May 7, 2021

UK Releases Green List – USA Left Out

The UK government finally released its ‘green list’ of countries from which visitors could travel to the UK without quarantine, and in retaliation for that distasteful “1776 incident,” the United States was surprisingly left off the list.

The UK only added 12 countries and territories to the list that will be effective on May 17, far less than what was expected. Additionally, the government went the other way on three countries – tightening restrictons on travel to and from the Maldives, Nepal, and Turkey.

The lucky dozen placed on the green list are:

  • Australia
  • Brunei
  • Falkland Islands
  • Faroe Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Iceland
  • Israel
  • New Zealand
  • Portugal
  • Singapore
  • South Georgia
  • South Sandwich Islands

Reaction across the aviation industry was filled with disappointment. Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said “It’s very disappointing and frankly not worth commenting on.” His anger is much more pronounced if you can imagine the quote in his Irish accent.

Transportation Secretary Grant Shapps said he expects more countries to be added as the summer continues, specifically mentioning France, Italy, and Spain.

Delta Heads to Croatia

Delta Air Lines will operate passenger flights to Croatia for the first time, beginning 4x-weekly service from New York/JFK to Dubrovnik on July 2.

U.S. travelers visiting Croatia can do so without any quarantine, provided they can provide a negative PCR test, proof of vaccination, or pinky promise that they have not been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for the virus.

Delta is the second or third airline — depenending upon what you consider to be an airline — to add service to Croatia since it reopened to Americans earlier this summer, following United and PRAGUSA.one. United plans to begin flying to Croatia on July 8 – six days after Delta. The flight is scheduled to push back from the gate on July 7, but will be delayed on Newark’s taxiway until the 8th.

Delta will operate the new route on its 226-seat B767-300 aircraft.

Norwegian Closes Bases, Announces Layoffs

Norwegian, the official airline of the American Bankruptcy Institute, announced its plans to shut down three bases in Spain and lay off 85% of its staff in the country, or just shy of 1,200 people.

The airline is making the cuts now, figuring if it doesn’t, it’ll be forced to do so in a future bankruptcy proceeding. Bases will be closed in Barcelona along with Las Palmas (LPA) and Tenerife (TFS) in the Canary Islands. The airline will maintain its bases at Alicante (ALC) and Malaga (AGP) with one aircraft each, hoping to grow them to 4 and 2 aircraft respectively next summer.

With the Barcelona base closing, it means the airline’s five routes from BCN to the United States will not resume, which isn’t a surprise to anyone. The airline has shifted focus to its money-losing routes domestically within Norway and short-haul Europe instead of its money-losing long-haul routes.

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Introduces New Scanners

Amsterdam Schiphol, the 3rd busiest airport in Europe, is introducing new scanners at its security checkpoints that will allow passengers to keep liquids, gels, and electronics in their carry-on luggage.

The new CT scanners have been tested at the airport as far back as 2015, but are now replacing the x-ray machines at each of the airport’s checkpoints. Terminal 1 has been fully renovated with all 21 security lanes having the new equipment. The remaining security lanes at Schiphol will be updated in the coming weeks.

While passengers can keep these items in their bags, the rules have not changed on what can and cannot be brought through. The liquid limit remains at 100 mL which equals just over three ounces, with no limit on how much Dutch cheese can be brought through the checkpoints.

Airline That Doesn’t Fly Acquires Company

Global Crossing Airlines, an airline that does not fly airplanes, acquired crowdsourced travel platform Flugy.com, an online travel platform whose members suggest far-flung destinations, and then vote on a winner. The cost of a group charter to the destination is then split among the participants. If that seems like an awful idea, that’s because it is.

By purchasing Flugy, Global Crossing can theoretically use its charter expertise to give members of the website more aircraft destination options. Global Crossing is looking for additional revenue streams because it is still waiting for FAA certification to begin scheduled passenger ops.

CEO Ed Wegel said that he believes “crowdsourcing of travel, given what we have all gone through over the past year, is the next big idea in using on-line booking platforms,” which is the exact thing you’d expect to hear from the CEO of an airline that doesn’t fly who just bought a company that he doesn’t really want.

  • Air Serbia is increasing its flights to Russia from its Belgrade hub. Moscow/SVO will increase from 6x-weekly to once-daily on May 13.  New flights will begin to Rostov-on-Don (ROV) with 2x-weekly flights on June 4; Krasnodar (KRR) will also be 2x-weekly beginning June 4; with St. Petersburg/LED beginning twice-weekly service on June 8.
  • Cargojet, a Hamilton, ON (YHM)-based cargo operator is looking to invest in a startup US cargo airline. This is no doubt a sign to anyone reading this who’s been on the fence about starting a cargo airline – now is the time.
  • Carpatair added an A319 to its fleet and has ended plans to acquire Embraer aircraft.
  • Cathay Pacific, which is still experiencing a cash burn of nearly $10 million per day, is considering a bond issue in US dollars for the first time since 1996.
  • Comair has been granted US Chapter 15 immunity in its negotiations with Boeing.
  • FLYSAX has submitted a revised offer of $10.4 million to purchase the bankrupt South African Express.
  • interCaribbean might need to change its name as the airline begins operating on mainland South America for the first time. The Guyanese government granted the airline fifth and seventh freedom traffic rights to operate from Georgetown (GEO) Airport. (this one, not this one)
  • LATAM posted its Q1 financials today, showing a net loss of $431 million on $913 million in revenue.
  • Lufthansa is putting first class back on its A350-900 aircraft.
  • Malawi Airlines will be recapitalized instead of being liquidated.
  • NAC Charter, a South African-based charter operator purchased 25% of FLL-based Discovery Jets.
  • Northern Air Cargo placed an order for four converted B767-300 freighter aircraft.
  • Orion Airways in Cyprus will be dissolved. It’s unclear if the airline ever really flew.
  • Qantas is launching two new routes operated by Qantaslink: Adelaide to Gold Coast (beginning June 25) and Canberra to Darwin (beginning June 21).
  • Salam Air will not be funded by Oman’s sovereign wealth fund.

I got a job at a fire hydrant factory. It’s great work, but you can’t park anywhere near the building.