We’re partying like its 2019! Load factors and fares are up as Americans throw off their masks and head back to the skies as COVID19 wanes. We go through the spreadsheets as the major US carriers reveal their 1st quarter results. We also talk about Russia cranking up the TU-214, cough Russian 757, and IL96-300, cough Russian A340, production lines. In our pilot and airport memoirs we talk about Doug’s 777 training and Drew’s airport operation which changes drastically when load factors increase ...
Apr 25, 2022•54 min•Ep 126•Transcript available on Metacast Next Trip was the #1 aviation podcast in Dubai this week so who better to have on this episode than the #1 avgeek in Dubai? Return guest, Roxi or @roxavgeek on Instagram and Twitter, is a flight attendant for a Dubai based carrier and also has a large following as an aviation influencer. Traffic is up 215% in the Middle East and we ask Roxi if it seems like the area is beyond COVID. She also recaps the Dubai Airshow for us since she was attending the event when we taped before. Also on this epis...
Apr 18, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep 125•Transcript available on Metacast Move over Frontier, jetBlue also has its eye on Spirit and makes a bid to buy it. Of course we have opinions on this - would a jetBlue/Spirit merger help or complicate jetBlue’s current operational issues? Would the cost of reconfiguring all of Spirit’s aircaft be worth it? Would the merger be denied because the two control so much New York to Florida traffic? Listen to what we think jetBlue’s master plan may be. Drew talks about Mainline and Express and how branding and customer products are si...
Apr 11, 2022•58 min•Ep 124•Transcript available on Metacast Longtime listener and avgeek friend Ryan joins us to talk about changing lanes in his aviation career. Ryan has been an avgeek his whole life and had dreams of being a pilot or working for the airlines. His road took him to driving trucks for a major cargo airline and loving his quality of life in a “flyover'“ state. Doug starts the transition from the 737 to the 777 and Drew talks about running a busy hub operation this week. We also discuss: Fedex and American Airlines have leadership cha...
Apr 04, 2022•1 hr 3 min•Ep 123•Transcript available on Metacast Pilot memoirs continue with Doug doing his last 737 flights, before going to 777 training, and Drew regales you with his second Piper Warrrior flight above the DC Area. Topics covered: FAA increasing reviews of midair collision warnings China Eastern Flight 5735 crash update Russia creates its own laws for aircraft leased from other countries CEO of Spirit and Frontier says they have 2,000 market opportunities Boeing in talks with DL for huge 737 Max order Canada drops COVID19 testing requiremen...
Mar 28, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep 122•Transcript available on Metacast Drew finally has his first private pilot training flight and, as expected, it was amazing. Doug enjoys his last few weeks on the 737 before 777 training next month. We both talk about last week’s busy operation with full flights during and weather issues around the country. Topics on the episode: Staying calm and professional in stressful situations Travel and airline profits are rising despite high fuel costs 777’s with PW4000 engines will be cleared to fly again soon Mask mandates keep lifting...
Mar 21, 2022•53 min•Ep 121•Transcript available on Metacast We start with positive news of countries opening back up to international travel and Drew’s trip to Chicago. Other topics discussed: Aerflot suspends all international flights Airlines find routes around Russia IATA opposes bans on parts shipments to Russian Airlines ANA creating a low fare carrier called Air Japan We end with a light-hearted ranking of all the annoying passenger types. Doug might be the small bladder passenger and Drew is definitley chatty Cathy. https://www.nexttripnetwork.com...
Mar 14, 2022•47 min•Ep 120•Transcript available on Metacast Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine, affecting millions of people. Sanctions against Russia are coming from all angles and we discuss how aviation is affected. We end with some positive news on COVID19 with infections declining and masks coming off everywhere - even on some planes. Other topics on this episode: Two Russian planes trying to enter Canadian airspace are turned back while one flight, SU111 flies over Canada declaring that it’s a humanitarian flight. Transport Canada is investig...
Mar 07, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep 119•Transcript available on Metacast The world is starting to open up but will Russia’s invasion of Ukraine change everything? We discuss the breaking news of countries closing their airspace to Russia and the unfortunate destruction of the heaviest airplane in the world, the Antonov 225, Myria. We get a lot of feedback from you regarding the use of the term “gas” versus “fuel”, you do a deeper dive into our Flyover States segment, and you offer more airports named after famous people in your neck of the “tarmac”. Also on this epis...
Feb 28, 2022•57 min•Ep 118•Transcript available on Metacast Doug and Drew meet up in DC with Doug picking up an SFO-DCA trip before he leaves the 737. Doug tells Drew his route was over some "flyover states" so we research where the term came from. Drew regales you with the history of College Park Airport which he lives by and we discus airports named after presidents on this President's Day episode. Other topics: Boeing’s new middle market plane's size Mesa Airlines invests in seaplane startup, Regent We end the episode with a look i...
