DiscoverThe Skift Travel PodcastWhy Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.
Why Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.

Why Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.

Update: 2025-11-20
Share

Description

In this airline-deep-dive edition of the Skift Travel Podcast, Head of Research Seth Borko teams up with Airline Editor Gordon Smith to unpack one of the most puzzling trends in global aviation: why ultra-low-cost carriers soar in Europe while their U.S. counterparts continue to stumble.


Drawing on fresh analysis and industry reporting, they break down the cost pressures reshaping the American market, the rise of basic economy among network carriers, and why loyalty programs work so differently across continents.


The conversation ranges from Ryanair’s viral social strategy to Frontier’s push for premium seating, the economics behind airport infrastructure, and the surprising ways geography shapes airline profitability. It’s a fast, highly informed tour through the forces redefining modern air travel.




Presented by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EF World Journeys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.




Connect with Skift:
LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/skift/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
WhatsApp: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaAL375LikgIXmNPYQ0L/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://facebook.com/skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/skiftnews/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.threads.net/@skiftnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Bluesky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/skiftnews.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/skift⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
Subscribe to @SkiftNews and never miss an update from the travel industry.

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
1.0x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

Why Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.

Why Low Cost Airlines Win in Europe but Struggle in the U.S.

Skift