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Airlines Confidential Podcast

Scott McCartney
Southwest Airlines
Spirit Airlines
American Airlines
United Airlines
Delta Airlines
Air Traffic Control
Aviation Safety
Airline Pricing
Frontier Airlines
Jetblue Airways
Boeing
FAA
Aviation
Elliott Management
Loyalty Programs
Pittsburgh International Airport
Aviation Industry
Airlines
Jetblue
Air Traffic Control Modernization

Hosted by Scott McCartney, Fmr. Travel Editor/"Middle Seat" Columnist for The Wall Street Journal. Top Stories, C-Suite Guests, Listener Q's. The Leading Podcast Reaching Travel Industry Insiders, Frequent Flyers, & Aviation Geeks. Created by & Dedicated to Ben Baldanza.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes344Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for Airlines Confidential Podcast

Latest Episodes

Guest Co-Host Dave Hilfman. Guest: Joerg Eberhart, CEO, ITA Airways. Also: Two go-arounds at Boston Logan; GAO report issued on airfares indicates strong competition persists; Aviation Week Boeing and Airbus CEO interviews reveal two very different o... more

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Host Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host Christina Cassotis. Topics: Prix Versailles names Pittsburgh International among world's most beautiful airports, praises biophilic design; Thoughts from IATA Transport Summit on backordered aircraft, passenger... more

YouTube

Host Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host and Guest Chris Chiames. Topics: The complexity of the Cruise Industry vs Airlines, Working for legendary CEOs. Plus: News from the IATA World Air Transport Summit in Rio de Janeiro; Consumers changing views on... more

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Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt & Host Scott McCartney, with Glen Hauenstein, Fmr. President, Delta Air Lines. Also: A look beyond the public press release on leadership shakeup at Southwest & SWA's corporate culture; Report from the Caribbean Tourism... more

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Key Facts

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Accepts Sponsors
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Chris Chiames
Former Carnival Cruise Lines executive, guest where he discusses his career and industry insights
Carnival Cruise Lines
Episode: 342 - Scott McCartney with Guest Co-Host and Guest Chris Chiames
Glen Hauenstein
Former president of Delta Air Lines; board member at WestJet
Delta Air Lines; WestJet
Episode: 341 - Guest: Glen Hauenstein, Fmr. President, Delta Air Lines
Erik Olund
CEO, Sky Chefs (formerly LSG Sky Chefs)
Sky Chefs
Episode: 340 - Guest Co-Host: Charles Duncan. Guest: Erik Olund, CEO, Sky Chefs
Bryan Bedford
FAA Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
Episode: 339 - Scott McCartney with FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford
Robert Carey
Executive Vice President, Copa Airlines (Commercial Operations, Cargo and Wingo)
Copa Airlines
Episode: 337 - From Panama: Focus on Copa Airlines: Robert Carey, EVP, / Deniece Nicholas Holness, Dir, System Operations
Deniece Nicholas Holness
Head of Copa's Operations Center; runs planning, scheduling, contingency
Copa Airlines
Episode: 337 - From Panama: Focus on Copa Airlines: Robert Carey, EVP, / Deniece Nicholas Holness, Dir, System Operations
Maya Leibman
Long-time airline executive who has led through major industry events
Former Executive at American Airlines / Airline industry leader
Episode: 335 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Guest: Rick Elieson, Chief Revenue Officer, Signature Aviation
Rick Elieson
Chief Revenue Officer
Signature Aviation
Episode: 335 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Guest: Rick Elieson, Chief Revenue Officer, Signature Aviation
Vicki Jaramillo
Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Episode: 333 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt. Guest: Vicki Jaramillo, EVP/CCO, Orlando Int. Airport

Hosts

Scott McCartney
Host of Airlines Confidential
Christina Cassotis
Guest Co-Host / Co-hosting with host

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 309 ratings
  • Lib boomers talking to Lib boomers

    Some of the commentary on here is so predictable: “Are slowed arrivals into SFO just a move by the Trump administration to punish SFO?” Give us a break- lots of turning over asinine comments in order to find information on this show.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Ayyyeeeeeeeeee
    United States3 months ago
  • Is Scott even a journalist?