Feb 21, 2022•50 min•Ep 117•Transcript available on Metacast Welcome to our first crossover episode with another aviation podcast, Nonrev Lounge. NonRev Lounge is hosted by Tyler who works ramp, his sister Monique who’s a gate agent, and their friend Lara, a flight attendant and a previous guest on our show. Today we have Tyler guest hosting the show with two other avgeek friends, Greg and Nate. We’re taping from SFO where we’ve met to spot planes and participate in some major avgeekery. This is a two part episode with this being Part 1 and Part 2 airing ...
Feb 14, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep 116•Transcript available on Metacast We keep our pilot memoirs and deice diaries short today after some mixed feedback. Who are we kidding?? Doug talks about his trip to Honduras and happening to be there for their presidential inauguration. Drew talks about running it hard with a full schedule during the Nor'easter. Also: China Airlines 747 ingested an LD3 container Boeing 787 delivery delays COVID travel rules rekaxed in Europe Wall Street Journal's best and worst airlines We end with an update on the aviation telenovel...
Feb 07, 2022•47 min•Ep 115•Transcript available on Metacast Doug’s pilot memoir this week is his return to the KC10 after several months. Was it like riding a bike? We talk about the KC10’s successor, the KC46 Pegasus, based on a 767-200 with a 767-400 flight deck. Does it measure up to the KC10 Extender? Also on this episode: The UK relaxes COVID19 documentation requirements Air India returns to the Tata Group after 69 years Lufthansa and Air France push back on the EU’s climate plans US retaliates against China by blocking flights after China’s regulat...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep 114•Transcript available on Metacast DC gets an another big snowstorm and Drew tells Doug, whatever you do, don’t connect through DC! Guess what Doug does? We got a chance to meet up and Doug got to see Drew’s deice operation in person. Our first topic is one we both are experts at - airline seats. With narrow-bodies doing more international routes, a new “Butterfly” seat, which converts from 2 standard domestic first seats to 1 international lie-flat seat, may be the answer. We also discuss: Airlines panic about the introduction o...
Jan 24, 2022•49 min•Ep 113•Transcript available on Metacast From Martin Luther King Day, to Sidney Poitier, to United product placement, to DC8's to Hawaii? Stay with us…and yes, everything leads to aviation. We look at how far (or not) we’ve come from the DC8. Also on this episode: SST updates on Boom Overture and NASA's X59 QueSST Airport 5g buffer zones A380/747-8 replacements? We end with our favorite avgeek dad jokes. We apologize in advance. Join the conversation! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Jan 17, 2022•55 min•Ep 112•Transcript available on Metacast We start the show sharing how busy our weeks were with snow on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Drew discusses deicing challenges with moderate to heavy snow and Doug talks about how weather issues around the sytem are constantly changing his flying schedule. Drew explores going back to pilot school to get his private pilot's license with Doug encouraging him that its never too late to learn. Also on this episode: 2021 was the safest year for flying since 2017 Airlines cancel over 1,000 f...
Jan 10, 2022•55 min•Ep 111•Transcript available on Metacast We dive into the new year with our predictions for the top aviation stories of 2022. Our main topic is the 777 and its ups and downs, pun intended, with PW4000 777’s expected to return service while the 777x sees certification delays. We end the episode with our “demands” in our Avgeek Bill of Rights. Other topics discussed: Our last flights of 2021 Omicron hits crews and causes cancelations Indonesia and Ethiopia approve 737 Max operations The GE90-94B reaches 100,000 flight hours Join the conv...
Jan 03, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Ep 110•Transcript available on Metacast We love airplanes and we love flying...especially with a nice glass of wine to enjoy our trip. We end the year talking about how airlines choose the varieties they serve. Also in this episode: Doug flies the 737-700 hot rod Drew works on getting thousands home for the holidays Omicron is dampening hopes for a fast recovery Phillipine Airlines restructures We ask you: was the A380 a success or a failure? Join the conversation! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Dec 27, 2021•55 min•Ep 109•Transcript available on Metacast We talk about our busy weeks as we help move thousands of people the week before Christmas. We give our listeners tips on how to score airline and hotel perks to take take your avgeek travel up a notch. Other topics discussed: Boom Aerospace negotiating with Greensboro Airport for a manufacturing site for the supersonic Overture airliner United to order zero-emission hydrogen electric engines to retrofit on regional aircraft American hiring 18,000 employees in 2022 Will Omicron set back air trav...
