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

In our first episode of the 2022 season, American Airlines vice president of global sales Kyle Mabry joins the Folo from American&rsquo;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 &ldquo;seamless travel" and the <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Doug-Parker-American-Airlines-retirement">transition from American CEO</a> 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 <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/UK-eliminating-Covid-testing-requirement-vaccinated-travelers">loosening of some entry regulations</a>, 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:
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-Q4-2021-earnings">American Airlines &lsquo;poised to outperform&rsquo; in 2022, says incoming CEO </a>
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airline-new-route-analysis-2021">Airlines made a big effort to tap into leisure demand in 2021 </a>
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Agent-Issues/Omicron-has-agents-putting-in-many-extra-hours">Flyers are feeling the pain of omicron, and so are their advisors (Jan. 2022) </a>
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/American-Airlines-changes-system-achieving-status">American Airlines will change system for achieving status </a>
<a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-and-agencies-push-forward-with-NDC-adoption">Airlines and agencies push forward with NDC adoption</a> <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Airlines-and-agencies-push-forward-with-NDC-adoption"></a>

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

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