32. Ben Baldanza of Spirit Airlines

How I Got Here - Inside stories behind innovation and startups in travel

The so-called "Brat Pack of Aviation" - under the guidance of Bob Crandall from American Airlines in the late-1980s - have all gone on to become important figures in the U.S. airline industry.

But perhaps one of the quartet which also included Tom Horton, David Cush and Doug Parker who emerged as a true innovator is Ben Baldanza.

After leaving American Airlines in 1991, he had a string of executive positions at Northwest Airlines, Continental Airlines and Avianca and U.S. Airways before landing the stewardship of Spirit Airlines.

Spirit's new private equity owner gave Baldanza the freedom to put in place some of the most dramatic changes ever seen in U.S. aviation (mirroring many of those at Ryanair in Europe), giving him a reputation as an innovator with an edge.

He left Spirit in 2016 and now has a number of board positions, an academic role at George Mason University and his own aviation podcast, called Airlines Confidential.

Baldanza joins us as the latest guest on How I Got Here.

HIGH is a weekly show produced by PhocusWire and Mozio, aimed at getting the inside stories behind startups and innovation in travel and transportation.

It's hosted by PhocusWire's editor in chief, Kevin May, and Mozio co-founder and CEO David Litwak.

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