On-Air with Dan and Alex

Latest Episodes:

Sydney’s New 24-Hour Airport, easyJet Gets Starlink and Lufthansa Buys into TAP Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

Today On-Air, Alex is in Sydney for the opening of Western Sydney International Airport (WSI), Australia’s first major new airport in over 50 years. We cover its 24-hour, curfew-free operations, the first passenger who flew into the wrong Sydney airport, and jet lag tips for flying to Australia. Then Finnair’s new Helsinki to Melbourne route via Bangkok, the Qantas A321XLR, swooping season and the Riyadh Airport disruption. We also discuss easyJet’s Starlink Wi-Fi rollout, Delta choosing Amazon Leo over Starlink, and Lufthansa’s stake in TAP Air Portugal. Plus listener Q&A on WestJet’s finances and Alaska Airlines’ new long-haul cabins.

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Dan's Munich Airport Nightmare Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of On-Air, Dan and Alex unpack key commercial aviation industry trends, examining airline financial resilience, airBaltic’s bankruptcy, and European airline survival. The hosts analyze airline CEO public speaking skills, breaking down AI rankings of leaders like Tony Fernandes, Michael O’Leary, and Akbar Al Baker, paired with Dan’s personal encounter with Qatar Airways' former boss in Dubai. Dan recounts his chaotic Munich Airport horror story, navigating Condor self-service baggage drop, arbitrary luggage rules, and rigid airport security lines. The discussion explores JFK Terminal 8 lounge dynamics, Oneworld Emerald perks, and the summer bus gate chaos at Athens Airport with Aegean Airlines. Finally, listener Q&A tackles London airport alliance allocations across Heathrow and Gatwick, alongside the classic cabin debate: is the worst business class flight still better than the best economy class seat?

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We’re Back: Flydubai Incident, Houthi Strikes on Riyadh, Summer Travel Recap Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

On-Air with Dan and Alex is back for a new season. We start with summer travel: New York vs Greece, the nor’easter that fizzled, why JFK gridlocks in storms, and British Airways First on the 787-10. Then the big aviation news: the Flydubai Dubai to Tel Aviv incident, how the 737 MAX survived a 17,500-foot dive, and the pilot mental health and vetting questions it raises. We also cover Houthi attacks on Riyadh Airport, the risk to Saudi airspace, Delta postponing Atlanta to Riyadh, and why premium travel demand keeps booming despite rising airfares and global instability.

Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.

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Electric Passenger Flight Is FINALLY Here! (Heart Aerospace ES-30) Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

In Episode 25 of On-Air with Dan and Alex, Dan sits down with Heart Aerospace CEO Anders Forslund in Plattsburgh, New York, for an inside look at the Heart X1, the world's largest electric aircraft and the technology demonstrator behind the ES-30 hybrid-electric regional airliner. They break down the ES-30's range, cost per flight, certification timeline, and how electric aviation could reshape regional air travel and hub feeder routes. Then Dan and Alex recap the Farnborough Airshow, discussing a surprisingly quiet showing for commercial aviation, Rolls-Royce's Trent XWB-97 engine updates, and why defense sales are dominating airshows. The episode also covers frequent flyer etiquette, Star Alliance Gold queue confusion, and the overtourism driving Euro summer travel trends. On Air with Dan and Alex is heading into a summer break and returns with a new season in September, with more aviation news, airline reviews, and travel industry insight for frequent flyers and avgeeks alike.

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This Episode Got Out of Hand (In the Best Way): Flight Stories + Q&A Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

This week on On-Air, Dan and Alex dedicate the full episode to listener Q&A, aviation news, and travel stories. It starts with real flight drama: a passenger caught vaping mid-flight to Riyadh, a chaotic hotel poolside incident, and a drunk passenger meltdown during EasyJet boarding. Then a family loyalty points disaster, after an aunt quietly burns through 300,000 shared airline miles.

The Q&A covers major aviation topics: Concorde versus the A380, the most iconic airline liveries in history (including BA's retro World Tails and Qantas's Wunala Dreaming), and reactions to Starlux's bold new Sorayama-designed livery. Dan and Alex also debate whether Singapore Airlines' reputation still holds up in 2026, why airlines fly red-eyes and park aircraft on remote stands all day, SAS's record-breaking A330neo order, and whether India is poised for major aviation growth. They close with the UK CAA's warning on lithium battery risks onboard.

New episodes every week. Submit your questions on Instagram @onairwithdanandalex.

