Sydney’s New 24-Hour Airport, easyJet Gets Starlink and Lufthansa Buys into TAP

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm Dan and I'm Alex and welcome back to on air happy Wednesday, Dan. [SPEAKER_02]: If it's Wednesday for me, what it must be Sunday night for you. [SPEAKER_02]: Precisely. [SPEAKER_01]: And is it 2027 where you are yet? [SPEAKER_01]: Has the iPhone? [SPEAKER_02]: Yes, it's 10, come out.

[SPEAKER_02]: We're on the 19 duo Excel plus here in Australia down under. [SPEAKER_02]: We're just so far ahead that there's no point you even try to catch up. [SPEAKER_02]: Do you know what I'm talking about? [SPEAKER_02]: I think that's why they're so chill. [SPEAKER_02]: So for context, I am in Australia, the land down under, good day.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I do think that the reason why they're so chill is because as a friend told me, he was like, [SPEAKER_02]: We're so far ahead. [SPEAKER_02]: There's no point you even trying to play catch up, which is, which is true. [SPEAKER_02]: So they're just nicely set out in the fact that, you know, fuck it.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's already Wednesday here. [SPEAKER_02]: And for you. [SPEAKER_02]: God knows what to do this. [SPEAKER_01]: So far ahead, why are you in the future, Alex? [SPEAKER_01]: What are you doing? [SPEAKER_02]: So I'm in the land down under currently talking to you from Sydney, where the, I'm just, yeah, sorry.

[SPEAKER_02]: I just looked at it. [SPEAKER_02]: There's notification. [SPEAKER_02]: I was wondering what that was. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm in Sydney where they have a new airport. [SPEAKER_02]: Can you imagine for the first time, and it's the first time a new airport has opened in Australia since 1970, that was the year after you were born down.

[SPEAKER_02]: And thanks in the entire country in the entire country. [SPEAKER_02]: Yep, it's Australia's first new airport since 1970. [SPEAKER_02]: It's located just, well, it's not just that side. [SPEAKER_02]: It is outside of Sydney in Western Sydney. [SPEAKER_02]: And it's known as Western Sydney International Airport WSI is the code.

[SPEAKER_02]: This has been 50 years, 60 years or so in the making. [SPEAKER_02]: They have, I mean, actually, the first, it was first ever mentioned about 80 years ago. [SPEAKER_02]: So, they've been talking about this for a while, but it's open, finally. [SPEAKER_02]: There is a new Australian date-twey.

[SPEAKER_02]: It is an international airport with airlines that have committed to fly and have already started to fly. [SPEAKER_02]: And crucially, unlike Sydney Kingsford Smith airport, the main Sydney airport, which is close to the CBD, close to the city here. [SPEAKER_02]: That has perhaps one of the world's most famous curfews, right from 11pm, an airline cannot break that curfew, and this Apple WSI Dan 24 hours I'll have you know.

[SPEAKER_01]: very good. [SPEAKER_01]: Yep, that's the benefit. [SPEAKER_01]: So obviously a lot of airlines want to take fly those red eyes out of Australia to the Middle East to Asia and it's not fully possible when they have to schedule their departure just after 10 p.m. [SPEAKER_01]: So being able to depart, [SPEAKER_01]: at midnight or 1 a.m. as a lot of these long haul overnight flights do is a great benefit.

[SPEAKER_01]: And also I saw guitars. [SPEAKER_01]: They're using it to be able to land late at night, which works out well with their departure times from Doha as well. [SPEAKER_01]: So, [SPEAKER_02]: the big names who have committed to flight, well the big names who will be flying to WSI, Singapore Airlines and Qatar, and then of course everyone knows that you would expect right.

[SPEAKER_02]: So one turns in New Zealand, yeah exactly. [SPEAKER_02]: And New Zealand started flying yesterday, and Jack Star had the first flight to the Gold Coast. [SPEAKER_02]: And yeah, it was all very festive, all super, you know, the Prime Minister was there. [SPEAKER_02]: It was a big kind of national event.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's been on all of the morning shows. [SPEAKER_02]: They're all laughing and joking and placing bets on how long it will be until people start realizing that they flew to the wrong Sydney airport. [SPEAKER_02]: And of course, it happened on the first day. [SPEAKER_02]: Did you see that?

[SPEAKER_02]: Did I send you the video? [SPEAKER_01]: No, but it was funny because there was this it showed up in my feet and I saw you liked it And I don't think you registered, but there's this blonde girl saying oh my god This we dish right she was she's I guess she and her friend went on vacation to Melbourne [SPEAKER_01]: And from Sydney, like out of the wrong Sydney, yeah, there's a lot of the older, well, the regular airport the main on the way back, I guess they just saw a good deal to Western Sydney airport and she said that she even wondered what is this and she looked it up on Google, but this was a few days before the airport opened, so it wasn't actually registering correctly.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it took her to the normal Sydney airport and she was like, okay, I guess that's fine. [SPEAKER_02]: But then she lands at Western Sydney airport and realizes it's a two-hour drive to her parked car Have the home in your poor It's not look it's not that far and they then you have put WSI is about 50 kilometers away from the CBD like from the central business district of Sydney and a little bit farther from the apple It's not that crazy That is funny two hours [SPEAKER_02]: because there's, well, there basically isn't public transport there yet.

[SPEAKER_02]: And apparently, I mean, you can't even get an Uber at the moment. [SPEAKER_02]: So someone I spoke to. [SPEAKER_02]: So probably two hours if she was getting, for example, I think the only public transport that I saw that was available were buses to a nearby to a creek. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that was also a town where everything's like a creek or a or similar so a bus to there and then and then a try a metro to somewhere else and basically like you can hop your way by connecting here there and everywhere to get back do you know what I concluded right you know when you're flying to a Stradium Obviously you've been here right [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, of course.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, multiple times, correct? [SPEAKER_02]: Yes. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, but never to last in Sydney airport. [SPEAKER_02]: You haven't been to Western Sydney. [SPEAKER_02]: I've only some of us have had that that privilege. [SPEAKER_02]: When you're flying to Australia and then you enter the top part of its airspace and you just fly over the land a little bit.

[SPEAKER_02]: And so the screen tells you that you're now in Australia, but it also tells you that you've got about five six hours left of your flight level. [SPEAKER_02]: What? [SPEAKER_01]: That's the crazy part. [SPEAKER_02]: And then also, you know, that everything's theirs and then I have a theory.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't think Australia is a real place. [SPEAKER_02]: Even though I'm here now, I think it's all just a rumor. [SPEAKER_02]: It's a thing, it's a simulation. [SPEAKER_02]: I think we've been sold this idea that Australia is a place. [SPEAKER_02]: aircraft come across this landmass that people have developed that is like as you're heading towards the end of the earth you come across things and it's like we could build here it looks pretty pretty arid and flat whatever and then we've nicknamed it Australia and it's our full like what I mean this room and now like it's not a real place [SPEAKER_01]: Or it's like in the book of Mormon where Salt Lake City is not a real place.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's a metaphor. [SPEAKER_01]: It's a metaphor. [SPEAKER_01]: It's a metaphor. [SPEAKER_01]: Maybe Australia is a metaphor. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: For what? [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe it's a metaphor for... No, I'd need some thought as to what it's a metaphor for. [SPEAKER_02]: But I do like the sound of it being a metaphor.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's just also... [SPEAKER_02]: it's so funny because on the first morning, so I arrived in the evening. [SPEAKER_02]: How do you feel about what time is the best time of day to arrive into Australia considering the jet lagging? [SPEAKER_01]: A hundred anytime I'm flying east, wait yeah anytime I'm flying east, arriving in the evening is really the key to beating jet lag in my experience.

