Southwest Pilots Union Considers Holiday Pickets
Pilots at Southwest Airlines are contemplating picket lines at airports over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays this year to protest what it says is a frenetic increase in schedules, poor food options, and a lack of hotels. Those are three items that seem to perfectly encapsulate holiday flying, making it an ideal time for their picket lines.
Southwest’s Pilots Association (SWAPA) shared with its members that the pickets were being considered on Wednesday, demanding the airline address the last-minute nature of scheduling and the fatigue it was causing. Southwest VP of Flight Operations Bob Waltz danced around the issue, blaming it on operational challenges this summer due to the increased surge of demand combined with lingering effects from the pandemic.
Southwest’s flight attendants also have voiced concerns about staffing and conditions on the road. The flight attendants have objected to the airline’s recent mandate that they check-in 24 hours prior to each segment they’re working or be subject to a C group boarding pass, causing delays as they board the plane late.
New Mobile Airport Takes Step Forward
Sorry to burst your bubble, but this isn’t a story about a new portable, mobile airport. Rather, the new downtown airport in Mobile, AL has a project manager on board. The unfortunately-named Hoar Program Management was approved to oversee the effort. The current municipal airport is expected to be operational as Mobile’s new commercial airport as early as 2024.
The Mobile Airport Authority approved the appointment of HPM on Thursday, beginning the aggressive three-year timetable to complete the project. When asked for comment about the timeline, officials from Berlin/Brandenburg Airport could only throw their hands up in astonishment and walk away.
The current price tag for the project is $250 million, a figure that’s sure to go up as the project gets underway. The $250 million includes upgrading the runways at the current site, expansion of roads leading in and out of the airport, and the construction of a commercial kitchen so Chili’s ToGo, Auntie Annie’s, and a generically-named tavern can be operational right away.
Asiana Plans Exit from Star Alliance
SkyTeam and Delta are winners today as Korean Air Chairman and CEO Walter Cho announced to the surprise of absolutely nobody that as part of its buyout by Korean, Asiana will exit Star Alliance, strengthening SkyTeam’s Asian hub at Seoul/Incheon (ICN).
The merging of the two airlines is not expected to be complete until 2024 at the earliest, but Asiana’s brand will begin to recede into the night beginning next year when the two begin their integration. Asiana will become a subsidiary of Korean once approval for the merger is formalized – which Korean expects to receive next year.
Korean plans to streamline the network of the combined airline, eliminating redundant routes to create a more efficient and cost-effective operation. The transpacific JV between Delta and Korean will grow stronger following the merger, giving the two carriers nearly 50% of the available passenger slots at ICN. While Korean has rejected Delta’s idea of hourly flights between Seoul and Atlanta, it will create more opportunities for SkyMiles customers to redeem flights to Asia. Delta customers can expect premium class seats on Korean to start at two million SkyMiles once the merger is complete, a bargain to Delta flyers.
Delta Partners with Restaurants to Upgrade Meal Service
Delta Air Lines is partnering with select restaurants to upgrade its premium class dining options as meals return to first class and Delta One. The partnerships are in lieu of Delta’s previous catering method of gathering whatever was available at a Gate Gourmet facility and throwing it on a tray before anyone else noticed.
Premium passengers will be served curated meals from locally-sourced restaurants based on the route flown. September flights from New York/JFK to Seattle, Los Angeles, and Seattle will be loaded with meals from New York’s Union Square Events in first class, while passengers in basic economy will be served leftover condiments from a Manhattan hot dog cart grabbed by their crew while waiting for the shuttle to the airport.
Los Angeles flights to New York/JFK, Washington/National, and Boston will see first class menus from LA chefs Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo with the menu in economy featuring week-old Dodger Dogs. In keeping with Delta’s current feelings about its former hub, Cincinnati-origin passengers will have a can of Skyline Chili thrown at their head as they board.
El Al Seeks Additional Funding
El Al won’t be making friends at Ryanair as the carrier’s most recent fiscal report says it needs more state aid if it’s going to continue operating without interruption.
El Al posted a loss of $80 million for the second quarter of 2021, a slight improvement from the $104 million loss it posted a year ago. Revenue was $222 million, up from $151 million last year over the same time period. Like many airlines, it was on an upward trajectory earlier this year before the Delta variant slowed worldwide travel demand.
The airline’s current market capitalization is about $173 million, which is 40% less than what 40% of the airline sold for last September. In other words, be glad you didn’t buy 40% of the airline last September.
El Al laid off nearly 2,000 workers since the beginning of the pandemic and currently employees about 4,200 staff with 1,400 of those on unpaid leave. It received $210 million from the Israeli government earlier this year, using the money to pay debts and process all outstanding refunds, but the airline will need additional money to compensate for the downturn in demand in the second half of 2021.
- Air France introduced its new lounge in Terminal 2F of its hub in Paris today for travelers to enjoy when they inevitably miss their too-tightly scheduled connection.
- American and Alaska took their partnership to a new level this morning when a plane from each airline clipped wings in Burbank. No passengers were on-board either plane, and no injuries were reported.
- Comair – the South African version – has secured enough funding to resume flying next month.
- Copa is resuming its stopover in Panama program, offering connecting travelers a free stopover in Panama City during travels.
- EgyptAir put seven A320 aircraft for sale. The airline will feature the planes for interested buyers at a Cairo-area swap meet this weekend.
- Kam Air is in talks with the Taliban to restart commercial air service in Afghanistan in what are surely very pleasant discussions.
- Ryanair has filed a new complaint with the EU over state aid from Portugal given to TAP. In other news, an angry man yelled at a cloud earlier today.
- Singapore and Malaysia Airlines have both recently come out with vaccination mandates for staff.
- Uganda Airlines has a good news/bad news thing going on as it unveiled features of its new A330-800 aircraft which is due to be delivered soon, while its board of directors and senior staff are being brought up on corruption and bribery charges.
- Virgin Australia is now offering increased status credits for full-fare economy and business class customers on most flights. Rex is currently studying the new program rules to find something to complain to the government about.
I felt very nervous driving into the cemetery today. My GPS told me I had reached my final destination.