About this episode
The airline industry is renowned for its safety, but the pandemic threw a curveball into the mix. How did airlines fare in terms of creating a safer travel experience in the wake of the virus, and how did our efforts compare to those of other industries? Ben Baldanza, former CEO of Spirit Airlines returns to share his thoughts on airline safety during and beyond the pandemic. "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 is an industry veteran. Previously the CEO and President of Spirit Airlines, today he serves as the CEO for Diemacher, LLC, and is an Independent Board Director at JetBlue Airways. Ben is also a Forbes Contributor, co-host of the Airlines Confidential Podcast , and has been featured on multiple platforms including Fox Business News, The Today Show, and CNBC . Ben is 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: Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEM’s, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers. Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity, and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.