Mask Up: Mandate Extended Into Next Year
President Biden is expected to extend the requirement for travelers to wear masks on planes, trains, and automobiles (buses only) through January 18. The mandate will also apply in airports, train stations, bus depots, and in whatever the holding area is called for one of Elon Musk or Richard Branson’s flights to space.
Major U.S. airlines were informed of the decision on a call with the CDC and TSA on Tuesday, with Spirit using that time to figure out where it last saw its A320neo fleet so it can get those planes in the air eventually. A separate call is scheduled for unions in the airline sector today, once their executives get back from a Costco run to buy duct tape.
Spokespeople for the TSA, CDC, and Airlines4America all declined comment, presumably because they were trying on new face masks at the time.
Southwest Offers Bonuses for Employee Referrals
Southwest Airlines is having trouble filling its open positions, as staff shortages continue to plague the airline in several facets of its operation. The airline says its struggle is due to a decline in qualified applicants due to low labor participation and competition for available talent – as the airline failed to mention it is offering to pay employees not in cash, but in honey roasted peanuts and Rapid Rewards points.
To drive new applicants, the airline is offering up to 20,000 SWAG points – its internal point redemption system – to employees who successfully refer an applicant who ends up being hired by the airline. The 20,000 points have a cash equivalent value of $300 but cannot be redeemed for cash. Instead, they can be used for Rapid Rewards points, gift cards, concert tickets and first class upgrades when flying on Southwest.
The referral program will run through November 20. If Southwest hasn’t solved its staffing problem by then, it plans to require passengers in the C boarding group to work as baggage handlers, B boarding group customers to work as flight attendants, and those in the A boarding group to fly the aircraft.
Qantas to Require Staff to Be Vaccinated
Qantas will make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory for staff and customers as it navigates a return to long-haul international flying.
Customer-facing staff on Qantas and its two subsidiaries – QantasLink and Jetstar – will need to be fully vaccinated by November 15, 2021. This mandate will apply to pilots, flight attendants, airport staff and any kangaroos or koalas who come into constant contact with customers. All other employees including office staff will be required to be vaccinated by March 31, 2022.
“If they don’t have a medical reason, they just have other objections, we believe the aviation industry probably isn’t for them,” CEO Alan Joyce said. He also confirmed that the airline intends on making vaccination mandatory for passengers on international flights on either Qantas or Jetstar. Limited exceptions might be made for travel bubble destinations, but generally, passengers can assume that to fly on Qantas, they’ll need to be fully vaccinated.
Adding $200 Million is a Breeze
Breeze Airways grabbed an additional $200 million in funding, giving the airline more cash on-hand to support an upcoming expansion as well as the airline’s desire to take all its passengers out to brunch one day next month.
The Series B round was led by and managed by BlackRock and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. The funds come just before the carrier plans to take delivery of its first A220 aircraft. The first plane is expected to arrive in October just in time for Pumpkin Spice Latte season and continue to arrive one plane per month for the next five years.
Anything Goes Ryanair Battles Online Travel Agent
Another day and another target for the ire of Ryanair. Today’s winner is Czech-based OTA Kiwi.com, which the airline claims is issuing fake boarding to flights on the airline its selling without authorization.
Ryanair Director of Marketing Dara Brady said Kiwi.com does not have the authorization to sell flights on the airline. It went without saying, but Ryanair’s stance also includes not allowing any OTA to issue fake boarding passes to its flights either.
The airline has taken aim at third-party booking sites like Kiwi for accessing Ryanair’s flights, posing as a fake customer and then selling the tickets at a markup. Ryanair believes no one should profit from marking up its fares except itself via fees and add-ons. Kiwi is facing a similar lawsit in the United States from Southwest after a federal court ruled last week that Southwest could go on with its claim.
Passengers who booked Ryanair flights on Kiwi could find themselves in the middle of the dispute, unable to check-in because Kiwi with holds the correct confirmation and e-mail address that the booking was made with.
- Air Mauritius plans on consolidating its loss-making route network. The new network won’t make money, but it will be consolidated.
- Blue Air announced 10 new routes for next summer its hubs at Bucharest (OTP) and Cluj-Napoca (CLJ).
- British Airways and Air India are increasing their frequencies between the UK and India after India was moved from the UK’s red list to the amber list.
- Cathay Pacific will work with JPA Design to design its first and business class seats on its B777-9 aircraft. In the meantime, passengers are expected to stand.
- Emirates is feeling blue today after signing a codeshare agreement with Azul.
- IrAero took delivery of its first A319.
- ITA, the reincarnation of Alitalia that’s expected to begin operations this fall received its operating certificate from the Italian government.
- Pobeda cancelled its contract with Boeing to acqwuire as many as 30 B737 MAX aircraft.
- Singapore is merging its two corporate travel programs – SIA Corporate Travel and HighFlyer into one program.
To start a zoo, you need at least three pandas, one grizzly and two polars.
That’s the bear minimum.