[SPEAKER_02]: So early morning, but thankfully, in the evening, okay, I flew nonstop from Dahlha. [SPEAKER_02]: The flight was 13 and a half hours, so not too bad at all, and also it was that it was an overnight and then a full day. [SPEAKER_02]: So I had to be very disciplined with sleep. [SPEAKER_02]: I slept the first, and then I [SPEAKER_02]: seven hours and then I forced myself to have breakfast and a late lunch just to and you know window blinds open adjusting immediately on on city time to just to try and you know for what it's worth to do it to the bit to reduce the inevitable horrendous jet lag that you get in this part of the world.

[SPEAKER_02]: Anyway, the next morning, obviously, I woke up about four o'clock in the morning and ready for, you know, I ready for a run despite the fact that I don't run. [SPEAKER_02]: I should go for a run, you know, I'm not sure. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not sure. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I wake up and I'm like, yeah, I get it, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.

[SPEAKER_02]: I also agree, 4am is a wonderful time to wake up. [SPEAKER_02]: I have peak energy and you know what, why don't I start an AI tech company? [SPEAKER_02]: That's the energy you have at that time in the morning. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: You have two breakfast and then also you look at your phone and you feel like it's going to be three in the afternoon and it's eight, 20 in the morning.

[SPEAKER_01]: That is like, that's the best feeling ever when you've been away. [SPEAKER_01]: It's quite good, it is. [SPEAKER_01]: And it's like, yeah, on the 8 a.m. [SPEAKER_02]: yeah amazing sound like productive and i'm thinking my god Europe hasn't even been to bed yet like it is two days behind no wonder they call this place the future so i'm like getting sorted oh no the two pms lump fast approaches and suddenly i'm delirious like you know seeing double and the lady at the hotel she goes to me um are you okay sweet pea and i said [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm fine.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm just, you know, powering through got her power through the jet lag. [SPEAKER_02]: It's the the first day and she said, oh, she goes on behalf of Australia. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm so sorry. [SPEAKER_02]: That's a to have for what she goes, oh, we're just so far for me. [SPEAKER_02]: Freeway.

[SPEAKER_02]: I said, well, you know, kind of, I guess, yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: Yes. [SPEAKER_02]: And let's see a visiting from New Zealand. [SPEAKER_02]: She was like, we just punished you with how we make you feel for that first two, three days. [SPEAKER_01]: And I was like, I was laughing. [SPEAKER_02]: And she continued and she goes, and just by the time you were just.

[SPEAKER_02]: I said, yeah, she goes, it's time to leave us again. [SPEAKER_02]: She was so very true. [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe she wasn't a real person either. [SPEAKER_02]: She's just part of that. [SPEAKER_02]: She sounded like an actress. [SPEAKER_02]: It's all very true and show down here. [SPEAKER_02]: It's a little bit simulation.

[SPEAKER_01]: Especially when you go to a place like Bond. [SPEAKER_01]: I or something it really is. [SPEAKER_01]: this real, I don't know. [SPEAKER_02]: But I went to Bondi and everyone, of course, is beautifully turned and surfing and is, you know, don't get me wrong, there's a lot to be said for the lifestyle down here in the the presentness and the awakeness of just the outdoors and not the stupid endless scrolling and [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know, sticking on an iPad in front of a kid and all this kind of stuff like you have like the great outdoors is just like, yeah And then also I wonder if they're all actors So yeah, right, go back to what you what you said I would I find even more mind-blowing every time I'm going to New Zealand, which has only been three times but

[SPEAKER_01]: New Zealand is like you look at the map you don't think it's that far from Australia but it's still a three hour flight from Sydney and Melbourne basically and even from Southeast Asia like from Thailand to New Zealand [SPEAKER_01]: it's a six hour time difference. [SPEAKER_01]: That's like New York to mainland Europe, which is, oh, what are you typing?

[SPEAKER_02]: I am checking something. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I knew this to which supports your theory. [SPEAKER_02]: That's why I go. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: No, no, six hour time difference is it is insane. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, you're a theory now. [SPEAKER_02]: No, no, it supports your theory, but it's a fact, okay?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: Singapore is closer to path than Auckland is. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, yeah, that makes a lot of sense, which is, which is wild. [SPEAKER_02]: But when you look on on a globe that we grew up with in school, you know, like that, they lie. [SPEAKER_02]: That's the biggest lie where we're sold when we're growing up.

[SPEAKER_02]: Oh, France is a small country. [SPEAKER_02]: Try driving from Cali to the South. [SPEAKER_02]: That's not the small journey. [SPEAKER_02]: That's a, that's, that's a many minute 12, 13, 14 hours. [SPEAKER_02]: Great, a love France. [SPEAKER_01]: You have a sometimes New Zealand isn't even on the map, like on a globe, yes, but on a flat map they just skip it sometimes, which I'm like don't skip this greatness, but in other fun Australian news, we have basically [SPEAKER_01]: Is it the northernmost major airline fin air launching flights to, of course, one of the southernmost large hubs in the world, Melbourne, Helsinki, to Melbourne, via Bangkok, which is... No, to mail.

[SPEAKER_01]: No, to mail. [SPEAKER_01]: What did you think when better than going from melt to hell? [SPEAKER_01]: Hey, yeah, I mean, I see people comment this all the time I don't want to transcend in hell as a joke. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm like actually there's a lot of airports that actually are hell and Helsinki is not I just spoke about I just spoke about this recently with a friend about the funny group of Apple codes that that that belong in a group together of like quirky Apple codes We did like hell mad dough [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, fuck, if it's gross, what are some of the ones?

[SPEAKER_02]: Why did we say? [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, we now guys leave us your moments. [SPEAKER_02]: Sin, sin, yeah, that's a good one. [SPEAKER_01]: Wait, what is, is there an AUX airport? [SPEAKER_01]: That's more like a real cable. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and the rocks. [SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, this, this is a fun game to play another time.

[SPEAKER_01]: We'll have to think of all the fun. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but yeah, you're right. [SPEAKER_02]: Finair, the only AU airline actually, also, to fly, to a land down under to Mubbins' has to. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, there's there's few European airlines that could bless Melbourne with their presence as much as fin air.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I think this is going to be a bank all right precisely. [SPEAKER_01]: So now fin air flies three times a day between Helsinki and Bangkok. [SPEAKER_01]: And of course one of those then continues on words to Melbourne. [SPEAKER_01]: It is, I always think it's so random. [SPEAKER_01]: I wonder if I would love to do a study with Australians, maybe our Australian listeners can chime in.

[SPEAKER_01]: Do Australians ever think it's random to just fly fin air or Turkish airlines or British airways from Australia to Asia? [SPEAKER_01]: And just be like, oh, I'm going to Bangkok. [SPEAKER_01]: Let's fly fin air. [SPEAKER_01]: Like, isn't that extremely random if you're not from Australia?

[SPEAKER_02]: I think it's part of the brief in their scripts, like for life, like that told and by the way, you know, just because this isn't a real place. [SPEAKER_02]: You're going to have a life, thin air to Asia, just making it even weirder, like all these people just go along with it without questioning it, it's part of the glitch.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's part of the, not everything can be perfect, right? [SPEAKER_02]: And so, you know, there's always a, uh, a flaw in the system and, and so maybe that's that. [SPEAKER_02]: Also, it's like, they're just, it's a quirk that they just go along with maybe, because you're right. [SPEAKER_01]: You know, so, I mean, so when I don't have a flight to Australia, it's actually just going into maintenance.

[SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I'm wondering if this has been extremely offensive. [SPEAKER_02]: I love Australia. [SPEAKER_02]: A lot, even if it's not a real place. [SPEAKER_01]: We're actually just trying to get keep Australia by making other people think it's not a real place. [SPEAKER_01]: That's the strategy.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's that's the strategy. [SPEAKER_02]: Actually we ourselves were we received briefing documents dim we and the script as well Just go along with it like later on for example here we go another another flooring the system Tell me this is not a glitch that we've just got a go along with [SPEAKER_02]: So later today, I am flying from Sydney to Melbourne, okay?

[SPEAKER_02]: Now, what aircraft type would suit one of the one of the busiest shortest routes in the world, a busiest shortest domestic route? [SPEAKER_02]: It's like a just an hour flight here from Sydney, going to Melbourne, I'm flying on [SPEAKER_02]: What aircraft I'm thinking, a dash-8, you know, a turbo prop.

[SPEAKER_02]: I'm thinking something with 20 seats, you know, no engines. [SPEAKER_02]: We'll just go with the wind, kind of. [SPEAKER_01]: The same corner says now that E350 1000 ULR yet, because that would be perfect for that route. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that's true. [SPEAKER_02]: But in Australia spirit, understandably I am flying on one of the shortest busiest routes.

[SPEAKER_02]: on one of the longest range single-hour aircraft in that world. [SPEAKER_02]: Later on I am flying the Qantas A321 XLR, the extra long range variant of the A321 naturally on a short range route. [SPEAKER_01]: You know what I think weird is any time anyone asks quannus why are you using the A321 XLR that could be served on routes with an A321 Neo a normal one yeah there's never a good explanation I've never heard a good reason for them to do that [SPEAKER_02]: what i think it's two things one thing is for sure they're doing crew training on the flight and i'll have a look and i'll report back i've uh redeemed avios for this flight i'm going to be in business on their new kind of regional business stars which is like an arm chair thing and they yeah so i'll check that the second thing is is that not only is it crew training flights but it's also just part of the quarks in the simulation it's part of the breathe that keeps the medgie

[SPEAKER_02]: So, so, both things are, both things are true. [SPEAKER_02]: It's funny because that narrative occasion at the start of the episode that I was looking at, that I was trying to understand, was conscious asking me by push notification. [SPEAKER_02]: Do you want to switch to an early aflite?

[SPEAKER_02]: It's said dot dot dot avoid the rash. [SPEAKER_01]: the rush. [SPEAKER_02]: The, the, the, it all straightly had that, I didn't, I don't think it's in that dictionary. [SPEAKER_02]: It's not in the last. [SPEAKER_02]: Going off. [SPEAKER_02]: The rush. [SPEAKER_02]: Let Knock Knock, who's there?

[SPEAKER_02]: New York City entered the chat. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay. [SPEAKER_01]: We still talk about three airports with the new terminals calling some of you popping up. [SPEAKER_02]: that's a rush. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, no, it's funny. [SPEAKER_02]: On coming back to WSI, this new Apple, it's very nice, it's very bright and airy, and genuinely, I think it's a good thing for Australian air travel for the Kangaroo route, because [SPEAKER_02]: There are Western Sydney that area is the fastest growing area in New South Wales, I believe, but definitely the fastest growing area of wider Sydney in terms of population.

[SPEAKER_02]: More people are living there, moving there, growing families there, and so on. [SPEAKER_02]: Such a weird term isn't it growing? [SPEAKER_02]: Yes. [SPEAKER_02]: That's a growing weed or something. [SPEAKER_02]: Yes. [SPEAKER_02]: It sounds shocking anyway. [SPEAKER_02]: As a result, this is not an airport that is going to serve someone who is going to sit on business for three nights and staying in the CBD and that's okay.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's not what it's there for. [SPEAKER_02]: It is there for the economic value of the population that's literally right there. [SPEAKER_02]: and the fact that the root itself benefits New South Wales and is just provides his 24-hour addition rather than alternative to another airport in Sydney.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it's cool, Qatar are going to be flying there at the end of next year. [SPEAKER_02]: Singapore Airlines, I believe, in March next year. [SPEAKER_02]: And yeah, it's all been very, very positive. [SPEAKER_02]: It's kind of quirky to see such a, especially in the coverage, like I'm obviously, I've got the TV on in the whole tournament, is the coverage is so positive.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's not like, you know, hasn't got the toxicity of the stupid Heathrow to Bay, or the, you know, the just awfulness of, [SPEAKER_02]: You're how Berlin opened for a decade later and all of that. [SPEAKER_02]: It just feels a lot more Well done at least it's a yeah, it is fun that it just it seems like everyone's excited about it as they should be because [SPEAKER_01]: flight prices to and from Australia are very high most of the times tough for Aussies to travel luckily to have, you know, at least a few low-cost options seeking them to Asia, but they deserve as much competition as possible, just like the Canadians who also have had very protectionist aviation policies.

[SPEAKER_01]: So yeah, I'm super excited. [SPEAKER_02]: me too. [SPEAKER_02]: Well, it's a good thing. [SPEAKER_02]: It's a good thing for aviation as a whole. [SPEAKER_02]: Sidney at this time of year, so beautiful. [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, it's a spring here and very similar weather to New York in the fall, which we just basically, I just came from a few weeks ago.

[SPEAKER_01]: But you're here in [SPEAKER_02]: Um, yeah, or maybe like NYC, NSW. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_01]: And maybe pop LA accent there. [SPEAKER_01]: Just, you know, because, uh, I did have another guide I told this morning for breakfast. [SPEAKER_02]: We can't forget your, you're so right.

[SPEAKER_02]: Uh, beautiful time of the year, beautiful city. [SPEAKER_02]: One thing I'm not enjoying though. [SPEAKER_02]: God, have you heard what swooping is? [SPEAKER_01]: Wait, is that the teenager is doing crazy stuff? [SPEAKER_01]: No, no, because I have a friend who's like, I didn't dare to go out anymore.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's so many crazy teenagers. [SPEAKER_01]: There was something like, trying to see what it was doing. [SPEAKER_01]: So I forget what, but they were like, I don't know, throwing drinks. [SPEAKER_01]: So in Sydney, like in the CBD. [SPEAKER_01]: So you're like, no, I haven't come across anything like that.

[SPEAKER_01]: This was in August, so maybe the trend is died down a bit. [SPEAKER_01]: But what's going on? [SPEAKER_02]: Actually, it did come off from your knees to cram like teenagers with water guns spraying, just randomly being all walking from that summer. [SPEAKER_02]: No, no, they're coming from the summer, they've just had winter, they're going towards the summer.

[SPEAKER_02]: God is confusing, dodges all again. [SPEAKER_02]: They had this idea to be quirky, we're going to put everything in reverse. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but it's also funny because just when you tell and all like at least in my experience all these don't really use seasons in the same way because you can't like it's too confusing one most of the world.

[SPEAKER_01]: It's summer soon. [SPEAKER_01]: They just have to say it's June soon to know what what you mean. [SPEAKER_02]: Well, I mean, you can tell because you can tell us what the shops have got out, so like in Uniclo, it was like loads of summer stuff, and I was like, what's that? [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, for people who live in warmer climate, it's like because one huge frustration, if you live close to the equator, or you live in the Middle East, or whatever, when you need to buy clothes, half of the year, [SPEAKER_01]: even in, let's see, walk into a store in Singapore, or you walk into a store in, you know, muscat, it will be winter clothes for the, for like European winter and you're like, but it's still 30 degrees here.

