United Dumps Dozen from Dulles
United Airlines is ending service to 12 destinations from its Washington/Dulles hub as it continues to be constrained by its shortage of regional pilots. The 12 destinations will not lose United service entirely, but the cities obviously angered someone at United as most will see Newark as their alternative option.
All 12 destinations losing service are operated by Air Wisconsin on behalf of United Express. They are:
- Akron, OH
- Asheville, NC
- Bangor, ME
- Erie, PA
- Greensboro, NC
- Greenville/Spartanburg, SC
- Ithaca, NY
- Manchester, NH (previously suspended)
- Philadelphia
- State College, PA
- Wilkes Barre/Scranton, PA
- Wilmington, NC
The 12 cuts represent about 11% of United’s scheduled departures from Dulles this March.
Delta Requests CDC Shorten Some Quarantine Requirements
Delta Air Lines sent a letter to the CDC making a request that the quarantine requirement for breakthrough COVID-19 cases be reduced by half from ten days to five.
Delta CEO Ed Bastian said Delta’s employees represent an essential workforce, and that the 10-day isolation period has the potential to significantly impact operations. Bastian and Delta’s Chief Health Office Carlos del Rio said while the Omicron variant might be more contagious, its often linked to milder disease, especially amongst the vaccinated.
The current 10-day isolation is based on 2020 guidance, prior to effective vaccines and the mountains of knowledge gained in the last two years. Bastian said Delta has over 90% of its staff vaccinated, with that number increasing. The airline would be willing to partner with the CDC to college empirical data to help guide the CDC’s future policy making.
For now, Delta will continue to comply with the 10-day isolation for employees regardless of vaccination status. Employees who test positive while on a trip are being sent to Delta’s SkyMiles award redemption office in Atlanta. With the price its is charging for award redemptions, it’s as good a place as any to isolate and wait out the 10 days.
Wizz Beefs Up at Gatwick
Wizz Air is mounting a challenge to both easyJet and BA’s new British Airways* subsidiary by acquiring slots at London/Gatwick from Norwegian.
The Hungarian LCC acquired 15 daily slots at LGW, which will give it the capacity to base four more A321neo at the airport. The four new planes will increase the number of aircraft based at LGW for Wizz from one to five.
The carrier opened its base at Gatwick in October of 2020 as it sought to increase its presence. Wizz is one of several airlines which pushed the UK to end pandemic-era slot usage restrictions to potentially open more slots at desirable airports — a decision from the UK regarding summer 2022 is expected in January.
The carrier says it will announce the routes it will add from LGW in “due course.” Wizz Air employees were reportedly seen placing a large map of Europe on a wall at headquarters, with plans for a darts competition to see what destinations would be added using the new slots.
- Air Montenegro asked the Montenegrin government to finance its purchase of E195 aircraft.
- airBaltic‘s €45 million equity investment from the Latvian government was approved by the European Commission over the strong objection of Ryanair.
- American did something with its taxes. For more details, ask your accountant.
- Bamboo will launch twice weekly service to Melbourne on April 1. No kidding.
- Cathay Pacific is cutting all flights to Australia and Hong Kong between now and January 1 with the exception of twice weekly service to Sydney.
- Garuda Indonesia is facing the likelihood of its stock being delisted on the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
- Gulf Air is resuming service to Baku with twice weekly service beginning June 6.
- Singapore is offering two hours of complimentary on-board Wifi between now and March 31.
- TAP saw its €2.55 billion aid package from the Portuguese government approved by the EU. Ryanair vowed to continue to fight.
Why does Santa Claus go down the chimney on Christmas Eve?
Because it soot’s him