News and notes from around the interweb:
- Per the inestimable JonNYC American Airlines is on track to restore meals to regional flights in April
- The hideous Jones Act rears its ugly head as we seek to avoid imports of Russian oil that basically sticks it to Hawaii which has been stuck buying Russian oil rather than bringing it over from the mainland. (HT: Jonathan W.) Expect costs in Hawaii to rise and not just for gas.
While the mainland consumes just 1% of US refinery processed oil from Russia, Hawaii uses from 10%-25% Russian crude oil. To reduce fuel costs, Hawaii refineries have imported fuel directly from other countries such as Russia. This is because The Jones Act of 1920 requires that cargo, or in this case fuel, sent to Hawaii from the mainland must travel on US-built and staffed ships. That’s very expensive to do.
…Hotels are major power consumers and they too will experience the direct impact of higher energy costs. Moreover, the cost of air freight, widely used in Hawaii, will impact all costs here in the islands. And fuel costs will also impact ocean shipping, with Hawaii dependent on nearly everything residents and visitors consume.
- Some airport Starbucks now do mobile ordering
- Every avgeek did cry at least a little.
— Ukrainian Memes Forces (@uamemesforces) March 4, 2022
- Speaking of which..
- Virgin Australia will refresh its VIP elite tier
- Airline unions picketing popular layover hotel Marriott Copley Place because renovations there are being done using non-union contractors. There’s no violation of contracts or abuses being alleged, just a move o extract surplus.
At the picket line with @FlyingWithSara & @Mass_BTC outside the Boston @Marriott Copley! Proud to stand in solidarity with workers & union labor. #UnionStrong #WuPlane ✈️ pic.twitter.com/nPszFVKXs4
— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain) March 4, 2022
Avoiding Russian oil is sort of pointless. Russia can simply ship more oil to China or other countries. Same goes for titanium.
Contrast that with natural gas: Over the short run, Russia can’t sell more to China as the existing pipes are at 100% capacity utilization already. They can’t just export elsewhere.
It would be much more effective if Europe stopped importing Russian natural gas. However, countries like my home country Germany (which sources 55% of its natural gas from Russia) or Italy hurt economically if they stop buying from Russia.
While quite costly for these Western economies, it is ultimately considered feasible to do it.
That would be the toughest sanction on Russia. Keep in mind through its sales of fossil fuels alone, Russia is able to run current-account surpluses. And those surpluses help it to bear the other sanctions. Not saying those other sanctions are ineffective, but the West hasn’t used its most powerful weapon (short of going to war) yet.
Maybe if Hawaii stopped hating the rest of America, America might be inclined to help the islands out. OTOH, given the draconian way the state has acted the last year, let ’em pay through the nose.
It always irks me that the franchise owners don’t require airport concessionaires to operate the same way as the non-airport locations do. I get that operating costs are higher, in airports but not allowing customers to use the app or deals within the app makes for a terrible customer experience as most don’t know that the location is run by HMS or DNC. As for mobile ordering, not providing that until now is just silly. It doesn’t cost much and should bring in more revenue since people would be apt to use it if they don’t want to wait in line.
Coffee, ugh…..
I’ve been using the mobile ordering at TPA Starbucks for a while now. I put my order in when I pull up to the curb, zip through PreCheck, walk past the eternally long Starbucks line and grab my drunk off the counter. Glorious.
Sounds like the Germans should fire up their Windmills and Solar plants to replace the eventually sanctioned Russian oil and gas.
Hawaii? Let them feel the pain.
Can a thief grab someone’s drink off the counter at Starpesos or do you have to prove your identity?
Asking for a friend….
@ Donald Mamula
Agree 1000000%
To HELL with Hawaii!!!