Airlines Confidential: Christina Cassotis, Scott McCartney on Aviation Industry Pressures
In latest industry podcast, the show examines disruptions facing aviation
By Blue Sky Staff
Published April 27, 2026
Read Time: < 1 min
Editor’s Note: Former Wall Street Journal Travel Editor and “Middle Seat” columnist Scott McCartney hosts the weekly podcast “Airlines Confidential,” the leading podcast reaching travel industry insiders, frequent flyers and AvGeeks. Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis is a frequent guest co-host with McCartney. In this episode, they welcome guest Khalid Usman, Partner, Oliver Wyman.
On the April 8 Airlines Confidential episode, Scott McCartney and Pittsburgh International Airport CEO Christina Cassotis explored the pressures facing the aviation industry as rising jet fuel prices ripple across the global system. Driven in part by geopolitical instability, costs have surged. As a result, schedules have been disrupted, operating costs have increased, and airlines are needing to adapt quickly.
One key theme in the episode is how carriers are responding financially. The discussion also touched on operational impacts, including reduced arrival capacity at major hubs like San Francisco International Airport, underscoring how infrastructure constraints can compound industry strain.
On the customer experience front, British Airways’ plans to introduce in-flight voice and video calls sparked debate about balancing innovation with passenger comfort.
Despite the turbulence, the industry remains more resilient than in past crises.
Listen to the episode on AirlinesConfidential.com or your favorite podcast streaming app.
