It’s only 40,000 seats in each direction, or just 0.065% of global airline capacity but for anyone in Australia or New Zealand the opening of the “Tasman Bubble” seems to be big news this week. Full flights, on time services, happy travellers – what on earth is happening!
For the rest of us stranded with international lockdowns it’s both a moment of optimism and jealousy; the chance to flash a passport and walk-through arrivals without being swabbed; small steps but every step or hop helps. It’s just a shame that the optimism in those two countries is not reflected in the global market where capacity indicators are beginning to head south again, perhaps hoping to join the travel bubble!
Airline capacity is clearly softening as capacity through to the end of August fell by another 4% with some 87.3 million more seats removed from the systems by airlines who are perhaps feeling slightly more nervous about the summer season than they were two weeks ago. Stubborn infection rates…