The Next Trip - An Aviation and Travel Podcast

Doug and Drew

The Next Trip is a weekly, internationally acclaimed podcast with aviation insiders Doug and Drew, who together bring more than 40 years of industry experience as a professional pilot and a hub operations manager at a major airline. Join them, and their frequent guests, as they create a network for other AvGeeks and travel enthusiasts to obsess about all things aviation. Doug and Drew discuss today’s aviation news, share personal operational stories, regale listeners with trip reviews, and engage in friendly AvGeek banter. All thoughts and opinions are their own. Visit us at www.nexttripnetwork.com

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352 episodes
Updated Monday

Episodes352

Newest first

March 9 · 54 min
Boarding Pass 327: Aviation Chaos in the Middle East
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from a domestic grind to Denver, Kona, and Chicago and Drew is back from a conference in Pennsylvania followed by a quick trip to Germany. We discuss: Military action in Iran United wants you to wear headphones American launching A321XLR over the Atlantic Airlines hit with pain at the pump with high fuel pries Crewmember sick calls at outstations Contributor comments Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
March 2 · 47 min
Boarding Pass 326: ROTOR Act Fails
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from London and Drew gets to sit in the tower for a snow event. The ROTOR Act fails in Congress Violence in Mexico leads to flight chaos Trouble for Air New Zealand Update on Spirit’s bankruptcy Listener feedback Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
February 23 · 49 min
Boarding Pass 325: Las Vegas Slump?
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from his new “usual”, Brisbane, Australia, and Drew discusses an ATC flow program as they transition from paper to electronic flight progress strips. Paper to Electronic ATC flight progress strips New routes for February Lufthansa Allegris business class seats Will Airbus launch the A350-2000? Canadians avoiding travel to the US Las Vegas Slump? Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
February 16 · 56 min
Boarding Pass 324: El Paso Airspace Closure and E-tickets
Send us Fan Mail Drew is happy to finally be above freezing in DC and discusses runway closures and Doug is playing nonrev travel agent for family, We discuss: Ski jumping (and other extreme sports) versus the Wright Brothers first flight Drones, lasers, airspace closures and confusion in El Paso Southwest’s shaky assigned seat rollout Employee unease over American’s current leadership JetBlue and United further expand partnership History of e-Tickets Listener feedback Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
February 9 · 55 min
Boarding Pass 323: Super Bowl LX Flights
Send us Fan Mail Doug was able to rendezvous with his parents in Brisbane and Drew managed through multiple irregular operations at work. We discuss: Follow ups on grounding Canadian aircraft and DCA helicopter routes Airbus is close to launching the A220-500 BWI expands with 142,000 sq ft of new space DEN airport sees record traffic Bay Area airports bracing for Superbowl traffic Runway conditions from an airport and pilot perspective Delta, American, and United accomplishments over 100 years Links from this episode: Denver Stapleton Tower Tour FAA Field Condition Chart Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
February 2 · 1 hr 6 min
Boarding Pass 322: Remembering PSA 5342 and PAT 25
Send us Fan Mail Drew survives Winter Storm Fern, and the longest shift of his career, and Doug flew one of the last flights out of EWR before Fern shut down operations. We discuss: Travel checklists American, Southwest, Boeing, and GE 2025 financial results Delta orders more Airbus widebodies President Trump threatens to ground Canadian aircraft NTSB preliminary report on January 29 midair collision Runway condition reporting Listener Gordon question - is the 777 a dinosaur? Links from this episode: NTSB Midair Collision Preliminary Report Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
January 26 · 1 hr 2 min
Boarding Pass 321: Winter Storm Fern
Send us Fan Mail Drew is taping from the airport in DC, where he is bracing for snow storm Fern, and Doug is in Newark preparing to fly out during the storm. We discuss: The first 2 of the U.S. “Big 3” reported their 2025 results and projected 2026 WestJet does a 180 One of Drew’s predictions is already correct GLP-1 drugs and an impact on aviation WSJ 2025 Airline Rankings Airport architecture Listener feedback Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