[SPEAKER_01]: What's up with this? [SPEAKER_01]: And you can't find any clothes that you actually need. [SPEAKER_02]: I don't think anyone, I love mascot for a million reasons, probably not for shopping. [SPEAKER_02]: You come on, it's to, I'm going to cut off this random entry. [SPEAKER_02]: No, no, no, you're keeping it in, you're keeping it in.

[SPEAKER_02]: Listen, what I said is it is a bit of a menace, right, which is the part of the seat, the only part of the season I'm not enjoying. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, swooping. [SPEAKER_02]: I was blissfully unaware as to what this thing was just a few days ago, and I missed that. [SPEAKER_02]: I missed one.

[SPEAKER_02]: I didn't know. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, because basically I'm gonna send you a real. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay. [SPEAKER_02]: Wait. [SPEAKER_02]: Can you open Instagram all of you got breathing? [SPEAKER_01]: I can check it on my computer. [SPEAKER_02]: Which is that mean? [SPEAKER_02]: So I can send it on Instagram?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes. [SPEAKER_01]: Because I can log. [SPEAKER_01]: I can go on Instagram on my computer. [SPEAKER_01]: Guys, I block Instagram on my phone because I don't want to get stuck on it, but it just leads to me never posting. [SPEAKER_01]: So that's great. [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, everyone else can't see this real so we need to We need to describe it, but I need you to be on board first and then I'm going to describe it, right?

[SPEAKER_02]: Yes, I've just, I've just deemed it to you. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, about swooping season. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, so basically [SPEAKER_02]: is mating season for the birds, alright? [SPEAKER_02]: And there's no other way to describe them other than they are batshit crazy going for people. [SPEAKER_02]: So it's called swooping season because these birds can't, they nose dives straight down to a person and try to attack or skim the top of the individual's head before flying back up.

[SPEAKER_02]: It is, yeah, terrifying. [SPEAKER_01]: Is this because they're protecting [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, like I'm near the nest when I'm, you know, I'm looking out of uniclo for example, you know, you know, you have your nest, I am not interested. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, no, but apparently they think you are terrifying.

[SPEAKER_02]: It didn't. [SPEAKER_02]: it's everywhere, but also I can't believe what the cyclists put up with. [SPEAKER_02]: Like when I'm walking so in the morning I've been walking towards Bondi. [SPEAKER_02]: It's quite a long walk, but it's a beautiful walk and it's like the coves and the beaches and through the different beautiful suburbs and so on.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then there's like a cycle lane next to me as I'm walking and the guys in the cycle lane [SPEAKER_02]: are being completely attacked and targeted by the birds and I don't know how some of them are not even flinching. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm screaming on their bones and I'm nowhere near. [SPEAKER_02]: And then in a couple of times I've had like a bag that was a shopping bag.

[SPEAKER_02]: God, and they think it might be food. [SPEAKER_02]: Hard work. [SPEAKER_02]: Just listen to this, listen to this. [SPEAKER_02]: I took a beautiful video of in the distance. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm at the beach. [SPEAKER_02]: You can see the CBD in the, in the, in the far distance. [SPEAKER_02]: You can see all the towers, the skyline of Sydney.

[SPEAKER_02]: You can see Sydney harbour. [SPEAKER_02]: You can see the opera house, the bridge. [SPEAKER_02]: And if you look at the video with no volume, it's stunning. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay. [SPEAKER_02]: Now listen to the video with volume. [SPEAKER_02]: sounds like a horror movie. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it's shocking and it's cool.

[SPEAKER_02]: So the real that I sent you and guys, the real that I sent down was from one of the morning shows here, where they literally talk about, listen, listen to how, listen to how. [SPEAKER_02]: She's on the today's show, and she's talking about swooping season. [SPEAKER_00]: I'm really deterring the magpars or so I thought until the camera came out and now they are not happy with the camera.

[SPEAKER_00]: You can hear them squawking and swooping. [SPEAKER_01]: I don't want to, you know, give bad pressed to Gothamburg, but Oscar's sister, Oscar's sister was attacked by a seagull and left bleeding because it attacked her so viciously. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh my god, as if the reasons to not visit Golden Book were not already taking up five [SPEAKER_01]: Oh no, that's shocking.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but we're in the sun once. [SPEAKER_01]: We're in the sun. [SPEAKER_01]: We're in the sun. [SPEAKER_02]: We're in can and we were on the beach. [SPEAKER_02]: And we had like lunch delivered to the, you know, we had like lunch brought over to the sun lounges. [SPEAKER_02]: And Demi, my twin sister, she had a burger.

[SPEAKER_02]: And there was a bird really high. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm talking like, high. [SPEAKER_02]: Couldn't even see it. [SPEAKER_02]: And my dad goes, my dad goes, that bird's eyeing up your burger. [SPEAKER_02]: And right, of course we laughed like it was 10,000 feet this bird right? [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, it was a dot in the sky.

[SPEAKER_02]: Loam the whole 10 minutes later, said bird, makes a perfect dive straight down, picks up the whole burger. [SPEAKER_02]: Demi is screaming the beach down and the burger. [SPEAKER_02]: Beautiful waggleburger is so heavy that this bird drops it everywhere. [SPEAKER_02]: Peace by peace all over different people on the Sun lounges on the beach.

[SPEAKER_02]: Demisburger was scattered everywhere across the beach. [SPEAKER_02]: What's not of course. [SPEAKER_02]: When you always say, I remember, I don't know if you know this, David, tell me how's that extreme irrational fear of birds in the forest? [SPEAKER_02]: That's right. [SPEAKER_02]: That is so rare.

[SPEAKER_02]: There's the tracks that, like, with me in the most, in the most, like, for example, the Middle East. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, you don't get birds. [SPEAKER_02]: See, you know, okay, there's no birds. [SPEAKER_01]: You don't get birds. [SPEAKER_01]: You don't get birds. [SPEAKER_01]: It's a tiny, too.

[SPEAKER_01]: There's little. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, and there's a certain or confrontational, [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, they're like tweeting in the tree in the distance you don't see them on the pathways in front of you You don't see them on the promenades and they're not on the streets, right? [SPEAKER_02]: They're no better a classy Yeah, you know what we've got a match in it.

[SPEAKER_02]: We're not coming down to street level. [SPEAKER_02]: We have an Arabic coffee up there [SPEAKER_02]: And so, and so, he even in a place like that. [SPEAKER_02]: Somehow, Demi manages to attract one. [SPEAKER_02]: And just say like, oh my god, that one's coming from me and black Demi, that's 10 miles away.

[SPEAKER_02]: What are you doing? [SPEAKER_02]: Come directly to her. [SPEAKER_02]: So I think you can, you end up bringing it upon yourself if you have this irrational fear. [SPEAKER_02]: But, [SPEAKER_02]: Fear or not, swooping season is a real thing, and here I am encountering my first one. [SPEAKER_02]: Even my cousins, my cousin's, my Aussie cousins were voice noting me, and she was like, careful of the swooping season, and I said, oh my god, you know about that?

[SPEAKER_02]: She was like, yeah, careful of this, careful of that. [SPEAKER_02]: Everything's alive. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, a final point on this. [SPEAKER_02]: I was chilling in the sun. [SPEAKER_02]: in the Botanical Gardens in Sydney, okay, beautiful afternoon, HD sky, feels like California, I've got my Kindle on reading.

