244 - Scott McCartney interviews Ben Baldanza

·30 min·2 clips

Ben Baldanza just won the aviation industry's highest honor, the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.

The episode opens with hosts Ben Baldanza and Scott McCartney discussing the busy summer travel season. McCartney announces that Baldanza has won the 2024 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, one of aviation's highest honors. The first news segment covers the FAA proposing stricter rules for public charter operators like JSX, aiming to align their safety standards with airlines. Next, McCartney details JetBlue's decision to allow free carry-ons for basic economy tickets starting September 6th, critiquing the airline's complex fee structures and broader industry 'junk fees.' The hosts then discuss two recent Southwest Airlines incidents involving low-altitude approaches in Hawaii and Oklahoma City, emphasizing that safety systems worked but such events require study. After sponsor messages, McCartney formally introduces Baldanza as the guest, highlighting his career including CEO of Spirit Airlines, board roles, and the podcast. The interview begins with Baldanza's start in transportation via an Amtrak internship and private pilot license. He recounts working at American Airlines under Bob Crandall in the 1980s, analyzing Delta's frequent flyer program costs. Baldanza describes his time at Continental with Gordon Bethune as a leadership learning experience. He then discusses his role at US Airways during its merger attempts and bankruptcy. The core of the interview focuses on Baldanza's tenure at Spirit Airlines, where he shifted the airline to a low-cost-by-design model with unbundled fees. He explains the economic insight that bag fees didn't require dollar-for-dollar fare reductions. Baldanza shares a humorous story about the media backlash to Spirit's carry-on bag fee and an investor's positive reaction. When asked about regrets, he says he has none, only learning experiences. Baldanza predicts low-cost carriers will remain viable globally, comparing them to McDonald's versus Morton's. He surprisingly states that the pilot career will not exist in his son's or grandson's lifetime. Baldanza reflects on the podcast's inspiration from NPR's Car Talk and ESPN's Mike and Mike. The episode concludes with a listener mailbag question from a Spirit captain about auxiliary power unit issues and Baldanza's advice on pilot job security.

As heard by us

An aviation honor leads to a measured discussion of airline uncertainty and pilot seniority.

Scott McCartney opens with a personal note: his co-host Ben Baldanza has been named the 2024 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy recipient by the National Aeronautic Association. The honor gives the conversation an easy entry point.

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Why you'd press play

You want Ben Baldanza's take on whether an uncertain airline future is reason enough for a pilot to leave.

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