The aviation industry has just lost an incredible human being. I don’t usually write tributes like this, but there aren’t many airline industry executives I have more respect for than him.
In this post:
Ben Baldanza loses battle with ALS
It has just been revealed that 62-year-old Ben Baldanza passed away last night, after a battle with ALS. This was announced by Scott McCartney (formerly of the Wall Street Journal), the current host of the Airlines Confidential podcast.
Let me step back and provide a bit of context, for those who aren’t familiar with Baldanza. Aviation was his passion — he worked in the airline industry starting right out of college, in the 1980s, and he went on to become the CEO of Spirit Airlines from 2005 until 2016.
These were some of the carrier’s best and highest growth years, and Baldanza is really the visionary behind the ultra low cost carrier business model in the United States. He was willing to try things that no other airline industry executive would even consider.
Even after retiring from Spirit, he still stayed busy. He served on the board of JetBlue and Six Flags Entertainment, was an adjunct professor at George Mason University, and co-hosted the Airlines Confidential podcast.
I really started to become a big fan of Baldanza from listening to the Airlines Confidential podcast, which is one of the best airline podcasts out there. Over the past couple of years, Baldanza’s ALS caused him to progressively become less involved with the podcast.
At first he struggled a bit with speaking, but they had an incredible solution, as they were testing technology where he could type things out, and it would be spoken in his voice. But he then eventually fully stepped aside, and handed over the podcast to Scott McCartney, who does a great job.
Ben Baldanza is an absolute legend
I never met or even interacted with Baldanza, but I can’t even say how much of a fan I was of him. Yes, of course he had amazing insights on the industry, given his decades of industry experience.
But more than anything, he just came across as such a kind and humble guy. He was always smiling and laughing, and was a half glass full kind of guy, even during tough times. I don’t think Baldanza had a single enemy in the industry, which is why he managed to get such amazing guests on the podcast. He just had such a unique way of analyzing situations while still being kind to everyone involved.
For example, below is an interview with Baldanza from several years ago, when he was still at Spirit (and oh my, look at the stock price!).
My thoughts are with his family, as I can only imagine what they’re going through, and I hope they know how many other people are feeling this loss as well. Baldanza’s shoes can truly never be filled, and I trust he’s on to greener pastures (or bluer skies).
If you haven’t yet listened to the Airlines Confidential podcast, I’d highly recommend doing so. The recent episodes with Scott McCartney are of course great (and he has rotating guest hosts, ranging from Doug Parker to Maya Leibman), but it’s also worth going back to the archives, and listening to some of Baldanza’s episodes from back in the day.
Baldanza passing away at the age of just 62 is also a reminder of how precious life is, and that we should live every day to the fullest. Nothing is guaranteed in life. Give your loved ones and friends an extra hug when you next see them, because you never when it could be the last.
Bottom line
Veteran airline executive Ben Baldanza has passed away at the age of just 62, after losing his battle with ALS. The airline industry has a lot of really passionate people, but Baldanza had such a unique and positive perspective on the industry, which simply can’t be replicated.
I met him once at a meeting of USAirways customers with executives back when I was Chairman's Preferred on the airline. He was the inspiration for the infamous cockroach pins. While back the we did not always agree with him, he was deeply respected. He will be missed.
Ben was my next door neighbor for over ten years. What others have said is accurate - he was a true mensch, brilliant and kind. My heart is broken for his family. He will be missed.
And I'm sorry for your loss of a friend.
Thank you.
Condolences to his family, he had a lot to keep on giving. One of the most consequential leaders in aviation history.
I audited one of his classes at GMU. Talk about a nice person who is an amazing communicator.
I met Ben first as my client, and he became my friend and a hero. Knowing him was one of the great privileges of my life. I was an occasional guest speaker for his Airline Economics class at George Mason, and he thought I was doing him a favor, when the opposite was true. Any time spent with Ben was a unique learning experience from a kind, insightful, and treasured friend.
There is a sadly shrinking number of good and decent human beings in the world, especially in the corporate world. Everyone I know who has personally interacted with Baldanza has said he truly was one of those good and decent human beings, and a very smart guy to boot.
Who gives a flying fugazi if he introduced ULCC at a large scale in the US market? It was a market inefficiency that existed. If...