[SPEAKER_02]: Nice. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm laying on the laying on the grass. [SPEAKER_02]: And then I feel like a slight, like a feel something, just like a slight kind of tickle. [SPEAKER_02]: And I was like, it's probably an ant or something. [SPEAKER_01]: And then I was like, I've got a minister, I'm going to Australia, I'm going to Australia, stand up.

[SPEAKER_02]: But I stand up and catch glimpse of a spider, but I can't even really tell you what it looked like because when it's required of me, I can run like you same boat, and that's what happens, so I can't really tell you what spider looked like because I was gone. [SPEAKER_01]: Good. [SPEAKER_01]: Good idea.

[SPEAKER_01]: Everything is alive here. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's the, but it's funny because people don't really seem to care. [SPEAKER_01]: Like they're no, you get used to it. [SPEAKER_01]: I guess you get used to everything. [SPEAKER_01]: I want to stay, you know, when we were talking about the cute little birds in the Middle East, we should provide an update on what is going on in re-ad because operations still have not been able to resume besides cargo out of re-ad airport.

[SPEAKER_01]: So now, we're resorting to Riyadh Air and Saudi Moving part of their operations to Al-Gasim is that how we pronounce it. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, Al-Gasim yeah [SPEAKER_01]: So this is a four hour bus ride approximately four and a half hour bus ride. [SPEAKER_02]: It's a realistic, it's a five hour bus ride.

[SPEAKER_02]: I mean, it is, yeah, that's saying four and a half hour. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, so this is four and a half hours from rear. [SPEAKER_01]: So you can actually, you have the option to check in. [SPEAKER_01]: in the React City Center, check your bags, and get on the four and a half hour bus ride five hours to the airport where you then arrive two hours before your flight's departure.

[SPEAKER_01]: Oh my god. [SPEAKER_01]: Before, however long your flight is, so you're basically looking at seven hours. [SPEAKER_01]: It is a excluding the time you have to show up early to the bus. [SPEAKER_01]: and then your flight time to wherever you're going. [SPEAKER_01]: So it's better than no flights and all being able to get in and out of reality at all, but talk about a tough situation for these airlines and read air just starting up and now facing this extended period of [SPEAKER_01]: Disruption, and I'm certain to you.

[SPEAKER_02]: No, it's horrendous, horrendous, re-adagone through it, and as in the context of the city. [SPEAKER_02]: But for a re-adert of launched in a year, unlike any other, it's just horrendous, I'm very bad luck for them, because it's, you know, [SPEAKER_02]: The goal is going through a lot at the moment, and all indications are that, unfortunately, it might tick up again, depending on what Trump decides to do after the midtones, which everyone is watching very closely, and fear for love as well, because Trump brings destabilization to the Middle East as this year has proven.

[SPEAKER_02]: And with that, the countries that are U.S. allies are, and Trump is the first ones to describe them as U.S. allies, are having to adapt and [SPEAKER_02]: Riyadh is partially open but not really, so it's been more than a couple weeks now, but Riyadh Yeah, I mean moving to an airport that is five hours away.

[SPEAKER_02]: It is, that's a nightmare. [SPEAKER_02]: One of the drivers I know in Qatar is shuttling people between Doha, Hamad, International Airport and their homes in Riyadh. [SPEAKER_02]: Mm-hmm. [SPEAKER_02]: Well, look at that flying out of Doha. [SPEAKER_02]: because also casserole is the largest international airline of Saudi Arabia, so so many Saudis any given time have bookings in a flying with Qatar, but they're doing so by flying from Riyadh in Jeddah, and then transitioning at HAA, and obviously that's not possible from Riyadh, so all of the airlines are trying to be as flexible as POS in accommodating for what is [SPEAKER_02]: a really terrible situation and, you know, this is a react problem at the moment, but it could easily be another Gulf state tomorrow.

[SPEAKER_02]: And, or, you know, in addition to react could be another and then it could grow and so on. [SPEAKER_02]: So, it's not everyone keeps talking about the midterm. [SPEAKER_02]: So, when people are trying to assess what's happening in the Middle East, they were talking about the midterm, and also these regular elections.

[SPEAKER_02]: So, we shall see, and as always, we hope for the best there. [SPEAKER_01]: I just wanted to add, I just find it so fascinating how whenever you or I am not in the middle, you start reading the news and you go, oh, I won. [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, now surely with what happened in Riyadh, things are slowing down a bit.

[SPEAKER_01]: People are still choosing to fly through the Middle East or hotels busy, whatever. [SPEAKER_01]: But then you actually look at the load of flights. [SPEAKER_01]: You talk to people who have just taken a flight through the goal or stayed at a hotel. [SPEAKER_01]: And it's full. [SPEAKER_01]: The flights are full, hotels are full.

[SPEAKER_01]: And it's just insane the resilience that I don't know. [SPEAKER_01]: I kind of am concerned that people in the world have become so decentralized. [SPEAKER_01]: Because of everything we've gone through the past few years that it's like, [SPEAKER_01]: Okay, well, I guess I'm flying. [SPEAKER_01]: You know, I guess I'm just doing this now.

[SPEAKER_02]: Right. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, there is there is something that would have completely had people stick clear 15 years ago. [SPEAKER_02]: It may be even 10 years ago. [SPEAKER_02]: definitely doesn't anymore. [SPEAKER_02]: Maybe is because we have access to more information, but perhaps the information we have access to is it doesn't mean it's a great information, but it's potentially worse.

[SPEAKER_01]: But there is so much information that's making us, there is a resilience. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, yeah, 100% is, there is a decentralization problem that's, you know, [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, people go to the bathroom, and they're on that phone, assuming something all for and serious that in our parents' generation would have been the headline story on like the six o'clock news, and we're like, we're seeing it packaged up in a 22nd real, so it's nice and bite-sized for while we're, you know, in the Lou.

[SPEAKER_02]: And that is weird, isn't it? [SPEAKER_02]: But, yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: Speaking of weird, and also, what I don't think is going to be very nice, and I will explain why. [SPEAKER_02]: Here's something we didn't see coming, easy jet, probably because they're now getting US investment, have now announced that they will be introducing a full Starlink Wi-Fi rollout that will take place in the first half of next year and be done by early 2028.

[SPEAKER_02]: no word on if it's going to be free. [SPEAKER_02]: And I think if they haven't mentioned it in the release, it means it's not going to be free. [SPEAKER_02]: But isn't that a requirement? [SPEAKER_02]: No, it was a requirement in the launch customers of Starlink. [SPEAKER_02]: So, contractually, you had to, if you were taking, starting to go, if I, you had to have it for free for passengers, it had to be free from the point of point of entry.

[SPEAKER_02]: And you also couldn't have a landing page and a sign-up page. [SPEAKER_02]: However, it has now evolved and these contracts have now evolved as more customers are come online, we start like stalling and now you can have a landing page, you can have a sign up page, you can force people to be a member of your loyalty program and you can charge for it as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: So I think it's going to be chargeable and I think it should be. [SPEAKER_02]: because that sounds like carnage on a summer holiday flight on EasyJet with 150 kids scrolling TikTok and watching live streams with no headphones. [SPEAKER_02]: How is a young EasyJet crew going to police that?

[SPEAKER_02]: That's going to be horrendous. [SPEAKER_01]: it is it it puts a lot of uncomfortable pressure on the crew and I first of all I have realized that almost the well there's two situations we're having Starlink is a game changer on a very long flight but also [SPEAKER_01]: On an interior appearance flight, it makes the flight be over in a second, like a two or a flight.

