This Week: O'Leary's Rant; Boeing's Real Problem, Standby For Academic Entertainment

In this week's Touch & Go, I take a look at the comments made by Ryan Air's Michael O'Leary, accusing Southwest of the sin of no longer fitting his definition of the LCC model. (I am sure that WN is much concerned.) Michael left out the concept of customer loyalty - an area where WN certainly is different from Ryan Air.

USA Airliner Manufacturing Is Now #2. There is also a different take in the T&G on all the changes in the front office dance card at Boeing. The #1 challenge isn't manufacturing. It's a lot more serious, and is now the core reason Boeing has little chance of regaining market leadership over Airbus anytime soon.

Standby For April Fools Day Entertainment. In the Departures & Arrivals section, note is made that this is usually the time when some university professors issue a jive-time airline quality review that the media falls all over, regardless of its contents. Years ago it had a lot of indignant commentary of a range of imaginary outrages airlines were inflicting on the public. Of late, it's just a re-muddle of DOT data along with silly press comments. Not pertinent to the air transportation industry, but can be fun to watch the rankings.

And Sgt. Bilko International Airlines, a.k.a., the Army-run Mexicana, is back in the news.

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Have a great Easter and a great week ahead!