HeyJaredThe Airline Observer
A newsletter covering the business of airlines, written for industry insiders.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 10
- Latest publication
- Sep 25, 2026
- Audience
- Checking…
- Earliest in this view
- Jul 10, 2026
Latest issues
This Is Why Southwest Is Adding Lounges (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Dear readers,Earlier this month I criticized Southwest for its lounge plans, arguing that it erred by making them more luxurious than the egalitarian brand that the airline has cultivated for decades. I wonder if CFO Tom Doxey read my story, because he spoke last week about why he’s not concerned about the potential mismatch, telling investors that Southwest hasn’t lost its connection with its history as it has changed its model. “We’ve done [it while] maintaining the things that have been core
Why Qantas Gave Up on A380s (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Today’s post is sponsored by:Need to reroute all flights from your key h
Can an Airline Product Be Too Nice? (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Dear readers,I’m back to writing about brand today, an often-overlooked portion of the airline experience.To be successful, airlines must differentiate themselves to attract customers. A few have truly differentiated networks, so that’s their competitive advantage. But most airlines, competing against each other with similar seats and amenities for basically the same customers, have to find and commit to another thing that makes them special.That is brand, or more specifically, brand promise. Fa
Wait, What? United is a Cool Brand? (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Dear readers,Something weird is happening at United Airlines when it comes to how customers interact with the brand online.United, which is very familiar with being the main character on social media,1 might now be the coolest airline online.Granted, it’s a low bar. Many premium airlines (Emirates and Singapore among them) take what I consider a hands-off and outdated (or is it stuffy?) approach to social media engagement. United takes a different tack, giving wide latitude to the 45 employees o
Scott Kirby Says American Must Fold in Chicago — Now for Different Reasons (opens the original)
Read excerpt
Dear readers,Arguing that Chicago should be a one-airline hub market, Scott Kirby says United someday will operate at least 1,000 departures from O’Hare, making it a fortress hub, akin to what Dallas/Fort Worth is to American and Atlanta is to Delta. And, on Wednesday, he doubled down: he told the audience of Chicago-area business leaders at Crain’s Power Breakfast that even though two airlines laying claim to O’Hare keeps prices lower in some markets, they should want United to win.Before I get
Publishing over time
Last 90 days. Choose a month to open its work.
Recurring subjects
Named in the text we hold. One piece can cover several.
Audience
No verified audience measurement yet.
About this data
Counts cover the work we have indexed. Tone needs enough text and a confident classification. Excerpts and episode notes are not full articles or transcripts.
Identity or attribution wrong? Suggest a correction.