[SPEAKER_01]: If you have starlink, it becomes so much more bearable and pleasant when you can browse like your at home and just distract yourself from the flight. [SPEAKER_01]: So also the beauty of being able, like being forced to sit still. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: So, so as a result, you're able to, you know, because at home you would get up and do something else or whatever.

[SPEAKER_02]: So it really is that plus Wi-Fi is amazing. [SPEAKER_01]: It is. [SPEAKER_01]: So I'm all for easy jet doing it because I think if and here if I need it, it's a low-cost carrier that you know, doesn't have the most pleasant experience otherwise. [SPEAKER_01]: But I agree that it puts it on comfortable position, it puts the current on uncomfortable position just because they obviously have to make sure everyone's using headphones.

[SPEAKER_01]: They need to police that everyone is watching appropriate content as well or that kind of stuff. [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, they can't police that that ship has said good, but some airlines for example at least Ben, they've been audio calls, which I think is good and you can block that. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, is it going to have to do that?

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, but I think every airline should do that. [SPEAKER_02]: I think it's okay as in I do work calls like zooms and teams meetings all the time while airborne all the time is just no no, but it's because I might if it's if I'm in business and the door is closed and I've got my headphones in I'm speaking at a normal level like this and I'm literally quiet out of any if I would be having a conversation if I was on the same flight as you where we would be in hysterics.

[SPEAKER_01]: I know, but it's just that everyone is not as respectful as you will be, which is dots for you have to sort of know, but you have to generalize and know that you're right, right, and you certain people cannot be trusted to be quiet with those like who do we have names. [SPEAKER_02]: No names will be mentioned here.

[SPEAKER_02]: My Quantas A321 XLR, the extra long range aircraft is taking me on the short range route late today, has fast brand new VSR Wi-Fi gate to gate. [SPEAKER_01]: good. [SPEAKER_01]: And I have to say that if there's anything Starlink has illuminated for me, it's that, there are a lot of other Wi-Fi options like you save the asset and other providers as well, where the speeds are not [SPEAKER_01]: They're pretty good these days too.

[SPEAKER_01]: Like, they might not be... No, they're strong and close too. [SPEAKER_02]: They're forced too. [SPEAKER_02]: That's why they've been so terrible for so long. [SPEAKER_02]: Starlink came in and took Wi-Fi on board Wi-Fi from zero to a hundred. [SPEAKER_02]: And suddenly these companies have had to get their us into gear and have now been able to show that they also offer fast, gate to gate Wi-Fi, not Starlink level you're right, but it's about time.

[SPEAKER_02]: So although, you know, Elon Musk is a very controversial character understood. [SPEAKER_02]: But with Starlink, I mean, what he has done to probably disrupt aviation is, as I said once on the podcast before, perhaps the great single greatest disruptor to a travel of the last decade. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_01]: It is great. [SPEAKER_01]: But my point is that I was in a mindset where, oh, it's Starlink or useless. [SPEAKER_01]: But so fast, just the, not necessarily. [SPEAKER_01]: It's gotten to the point where actually it doesn't has to be, it doesn't have to be Starlink. [SPEAKER_01]: one of the other big providers and you'll basically have the same experience.

[SPEAKER_01]: Sure, you might not be watching YouTube in 4K, but you can get plenty of work done and not wait for things to load and enjoy service as you're taxing as well. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, did you see what Ed Bastion said about Starlink and was he there have some juicy drama at home and they have some big time drama so Elon Musk said actually no that was the that was the response so there's a lot of controversy in in the US right now because Delta is being perceived to be an outlier despite its chase for premium travel by not taking Starlink [SPEAKER_02]: and they, um, so instead they are choosing Amazon Leo, which is basically the same kind of structure.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's near earth satellites, but it's not yet available. [SPEAKER_02]: It will become available in 2028. [SPEAKER_02]: It's still still a while off, right? [SPEAKER_02]: Whereas of course Staling is here. [SPEAKER_02]: It's been here for ages now and it's founded by Elon Musk. [SPEAKER_02]: The during, I was on a earnings call and it came up with Delta, but also at a company then, there was tea that was the Ed Bastion, the CEO said, quote, we don't want to be with Elon Musk trust me.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now, Musk obviously thin-skinned, as he was demonstrating, was a rising above hit, but was responding that he posted on X, that the decision to not use Starlink, Delta Airlines, to not use Starlink would ultimately cost Ed Bastion, his job, and that he would have to be let go of CEO over the decision.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now, although, again, it's a kind of like, okay, one, you know, big CO fighting with another big CO, and we're all just here looking like, can we have Wi-Fi, please? [SPEAKER_02]: The American passengers are, and I see all the time on Twitter. [SPEAKER_02]: I don't know if you see it as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: They are angry that Delta hasn't signed up styling, because when you go like for like, you can see that United have already American are doing it. [SPEAKER_02]: but Delta passengers are being told you don't want something associated with Elon Musk. [SPEAKER_02]: You're going to wait two years.

[SPEAKER_02]: Now that's quite a generalization to make for the demographic of Delta passengers number one. [SPEAKER_02]: Number two, there is a worry in the industry to give Delta the benefit of the doubt. [SPEAKER_02]: The Elon has the industry now. [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, talk about all your eggs in one basket.

[SPEAKER_02]: when they inevitably increase the price of starlink, that's going to be a very difficult pill for airlines to swallow. [SPEAKER_02]: It is all a bit too. [SPEAKER_02]: Yep, we're all betting on one thing that works very well, but I wonder how it could be weaponized if he gets the hump too soon.

[SPEAKER_02]: Sure, sure. [SPEAKER_02]: For example, [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's a good point. [SPEAKER_01]: And again, it's like people get this Starlink tinted glasses where they're like, it has to be Starlink or nothing. [SPEAKER_01]: And they don't, if you compare the speeds the Delta is all freeing almost to their aircraft.

[SPEAKER_01]: with what United is offering on average. [SPEAKER_01]: Again, the difference is probably not as dramatic as it seems or sounds. [SPEAKER_02]: So, but it will be as the roadouts continue and as we enter, for example, 20, 28 in two years. [SPEAKER_02]: And, well, not entering a Jesus, they're you're in a bit.

[SPEAKER_02]: But as so much of the rollout will have been completed, other carriers and Delta still won't have launched one aircraft with onboard near satellite Wi-Fi. [SPEAKER_02]: That's, there's going to be a gap there, and that's passenger's not going to love that, obviously. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, yeah, it will be interesting to see, but we should also remember that many, it's a US thing this, but there's so many major airlines around the world who still don't have ultra high speed Wi-Fi planes announced yet either.

[SPEAKER_01]: And even Singapore Airlines is only playing it, planning it for their long-haul flights, but not for their short-haul, and trade-eason flights. [SPEAKER_01]: They really get away with a lot, don't they, Singapore Airlines? [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: It is amazing because they create an experience that passengers genuinely enjoy.

[SPEAKER_02]: For all the right reasons, we'll probably do more of this in next week. [SPEAKER_02]: But the... [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, the big gaps in what they offer such as, like, you know, terrible slash non-existent Wi-Fi. [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you know, no pajamas in business and it's coming soon, you know, they were a bit funny about a many tickets, all these little quirks that they have, and still so highly respected is funny because if another red line just decided, you know, it goes to show how the industry does hold different elements of different standards, but it's [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, Singapore has that legacy, and I think that I think we both wish and are excited to see as more, you know, I hate to say this, but as more young people come in to Singapore Airlines to bring it a bit of freshness, because they're doing a big, as we know, revamp of their onboard products,

[SPEAKER_01]: This, in this day and age, brains can't just live off legacy alone, and they're, you know, with every year, I think people are looking more for what association do I feel to this brand, what like personal, [SPEAKER_01]: What does this brand make me feel personally when I associate with it?

