Norse Atlantic Identifies U.S. Destinations
Norse Atlantic Airways, the Norwegian startup launched by three guys named Bjørn that’s nearly a carbon copy of Norwegian despite what it claims, plans to begin flying next spring with 15 B787 aircraft and we now know where it’s planning to go at launch.
The carrier filed for permission from the DOT to fly to three U.S. destinations from Oslo: Fort Lauderdale, New York/Stewart (SWF), and Ontario (ONT). The first thing to jump off the page is the airline’s plan to lower costs by flying into alternative airports and not Miami, New York/JFK, or Los Angeles. If these routes do launch, it will be Ontario’s only transatlantic service, and SWF’s first since –guess who – Norwegian left the airport before shutting down its longhaul operation.
Everything about this airline is a little off, and this news doesn’t change that. The carrier has not announced fifth-freedom flights within Europe, with the three U.S. destinations the only dots on its route map for now. The carrier previously announced London/Gatwick and Paris as European gateways, but for now, it’ll be Oslo or bust for Bjørn, Bjørn, and Bjorn.
AA, Southwest Pilots Union Seek Vaccine Exemptions
Both the Allied Pilots Association (APA), which represents 14,000 American Airlines pilots and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) have come out in favor of exemptions to vaccine mandates for their members. Just under a third of the APA’s 14,000 members remain unvaccinated, while Southwest’s union said it couldn’t say how many of its pilots were unvaccinated because the carrier’s open seating policy made it impossible to know who was where.
The APA says some of its 4,200 unvaccinated members have rejected the jab due to documented medical concerns, while others have concerns about side effects with the union being caught downplaying the impressive double that many of its members are both qualified pilots and expert virologists.
Both unions say the 60-day timeline for the vaccine requirement from the Biden administration could adversely effect staffing for the holiday season. While true, if the unvaccinated pilots contact COVID-19 and are unable to fly, that will also adversely affect holiday flying.
Terminal Closure to Make Newark More Unpleasant than Usual
Newark Airport, a challenging passenger experience on its best day, is about to get more complicated as the airport closes one of three piers in Terminal A on Thursday. The closure is to allow for the continuing construction of the new Terminal A, a project guaranteed to be over budget, underwhelming, and line the pockets of both contractors and Port Authority officials.
The first pier to go contains six gates and is home to Air Canada, JetBlue, Air Canada’s Maple Leaf Lounge, and dozens of unpleasant odors and strange sticky stuff on the floor. Air Canada will shift to other gates in Terminal A, while JetBlue will split between Terminal A and B. While JetBlue does not offer many connections at Newark, those who are connecting on flights split between the terminals will have the privilege of leaving the sterile area, taking the AirTrain to the new terminal, and clearing security again.
The other carriers in Terminal A – American, Alaska, and United Express – will continue without being displaced. The new terminal is slated to theoretically open next spring with 21 gates. Another 12, bringing it to a total of 33, are expected to be operational by the end of 2022.
- Air Busan raised $193 million in a capital increase.
- Air Canada is resuming service to India after the Canadian government lifted its restriction on nonstop flights to the country. Flights from both Toronto and Vancouver to Delhi resume today.
- Aegean is accelerating its A320neo delivery schedule, telling Airbus it’s fine taking the planes with unfinished restrooms if that speeds up delivery
- Air France plans to take delivery of if its first A220-300 tomorrow morning. The aircraft is going through final preparations including being given a snooty attitude and a chain smoking habit.
- Alaska took delivery of the first of 13 B737 MAX 9 aircraft that the carrier ordered last November.
- American announced a codeshare agreement with Indian LCC IndiGo. The AA code will be placed on 29 of IndiGo’s domestic routes within India.
- British Airways says it won’t layoff anymore workers — until it changes its mind.
- Emirates will resume flying to London/Gatwick with daily service beginning December 10.
- Finnair completed a sale and leaseback of four A350 aircraft, raising over $400 million in the process.
- Pakistan International Airlines and the Pakistani government are demanding that PIA be granted access to operate in Kuwait by October 1 or it will restrict Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways from operating in Pakistan. Kuwaiti officials plan to respond as soon as they stop laughing.
- Qantas plans to resume flying to Bali, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, and Johannesburg in a second wave of international restarts on Sunday, March 27.
- Qatar is looking for 40 BA pilots to fly on its behalf this winter.
- Republic Airways has no intent to go public anytime soon.
- Ryanair will resume Cork’s full complement of 20 pre-pandemic routes in the summer of 2022.
- SAA and Kenya Airways have announced their intention to form an African airline group to support each other and take a long-term view together. Considering that neither airline makes any money, this seems like a match made in heaven.
- SAS signed an LOI to add the E195 to its fleet provided the planes have working heaters.
- Singapore will once again make its flights available for partner award redemption after 14 months of wandering in a vast, cold desert.
- Spirit has an unlikely ally in its bid to win Newark slots from the government — Visit Oakland.
- United found someone else in New Jersey to talk about how great it is.
- Volotea offered furloughs to all of its employees and apparently also some people who don’t work there but just hang around the office sometimes.
People ask how I always manage to sneak candy into the movie theater. I tell them that I always have a few twix up my sleeve.