U.S. Government Clamps Down on Hong Kong
The federal government will now require Hong Kong-based airlines to file their plans to operate to the United States in advance, in retaliation from Hong Kong’s new protectionist policies regarding cargo operations to and from the island. This declaration from the DOT is the first step in potentially limiting the type and frequency of flights operated by HK-based carriers to the United States.
Hong Kong’s government recently carved out an exception to its quarantine policy for flight crews, making those flying from Anchorage – and only Anchorage – exempt from the quarantine. While choosing Anchorage for the exception might seem arbitrary, shockingly it’s not. Cathay flies multiple frequencies between Hong Kong and Anchorage daily and is the leading cargo carrier on the route by a wide margin.
The bi-lateral agreement between the US and Hong Kong calls for fair and equal opportunity for airlines on from both countries. Because of that, FedEx requested a similar carve out for San Francisco where most if its cargo ops to Asia are based, but the Hong Kong government declined, sending FedEx to the federal government for help.
For now, most U.S. cargo airlines are basing their Asian operations in Tokyo instead of Hong Kong so that flights can be part of a same-day turn, avoiding the quarantine restrictions. In the meantime, anyone wanting to start a cargo airline to fly from Anchorage to Hong Kong should take advantage and get going while the goings good.
Dreamliner Flaws Becoming Nightmare for Boeing
Boeing is looking into another potential issue with the flight deck windows of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
The trouble began last October when Boeing discovered small dimples in the inner lining where the fuselage is supposed to fuse to form the frame of the aircraft. Since discovering the issue, Boeing has not delivered any Dreamliners while it investigates.
The manufacturer is now testing cockpit windows for further issues after it learned one of its suppliers modified its production process. without informing Boeing. It wants to ensure its windows still meet all requirements despite the new modification while still making its March deliveries.
Boeing is attempting to restart delivery by this month because it needs to doesn’t receive the bulk of its cash from the sale until the aircraft is delivered. Additionally, on January’s earnings call, it said the Dreamliners would resume delivery by March and no one wants to be accused of being a liar liar with their pants on fire – especially in a flammable environment like an aircraft manufacturing plant.
JetBlue Recalling Flight Attendants
After spending much of last year begging employees to take leave or buyouts, airlines are slowly recalling staff as a recovery appears at the end of the tunnel for the industry.
JetBlue Airways is prepared to recall flight attendants who took voluntary leaves of absence as it experiences rapidly increasing bookings for the summer 2021.
JetBlue was able to avoid involuntary furloughs and layoffs because enough of its employees agreed to take early retirement offers or go on unpaid leave. A new group of FA’s was scheduled to begin two months of unpaid leave in April, but the airline has told that group to be prepared to return to work on April 22.
The employees will be required to undergo federal training to be brought back to work. In addition to going over safety procedures and eating Blue Chips and new FAA guidelines, the recalled workers will be entered into a lottery to see who does not have to work JetBlue’s flights from New York to Miami upon returning to work.
American Prepares to Put New E170s Into Service
American Airlines is adding 22 new E170 jets to its fleet and is preparing to put them into service in the coming weeks in time for an anticipated uptick in demand this summer.
The airline filed the first routes that the planes will fly on behalf of American Eagle for both Envoy Air and Republic Airways. Six of the planes will fly for Envoy with 16 flying for Republic. All 22 will be based at New York/LGA.
Envoy will begin flying the new planes on June to Indianapolis, and then adding Wilmington, NC (ILM) later in the year. Republic is scheduled to operate the new aircraft to nine cities from LGA including Atlanta, Nashville, and Raleigh-Durham.
American is limiting the seating on the planes to just 65. AA is limited in how much flying it can outsource on aircraft with 66 to 76 seats – by limiting these to just 65, the planes will be considered small regional aircraft and won’t count towards their outsourcing limits. Secondly, by putting just 65 seats on the plane, it reduces the number of customers it will disappoint for mediocre on-board service and below-average on-time performance.
AA Flight Crew Robbed & Held at Gunpoint in Costa Rica
A group of American Airlines pilots & flight attendants were robbed at gunpoint early Tuesday morning when their van that was making its way to Juan Santamaría San José International Airport for their flight to Miami.
The group was picked up at 3:40 a.m. for their 5:20 a.m. departure to Miami but fell victim to a scheme where the criminals placed an obstruction in the road, forcing the van to the side of the road. They were accosted by the criminals after having pulled over while one crew member had a gun held to their head and the others were forced to turn over their valuables to the robbers including cell phones.
Luckily, no one was injured physically in the incident but the emotional scarring from the event will not easily be forgotten. It’s likely the crew was as shook by the incident as the passengers on their flight to Miami that were booked in Basic Economy.
Airline Potpourri
- AirBaltic has entered 2009 as the airline is placing pilot briefing materials on tablets for pilots to access in the cockpit instead of printing hundreds of sheets of paper per flight off a dot-matrix printer.
- JSX is adding two new destinations – Destin, FL (DTS) and San Diego. Destin will be the airline’s first foray into the Sunshine State.
- Qantas is beginning new service from leisure destination Norfolk Island (NLK) to both Sydney and Brisbane. Both cities will 3x-weekly flights beginning this weekend.
- Transavia France will begin service from Montpellier/Méditerranée (MPL) to Stockholm/Arlanda. The flight will begin June 11 and operate once-weekly.
- United is overhauling its on-board food and beverage options. The airline will become the first to offer White Claw on-board its aircraft which, if passengers drink enough, will help them forget they are flying United.
- Widerøe and Rolls-Royce say they can have an electric plane in service by 2026. What they won’t say is how far it’ll be able to fly and how they will make money on it.
- Wingo is launching new service between Medellín (MDE) and Cancun, flying twice-weekly beginning March 18. The service will become 3x-weekly in May.
Andrew’s Moment of Levity
Justice is a dish best served cold, if it were served warm it would be justwater.