Southwest Goes Kayaking
Southwest Airlines has begun providing content – schedules, routes, and fares – to Kayak’s corporate travel platform, the cleverly named Kayak for Business.
In addition to regular fares, the carrier will allow Kayak for Business customers to access discounts and book reward trips using their Rapid Rewards points. Customers can also waste their money buy EarlyBird check-in through Kayak to ensure they get to stand in front of the A 1-30 placard at the gate, automatically becoming the envy of all the suckers in the B and C boarding groups.
Hong Kong to Ban Transit Passengers
Hong Kong International Airport is banning transit passengers from more than 150 countries beginning Sunday as the island’s government tries desperately to halt the spread of Omicron. The ban comes with a ban on dining on the island after 6 p.m. for another two weeks, which makes sense as Omicron is known to rest during the day and come out once the sun sets.
Airline passengers who have visited any one of more than 150 countries and territories for the last 21 days including the United States, Canada, Australia, U.K., and most of Europe will be banned from visiting or transiting Hong Kong through at least February 15.
Despite the sweeping ban, negotiations are taking place for an exception – athletes and officials transiting Hong Kong en route to Beijing for the Olympic Winter Games. The Hong Kong airport said in a statement on Friday that it had no Olympic exemptions – yet. No other exemptions are expected to be in place between now and the current February 15 deadline, much to chagrin of Novak Djokovic who suddenly finds himself with extra time on his hands.
Saudia Requests Reciprocal Cargo Rights
Saudia, the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia, wants to get into the U.S. cargo game, and is requesting its government grant reciprocal seventh-freedom rights to US cargo operators in exchange for similar rights for itself. The carrier wants to operate cargo-only flights on the oddly specific Belgium-U.S. corridor and is struggling to get permission from the U.S. DOT.
Four US cargo carriers – FedEx Express, UPS Airlines, ATI, and ABX Air have also asked the DOT not to rule, wanting to wait until the Saudi government grants equal seventh freedom rights to the U.S. carriers, and if the Saudi government does not do so, to deny Saudia’s request.
Saudia dismissed the request of the U.S. cargo airlines, saying that its service between the U.S. and Belgium would be in the best interest of the American public because it would alleviate supply chain issues.
Any questions on why Saudia operating cargo routes between Belgium and the United States would be beneficial to the American public can be directed to Saudia.
- Air France unveiled new amenity kits for business and premium economy. Finally.
- Air India is returning hot beverages to its meal service. A world rejoices while sipping slowly to avoid
- Cathay Pacific zigs where Hong Kong zags, as the carrier is reopening its first and business class lounges at London/Heathrow. Passengers transiting are not allowed access to the lounge and they’re not even supposed to look up at the door when walking past.
- Fly LeOne deferred its LeLaunch to sometime in February.
- Interjet is calling it a day.
- KLM will be looking for a new CEO next year when Peter Elbers steps away on May 1, 2023. Interested applicants should reach out to KLM. Or Air France. Or maybe even Delta. But not us.
- Norse Atlantic, the startup carrier run by three guys named Bjørn received its U.S. operator license.
- Peach got a sweet-smelling deal on its first A321neo(LR) that recently began scheduled passenger service.
- Ryanair is suspending seen routes from Ukraine for the month of February.
- Singapore is extending PPS Club and KrisFlyer Elite status to 2024.
- Smartwings served more than 2.7 million customers in 2021, and unlike United, it didn’t force any of them to fly through Newark.
- Starlux is adding an A320neo in the next several weeks.
Never discuss infinity with a mathematician, they can go on about it forever.