004-16944-0165
We Have to Talk About Mergers
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said recently that the administration would like to see one of the larger airlines buy one of the smaller ones. At around the same time, Bloomberg reported that United talked …
Show notes
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said recently that the administration would like to see one of the larger airlines buy one of the smaller ones. At around the same time, Bloomberg reported that United talked about buying American. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder discuss how real any of this is, and what it would look like if any of the U.S. airlines merged.
Breeze's Lukas Johnson Sounds Off
Brian Sumers talks with Lukas Johnson, Breeze Airways' opinionated chief commercial officer, to get his views on demand, fuel costs, credit card revenues and the power of an airline's brand. He also …
Show notes
Brian Sumers talks with Lukas Johnson, Breeze Airways' opinionated chief commercial officer, to get his views on demand, fuel costs, credit card revenues and the power of an airline's brand. He also tells us who he thinks should replace Robert Isom (if Isom is let go) and why he's happy to be known as the industry's second-most arrogant commercial mind.
Thanks to Gilat Stellar Blu for sponsoring this episode.
Oil, and the Rest of the World
U.S. airlines may be cautiously optimistic about the effect that high oil prices will have on their bottom line, but not so much executives at non-U.S. airlines. Fuel is really expensive out there for them. Jon …
Show notes
U.S. airlines may be cautiously optimistic about the effect that high oil prices will have on their bottom line, but not so much executives at non-U.S. airlines. Fuel is really expensive out there for them. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder talk about the real concerns those companies have about covering their costs.
Thanks to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport for sponsoring this episode.
United’s Media Day Extravaganza
Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder report back from United's media day where new hard products were shown off on several different aircraft. It was also on full display that the airline has been preparing for …
Show notes
Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder report back from United's media day where new hard products were shown off on several different aircraft. It was also on full display that the airline has been preparing for the next downturn with strategies that allow it to move forward with long term plans even when things don’t look good in the short term.
We would like to thank Plusgrade for supporting The Air Show.
Euphoria Sweeps the Airlines
U.S. airlines gave an update of the business at the JP Morgan Industrials Conference and, despite the state of the world and spiking fuel prices, they basically said everything is awesome. Jon Ostrower, Brian …
Show notes
U.S. airlines gave an update of the business at the JP Morgan Industrials Conference and, despite the state of the world and spiking fuel prices, they basically said everything is awesome. Jon Ostrower, Brian Sumers and Brett Snyder explain the reasons why the airlines are optimistic, including high consumer demand.
The Myriad Aviation Angles in The War In Iran
The war in Iran sent a massive wave of disruption to flights operating throughout the region and any flight crossing overhead because it's a major aerial thoroughfare between India, Australia, Southeast …
Show notes
The war in Iran sent a massive wave of disruption to flights operating throughout the region and any flight crossing overhead because it's a major aerial thoroughfare between India, Australia, Southeast Asia and Europe. Jon Ostrower and Brett Snyder examine the long-term effect on flows to places like Dubai and Doha as superconnecting hubs, and the impact that the swings in oil prices will have on all airlines globally.
These are the latest 40 of 118 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
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