Honoring Ben Baldanza: A Legacy of Leadership and Innovation in the Airline Industry

The airline industry is renowned for its safety, but the pandemic threw a curveball into the mix. The world was forced to grapple with new realities of travel, and even though it was a challenge, it also presented new opportunities that the industry can go after. Fleet flexibility, operational efficiency, and paying attention to demographic shifts—these are some ways the industry can adapt and pivot. Airlines have been forced to reimagine their models and rethink how they deliver value to customers, while balancing cost structures and new health and safety protocols. Former Spirit Airlines CEO, Ben Baldanza, joined me on the show back in 2021 to discuss these critical changes in the aviation industry. He shared his insights on how airlines could navigate the turbulent times ahead, emphasizing the importance of adapting to shifting travel demands, especially as corporate business travel declined and more passengers prioritized low-cost options. In sad news, Ben passed away recently, and I wanted to take this moment to remember him and the tremendous impact he made on the aviation industry. This episode is a special replay of my conversation with Ben. Ben is known for his visionary leadership at Spirit, candid commentary on the future of air travel, and his unwavering commitment to making the industry more accessible and efficient for all travelers. His legacy continues to shape the industry, and we are grateful for the lasting mark he left on it. The idea is to make flying touchless, with less time spent face to face. The virus will end at some point, but the sense of risk has changed completely. - Ben Baldanza Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode Why the future of flying is touch-free 5 years from now touchless check-ins and minimal personal contact will be a norm and will be worthy investments. What the pandemic means for bigger planes It could take a couple of years to build back demand. Smaller, narrow-body aircraft such as the Boeing 737 Max, Airbus A320s, and A321s will have an advantage. How aviation has prioritized safety since the start of the virus From the onset of the coronavirus, the aviation industry has done its part in visible safety precautions, from mask mandates to putting up shields at airports. As an industry, we’ve shown an operational AND biological commitment to safety. Guest Bio - Ben Baldanza was an industry veteran. Previously the CEO and President of Spirit Airlines, and then he served as the CEO for Diemacher, LLC, and was an Independent Board Director at JetBlue Airways. Ben was also a Forbes Contributor, co-host of the Airlines Confidential Podcast , and was featured on multiple platforms including Fox Business News, The Today Show, and CNBC . Ben was an Adjunct Professor of Economics at George Mason University. To find out more, go to: https://www.linkedin.com/in/b-ben-baldanza https://www.forbes.com/sites/benbaldanza/ https://diemacherllc.com/about https://airlinesconfidential.com/ Learn More About Your Host: Craig Picken is an Executive Recruiter, writer, speaker and ICF Trained Executive Coach. He is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives in the aviation and aerospace industry. His clients include premier OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing/financial organizations, and Maintenance/Repair/Overhaul (MRO) providers and since 2008, he has personally concluded more than 400 executive-level searches in a variety of disciplines. Craig is the ONLY industry executive recruiter who has professionally flown airplanes, sold airplanes, and successfully run a P&L in the aviation industry. His professional career started with a passion for airplanes. After eight years’ experience as a decorated Naval Flight Officer – with more than 100 combat missions, 2,000 hours of flight time, and 325 aircraft carrier landings – Craig sought challenges in business aviation, where he spent more than 7 years in sales with both Gulfstream Aircraft and Bombardier Business Aircraft. Craig is also a sought-after industry speaker who has presented at Corporate Jet Investor, International Aviation Women’s Association, and SOCAL Aviation Association. Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, and don't forget to download the Apple Podcast app and leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so our show reaches more people. Thank you!