Just Great People
Barry Eustance talks to ordinary people who've done extraordinary things that will engage and inspire you.
Entrepreneurs, business leaders, musicians, thought leaders, actors, developers, pilots, - anyone who's gone out and "done it".
Why they've done it, how they've done it, and how you can do it too.
Sometimes instructional, sometimes emotional, always fascinating, and endlessly inspiring.
Just Great People
Ryanair's Competitive Advantage: What Airline Leaders Must Learn in 2026
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Airline Strategy, Cost Leadership and the Future of Aviation
In this aviation strategy discussion, former airline CEO and Stratos 12 Partner Remco Althuis joins former airline captain, consultant and Stratos 12 Partner Barry Eustance to examine the growing pressures facing airlines worldwide.
From rising fuel prices and geopolitical instability to airline consolidation and fleet modernisation, aviation leaders are being forced to make increasingly complex decisions in a rapidly changing operating environment and why Executive Decision Acceleration is so important.
The discussion explores:
- Why Ryanair continues to outperform many European competitors
- The impact of fuel prices on airline profitability
- How airline consolidation is reshaping Europe
- Why smaller airlines face growing strategic challenges
- The role of boards and executive teams during periods of disruption
- How airlines can improve resilience and decision-making
- Future trends in aviation leadership and airline strategy
- The importance of structured Executive Decision Acceleration (EDA)
As operating costs rise faster than ticket prices, airlines must rethink their networks, fleet strategies, governance structures and long-term business models.
For airline boards, executives and investors, the message is clear: agility, strategic alignment and experienced leadership have never been more important.
About Stratos 12 Partnership
https://stratos12.com/
Stratos 12 Partnership is an international aviation consultancy providing airline leadership, strategic advisory, operational transformation and board-level support to airlines, airports, governments and aviation stakeholders worldwide.
Connect with Stratos 12 to discuss:
- Airline strategy
- Aviation transformation
- Board advisory services
- Airline restructuring
- Operational excellence
- Executive leadership support
- Structured Executive Decision Acceleration (EDA)
00:00 Introduction: Aviation's New Reality
02:55 Rising Fuel Prices and Airline Economics
03:27 How Airlines Respond to Fuel Cost Shocks
04:43 Airline Consolidation Beyond Europe
05:25 The Future of Smaller Airlines
07:10 Ryanair's Competitive Advantage
09:07 Are More Airline Failures Coming?
09:28 Fleet Modernisation and Boeing vs Airbus
10:16 Why Is IAG Moving Vueling Towards Boeing?
12:26 What Happens Outside Europe?
12:50 The Challenge Facing Island Airlines
13:49 Rethinking the Airline Business Model
15:06 What Should Airline Boards Be Doing Now?
15:52 Strategic Decision-Making in a Crisis
17:54 Leadership, Governance and Operational Resilience
18:52 Why Ticket Prices Must Rise
21:05 Winners and Losers in Global Aviation
21:28 What Ryanair Gets Right
22:07 Future-Proofing Airlines in Uncertain Times
23:07 Closing Remarks
#AirlineStrategy #AviationConsulting #AirlineLeadership #AviationIndustry #AirlineTransformation #Ryanair #AirlineConsolidation #AviationStrategy #AirlineManagement #Stratos12 #ExcutiveDecisionAcceleration #EDA
I hope you really enjoyed our podcast and found it to be inspiring and insightful.
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I really look forward to reading and replying to your thoughts and comments.
Many thanks
Kindest regards
Barry