The Airline Observer

The Airline Observer

Share this post

The Airline Observer
The Airline Observer
United to ULCCs: 'We Determine How Much Traffic We Spill'
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

United to ULCCs: 'We Determine How Much Traffic We Spill'

Economic slowdown or not, United executives says it'll have no trouble filling its airplanes. It'll just grab customers from its weaker competitors, executives say.

Brian Sumers's avatar
Brian Sumers
Apr 17, 2025
∙ Paid
11

Share this post

The Airline Observer
The Airline Observer
United to ULCCs: 'We Determine How Much Traffic We Spill'
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
2
1
Share

Dear readers,

Earlier this week, Frontier CEO Barry Biffle shared with NBC News his typically upbeat assessment of the economic climate for ULCCs, arguing that in a weak economy, the company with the lowest costs always wins because consumers trade down to cheaper options.1 But on Wednesday, for the second consecutive earnings call,2 United executives not-so-obliquely called Biffle full of shit, and I enjoyed it.

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Brian Sumers
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More