Episode 49 features Jay Shabat, the founder of Airline Weekly (now Skift Airline Weekly) and senior aviation analyst at Skift. In this episode, Jay shares his unique journey from revenue analyst at US Airways to becoming one of the industry’s most respected voices, teaching IATA courses worldwide, and publishing influential industry analysis.

Along the way, Jay shares timeless lessons, academic insights, and behind-the-scenes moments that shaped his view of the industry’s peaks and troughs.

In this wide-ranging conversation, we unpack:

•  Key drivers of record global demand and the premium cabin boom through 2026

•  The future of consolidation, alliances, and potential break-ups in global aviation (Spirit, Frontier, Sun Country, JetBlue, Southwest)

•  India’s domestic duopoly, factors behind its rapid expansion, and how IndiGo is positioning to crack intercontinental flying

•  Emerging hot spots: Saudi and Middle East ambitions with Riyadh Air; lessons from Latin America and Africa for India’s next billion flyers

•  The AI revolution in revenue management, pricing strategy, and customer experience

•  Jay’s crystal-ball view of 2030: market structure, technology, and the passenger experience

•  His one strategic recommendation for India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation—what to prioritise first, airlines or airports?

Tune in for a narrative that blends Jay’s real-world data analysis, storytelling flair, and actionable insights into the global charts—and India’s place among them.

Vishal Mehra - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@vis⁠hal1mehra⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