CDC Reduces Quarantine Period
The CDC shortened the recommended time for COVID-19 positive individuals from ten to five days — provided individuals are asymptomatic and continue to wear a mask around others for at least five additional days, preferably longer if they have bad breath. The five day quarantine period will also apply to anyone exposed to the virus who is fully vaccinated.
The shortened quarantine time will be a booster to airlines who will be able to get staff back who have tested positive but are vaccinated and/or asymptomatic back to work more quickly, allowing for more flexibility. Airlines canceled thousands of flights over the last week due to lack of staff thanks to the omicron variant of COVID-19.
Sara Nelson, the president of the Association of Flight Attendants, raised concern, saying:
“If any business pressures a worker to return to work before they feel better we will make clear it is an unsafe work environment, which will cause a much greater disruption than any ‘staffing shortages.'”
While it did reduce the COVID-19 quarantine period in general, the CDC did leave one exception. Anyone flying basic economy will still be required to quarantine for 14-days.
Denver Seeks Additional $1.3 Billion
Denver International Airport requested an additional $1.3 billion from the Denver City Council – on top of the $770 million that’s already been allocated to the airport – for its modernization project.
Phil Washington, DEN’s newly-appointed CEO, says the additional funding will better position the airport for future growth while also allowing much of the work to not disrupt the day-to-day passenger experience of being crammed into a small train to get to the gate for frequently-delayed flights.
The additional $1.3 billion is split between $500 million to relocate other lower-level security checkpoints to the expanded northeast corner of the upper level – the airport says it will increase security capacity by 62% by 2026. $600 million is for rebuilding the check-in areas, with 40 of this $600 million to build a temporary check-in area while the current one is rebuilt.
Lastly, there’s $40 million to build a new Center of Excellence and Equity in Aviation, $160 million for upgrades to curbside pick-up and baggage claim, and $3 million as “security payments” to the aliens and ghosts which live beneath the airport.
No funding is allocated for oxygen machines to allow passengers to better catch their breath after running the length of the airport to make their connection, and the airport is also willing to go without cash for a study to finally determine once and for all what rocky mountain oysters really are.
Arizona Cardinals Purchase B777-200ER
The Arizona Cardinals, losers of three straight and five of eight, took their frustrations out via retail therapy just like the rest of us – except they bought an airplane. The Cardinals purchased N687DA, a B777-200ER that Delta retired last fall.
The aircraft was delivered on December 17 and was used for the first time the next day to take the team to Detroit… where they promptly were beaten soundly, bringing into question whether the airplane was cursed by all those Falcons fans at Delta before leaving the fleet.
The aircraft came equipped with 28 seats up front in first, 48 in business and 90 oversized coach seats in the back to accommodate the team’s 80+ person weekly travel party. The aircraft comes with plenty of cargo space to store much of its equipment plus the decades of disappointment the team brings with itself on a weekly basis.
The Cardinals are the second NFL team to own their own plane – following the New England Patriots which purchased two B767-300s several years ago. The team now trails the Patriots in airplanes 2 to 1 and in Super Bowl championships 6 to 0. The Cardinals will fly 22,186 miles this year – fifth most in the NFL – but not enough to get entry-level status on any major American airline. Ryan Bingham reportedly scoffed when seeing their mileage total and said “call me when you get to 150k.”
- Air India‘s formal handover to new owner Tata Group has been delayed until next month.
- Air Montenegro, in an attempt to keep major news flowing this week, issued an RFP for narrowbody dry-lease.
- Avianca completed a sale and leaseback of nine aircraft with ten more expected to close by February.
- Icelandair, apparently tired of the cold, applied to operate charters between Florida and Havana this winter. GlobalX doesn’t want Icelandair to operate to Cuba and Icelandair told GlobalX via the DOT to go straight to Hekla.
- IndiGo took delivery of the eighth and final A320neo it had on order from BOC Aviation Limited.
- Royal Jordanian is in the market for $282 million in state aid to prevent the carrier from collapsing.
- Skymark Airlines borrowed $8.7 million as a subordinated equity loan from Shoko Chukin Bank.
- TransNusa (it’s a real airline) will become the first non-Chinese airline to operate the ARJ21-700.
- Tunisair began operations with its first A320neo.
Not to brag, but I already have a date for New Year’s Eve.
It’s December 31st.