This week’s featured link
Qatar Airways Statement On Air Italy – Qatar Airways Press Release
Air Italy is dead, and it’s not thanks to unnecessary US regulation. As I said less than a year ago in a post entitled “Don’t Waste the Effort, Let Air Italy Fail On Its Own,” the fight against potentially legitimate issues with Middle East carrier subsidy (particularly around fifth freedom rights) was completely hijacked for stupid things like Air Italy that would settle on its own. Qatar was ready to keep wasting money on the Air Italy, but the other shareholders realized it was a foolish move. Now, Qatar has nothing to show for this except big losses and a bunch of airplanes it can’t place. Is there a winner here? Of course there is… Alitalia! Now it will be able to lose less money than normal. Congrats!
Two for the road
Contour Airlines wants to change your idea of ‘regional carrier’ – TPG
I’ve been watching Contour as it slowly expands throughout the country. It’s always hard for me to believe that a regional airline can be a success on its own, but I’m always hoping to be proven wrong.
No One Can Explain Why Planes Stay In The Air – Scientific American
Do you have trouble sleeping at night? This long and dense discussion about lift will surely help cure that problem. It is actually interesting as well. In short, airplanes fly because of magic. If you disagree, you’re a lying, dog-faced, pony soldier. (Or not, just read the article.)
