Delta Taking its Next Aircraft Order to the Max
Delta Air Lines is nearing an order of 100 B737 MAX 10 jets, which would be Delta’s first order of the MAX aircraft and the first major order for Delta from Boeing in 10 years.
Delta is the only major U.S. carrier that does not operate the MAX, something that would change in a big way if this deal goes down. Both Boeing and Delta declined comment, but when declining comment, Boeing officials were seen boarding a flight from Atlanta to Seattle with scores of Biscoffs falling out of their carry-on luggage.
The B737 MAX 10 is the largest version of the MAX, with room for between 188 and 204 seats in a two-class layout. The aircraft type debuted in late 2019 just prior to the pandemic. United was the largest customer of the aircraft type at launch, putting 100 on order. The plane is a response to the A321neo – an aircraft Delta has more than 150 of on order.
Canada Removes Pre-Departure Testing
Fully vaccinated tourists will no longer be required to provide pre-travel documentation of a COVID-19 test or any other paperwork upon arrival in Canada, effective April 1. A vaccination card will be enough to enter the country along with a smartly placed bottle of maple syrup offered to immigration agents at the border.
The decision was a combination of the decreasing hospitalization numbers in Canada, an increased vaccination rate, and heavy lobbying by the tourism industry – especially Air Canada. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated visitors to the Great White North will still be required to produce a negative test upon arrival in Canada, unless they can prove recovery from the virus with proof of a positive test within 10-180 days of arrivals.
All travelers – regardless of vaccination status – can be pulled aside upon arrival for random COVID-19 or NHL trivia contests. Canada now becomes one of 25 countries that are open to vaccinated travelers without any form of testing, a number that’s up from seven from a month ago – but still does not include the United States.
American Bringing Booze Back
American Airlines will resume sales of alcoholic beverages – and snacks! – on domestic and short-haul international flights April 18, nearly a year after it first planned to bring it back. The carrier put sales of alcohol and snacks on hold in the early days of the pandemic thanks to a combination of plummeting travel demand and a desire to limit interactions between staff and customers.
AA first tried to bring booze back last spring but thought better of it as the number on on-board incidents amongst passengers began to quickly increase. Despite the long layoff, American is not raising the prices on booze, deciding that its already inflated prices were high enough. Spirits and wine will be $9, with beer coming in at $8 – as always, common sense remains free.
Service will be offered on all flights of 250 miles and more. Basic economy passengers will not be afforded the chance to buy-on-board and will instead be given a complimentary glass of lukewarm tap water that may or may not be clean enough to drink, along with a single serving of expired pretzels that are curiously soft.
- Aeromexico exited Chapter 11.
- Air Canada is adding a fuel stop in in Ireland on its routes between Vancouver and Delhi due the longer route its taking to avoid Russian airspace. The stop also allows the airplane to top off its maple syrup reserves.
- China Airlines was repaid nearly $10 million it overpaid on leases.
- Emirates will double its service to Melbourne, adding a second daily flight beginning May 2.
- Flyr announced a strgc mktng aggrmnt wth TV 2 Invest AS.
- GlobalX is adding $6 million in new financing.
- Jet Airways investors who are attempting to restart the airline have asked the Indian government for more time.
- Lynx Air is adding five new routes from the Toronto “area,” with Halifax (3x-weekly) beginning July 20, St. John’s (2x-weekly, then daily) beginning June 28, and Edmonton (daily) beginning July 28. Hamilton to Calgary begins June 29 (2x-weekly, then 4x-weekly on July 29), and Hamilton to Halifax (2x-weekly) also beginning June 29.
- Oman Air announced a strategic partnership with fellow Omani carrier SalamAir.
- SkyWest is joining Southwest’s Destination 225° pilot pathway program.
The hardest part of cloning sheep?
Staying awake during inventory.