
A couple major unexpected events this week caught us off guard, but we're doing our best to get through it all.







Also in this episode:




* Alaska/Horizon incident



* Akbar is out at Qatar Airways



* Delta rolls back some loyalty changes



* New liveries for Air India Express and Avianca



* Air France closing Orly ops (Transavia will remain) in 2026



* MEA moving planes out of Lebanon



* Alaska Airlines adding Anchorage-JFK/SAN and other MAX 8 routes



* Air Greenland Nuuk-Iqaluit




For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:




* Boeing pumping cash into Spirit Aerosystems



* UA/EI codeshare is dead



* UA/HA Handea fight still smoldering



* ZIPAIR HND-PDX?



* Delta bringing live television to the 767-400s (and probably more widebodies, eventually)



* UA gets first A321neo




And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

DLD 455: Well, that was unexpected

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Is change good? Is it bad? Should you get a refund? Or fly the new routes? Come join us for these conversations and more…







Also in this episode:




* DOT Rules and Schedule Changes



* Updated Lufthansa Group/ITA proposal for merger remedies



* JetBlue’s new SJU routes and Mint moves (plus some cuts, too)



* Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport's new terminal: When it will be built and how big it will be



* Delta adds the CRJ550 to its fleet (some Scope Clause details)



* DOJ has until August 5th to decide on AS/HA merger



* Expectations on domestic carriers and the gap between LCCs and full service



* Dorkfest and Braniff Show




For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:




* MHT-GSP on Avelo



* New Zoom airlines (previously dubbed Air Flo)



* AI for airlines: Alaska Airlines Tests AI for Loyalty and Flight Search, United integrating into SHARES




And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

DLD 483: Change is coming


Who will be the first to fly the A321XLR? And when will the 777X ever fly? At least now we have some A350 confirmed flight times and an A380 on the move…







Also in this episode:




* Aer Lingus confirms it won’t be launch customer for new Airbus XLR jet 



* Lufty now sees 2026 for 777X



* TPA-AMS coming back on DL in October (A333)



* Bonza is dead in Australia amid fraud claims against 777 Partners 



* Global’s A380 made it to Europe



* Qantas settles with regulators over selling already canceled flights



* Emirates announces A350 routes



* Spirit sees a need to pivot the on-board product



* Frontier adds Frontera as a brand name, but probably not tortas on board




For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:




* Boite Noire



* United’s App Update



* Boeing locked out its firefighters, while WestJet reached a TA with maintenance techs



* Southwest is bringing back last-minute fare sales, or maybe not



* Southwest should buy Breeze to solve its missing MAX 7 problem



* BermudAir’s funky bond



* €50mn Push for more Chunnel traffic



* “Bubble” concept for views from a plane




And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

DLD 482: Plane problems


Regulators are forcing airlines to do good things for passengers, which is refreshing. Plus maybe a new Dubai airport a decade from now, and lots more.







Also in this episode:




* New DOT rules on refunds for changed/canceled flights



* Airline systems still have a two-digit year problem



* New IFE on JetBlue tries for real personalization



* AA, WN both lost money in Q1



* IndiGo A350 order



* Avianca brings back biz on A320neo fleet



* Ethiopian adds ATH-WAW, but no local traffic rights



* Listener Q about the terrible experience at AUS



* Is DWC really finally going to be built and Emirates move there?



* You might want to delete your OpenTable reviews



* JetBlue’s anti-union play



* Austrian puts the 787 on BER/FRA from 17 May, adds DUS 17 June, before TATL comes over the summer




For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:




* United finally refunded the Chase UR points for phantom inventory



* United charter with pax on flight deck



* New T&Cs; for travel to the T&Cs;



* States Attorneys General get power to investigate airlines



* Beregional might be a (very stupid) thing



* Avelo adding MIA-MCO



* Maybe bags passing to final destination for inbounds from Japan



* Beond 5th freedom rights on ZRH-DWC




And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

DLD 481: A dash of regulatory oversight


Aircraft orders shifting, service types are switching, and one major airport is underwater in this week's show.







Also in this episode:




* Spirit fleet deferrals



* United’s earnings, fleet adjustments, and eventually segmented “Polaris Plus”



* American’s Flagship Business Preferred



* Provo is American’s Future – Cranky Flier



* Aegean A321LR play



* Norse to CPT




For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:




* CapOne travel portal



* Allegiant trip report (and mess of buying the tickets)



* DXB storm and recovery




And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

DLD 480: Defer, deflect, but don’t drown


Often times the shortest distance between two airports is defined by politics more than geography. Last weekend that was more the case than usual.







Also in this episode:




* Iran and the joys of geopolitics in aviation



* SAS leaving Star Alliance end of August



* Breeze says it found profitability for March 2024



* LH cabin crew contract



* New Boeing whistleblower



* Stephan finally gets another PDX-LAX option



* Lufthansa finally has an Allegris plane (sans new F)




For our Patreon subscribers we have bonus content, including:




* Kirby envies DL’s brand



* Polaris Plus



* Tennessee chemtrails thing really became a law



* A319 as a school library




And plenty more. Enjoy the show!

DLD 455: Well, that was unexpected

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