January 19, 2021

We will not be publishing yesterday due to Martin Luther King, Jr Day. We forget to tell you this Friday, so we figured we’d just tell you after the fact. Oops.

Biden Disagrees With Trump’s Plan to Cut Travel Restrictions

President-elect Joe Biden plans to reverse President Trump’s executive order lifting travel restrictions to Europe and other virus-stricken locations on January 26, mostly because it just seemed like something fun to do.

The president signed an executive order on Monday putting an end to the restrictions imposed early in the pandemic on visitors traveling to the U.S. on non-essential business, but it would not be put in place until January 26th – six days after the end of his term.

Shortly after the order was announced by the White House, the incoming press secretary of the president-elect said the administration would reverse the lifting of restrictions via their own executive order shortly after taking office tomorrow. The Biden administration plans to keep the restrictions in place indefinitely in its attempt to slow down the virus.

The dual presidential announcements come just a week after the CDC said last week it will require a negative COVID-19 test from nearly all air passengers entering the United States — a move designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Air passengers will be required to undergo a test within three days of their flight to the United States departs and provide written documentation of their lab results or documentation of having recovered from the virus.


American (Accidentally?) Details Internal Succession Plan for CEO

American Airlines, in its search for a new chief human resources offices (CHRO), may have gotten more than it bargained for from search firm Hanold Associates. The search firm shared in a media statement to Hunt Scanlon Media that the new employee would start by reporting to SVP People and Communications Elise Eberwein until she retires “soon.” The role would eventually report directly to the airline’s new CEO, someone who will be involved in the interview process.

This revelation came as a shock to many, as Doug Parker has been in his role as CEO of American Airlines (née US Airways, née America West) since 2001 – an eternity in the world of major airline CEOs. While many considered President Robert Isom to be a logical candidate to one day succeed Parker, this was the first time that had been effectively stated publicly.

It’s important to note that the posting did not specifically name Isom as the next boss of AA, only saying that the plan is for an internal executive to eventually be CEO. But there are only two logical candidates for that role, either Isom or the person who managed to find a gate for my flight last month that landed 45 minutes early at DFW. He or she is a hero. And in fact, likely too important to the daily operation of the airline to waste his or her talents in the CEO role.


Canada & Europe to Lift 737 MAX Operating Bans

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Transport Canada are lifting the ban on operating the 737 MAX in their respective airspace in the coming days. Transport Canada will lift its ban tomorrow, January 20, with EASA lifting its ban next week.

In Europe, Norwegian has the most MAX aircraft in its fleet with 18, followed by both TUI and Turkish which each have 12. Ryanair has a very large order for over 200 of the 737 MAX 200 version. The MAX 200 of the aircraft is expected to be approved to fly in Europe within the next few weeks. The final step in the EU will be for Boeing to finalize software updates and rewire the aircraft to the new specifications required by the agency.

In Canada, both Air Canada & WestJet are expected to return the planes to service very soon. Transport Canada said that it “has gone even farther by introducing unique Canadian measures to further enhance the safety of the aircraft.” While the agency didn’t detail what the further measures were, we can only assume they included adding maple syrup-smelling air fresheners throughout the aircraft, ensuring all seatback cushions have Tim Horton’s coupons, and requiring Labatt be the only beer brand offered onboard.


Emirates to Return to Australia in April – With a Catch

Emirates Airline plans to end its current suspension of passenger flights to Australia as soon as April, but purchasing a ticket will prove to be very expensive.

When Emirates resumes flying in early April to its three Australian gateways (Brisbane, Melbourne & Sydney), it plans to offer the eight first class suites on its B777-300ER jets for sale  – and only the first class suites. That’s eight seats for sale on the entire aircraft, at about $6,000 per seat.

For the many premium class-only passengers (looking at you, online trip report authors) who bemoan the inconveniences of traveling alongside the hoi polloi, this could be a dream come true. A cap of eight passengers means a quick and tidy boarding process, along with a likely 1:1 ratio (or better) of cabin crew to passengers. Also, for just under $50,000, a passenger could buy out the entire first class cabin and have the entire aircraft to themselves. That’s one way to ensure you’re not seated near anyone during a pandemic.

Later in April, Emirates will put business class seats on sale along with first class. Economy will follow in the first week of May. In the meantime, Emirates will continue to fly to the three Australian cities, but will only transport main cabin passengers cargo until it resumes passenger flights this spring.


Routine Spirit Boarding Process Makes Headlines

On Sunday, Spirit Flight 646 to Atlanta began its boarding process in Detroit like any other flight on the airline. Passengers shuffled through the gate area, paying their fees to have their boarding pass scanned, for breathing Spirit’s air both on the jetway and aircraft, while generally keeping to themselves. Some paid Spirit’s $6.99 personal entertainment fee and had headphones or Airpods in to listen to music or a podcast on their phone or other device. Others paid $3.99 to read a book, newspaper, or magazine during the flight.

That was until a party of three passengers, whose names have not yet been released, took exception to being asked about the size of their carry-ons during the boarding process. The party of three elected to bullrush the gate, attempting to board the aircraft with their contraband carry-ons. As the Spirit gate agent prevented the unauthorized boarding of the aircraft, the three physically attacked the agent. A second Spirit staffer immediately closed the boarding door to keep the rowdy group off the aircraft, and that person was also dragged down and struck by the “passengers.”

One Spirit employee ended up needed to go to the hospital to attend to her injuries from the ridiculous and unwarranted aggression.

Two of the three assailants were taken into custody and will be arraigned this week. The third was booked and released. The two taken into custody will owe Spirit $58.99 for each night they spend in the county lockup, and will be subject to Spirit’s $74.99 surcharge on any future travel on the airline. This is standard for passengers who have attacked Spirit employees in the gate area or on-board a Spirit flight.


Airline Potpourri

  • Aeroflot is resuming twice-weekly service from Moscow/SVO to Helsinki on January 28. Flights will operate on Thursday and Saturday each week and parkas are mandatory.
  • Air Canada will institute flexible change policies for customers who politely inform the airline they prefer not to fly on a MAX aircraft when it resumes flying for AC on February 1.
  • Air New Zealand updated its international schedule through June 30.
  • Flyr, the Norwegian startup that plans to begin flying in the second quartr of 2021 announced it will operate a fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft while also revealing its inaugural livery.
  • GlobalX took delivery of its first A320 today in Miami. The aircraft came with a welcome kit from Miami airport including tanning lotion, a line pass to LIV nightclub, and a one-way bus pass to Fort Lauderdale.
  • SWISS is flying one-time cargo flights to Seoul/Incheon and Lima. It’s expected to be a big plus for both cities.
  • Sun D’Or is joining its parent airline, El Al, in halting flying on the sabbath each week, sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. The airline will, however, continue to fly during Purim and Tu BiShvat.
  • WestJet COO Jeff Martin will be retiring on February 26. Martin denied reports that he plans to jump ship to Korean LCC Eastar Jet, WestJet’s bitter rival and enemy.

Andrew’s Moment of Levity

I put maple syrup on my shopping list. Now it’s sticky and I can’t read anything I wrote.