This week's Airlines Confidential podcast pays tribute to the late Ben Baldanza and features an insightful interview with Charles Duncan and Frank Lorenzo. The hosts discuss the latest airline earnings reports, highlighting the difficulties faced by low-cost carriers like JetBlue and Frontier, in stark contrast to the profitability of regional airlines such as SkyWest. They also explore the implications of a new DOT refund rule and reflect on the legacy of Frank Lorenzo, a polarizing figure known for his cost-cutting strategies and airline mergers in the 1980s. The conversation addresses the challenges low-cost carriers encounter in a competitive landscape and examines the role of government regulation in the airline industry, weighing the effects of deregulation against the need for consumer protection.
