Southwest's Secret Weapon


A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 departing San Diego.

Southwest Airlines had a secret weapon in the second quarter: Its fuel hedges. That helped propel it to an impressive 17 percent operating margin. High oil prices pulled down the results of most other U.S. airlines during what was an otherwise strong quarter. Also, Edward Russell and Jay Shabat discuss what's next for JetBlue and Spirit now that they've agreed to merge.

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeRSS

Up Next

The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Is Southwest Airlines Losing its Magic?

Southwest just had its first round of compulsory layoffs in its history. What does that mean for the low-cost pioneer and the industry as a whole?
The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Breaking Down Japan Airlines and British Airways

After a sensational run of impressive profits in the 2010s, what can Japan Airlines do to restore its weakened commercial cut-through?
The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

What a Frontier-Spirit Merger Means for Air Travel

There are plenty of ifs, buts, and maybes, however, if a Frontier-Spirit merger does occur, it'll shake up the U.S. airline industry in a huge way.
The Airline Weekly Lounge Podcast

Breeze Airways' Big Break: A ULCC Finally Profits

As earnings season gathers pace, Jay Shabat and Meghna Maharishi take stock and share their insights on the latest numbers from Breeze Airways and American Airlines.