In our first episode of the 2022 season, American Airlines vice president of global sales Kyle Mabry joins the Folo from American’s Skyview headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas. He and Travel Weekly aviation editor Robert Silk have a robust discussion about the omicron recovery, pent-up demand in business and leisure travel, changes to the AAdvantage loyalty program, distribution and NDC updates, the quest for “seamless travel" and the transition from American CEO Doug Parker to Robert Isom, which happens at the end of March.

The episode was recorded Tuesday, Jan. 25 and has been edited for length and clarity. The day before the recording, the U.K. announced a loosening of some entry regulations, including dropping testing requirements for vaccinated travelers, which is referenced in the recording.

A quick note from American regarding our discussion about rebounds in travel: it recorded a recovery of about 80% for travel from small and medium-sized businesses, higher than the 60% figure Mabry said in the conversation.

Related reading:

American Airlines ‘poised to outperform’ in 2022, says incoming CEO

Airlines made a big effort to tap into leisure demand in 2021

Flyers are feeling the pain of omicron, and so are their advisors (Jan. 2022)

American Airlines will change system for achieving status

Airlines and agencies push forward with NDC adoption