BTC Radio

Barbara Parshall, CEO of Baarb, Inc., is a true disrupter in the sometimes complicated and frustrating hotel search space. As a venture capital-backed artificial intelligence entrepreneur, Barbara is obsessed with improving lives through travel using advanced technologies. In this 10-minute episode we will discuss Baarb, Inc., the technology behind it, the problems the platform is designed to solve and how the solution is applied.

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Karen Walker is one of the most accomplished and respected aviation journalists not just in the US, but in the world. In this 25-minute episode we will discuss the 3-year-old campaign by the US3 – meaning Delta, American and United airlines to frustrate market entry by the ME3 - Qatar, Etihad and Emirates airlines. 

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Steve Shur is a leading voice on public policy issues impacting the independent distribution of travel, and he represents the world’s leaders in travel technology. In this 16-minute episode we will discuss Steve’s recent testimony before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access. We will also look at a range of issues including travel distribution, the short-term home-rental space and the role of travel management companies. You can sign up for the monthly Travel Tech newsletter Passport at http://www.traveltech.org/sign-up-for-our-newsletter.

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In this 18-minute episode, we will discuss two well known fractional aircraft ownership companies - Flight Options and Flexjet. There is a concerted effort to decertify the Teamsters union at those two companies. We will examine the long-term effects of a decertification, and why corporate, university and government travel managers should care.

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Robert Healy is an accomplished executive, living in the Philadelphia, PA area, and a frequent traveler over some 25 years. In this 12-minute episode we will discuss the state of the airline industry from the customer’s perspective. 

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Diana Moss is President of the American Antitrust Institute. In this 25-minute episode, we will discuss a white paper that argues the U.S. DOT should routinely review antitrust immunity for international airline alliances. We will discuss how the U.S. BIG 3 – Delta, American and United – are using newfound market and political clout to frustrate entry by Norwegian Air UK Limited and to urge the Trump Administration to block Gulf carrier competition. We will also look at the context of the BIG 3’s request that DOT unwind virtually all consumer protections and how and why the Big 3 have withheld access to complete airfare, schedule and inventory information from metasearch platforms and third-party travel sites. 

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Steve is one of the most respected and effective public affairs executives in Washington, DC. In this 12-minute episode, we will discuss a range of issues including travel distribution, the short-term home rental space and an initiative to boost tourism to the US. You can sign up for the monthly Travel Tech newsletter Passport at http://www.traveltech.org/sign-up-for-our-newsletter.

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Our guest for this 17-minute show is Bill McGee airline industry consumer advocate and author of a great book titled Attention All Passengers. Bill has long been one of the most respected and effective advocates in the business. Recently, Bill wrote a column in USAToday regarding the US Department of Transportation’s highly controversial decision to halt rulemakings designed to lead to consumer protections for airline passengers.

We will discuss airline consumer issues, why the Transportation Department has seemingly lost interest in protections, the implications for travelers, and if there is any hope behind efforts to change the minds of officials at Transportation.

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In this 12-minute episode, we will discuss the inaugural National Shop for Travel Day as proclaimed by the National Day Calendar to be celebrated annually on the 2nd Tuesday in January. Our guest today is Steve Shur, President of the Travel Technology Association – or TravelTech. Steve is one of the most respected and effective public affairs executives in Washington, DC.

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In this 20-minute episode, we will discuss a range of issues associated with a recent announcement by the International Airlines Group – or IAG - to levy a surcharge on tickets purchased outside the distribution channels that it controls such as its various websites and reservation centers. British Airways is one of the airlines under the IAG umbrella.

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Our guest for this 23-minute show is Christopher Dane, President of Hickory Global Partners. With more that 40 years of experience in the travel and airline industries, Chris is one of the most creative, innovative and effective leaders and executives you would ever want to meet. We will discuss a range of issues from the recent passenger service meltdowns on United, American and Delta; to U.S. major network carriers’ political war against the Gulf carriers; and the withholding of access to transactable airline ancillary fee data.

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Our guest for this 27-minute show is Bill McGee airline industry consumer advocate and author of a great book titled Attention All Passengers. Bill has long been one of the most respected and effective advocates in the business. We will discuss the recent passenger service meltdowns on United, American and Delta; the resultant public outrage; the Congressional hearings; how the industry arrived at this point; and what needs to be done from here.

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Our guest for this 20-minute show is Bill Flynn President and CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. Bill is one of the most respected leaders in the global air freight industry. We will discuss the ways in which U.S. Open Skies policy has impacted the air freight industry business model.

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Our guest for this 15-minute edition is Phil Brown, Executive Director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. Phil is one of the most knowledgeable and engaged aviation industry executives in the business today. We will discuss the role of U.S. Open Skies policy when airports seek new international air service; the economic impact of airlines like Emirates when they enter markets; and finally, how foreign airlines can actually support new domestic U.S. competition, which is sorely needed in today’s consolidated industry.

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Our guest for this 18-minute edition is John Byerly, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. John is one of the most sought after speakers and advisors in the global airline industry. We will discuss the role antitrust immunity plays in Open Skies agreements, the importance of airline entry into U.S. markets, the impact of massive domestic U.S. consolidation, the Gulf carrier issue and the big story of the week over at United Airlines.

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Our guest for this edition is Tom Engle, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs at the U.S. Department of State. Tom is one of the most respected aviation policy leaders in Washington and it’s a true honor to have him on the show. Our 20-minute discussion will focus on the genesis of U.S. Open Skies (OS) policy, the key elements of OS agreements with 120 countries including the so-called Freedoms and what OS policy has meant for commercial and cargo carriers. 

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Our guest in this edition is Jonathan Grella, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the U.S. Travel Association. Our 20-minute discussion includes the U.S. Government’s goal for attracting foreign visitors, the role Open Skies policy and Fifth Freedom rights play in supporting visitor growth and why major U.S. network airlines are fighting hammer and tongs the innovative business models and excellent guest service programs of foreign carriers.

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