January 19 · 1 hr
Boarding Pass 320: Delta Back to Boeing
Send us Fan Mail Drew flew to SFO for happy hour and Doug did AF mission planning which didn’t go as planned. We discuss: Iran Airspace Our 2026 predictions Aircraft emergency FAA tower alerts Delta finally orders the 787 Allegiant merges with Sun Country Africa’s biggest airport begins construction Listener comments 2026 Next Trip Predictions Doug: Geopolitical issues/airspace closures become the norm Big E2 orders. (Maybe United) Alliance changes (does EK finally join) Airbus hints at a new plane ahead of Boeing Drew More 787-10s. American and United increase orders Indigo recovers from crew scheduling and expands internationally Southwest orders 787s for international flights. BWI-LHR, OAKHND 797 is introduced….mini 787 United makes good on A350 order with 50 -1000s Links from the show - Drew’s recommendation for Peking duck in San Francisco: Z and Y Peking Duck Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
January 12 · 53 min
Boarding Pass 319: Superpower
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from another transpacific flight to Taipei and Drew conducted airport movement area training for firefighters. This will will be the first episode we’ve taped in 2026 and we’re officially on a (takeoff) roll! We discuss: How good were our 2025 predictions? Military action in Venezuela disrupts Caribbean flights Avelo reduces flying and staff Alaska orders over 100 aircraft and gets its first widebody A Boom Overture update Listener comments Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
January 5 · 57 min
Boarding Pass 318: A Fresh Start
Send us Fan Mail Doug and Drew look back at our travel for 2025 with friend of the show and world traveler, Ian. We discuss: Global roundup for 2025 (most delayed airlines and busiest routes) Jetway jesus Gate allocation Listener feedback 2026 look-ahead Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Dec 30, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
Extra Section 5: Oscar Munoz
Send us Fan Mail Aired on December 29, 2025 Doug and Drew are taking a week off. Enjoy this class episode from August 15, 2023 with Oscar Munoz of United Airlines. Doug and Drew interview Oscar Munoz, recent CEO and Chairman of United Airlines. Oscar talks about how he turned around a major US airline and put it on a path to success. We talk about his new book “Turnaround Time” which chronicles his life and career and fulfilling his American dream. Oscar discusses with us: How he put safety and people first as he turned United around Oscar’s thoughts on the Archer Midnight eVTOL and Boom Supersonic Overture Surviving a heart attack and the resilience to bounce back stronger Advice for people entering the airline industry Thoughts on the current state of the airline industry and its future We don’t let Oscar leave without answering some avgeek questions! Join the discussion! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Dec 22, 2025 · 1 hr
Boarding Pass 317: Spirit's Holiday Lifeline and other Christmas Gifts
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from Auckland and Denver and Drew is managing the busy pre-Christmas rush. We discuss: Christmas passenger traffic US government admits fault in January midair collision near DC Spirit Airlines gets a lifeline Barry Biffle is out as CEO of Frontier An update on the 737-7 and 737-10 US Customs Preclearance in foreign countries Listener comments Join the Network! Links from this episode: Doug’s Auckland Steak Restaurant recommendation: Danny Doolan’s https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Dec 15, 2025 · 58 min
Boarding Pass 316: Boeing Goes In-House
Send us Fan Mail Doug trains new pilots on touch and go landings in the KC46 and Drew is preparing for a Winter Ops event. We discuss: More Airline Lounges for the new golden age of travel India’s Indigo airlines struggles under new pilot rest rules FAA administrator’s conflict of interest Boeing buys back Spirit AeroSystems California’s 79th Air Refueling Squadron Listener comments Join The Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Dec 8, 2025 · 52 min
Boarding Pass 315: Record Breaking Travel... Again