    When Scott has all his buddies on this show for interviews it is nothing but an airline/CEO love fest. No hard reaching questions. Softball questions always. Paints all the airlines he likes in a positive light. Nothing but an ego booster.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MattInKC
    United States6 months ago
  • Wishy-washy and pro-industry, not pro-consumer

    I like all things aviation so I enjoyed listening for 2 years, but the show tended toward wishy-washy chatter, especially when conservative guests rotated through. The last straw was the guy with the drawl who read and agreed with a letter about how the US has become an unwelcoming place to foreign travelers. Minutes earlier, he'd said there was no reason for the government shutdown and he was just happy it was over. (Even Oscar Muñoz, former United CEO, had acknowledged the other side of the sh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    paul4792
    United States7 months ago
  • WAY TOO POLITICAL WITH LITTLE INSIGHT

    11/28/25 update. Hyper political host Scott is an embarrassment to the industry. Interjects politics into every question and show to the point that it’s vomit inducing. Oscar couldn’t define revenue management if you handed him a dictionary so don’t look for much in terms of hard hitting insights from him.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Crazy192837
    United States8 months ago
  • 5 star show

    I’ve listened to the show from the very beginning. The Richard Anderson/Doug Parker episode finally inspired me to write a review.

    This show is officially required listening for ANYONE interested in commercial aviation. This episode in particular should win a people’s choice award. So enjoyable from start to finish. Please more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sidestep
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Mixed feedback on balance and depth; some listeners crave more critical questioning.
Listeners often praise the access to top industry leaders and practical insights.
Engaging industry deep-dives with strong guest lineups.
Host asks thoughtful questions and keeps discussions grounded in real-world practice.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#145
Mexico/Business
Apple Podcasts
#159
Colombia/Business

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

341 - Guest: Glen Hauenstein, Fmr. President, Delta Air Lines
Q: How did you get into this crazy business?
Glen recounts starting as a flight attendant at People Express in 1982, moving from operations to customer service, and learning every facet of airline work which later informed his holistic view of the business.
337 - From Panama: Focus on Copa Airlines: Robert Carey, EVP, / Deniece Nicholas Holness, Dir, System Operations
Q: What is the main factor behind Copa's high OTP, given congested airports and regional challenges?
A combination of a disciplined operating model, detailed planning with buffer times, and an obsessive daily follow-up process across all banks of the hub, plus a culture that emphasizes safety, reliability, and continuous improvement.
336 - Scott McCartney & Oscar Munoz: A tip of the hat to Spirit Airlines
Q: What do you think, Oscar?
Oscar outlines the strategic implications of Spirit's and JetBlue's potential moves, noting how different models (ULCC vs. network carriers) would have fared under various structures, and emphasizes that the ultimate outcome depended on execution and market conditions rather than a single deal.
335 - Guest Co-Host Maya Leibman. Guest: Rick Elieson, Chief Revenue Officer, Signature Aviation
Q: How did Rick begin his career in aviation?
Rick Elieson walked through a long career at American Airlines, including leadership roles in loyalty, cargo, digital marketing, and pricing, before moving to Signature Aviation where he now leads revenue strategy.
333 - Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt. Guest: Vicki Jaramillo, EVP/CCO, Orlando Int. Airport
Q: How did you get into aviation marketing and air service development?
Vicki explains that she transitioned from economic development, attracted to airports' role in connectivity, and followed a path through Miami and Orlando, driven by a passion for how airports connect cities and countries.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Airlines Confidential Podcast

What is Airlines Confidential Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Aviation industry insiders, executives, and policy enthusiasts tune in for long-form conversations that blend airline economics, infrastructure, regulation, and leadership. Episodes frequently feature senior airline leaders, airport operators, and industry analysts discussing profitability, pricing, network strategy, and modernization efforts, with human-interest moments and real-world case studies from carriers, engine makers, and regulators. The result is a thoughtful, practitioner-focused show that surfaces actionable insights on how airlines and airports navigate disruption, technology shifts, and regulatory changes, while spotlighting leadership lessons and industry history. Expect deep dives, candid reflections from top executives, an... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Airlines Confidential Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Airlines Confidential Podcast:

1. The Air Show
2. Airline Weekly Lounge
3. Simple Flying Aviation News Podcast
4. AvTalk - Aviation Podcast
5. Aviation Week's Check 6 Podcast

How many episodes of Airlines Confidential Podcast are there?

Airlines Confidential Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 344 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Airlines Confidential Podcast?

Recent guests on Airlines Confidential Podcast include:

1. Chris Chiames
2. Glen Hauenstein
3. Erik Olund
4. Bryan Bedford
5. Robert Carey
6. Deniece Nicholas Holness
7. Maya Leibman
8. Rick Elieson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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