Dec 20, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep 108•Transcript available on Metacast Christmas is only 2 weeks away and airlines are busy carrying millions of packages around the world. What better time to have two cargo pilots on? Think cargo employees are introverts? Think again because these guys, our buddies Matt and Stephen, are a plane load of fun. Join the conversation! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep 107•Transcript available on Metacast We review Thanksgiving week traffic and congratulate the airlines on a smooth operation with few cancelations. Topics covered: Traffic is back but the Omicron variant could change everything Some countries start closing borders to international traffic Business travel is on the road to recovery We note several aircraft with wingspans greater than their lengths. Join the conversation! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Dec 06, 2021•51 min•Ep 106•Transcript available on Metacast We welcome our first corporate aviation employee, Embraer Phenom 300 pilot, Sean. We knew that corporate flying was different from the airlines but we were impressed with all the additional functions Sean does. This includes creating his own flight plans, doing the passenger safety briefing, fueling his own plane, and even serving cocktails when needed. He discusses the perks and challenges in his career and how he loves how unpredicatable his work day can be. Other topics: Airbus gets its first...
Nov 29, 2021•56 min•Ep 105•Transcript available on Metacast We're approaching the busy travel season in the US with TSA passenger screenings nearing 2019 levels. Doug and Drew will be in the thick of it, working to get some of the 5 million travelers to their destinations safely. We ask you, our listeners, to guess what the highest daily total of passengers screened in the US will be during the Thanksgiving holiday travel week. The listener who guesses closest will get some Next Trip swag. Get your answer to us by Wednesday, November 24, 10:00a east...
Nov 22, 2021•46 min•Ep 104•Transcript available on Metacast Special guest, international Dubai-based flight attendant and avgeek Roxi, joins us and explains her path from Europe to Dubai and from Law and Criminology to Aviation. She’s been an avgeek her whole life and now she’s living her dream traveling the world and becoming an aviation social media celebrity. We chat about her favorite aircraft, the Boeing 777 (Booboo) and the Airbus A380 (Fluffy), and her participation in the Dubai Airshow. Topics discussed: Doug gets to fly to Hawaii Roxi sat in the...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr•Ep 103•Transcript available on Metacast Doug and Drew are back from their avgeek trip and getting back to their normal format. In this episode they discuss: The Boeing 787 celebrating its 10th anniversary SkyWest and American cancelations The US opening up to travel from Europe Supply chain issues and how they affect airlines We end with a debate on how to pronounce SFO and other city codes. Yes, there's a poll of course! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/ https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Nov 08, 2021•58 min•Ep 102•Transcript available on Metacast Come along with Doug and Drew on a 26-hour avgeek marathon trip from San Francisco (Burlingame) to New York (Elizabeth) and back. We're celebrating getting to 100 episodes last week with a widebody transcon, premium economy, a great walk and brunch in NYC, airline lounges, and domestic first class. We tape on our trip so enjoy background lounge and engine noises and listen to us staying high energy with little sleep. On the trip we discuss: Both our airline careers starting at SFO. #Airline...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep 101•Transcript available on Metacast Doug and Drew make it to 100 episodes! We reminisce about how it started and how we really are creating a community of aviation and travel enthusiasts. We're joined by three avgeek friends and listeners who've been with us from the start. They show their appreciation of the show by roasting us and boy were they mean (in the nicest way possible). We end the show by teasing our 26 hour avgeek marathon trip next week. Thanks for listening and joining the conversation! https://www.nexttrip...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep 100•Transcript available on Metacast Doug flies the 737 for the first time, with passengers, and gets a red carpet welcome at Drew's airport. We review Doug's first airline work trip from takeoff at SFO, across the country, and back. Other topics discussed Southwest cancelations The Tata's come full circle and regain ownership of Air India Delta makes a profit United adds flights We end the episode with our plan for a marathon 24hr avgeek trip to celebrate our 100th episode! https://www.nexttripnetwork.com/...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast We welcome our first flight attendant on the show, Lara, who's career began when America West founder, Ed Beauvais, asked her to come work for him when she was mowing the lawn. We ask her all about her career including how she gets sleep in other time zones, whether she prefers working in First Class or Main Cabin, and what all those chimes mean. You gotta hear her story! Lara discusses the expansion of Premium Economy with us, Drew remembers his days at America West, and Doug finally gets ...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep 98•Transcript available on Metacast Doug and Drew are joined by Avgeek Travel Agent and LAX Dorkfest friend Eric. Eric's flexible schedule allows him to fly on inauagural and final flights and his stories make the rest of us avgeeks with regular jobs jealous. He tells us about how he got into aviaton and how he is finding a niche being a travel agent as the profession has gone through a downturn. We also discuss: LAX announced they will test a new earthquake early warning system United fined for long tarmac delays Delta wants...
Oct 04, 2021•58 min•Ep 97•Transcript available on Metacast 
