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.
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.
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