[SPEAKER_01]: Which the US air, yeah, I mean, Dalton, United are really fighting over this, who can create the most appealing airline brand in the US these days. [SPEAKER_01]: But I think this will go more and more global as well as people, you know, what you fly is your identity. [SPEAKER_01]: And Singapore right now is a very legacy old-fashioned luxury identity.

[SPEAKER_02]: Speaking of legacy in old fashion, but definitely not luxury, what do we think of the fact? [SPEAKER_02]: And we've been asked this question loads in the Q&A. [SPEAKER_02]: The Bluffdonser will be buying tap airport school, a 44.9% stake, they have beat or it is assumed that they will be ahead.

[SPEAKER_02]: of Air France KLM, in adding yet another European airline to the Lufthansa group. [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, you can tell by my turn, this is not to what we think is in the interest of consumers. [SPEAKER_01]: What I write this, you know, the scene when they're doing that friend's quiz in the show, friends, and Monica realizes she answered the question wrong, and it's the iconic time where she screams, [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, that's when they're betting the apartment.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yes, yes, yes, over who knows each other better. [SPEAKER_01]: That was how I went around this. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_02]: Oh, God. [SPEAKER_02]: I mean, Australia, Lufthansa doesn't exist out here. [SPEAKER_02]: It's not part of the briefing park. [SPEAKER_02]: It's not anywhere else.

[SPEAKER_02]: But genuinely, what a disaster. [SPEAKER_02]: So many, I mean, look, let's see, let's see if the European Commission are going to allow this. [SPEAKER_02]: Let's see if they're going to be so, they're so crazy about fairness. [SPEAKER_02]: In competition, I am patiently waiting to see the case that will be made for such an acquisition, because as far as I can see it, there is no [SPEAKER_02]: solid justification as to why Lufthansa should be given yet another standalone European airline that will ultimately turn navy blue and over a couple years will be absorbed into another Lufthansa city something city Portugal you know and it's like [SPEAKER_02]: a removal of brand, a removal of different values, a removal of strategy, network, it will just be, oh, you can't fly, you miss the flight from Frankfurt to São Paulo, don't worry, we will root you via Lisbon for the same experience.

[SPEAKER_02]: And I think our listeners are not pro this as well, judging by some of the DMs I've seen. [SPEAKER_01]: But you're so, you're so right. [SPEAKER_01]: I don't understand how it's even conceivable that the EU would approve this after Lufthansa just acquired E to Airways. [SPEAKER_01]: You know, you're not already going into Southern Europe for them to then also have tap and to have so many airlines as part of their group, especially if you compare to AirFran's KLM, which was the other option, which has a minimal airline presence, especially in Southern Europe compared to the other airlines.

[SPEAKER_01]: If we're just making so much sense and now it's like you're just going to let lifetons to buy all of Europe because we also have low Polish, which I think within a few years something needs to happen there, we there are a few and the the most logical group for to acquire them is obviously lifetons a group as well since they even use lifetons of miles and more as their free conflire program.

[SPEAKER_01]: So it's just like, oh, there's not many options left for Air France KLM to acquire, even if they wanted to at this point. [SPEAKER_01]: This is, yeah, I think this is bad news for consumers, top has also been known. [SPEAKER_01]: Obviously, they haven't been running a very sustainable operation, but they have been one of the own the European Airlines offering pretty reasonable.

[SPEAKER_01]: Transatlantic there's especially one way fairs that have always undercut the major airline group competition And now without a doubt that is going away the other here. [SPEAKER_02]: We go skyscanner You're going to see the same routes and you're going to see the each flight is 325 euros on on on Supposedly competing airlines and that's that's the issue here.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's what does happen in the US [SPEAKER_02]: but it is increasingly taking place in Europe. [SPEAKER_02]: And it's being led by Lufthansa, make no mistake. [SPEAKER_02]: The same airline that want to deflect and have a conversation about how unfair it is that airlines in the Gulf and across Asia have their governments as the majority shareholder and how they could never compete with that.

[SPEAKER_02]: Meanwhile, they are picking up every national [SPEAKER_02]: It's not fair, this is not an interest of consumers. [SPEAKER_02]: I understand why that. [SPEAKER_01]: Not to mention as soon as they need government support, they're very happy to take a ton of it, you know, like, yeah, unapologetically as well.

[SPEAKER_02]: The Americans in their announcements, crazy. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_01]: So, so that there's the acquisition is one part and then the ultimate. [SPEAKER_01]: terrible news, which we really should hope doesn't happen is for tap to be allowed into the Transatlantic Joint Venture, which lifters a has with United, and a few others, I think or Canada is part of it, right?

[SPEAKER_01]: So basically, then the fairs across all these airlines would be equalized, and you could fly, it's sort of metal neutrality, where it doesn't even matter [SPEAKER_01]: Um, yes. [SPEAKER_02]: And so then their pricing structure as they just got, it's all, it's just, it's just, maybe Europe is the simulation.

[SPEAKER_02]: Maybe Australia is the rule. [SPEAKER_02]: I've got to think of it. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, but they listen, there can be competition situation down here down under, it's not particularly sweet either. [SPEAKER_02]: It's terrible. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, there's, there's a lot of anger against contests.

[SPEAKER_02]: Legend of Australia now only really providing the only form of competition in terms of fares on the key domestic routes at least and then of course now that they're returning to Longhall since they're tie up with Qatar, the flights are a variety by QR of course but it's just an alternative as Aussies look to travel which you know of course the longhall is the only way out here right so of course they need fin air.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, thank god for fin air. [SPEAKER_01]: So let's quickly jump into some Q&A showy. [SPEAKER_02]: Let's do it. [SPEAKER_01]: Alright, so we have a question here from Oliver who says he booked a West Jeff flight from Dublin to Toronto but for April next year, but only recently came across concerns about their financial situation and there doesn't seem to be much clear information about online [SPEAKER_01]: about what would happen if they went bust.

[SPEAKER_01]: Would you two six one offer any protection? [SPEAKER_01]: If the flight was canceled, I paid by credit cards, so should sector a 75 protect me. [SPEAKER_01]: He's also booked separate onward flights and hotels. [SPEAKER_01]: So, but would buying scheduled airline failure insurance, now cover those losses given the financial concerns are already public.

[SPEAKER_01]: He appreciates our advice. [SPEAKER_01]: So, frankly, I just think the easy thing here, I've never heard of this type of airline failure insurance, but I just- Yes, it's a thing, it's a thing. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah. [SPEAKER_01]: But just get a regular travel insurance, because it covers all of this.

[SPEAKER_02]: If the flight is canceled, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it doesn't cover airline collapse. [SPEAKER_02]: Really? [SPEAKER_02]: Really check. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, yeah, so that's real situation especially what was the year where they were all going back at the 2019 when they were just falling like Domino's yeah There are many of the big British travel insurance companies removed airline collapse from their insurance because it was just I mean it was happening every week [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, okay, so maybe that is a good idea because these types of insurance is usually very cheap.

[SPEAKER_01]: Anyway, travel insurance is usually cheap. [SPEAKER_01]: So I'd make sure you have both because the travel insurance should at least cover the on word flights and hotels if there is some disruption again. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm not an insurance person, but if you like it, but you two six one would not apply in this case because Bankruptcy is very much an extraordinary circumstance.

