Is JetBlue Flying to Heathrow?
Both JetBlue and Heathrow Airport left breadcrumbs around the internet today fueling speculation that JetBlue might have at long last found a slot to operate to London’s busiest airport.
Earlier today London/Heathrow appeared as a booking option on JetBlue’s website when typing London into the search box, while London/Gatwick appeared but was noted as a “partner city,” not a destination served by JetBlue itself. JetBlue’s route map also referenced Heathrow as a destination that was operated by JetBlue. After a couple hours the airline removed all references of Heathrow from its website, but the airport’s website wasn’t so quick on the draw.
For several hours Tuesday, Heathrow’s website listed JetBlue as operating out of T2 beginning August 2. It details B6’s arrival time at LHR of 10:10 a.m. and its departure back to NYC at 6:10 p.m. If you click far enough through the website, it also has the classified details of how the government faked the moon landing in 1969 as well as what’s really stored at Fort Knox.
This has been confirmed neither by JetBlue nor Heathrow – especially the business about Fort Knox, but it does make it look as if JetBlue might be announcing new service to Heathrow very soon.
FAA Extends Zero-Tolerance for Unruly & Maskless Passengers
The FAA will continue to support enforcement the federal mask mandate aboard U.S. airlines until for the indefinite future. The FAA’s policy allows for passengers who interfere with, physically assault, or threaten to physically assault aircraft crew or anyone else on an aircraft stiffer penalties than if the incident occurred elsewhere. The penalties include fines of up to $35,000, imprisonment, and/or forced flying on Spirit redeyes out of Vegas twice-weekly for a year
The policy, originally only supposed to last through the end of this month, will now last until, well, we have no idea. It was originally enacted in January as a response to incidents in the sky, relating to both passengers not wearing masks and the aftermath of the incident at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
For the time being, the policy will remain in place and the government will continue to examine each case on its own merits before deciding the appropriate punishment. This will apply to those who refuse to wear masks on-board, those who commit on-board violence, those who willingly book Spirit, and those who book Basic Economy.
JetBlue Considers Flying South
JetBlue Airways is currently revaluating its headquarters location as the Queens-based airline considers moving some or all of its HQ to Florida.
The airline currently has a lease on its headquarters building in Long Island City through 2023, but it is currently reviewing its options with what it wants to do once the lease expires. One option the airline is considering is moving the bulk of its staff to Florida. The airline currently has its training center in Orlando and its travel products subsidiary is based in Fort Lauderdale.
Advantages of the Florida option for the airline include lower corporate taxes and no state income tax for employees. The weather is better in Florida, cost-of-living is less, and, most importantly, it’s not Queens.
JetBlue currently has more than 1,300 staff based at its Long Island City office, a few of which actually enjoy living there. One roadblock for a possible move is that the airline put tiles based on NYC’s famed subway system in the restrooms of its new A220 aircraft. Should the airline move its HQ to Florida, it will be forced to retrofit the restrooms on the aircraft with drawings of sunshine, citrus, and crazy people to represent its potential new home.
Airbus and Boeing Battle Down Under
Qantas is preparing to dramatically reshape its domestic fleet, eventually replacing its current Boeing 737-800 aircraft with either the A320neo or the B737 MAX.
Qantas is currently looking forward with this purchase, planning to overhaul its entire domestic fleet by 2023 or 2024 when it expects air travel to have fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. It had planned to make its decision last year but the process was stopped due to the pandemic.
The airline is especially eager to get moving now as prices are dirt cheap for aircraft and no one knows how to sniff out a bargain like an Australian airline. The MAX is being offered at rock bottom prices with Boeing being stuck with way too many in stock in the aftermath of two deadly incidents involving the aircraft a couple years ago.
Some in Australia see Boeing as the favorite in the battle as the incumbent, but the A320 has a fighting chance as it’s the aircraft that makes up JetStar’s domestic fleet. Qantas currently has an unrelated 109 aircraft order in place with Airbus right now, mostly for JetStar. Ultimately, it will be the manufacturer that can offer Qantas the best price, best delivery terms and most vegemite that will earn the airline’s business.
Alaska Says Aloha to Oakland
Alaska Airlines is reducing the number of mainland cities it flies to from the Hawaiian Islands by one as it pulls all Hawai’i flights from Oakland.
The airline temporarily suspended flights between Oakland and the Hawaiian Islands at the onset of the pandemic last spring before reinstating the flights for the holiday season. The flights were re-suspended on January 4, with a planned return of May 21. But Alaska has opted to the pull the plug entirely, ending service between Oakland and Hawai’i permanently. Note that we’re almost positive this has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with Southwest putting a lot of aloha-bound flights from Oakland.
The airline will increase frequencies to the Hawaiian Islands from several other cities including Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Diego.
Travelers with existing flights on Alaska between Oakland and Hawai’I can re-route through another Alaska west coast gateway, receive a full refund, or put their swimming trunks on and get swimming.
Airline Potpourri
- Air Canada says it will reach net zero emissions by 2050 — if you exclude maple syrup and poutine.
- Air Atlanta Icelandic purchased a 747 simulator from BA.
- Finnair had a €350 million aid package approved by the European Commission.
- Hawaiian expects to operate as much as 95% of its pre-pandemic schedule this May compared to May of 2019.
- LAM Mozambique Airlines, in the biggest news of the day, took delivery of a MSN 4175 De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft.
- Ryanair announced a new route from Birmingham (this one, not this one) to Poznan (POZ) in Poland beginning July 3. It is also launching new service from Liverpool to Kaunas (KUN) in Lithuania, starting June 4.
- TAP Air Portugal is seeking a €460 million injection from the Portuguese government pending approval from the EU.
- Virgin Atlantic is in discussions to secure £160 million in further funding as it anticipates a return of demand this summer.
- Virgin Australia reopened its lounge in Canberra today.
- Wizz Air announced new routes to the Greek Islands from airports in Poland, Romania, Austria, and Lithuania.
Andrew’s Moment of Levity
Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other: “Does this taste funny to you?”