IAGblog Podcasts

Dublin-based Patrick Edmond is a former CityJet GM Commercial (part of Air France). Recently Patrick wrote an article for Airline Business in which he makes the case that while regional airlines are threatened by industry structural changes, they remain viable. We go on to discuss right sizing, emerging airplane programs and the potential of replacing the ~30-seater turboprop.

EFBs, as they are known, are a big item coming to flight decks. We discuss these with Joe Ayson, Director of Business & Corporate Development at Allegiant Systems Inc., a part of Allegiant Travel Company.

We had a fascinating call with an EMBRAER pioneer recently. Satoshi Yokota has served as Member of the Board of Directors of Embraer SA since 2011. He previously served as Member of the Executive Board and EVP for Strategic Planning and Technology Development of EMBRAER from 2007 to J2009. He is an electrical engineer trained at the Technological Institute of Aeronautics in 1964. He has held several positions at EMBRAER from 1970 to 2008 as Assistant Director of Programs and Commercial Contracts, EVP of Engineering and Development, VP Industrial and finally to Executive VP of Strategic Planning and Technological Development. He was Chairman of the Board of ELEB EMBRAER Liebherr SA of Brazil from 2000 to 2008 and consultant of EMBRAER from 2009 to 2011. He is Director of TPI, the Contec Fiesp, Parque Tecnologico Association SJC, Chairman of IpplanInstitute for Research, Planning and Administration and Member of the Board of Jacto Equipamentos Agricolas. With a background like this you can imagine what an interesting man he is.

Today Teal Group VP Analysis, Richard Aboulafia, published his monthly newsletter. The September newsletter will be found here.  In it Richard describes seven "good" things about such a deal and four "challenges".  Discussing these ideas with Richard are AirInsight's Ernie Arvai and Addison Schonland.

There are many ways to look at the potential (and quite likely) merger of American Airlines and US Airways. There are the obvious issues everyone is talking about, but take a listen to the less obvious issues. The impact on start up airlines, the alliance impact, the impact on US airlines like Alaska and jetBlue and quite importantly, the impact on the GDS systems. The disruption of such a merger will be not be ripples in a pond. The most clear impact will be on airfares - they will rise even higher. This improved financial situation might be good for airlines as their improved financials might even make them investment options again. But the impact will also have to run through political approval - which is not obvious. Discussing the situation for nearly 30 minutes we have airline and travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt from Atmosphere Research and Timothy O'Neill-Dunne, managing partner at T2Impact.

Aviation Week and Aviation Daily journalist Andy Compart published a story on the outcome of an arbitration between the airline and its pilots. The airline won the arbitration and this opens up a host of changes the airline can now consider.

Air Baltic has become launch customer for Satisfly (http://www.satisfly.com/). The system allows you to register a profile and then ensure you are seated next to somebody that is highly likely to be interesting to you. Its a neat idea and should make flying more fun again.

Over the past two years we have seen a remarkable surge in orders for single aisle airplanes. Much of this has been driven by fuel prices. But there has also been an issue bubbling under - airplanes in many fleets are getting older. Pat Duggins (http://www.patduggins.com/) is an expert on aging airplanes and spent some time explaining the issues. You might be surprised what you learn from this.

Richard Dussault VP Marketing at Pratt & Whitney Canada spent some time discussing the company's substantial history in the making of turboprop engines. But as interesting as that is, its the vision of the future is. PWC is well into the development of an engine up to 8,000 SHP. Such an engine could power a turboprop airliner over 90 seats.

About six months ago we spoke with an entrepreneur with an idea. You can watch him discuss it here http://youtu.be/pmZEIuqvHXA. Today the idea takes off, so to speak. Wade Eyerly, CEO and Founder of SurfAir took time to speak with us while commuting in California, the new base for the start-up airline. The business model is unusual - it is subscription based. They are limiting their base to 500 people as a start and as of this interview, 20% of those slots were sold out. This sounds like a great idea.

The framework agreement from a year ago has made huge progress. Yesterday's announcement is remarkable. Never before have two aircraft companies decided to combine their interests quite like this. It is more than ground breaking. For an airline looking at new technologies the combined offering could be very interesting. COMAC has some catching up to do, but with Bombardier's help that process will likely accelerate. For Bombardier this friendship is pregnant with potential - China is a huge market. Bombardier has been doing business in China a long time and understands the unique challenges that brings to the table. Having COMAC as an ally is only good news for the Canadians. Talking about the new arrangement being put in place between the companies is Bombardier's Ben Boehm.

Gordon Autry, Founder and CEO of Rocky Mountain Airways passed away Saturday March 10, 2012 at his home on the Lazy-A Ranch, near Montrose Colorado. Here is talking about building the airline before and after deregulation.

We were given an opportunity to speak with Chris Young, Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB engine Program Director. He describes the program's progress - 18 months into the test phase; they now have their ninth engine running. With over 1,700 hours they have achieved two-thirds of the certification program. Rolls-Royce has met its milestones to date and is comfortable they will offer Airbus' A350 XWB the "best engine".

Our brain trust consists of Michele McDonald of Editor of the Travel Technology Update, Henry Harteveldt co-founder of Atmosphere Research and Timothy O'Niell-Dunne managing partner at T2Impact. The brain trust discusses the news of a start up airline in the US, PeopleExpress, and the evolving distribution processes.

India's Kingfisher Airlines had another challenge when it ran into IATA's clearing house rules. The airline has about a third of its fleet out of action. One would think that these challengers are making the future of the airline ever more tenuous. Apparently not according to analysts at Bangalore Aviation. We did a podcast with them last night. Reuters is reporting that Kingfisher's CEO has kept on with his demand that Indian airlines be allowed to import their own jet fuel. Since some Indian states charge as much as 28% sales tax on fuel, being allowed to bring in their own fuel could bring huge savings. Indian airlines will be allowed to import jet fuel directly under a proposal from a ministerial panel Aviation Minister Ajit Singh is reported to have said.