[SPEAKER_01]: Are you pro twenty twenty seven? [SPEAKER_02]: Right, I can see the concern because look, WestJet is incredibly vulnerable at the moment financially vulnerable and As you as you noted in the question, these things are public the [SPEAKER_02]: reality though is that it's not imminent, and that's why I asked when, and that things still could get better.

[SPEAKER_02]: There are also avenues that will be explored to ensure that any stakeholder prevents something like airline collapse for West Jet, and so while they are financially vulnerable, I'll just say that bankruptcy in the immediate future is not just established by what's evident [SPEAKER_02]: Today, but it is worrying and there are actually, I mean, there was a bit of a worrying development last week, which is that West Jet's bonds fell to 85 cents on the dollar and that's the lowest level.

[SPEAKER_02]: And then the S&P downgraded West Jet to a B minus in September because of that. [SPEAKER_02]: very weak results, you had fish, cut, west jets, credit rating also to be minus, that was way back in April, and then you've got this kind of perfect storm because all of that meets the world that we're in today and the operating environment for airlines is higher fuel prices, some of the highest ever.

[SPEAKER_02]: week demand on some routes, you know, labor costs are hurting, it's hurting profitability, it's hurting the the uncertainty of the world is hurting the bottom of line. [SPEAKER_02]: So it's yeah, it's not great, but I don't think the writing is on the wall yet for west jet, but take out insurance, keep an open mind, think of back uplands, keep you know, prepared.

[SPEAKER_02]: This is good advice for any scenario. [SPEAKER_00]: precisely. [SPEAKER_01]: Ian says, I work for Alaska and after excitedly watching Dan's latest video of his experience from San Francisco to Seoul, I was curious if YouTube would be able to discuss the latest developments at the airline.

[SPEAKER_01]: I was particularly interested in your take on the new cabins on our E330, 787s, and the new domestic trains call Max Tens, as well as long-haul expansion being planned out of Seattle. [SPEAKER_01]: Did you have a chance to watch that video yet? [SPEAKER_01]: I don't blame you because you've been busy.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I won't be back. [SPEAKER_02]: No, I haven't went to the come out. [SPEAKER_02]: It came out, um, eight days ago. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, I don't remember. [SPEAKER_02]: It's been a busy. [SPEAKER_02]: It's been a busy time. [SPEAKER_02]: I'm down under 10. [SPEAKER_02]: It's that the eight days ago your time.

[SPEAKER_02]: That means him out. [SPEAKER_02]: That's what you really could go for me. [SPEAKER_02]: So then what are the time to watch it? [SPEAKER_01]: Hmm. [SPEAKER_02]: No, I haven't had the time because these three weeks that have been your eight days have been incredibly busy, but, you know what, I'll make the time so that I know what's eating spoken about and I'll watch, you know, my podcast cohost on his YouTube channel where he doesn't mention the podcast nearly enough, but that's the story for another episode.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, like overall, I was very impressed with Alaska, although I just have to say every single time I fly the ADN ascent, I get more and more upset about its popularity, because Alaska has managed to squeeze. [SPEAKER_01]: Extremely packed in there, and you can really feel that the pitch is low they owe the squeeze you really feel the squeeze and as we know Premium fairs from the US Definitely not cheap so That part was not something I loved but I do think the soft product the service especially was [SPEAKER_01]: quite charming compared to your average US carrier experience.

[SPEAKER_01]: So I really liked that. [SPEAKER_01]: And I think that Alaska will have it's tough because as we've spoken about a lot, the US airline market is that is a simulation, if anything, because airlines aren't making money flying. [SPEAKER_01]: And if you look at United credit cards, [SPEAKER_01]: yeah it's like it's a credit card business and united launching flights to you know Mongolia and Greenland these are roots that without a doubt are losing money but it's part of a much bigger equation these days into how do we make our brand appealing and sexy and how do we offer certain destinations that our cowvers want while you know appealing to a [SPEAKER_01]: um the uh yeah i don't know it's a lot goes into it so for Alaska to launch long ago i think it's this won't provide some crazy amount of competition for the US market and it probably won't be a huge money maker for them and

[SPEAKER_01]: But it's just about, I mean, isn't it crazy that in 2026, we now have news that South West is even likely to launch long-haul flights. [SPEAKER_01]: I find that absolutely bizarre. [SPEAKER_01]: Did you read that? [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and I mean, look, many elements have proven that this can work.

[SPEAKER_02]: It's just the European ones that are trying to do it trying to Atlantic that's struggle. [SPEAKER_02]: But otherwise, otherwise, it's so get specifically from your neck of the words of scandin, you know, north, yeah, they're doing great. [SPEAKER_02]: Yeah, and that's what I mean. [SPEAKER_01]: Not, don't be terribly again.

[SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, it's interesting what you're saying because South West Longhole, Alaska Longhole, these, none of these are low-cost concepts. [SPEAKER_01]: These, you know, Southwest will seemingly have business class. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm sure economy will have implied entertainment and free meals and all this stuff.

[SPEAKER_01]: So, it's actually [SPEAKER_01]: they're just going head to head with the big US Airlines and mainly it is to appeal to credit card customers which I can make sense of that way of traveling and you know serving Rome London Paris. [SPEAKER_01]: That might be enough for summer profitability and that's where people want to go but it's the US airline market is really a different world and a very strange world [SPEAKER_02]: Speaking of the strange world, I mean a land down under and the book I've just been staring at the book that's on the desk.

[SPEAKER_02]: The book is, how to be Parisian wherever you are. [SPEAKER_02]: Okay? [SPEAKER_02]: So I've just opened a random page. [SPEAKER_02]: It says, A Parisian never hires a babysitter who is too pretty. [SPEAKER_02]: Always finding the less attractive one to be far more competent. [SPEAKER_02]: She buys time with sweets so that she can finish her phone conversation with her best friend.

[SPEAKER_02]: I don't get that. [SPEAKER_01]: Yeah, that's a very interesting sounds very un-European. [SPEAKER_02]: I wonder if this is an Aussie's take on what a Parisian is. [SPEAKER_01]: That's what I think. [SPEAKER_02]: It says, and that a Parisian's ideal man, he's not muscular, he's unshaven, he's clean and he's funny.

[SPEAKER_02]: That's got something special and it's not a car. [SPEAKER_02]: He's got class, he's a bad boy, but you forgive him. [SPEAKER_02]: He may not be perfect, but at least he actually exists. [SPEAKER_01]: All right, on that note, on the prison. [SPEAKER_02]: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, [SPEAKER_01]: Is this like the Parisian version of the handbook that Australians get before they go on the Truman show that is Australia, like how to be Australian?

[SPEAKER_02]: This is what it seems like, and there's chapters for everything. [SPEAKER_02]: Tell you what to wear, it's telling you about what to reply. [SPEAKER_02]: Well, this is very, that sounds very important. [SPEAKER_01]: I'm asking too. [SPEAKER_02]: Captive it. [SPEAKER_02]: Whoa. [SPEAKER_02]: That's my half-tonu reading material, so to be.

[SPEAKER_02]: Well, you go enjoy that. [SPEAKER_01]: And with we will catch you guys next week. [SPEAKER_01]: Oh, next week, my opinion exciting. [SPEAKER_01]: More on that later, more on that later. [SPEAKER_02]: You will catch you guys next week on air. [SPEAKER_02]: See you then. [SPEAKER_02]: Bye.

[SPEAKER_02]: Bye.

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