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Airline Insight

The Engine Cowl

John Strickland and Garth Lund break down the latest developments and economic realities of the global airline business.

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  • 7 episodes
  • monthly
  • Avg 34 min
  • English

Episodes 7

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  • S1 · E7
    August 20 · 42 min

    Ep 7: Strong Q2 revenue partially offsets higher fuel bill for European network carriers

    In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at June quarter results for the European network airlines where strong premium and long-haul revenue helped to offset the impact of higher fuel prices. What we cover: Air France-KLM, IAG and Lufthansa Group June quarter results Wizz Air June quarter results Apollo acquisition of easyJet Leadership changes in India

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E6
    July 30 · 34 min

    Ep 6: Softer yields and higher fuel prices hit European LCC profitability

    Both easyJet and Ryanair reported similar trends for the June quarter with softer yields and higher fuel expenses hitting profitability. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund discuss industry highlights from the first set of June quarter results and what renewed conflict in the Gulf means for airlines. What we cover: Ryanair and easyJet June quarter results Progress of easyJet takeover bids John's update from the Farnborough Airshow Impact of renewed hostilities in the Gulf

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E5
    June 27 · 31 min

    Ep 5: How European airline consolidation is progressing

    easyJet has recently been the subject of several bids by Castlelake to acquire the airline. The move comes amid a broader trend of M&A activity in the sector. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at ongoing consolidation among key European airlines. What we dive into: Castelake's bid for easyJet Progress of SAS's integration into Air France-KLM TAP bids: Lufthansa Group vs Air France-KLM Turkish Airlines' investment in Air Europa Pegasus acquisition of Smartwings

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E4
    May 29 · 33 min

    Ep 4: How Europe's three large LCCs are weathering a challenging environment

    Ryanair recently published an impressive set of results for the past financial year and announced that it is nearly debt-free. Meanwhile, easyJet saw non-fuel cost inflation increase over the past six months. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund review recent performance and outlook for Europe's three independent low-cost carriers. What we dive into: Ryanair's robust FY26 performance Comparative fleet strategy: Ryanair waiting for Max-10 certification; easyJet phasing out the A319; Wizz Air continuing to upgrade to the A321neo Revenue outlook: shorter booking curves on the back of consumer uncertainty Importance of liquidity: all three airlines are in a good position to weather higher fuel prices

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E3
    May 14 · 35 min

    Ep 3: European network airlines deliver a strong Q1

    Q1 saw almost across-the-board margin improvement among Europe's network airlines but higher fuel prices have put a damper on expectations for the rest of 2026. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at how the three network airlines groups in Europe performed in Q1 and the lessons for the year ahead. What we dive into: Improved performance at Air France partially closing the gap to IAG How Lufthansa Group is taking more aggressive action to address its challenges IAG continues to lead in margin performance Why the LCC model remains robust despite Spirit Airlines' demise

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E2
    April 16 · 29 min

    Ep 2: How are airlines managing the impact of the Iran conflict?

    Between higher fuel prices, shifting demand, and airspace closures, the Iran conflict has impacted both the demand and supply side of the air travel market. In this episode, John Strickland and Garth Lund look at how airlines are managing the effects of the crisis. What we dive into: Fuel price impact: How fuel hedging policies have influenced airlines' responses Revenue opportunities: Can airlines drive higher revenue to offset higher costs? Gulf mega-hubs: Medium and long-term impact on the Gulf carriers Network opportunities: Route adjustments by European airlines Taking tough decisions: Airlines coming out of the crisis as stronger businesses

    • Transcript
  • S1 · E1
    March 27 · 32 min

    Ep 1: Why is IAG delivering double the margin of its rivals?

    While Lufthansa and Air France-KLM navigate complex turnarounds, IAG is delivering a 15% operating margin. In our debut episode of Airline Insight, John Strickland and Garth Lund break down the strategic divide between Europe’s "Big Three" and what 2026 holds for the sector. What we dive into: The IAG edge: How IAG has consistently outperformed the competition. The LCC struggle: Why Vueling, Eurowings, and Transavia are seeing such mixed results. 2026 outlook: A look at the next 12 months for European aviation.

    • Transcript
Showing 1–7 of 7 episodes