Send us Fan Mail Drew is back from 3 days in Dublin and Doug is back from Osaka. Drew just had his first airport winter ops event. We discuss: Our travels Early season snow Thanksgiving travel numbers and 2026 travel trends Unexpected growth at a major airport Impact of the government shutdown comes into focus The FAA is investigating airlines after the shutdown Listener feedback Join The Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Dec 1, 2025 · 43 min
Boarding Pass 314: The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You
Send us Fan Mail Doug is celebrating Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago and Drew managed to escape from work in time for Thanksgiving dinner in Richmond. How does Doug plan on getting home on the busiest travel day and how does Drew plan to get to Ireland for Christmas Markets?. We discuss: Airbus A320 ELAC emergency software update New Pacific Airlines shuts down The Boeing 767 lives on with new orders for the KC46 Airline holiday menus DOT’s new Golden Age of Travel Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Nov 24, 2025 · 1 hr
Boarding Pass 313: Dubai Airshow
Send us Fan Mail Doug tapes during another trip to Taipei and Drew finishes his airport scavenger hunt. We discuss: Orders pour in from Dubai Airbus teases a new model An Alaska pilot is sentenced from his 2023 fire handle incident Update on UPS 2976 Aircraft lights Listener feedback Join the network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Nov 17, 2025 · 49 min
Boarding Pass 312: Aviation Recovers
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from London and Drew lost a fight with a windsock. We discuss our weeks in flight and airport ops as well as the latest aviation news: Aurora Borealis wows pilots and passengers Government shutdown ends and aviation recovers 2 airlines serving the UK, Eastern Airways and Blue Islands, shut down FAA extends MD11 grounding to its predecessor, the DC10 Windsocks - what are they and what do they do Near miss at LAX Listener comments Join The Network! Links on this episode: FAA National Airspace System Status https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Nov 10, 2025 · 1 hr
Boarding Pass 311: UPS 2976
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from Taipei and Drew has a busy week at airport ops. We discuss: More nonrev adventures Thanksgiving travel numbers and a way too early weather forecast More government shutdown issues impacting aviation Security scare in DC UPS Flight 2976 Engine failures Links from this episode: Doug’s Taipei whisky tasting place: Style Liquor and Whisky FAA MD11 Emergency Airworthiness Directive Join the Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Nov 3, 2025 · 55 min
Boarding Pass 310: Hawaiian (Airlines) Sunset
Send us Fan Mail Doug is back from a whirlwind nonrev trip to Germany with his dad. We remember the history of Hawaiian Airlines as its airline code and operating certificate are laid to rest. We discuss: Doug and Dale’s amazing, and fast, nonrev adventure Good bye Hawaiian Airlines Creeping 777-9 certification delays ATC controllers not getting paid as shutdown drags on The COMAC 919 gains traction in Asia Listener comments Join The Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Oct 27, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Boarding Pass 309: Weather Balloons
Send us Fan Mail Drew is back from a weekend in Quebec City and Doug is preparing for a nonrev adventure with his dad. We discuss: Birds on approach path Travelers Aid people are interesting Engine shortages EK9788 - ACT Airlines 747-400BCF crash in Hong Kong American Airlines 3rd quarter numbers United flight 1093 severely damaged at 36,000ft What are weather balloons? Listener feedback Join The Network! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/

The Next Trip - An Aviation and Travel Podcast

Boarding Pass 327: Aviation Chaos in the Middle East

Boarding Pass 326: ROTOR Act Fails

Boarding Pass 325: Las Vegas Slump?

Boarding Pass 324: El Paso Airspace Closure and E-tickets

Boarding Pass 323: Super Bowl LX Flights

Boarding Pass 322: Remembering PSA 5342 and PAT 25

Boarding Pass 321: Winter Storm Fern

Boarding Pass 320: Delta Back to Boeing

Boarding Pass 319: Superpower

Boarding Pass 318: A Fresh Start

Extra Section 5: Oscar Munoz

Boarding Pass 317: Spirit's Holiday Lifeline and other Christmas Gifts

Boarding Pass 316: Boeing Goes In-House

Boarding Pass 315: Record Breaking Travel... Again

Boarding Pass 314: The Golden Age of Travel Starts With You

Boarding Pass 313: Dubai Airshow

Boarding Pass 312: Aviation Recovers

Boarding Pass 311: UPS 2976

Boarding Pass 310: Hawaiian (Airlines) Sunset

Boarding Pass 309: Weather Balloons