Most lines are now planning to board travelers starting November 1 — but, the 2020 start update has “floated” since early March — a few Asian and European lines are open and cruising but not with many travelers. Interesting that many folks, hopeful they’ll be cruising again soon, are securing passage with advance deposits — and with numerous discount and onboard specials — and deposits “rolling” as departure dates float away!!!
Looks good — for 4 minutes anyway — billed as the world’s first “manned” automobile — Japan is taking credit for “launching” the first passenger car to fly —not sure where it’s going or how long it can keep its-self up – sure to be of interest — MAYBE???
https://www.businessinsider.com/japans-first-public-test-flight-flying-manned-car-sd-03-2020-9
With no cash in hand, Virgin Atlantic — one of the best carriers flying international routes — was saved at the last minute by a big US Hedge Fund group with a cash infusion of $1.6 billion US $$$$’s! And that’s good news — 45% of the carriers work force has been laid off — so hopefully a much smaller carrier will weather the COVID storm awaiting international travel to take off? Let’s hope so!!!
Joe Biden’s campaign plane is an ex-SAS and bmi Boeing 737 that also once belonged to former Aeroflot regional carrier Aeroflot Nord (now Smartavia).
UAL frequent flyer Tom Stuka recently passed 22,000,000 frequent flyer miles — figuring he does about 700,000 miles a year or more since 2017 (will all kinds of bonus miles added in) — AND has logged over 300 trips to Australia!! UAL has even named a plane in his honor — what a ride!!!
Yup — The US travel industry is launching a massive new multi-media effort to get folks back traveling — more than 50% of travel industry business’s and staff are out of work —with the new campaign “LETS GO THERE” aimed at motivating business, group and leisure travelers to pick themselves, family, and friends up and go on a trip —“head em out” and have some fun too!!!
The State Department says “now is a good time to apply or renew” passports — apparently the passport folks have gotten through a huge back log that occurred when the office went into mandatory lock down in mid-March. Expect about 10 weeks to wait for your application to be processed — and, as of now, you can try — for free — for an “expedited” passport that should take only 2-3 weeks — maybe?
Yup — October is historically been Breast Cancer Awareness month with merchants, airlines and sports teams adding to fund raising efforts by encouraging staff and works to wear PINK — ribbons, pins, clothing, etc. There’s even lots of pink appearing in authorized and businesses of all types — including restaurants, police, fire and other first responders. AMERICAN, normally a TC favorite, says they will distribute one “authorized” pink ribbon item that employees are to wear if they like — nothing else pink please! (they say as it interferes with the new uniform look). Maybe “Yellow” would be a better color for American to adopt instead of their traditional red-white-blue???
Lufthansa (LH, Frankfurt Int’l) has announced that in light of a slower than anticipated market recovery, it will increase its group capacity reduction plans by 50 more aircraft, including the long-term and possible permanent grounding of all A340-600s and A380-800s.
Well, maybe not “no” visitors, but certainly a lot less than expected — business is down down down and no signs of much coming back — mega resort operator, MGM Resorts, with over 70,000 employees, initially furloughed 62,000 — and is starting to bring some workers back. Vegas resorts and clubs must limit their operation capacity as well as greatly reduced live entertainment, conventions, and dining options. One positive note: most resorts and casinos once again offering FREE parking!!!
