That Was The Week That Was 09-13 May 2022
Your help please
As you know, we always welcome your feedback, and the Dulles Airport ‘People Movers’ or, as one pointed out, those devices sometimes known as ‘Mobile Lounges’ got a certain amount of comment. The fact that they needed a driver and a loading/unloading supervisor was one comment. Apparently, they were also used in Jeddah, so your help to verify this is very welcome.
In the meantime, this week, the week that was, saw a number of very strange moments and we are very keen for verification. Monday started with the sighting, in the London Tube – at Kings Cross station to be precise – of this sign:
Your help is needed, as a matter of some urgency. What can this possibly mean? How does sending Londoners to Vienna, help London? Apart from the obvious, obviously. Is there a similar sign in Vienna, encouraging Vienners to travel to London to help Vienna? Are such signs all around Europe now? Will Copenhagen be saved by hordes of Maltese arriving? And vice versa? What can this possibly mean? What can Austrian know about the good burghers of both cities that makes sense of this sign? What can anyone know about the good burghers of either city that makes sense of this sign? All sightings of similar signs are welcome, and we undertake to investigate.
So, confused, we headed into Tuesday ready for anything, only to be faced with the tragic news that Dr Mike Tretheway had passed away. A lion of aviation economics and sensible, rational analysis; this is terrible news. All we can do is note just how sad it is and pass on our condolences to his family. Despite the best/worst efforts of Singapore Airlines and their consultant, Qantas, advised by Mike, was able to push forward sensible aviation regulation in the late 90s. That was the start of a glorious career.
Wednesday saw the only response available to such sad news. Air France was able to obtain several millions in aid to cover the cost of staff retrenched due to Covid. Mike would have been outraged. Rightly. This fund, set up to fund the modernisation of the coal and steel industry at the very inception of the European Union has now been hijacked by Air France for its own staff. On the up-side, this time the villain was Covid-19, not the Gulf carriers, but the net result is the same. €21 million. €21 million. So, once again, we seek your help. Is this normal, and only Air France has talked about it, or is this somehow special?
Those closely connected to affairs in Brussels know that this week was actually Fit for 55 week, when the Commission attempted to get airlines (and others) to commit to being able to reduce emissions by 55% by 2030. Yes, you are allowed to be confused by the nomenclature, because it is stupid. Nonetheless, what is the aviation industry doing to promote its ability to make this target? Well may you ask… According to the solemn promises we have given, for, oh, many decades now, we are already at 50% SAF… Of course we are! Take a look at this:
Yes, by now, if we had started in 2008, we would be through the ceiling. Or if we had started in 2010…
How long do we need to convince the world? Too much time, too many commitments, according to this group. We have met about 1 in 50 commitments. That is not enough, if you want that in words the public understand. We keep promising but never deliver. Why?
Well, obviously, because we are not getting funding from the governments of the world. Read this serious, hand-on-heart commitment from the industry to do something just the minute, the very second, that someone else pays for it. It is dated Wednesday but hit the airwaves on Thursday of this week, the week that was. And hence, my next call for your help. Is there another industry more than 100 years old, that refused to progress, notwithstanding long-standing public pressure and clear policy indiciations, without the benefit of everybody else, or indeed anybody else, paying for it? Everybody, you will understand, and anybody, other than us… Please, what other industry is in this place?
What could Friday possibly propose that might top this? Nothing, unless you have a better thought, which, it goes without saying, we would appreciate hearing.