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Aviation Career Advice: What We Wish We Knew at 15 Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Today On-Air, Dan and Alex answer the question they get asked more than any other: how did you actually build a career in aviation, and what's the advice for anyone trying to follow the same path? They break the myth that success in the industry requires family connections, sharing the real story of two middle-class kids who turned an obsession with planes into a job. Topics include Alex's early days emailing aviation conferences as a teenager, meeting Captain Peter Burkill (BA38), talking airlines into filming their first YouTube business class reviews back in 2015, and why leaning into passion beats over-strategizing your career. They also cover networking in the aviation industry, dealing with imposter syndrome, dream jobs like air traffic control, and the friendships built at Airbus and Boeing deliveries over the years. A candid, practical episode for anyone dreaming of a career in aviation.

Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.

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Why Etihad and Condor's Partnership Makes No Sense Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of On-Air, Dan and Alex cover a packed week of aviation news. They revisit the 737 MAX crisis, tracing the timeline from the Lion Air crash to the Ethiopian Airlines accident and how it reshaped Boeing's reputation. They discuss why airlines retire flight numbers after tragedies, including Singapore Airlines and SQ321, and why fireworks near airports remain a hidden risk, following a Delta A319 struck by a firework on approach to Chicago Midway. They break down the disappearance of a K2 Cargo Boeing 737 over the Arabian Sea, GPS jamming across Middle East airspace, and the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict's impact on flight paths. The conversation turns to Condor's surprising partnership with Etihad on a new Abu Dhabi to Bangkok route, takeover speculation involving Gulf carriers, EasyJet's £5.5 billion takeover bid from Castlelake, and the chaos EES (Entry/Exit System) is causing at European airports this summer.

Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.

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Contact for sponsorship: collabs@nonstopdan.com

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Viral 777 Low Pass Backlash, Ryanair Controversy, Power Bank Bans Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

On this episode of On-Air, Dan and Alex break down the viral Boeing 777 low pass over Horseshoe Bay Resort in Texas, the Jetran aircraft destined for Qatar Airways Cargo that flew within feet of the ground, and why the FAA is now investigating. They also compare US airlines versus European airlines in 2026, discussing Delta's LAX lounge and the shifting balance of cabin quality.

The conversation moves to Ryanair's family seating fee reversal following a UK CMA probe, new EU261 compensation rules, and mandatory carry-on legislation in Europe. A public service announcement covers the rising risk of lithium battery and power bank fires on aircraft, including CAA data on overheating incidents.

Q&A covers Japan Airlines' infant seat map feature, why Riyadh Air exists separately from Saudia, and Air Zimbabwe's resumed Harare to London Gatwick route after a 14 year absence. Aviation news, airline reviews, and travel industry analysis from Nonstop Dan.

Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.

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The Aircraft Dan Flew as a Kid Was Destroyed by a Missile Jun 24, 2026

Show notes

Dan is recovering from a mysterious illness that sent him spiraling through AI diagnoses, hospital visits, and an emergency hotel stay, while Alex shares hard-won food safety lessons from decades of globe-trotting. Then the conversation shifts to airline catering: how it works, why it sometimes fails, and the current crisis at American Airlines forcing double catering out of Heathrow. The episode also covers Dan's emotional farewell to the Airbus A340-600, including the shocking discovery that the exact aircraft he flew as a child was later destroyed by a missile strike in Iran. Plus: Somalia's viral new airline Rayan Air operating a 36-year-old Fokker 50, Africa's smart legislation forcing better aircraft on their routes, airline consolidation targets in Europe, Emirates equipment swaps amid post-war schedule uncertainty, and a hypothetical Alaska/Hawaiian/JetBlue merger that could reshape US aviation.

Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.

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Contact for sponsorship: collabs@nonstopdan.com

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The One Where Dan Flies Riyadh Air (Behind The Scenes) Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Dan is fresh off the inaugural Riyadh Air domestic flight from Riyadh to Jeddah — one of the first people in the world to fly the airline since it launched operations. He and Alex break down the full experience: the stunning cabin aesthetics, the dense seat configurations, the dry airline policy, and what it all means for the airline's future competitiveness against Emirates and Qatar Airways. They also cover Qantas Project Sunrise — the confirmed Sydney to London nonstop route launching October 2027 on the A350-1000ULR, and what 19+ hours in the air actually means for passengers. Plus: airline alliance politics, the Oneworld vs StarLux drama, updated Middle East travel advisories, Emirates and Etihad's new conflict travel insurance products, and whether airfare prices will drop following the Gulf peace deal. Essential listening for aviation enthusiasts and frequent flyers.

Please send us your questions, topics, or opinions via direct message on Instagram below.

Follow Nonstop Dan on YouTube and Instagram.
Follow Alex Macheras on X (Twitter) and Instagram.
Contact for sponsorship: collabs@nonstopdan.com

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands
Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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