U.S. Airlines Activated to Assist Afghan Airlift
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin activated the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF), a 70-year old program the government created in the wake of the Berlin airlift which requires commercial airlines to assist the government for a “major national defense emergency.” This is just the third time the CRAF has been activated – once in the early ’90s and again in the early 2000s, both in Iraq.
The government was slow to get the CRAF activated as its handbook hadn’t been updated since the early 2000s, and its calls to AirTran, Continental, Northwest, TWA, and US Airways all went unanswered.
The activation was for 18 aircraft – three each from American, Atlas Air, Delta, and Omni Air; four from United; and two from Hawaiian. The DoD asked Spirit for four planes, but the government wasn’t willing to pay Spirit’s $39 warzone fee, which turned out to be for the best because Spirit couldn’t find four planes to lend the government anyway. Southwest also was passed over because the government refused to pay for Early Bird and is so busy with the the situation in Afghanistan, no one would commit to checking in 24 hours before the flight.
Allegiant offered to help, but only if it could airlift passengers to Appleton, Grand Rapids, Minot, or Tulsa, while Avelo and Breeze just wish the DoD knew they existed.
US Extends Border Closings Again
The federal government extended the limits on non-essential travel at the nation’s land borders with Canada and Mexico another month to September 21.
The announcement was accompanied by frustration on the Canadian side, especially after Canada relaxed much of its restrictions for vaccinated Americans earlier this month… several weeks before it opened its borders to international visitors from other countries. But as has been the case with border closings elsewhere in the world, the US government has no interest in reciprocating with anyone.
Mark Agnew, senior vice president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce used the harshest rhetoric he could think of, saying he was “disappointed” in the U.S. decision. Agnew later apologized for flying off the handle and losing his cool.
Easy as Pie: Key Lime Air Earns EAS Contract
Key Lime Air cooked up a two-year EAS contract at Ironwood, MI (IWD) airport under its Denver Air Connection brand, replacing Boutique Air, the previous operator of the EAS contract at the airport.
Boutique’s two-year deal just started last summer and was set to run through July 31, 2022, but the airline was forced to leave earlier this spring after two incidents led the airport board to seek a new airline. A Boutique Air flight lost a wheel prior to landing at Chicago/O’Hare in June, and then in May a cargo door opened during takeoff from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Ironwood. You lose one wheel during flight and have one cargo door open during takeoff and suddenly everyone’s a critic.
Under the new contract, DAC will operate 12-weekly flights, six to Chicago/O’Hare and six to Minneapolis/St. Paul. The DOT sweetened the deal for Key Lime offering it $3.3 million for the first year and $3.4 million for the second year. The carrier beat out Multi-Aero and Southern Airways Express for the contract, earning the business due to its track record both in the skies and in the bakery.
Play Time is Over: Startup Targets 2022 US Debut
Icelandic startup PLAY is hoping to begin flying to the United States next summer, the airline disclosed in a filing with the DOT.
It intends to fly to the east coast of the United States from Iceland, using a fleet of A321-200neos carrying passengers, cargo, and mail. The airline began flying passengers earlier this summer on short-haul services within Europe. It hasn’t begun flying intra-European mail yet as it keeps forgetting to purchase stamps at the grocery store.
Its transatlantic plans are very similar to what WOW Air tried and failed at. But PLAY says it’s not playing around with widebody aircraft, separating it from what one of the many things that doomed WOW. The new carrier will remain going steady with the A320 family of aircraft and wants to utilize its planes for 13-14 hours per day to increase profitability. The airline expects that by 2023, its average flight length will be 1800 miles, or roughly the distance from Denver’s airport to downtown Denver.
Qantas Vaccination Incentive Program Goes Live
Qantas’s “Be Rewarded” vaccination incentive program is underway in Australia, and the airline will be handing out prizes and awards through the end of the year. Every member of the Qantas Frequent Flier loyalty program that uploads their vaccination certificate will be able to choose one from these three prizes: 1,000 Qantas points, 15 status credits, or a $20 discount on a Qantas or Jetstar flight.
Everyone who enters will have a chance to win the grand prize – a year’s worth of free flights on Qantas or Jetstar. The free flights are actually A$50,000 in flight credit and can be redeemed as 12 trips worth up to A$4,000 and one at A$2,000. The catch is that the winner can only redeem flights when borders open, and on Australia’s current timeline that probably won’t be until 2037.
Rex is expected to file a complaint with Australian authorities this week that the scheme will encourage people to get vaccinated and be more loyal to Qantas, creating an anticompetitive atmosphere in the country. It also is taking issue with hotel group Accor for its chipping in one million Accor points and a A$3,650 BP gift card, valid for fuel or a crap ton of pizza-flavored Combos.
- Air Astana will resume service to London/Heathrow on September 18 with twice-weekly flights.
- Air France and KLM are moving from T2 at London/Heathrow to T3 tomorrow, August 24, to reunite with long lost friends Delta and Virgin Atlantic. Their movers canceled at the last minute, so the airlines are offering free pizza and beer to anyone willing to come down to Heathrow tonight and help.
- Air Tanzania’s former director-general David Mataka was sentenced to a four-year stint in jail or a fine of $3,450 after being found guilty of shady financial dealings as head of the airline. Four years in jail or a $3,450 fine – that doesn’t feel like a tough decision.
- Emerald Airlines will take delivery of six ATR72-600 aircraft as part of its flying on behalf of Aer Lingus. The first of the six is expected to arrive this month with the remaining planes coming over the next year.
- Emirates cemented an interline agreement with South African carrier Cemair providing connecting options to six new destinations in the country.
- Fly Air41, a Croatian startup, received its AOC to begin regularly-scheduled passenger ops.
- Lumiwings is feeling very good about itself after signing a partnership with EGO Airways to sell tickets for the balance of the summer season.
- Virgin Australia owes lessor Avation $73 million from outstanding lease obligations and end-of-term maintenance. The airline reportedly returned aircraft over its mileage limit with chipped paint and fast food wrappers strewn about in the back.
- WestAF is launching as Algeria’s first private LCC carrier. It might want to rethink the name.
- WestJet is resuming its service to Orange County from its Calgary hub with 2x-weekly flights beginning November 4, increasing to 3x-weekly on December 7. The airline is also making its twice-weekly service to San Francisco year-round, beginning October 31.
Guess who I bumped into on my way to get my glasses fixed?
Everybody.