There is a sadly shrinking number of good and decent human beings in the world, especially in the corporate world. Everyone I know who has personally interacted with Baldanza has said he truly was one of those good and decent human beings, and a very smart guy to boot.
Who gives a flying fugazi if he introduced ULCC at a large scale in the US market? It was a market inefficiency that existed. If you want to blame anyone, blame the other carriers that flipped out and raced to the bottom instead of letting Spirit drive demand from the bottom and introduce new people to air travel who then worked up to flying other products? Its sort of like those of us who started flying coach and then graduated into premium cabins, including Ben himself who I remember from his mileage running trip report days.
It's the same with a guy like Doug Parker. A lot of people, rightly or wrongly, think he screwed up US and AA, but the stories about his personal behavior and willingness to learn about people and culture are astounding.
Be good and decent
Ben was an inspiration to many, both professionally and in his personal life. The world may not appreciate just how influential a person we have lost. His family in particular must be heartbroken as just recently his wife posted on LinkedIn that Ben's goal was to make it to next summer to watch his son graduate high school.
I mostly agree with George Romey in his comment below, except to add that Spirit did their part in being as upfront as possible about the low-fare high-fee model. Yes, it's still a sh**ty business model that we should not encourage throughout the industry because its roots (and its fate) is consumer exploitation. Everybody should pay a reasonable price and get a reasonable service. That idea was table stakes in the early to mid 20th...
I mostly agree with George Romey in his comment below, except to add that Spirit did their part in being as upfront as possible about the low-fare high-fee model. Yes, it's still a sh**ty business model that we should not encourage throughout the industry because its roots (and its fate) is consumer exploitation. Everybody should pay a reasonable price and get a reasonable service. That idea was table stakes in the early to mid 20th century. The idea lost its way in the ruthless capitalism of the late 20th century to the present day.
This is the comment section of an aviation blog. It is not a guestbook for the funeral.
Ben Baldanza was my friend and a great leader.!! He will be missed.
First and foremost his loss is horrible to his family. But I don't think he did any favors to the airline industry. It was a business model of really low fares but a litany of fees, often unknown to a suspectable flyer. He only later was forced to clean up some of Spirit's act.
People should expect to pay a reasonable price for a product and service and expect the business to make a...
First and foremost his loss is horrible to his family. But I don't think he did any favors to the airline industry. It was a business model of really low fares but a litany of fees, often unknown to a suspectable flyer. He only later was forced to clean up some of Spirit's act.
People should expect to pay a reasonable price for a product and service and expect the business to make a reasonable profit. And yes "reasonable" is very subjective. I don't know where this mentality comes from that an airline should/could charge rock bottom fares, retain some semblance of customer service and still stay in business. Math is math.
bro the guy just died and this is what you have to say? And you don't think the industry is already figuring that out?
Um, can you like f#ck off or something?
If you don't like a different model type, don't fly it. But what kind of piece of crap sh|ts all over a guy who just died a terrible death, due to disagreement on a legitimate business decision? Have a seat princess.
You are typical hysterical. Yes it's a tragedy he died as when anyone dies. But the idea he was a force for positive on the industry he worked in I don't see as positive. Sometimes even good people don't have the best of ideas. Grow up.
why be such a piece of crap dude. the man just died
"People should expect to pay a reasonable price for a product and service and expect the business to make a reasonable profit."
What a brainwashed socialist would say.
Did you also fight to keep manufacturing in USA so you can pay 3x more for an iPhone if it wasn't made in China?
When was the last time you bought stuff from a reasonably priced Sears instead of Amazon?
Blockbuster was reasonably priced too right?...
"People should expect to pay a reasonable price for a product and service and expect the business to make a reasonable profit."
What a brainwashed socialist would say.
Did you also fight to keep manufacturing in USA so you can pay 3x more for an iPhone if it wasn't made in China?
When was the last time you bought stuff from a reasonably priced Sears instead of Amazon?
Blockbuster was reasonably priced too right? A few dollars for a movie.
What about US healthcare?
That doesn't seem to have reasonable price does it.
Brainwashed hypocrites.
I have fond memories of interacting with Ben, both when he was at Spirit and after his retirement. As much as he was an AvGeek, he truly enjoyed his time on the Board of Six Flags! He knew what he (and his airlines) stood for, and what they didn't. There was humility and clarity in his being. He will be missed.