The Pikachu Jet

In the budget air travel market in this part of the world, Singapore's Scoot are competing against the likes of Malaysia’s AirAsia and Indonesia’s Lion Air. 

They have survived the competition by having the international hub of Singapore as their base and by strengthening cooperation with the parent company, Singapore Airlines. 

However, recovery from the Covid pandemic is particularly tough for Scoot. So, to stimulate demand, the carrier teamed up with The Pokemon Company.

The outcome is a “Pikachu Jet” where a Boeing 787 is decorated with illustrations of the popular Pokemon character and others from the Japanese media franchise. 

On special Pokemon-themed flights, Pikachu can be found everywhere, from overhead bins to packaging of in-flight meals. Cabin crew play games and perform an original Pokemon dance to entertain passengers. 

Interestingly, I learned that The Pokemon Co. shouldered the expense of wrapping the jet with their new decorations, said to have cost about ¥100 million ($688,000). Scoot’s expenses are limited to promotion, marketing and in-flight services, making the collaboration financially attractive for the budget airline. 

My hope for Scoot is for them to be able to mount a challenge AirAsia for dominance.

In a Scottish Premiership match on Saturday, a Celtic side who were firing on all cylinders demolished Hibernian 6-1. 

James Forrest struck first on nine minutes when he volleyed in a lovely cross from Sead Hakšabanović. 

Nine minutes passed before left-back Alexandro Bernabei galloped forward to drill in an inch-perfect pass for Giorgos Giakoumakis to crash in with a first-time shot. 

Forrest got his second when the Hibs goalkeeper fumbled a routine shot in the twenty-fourth minute. 

Hibernian pulled a goal back in the fifty-sixth minute but within two minutes, a woeful mis-kick from them allowed Celtic to feed Forrest and the winger completed his hattrick with a deflected shot whizzing into the corner of the net. 

Celtic’s fifth goal came when substitute Liel Abada picked out Giakoumakis with a cut-back and the Greek striker's shot from 16 yards was taken away from the goalie’s path as an attempted block from a Hibernian centre-back sent the ball past the keeper in the seventy-third minute. 

And then the Hibs goalie thwarted Abada in a one-on-one situation but the Scottish champions would not be denied a sixth as a cross from the right dropped for Daizen Maeda to poke the ball home in the eighty-ninth minute to seal a comprehensive win.

133 Million Cases and Vaccine Passports

Covid-19 cases have now totaled 133 million worldwide. 

Norway is the latest country to join C100K, having reached 100,149 cases today. The eighty-eight countries in the said grouping collectively account for 98.0% and 98.6% of global infections and fatalities respectively.

Yesterday, the World Health Organization said they are not backing vaccination passports for travel because of the uncertainty over whether inoculation prevents transmission of the coronavirus and not to mention, equity concerns. 

Even so, vaccine passports for the purpose of travel are primarily taking shape as free mobile apps where international travelers upload their proof of a vaccination as well as any necessary coronavirus test results or other health waivers. 

The goal is to digitize individual countries’ paper vaccination certificates into internationally recognized passes for travel. 

The International Air Transport Association, the IATA Travel Pass, has already been developed and garnered trial use on international air carriers, including Emirates, Copa, Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines. 

So far, 21 airlines have signed up for the pass, and two – Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways – have launched full pilots.

Price Gaffe at Cathay Pacific

It was the New Year’s Eve travel sale that appeared to be too good to be true – business and first-class flights on Cathay Pacific from Vietnam to North America for just $675. 

That represented a staggering discount of extraordinary proportions! A first-class round trip would usually cost around $16,000 and a business class flight $4,000-$6,000. 

It took two days for Cathay Pacific to publicly acknowledge the gaffe with the airline on Wednesday gallantly saying it would honor the cheap tickets. 

Customers who had snapped up these ludicrous bargain-counter airfares breathed a sigh of relief after waiting more than 24 hours to learn what the company had planned to do. 

“Happy 2019 all, and to those who bought our good – VERY good surprise ‘special’ on New Year’s Day,” the Hong Kong-based carrier tweeted on Wednesday. 

“Yes – we made a mistake, but we look forward to welcoming you onboard with your ticket issued. Hope this will make your 2019 ‘special’ too!” 

Acknowledging that the delay had caused unwelcome speculation, Cathay Pacific added #promisemadepromisekept, and in a nod to the expensive error, #lessonlearnt. 

The airline did not respond to requests for comment about the number of flights sold at the steep discount. 

But South China Morning Post believed thousands of tickets had been sold during the online ticketing foul-up, which was blamed on an individual entering the wrong prices into the company’s system for that flight sector. 

And this decision would cost the airline millions of dollars in lost earnings. 

This is not the first-time airlines have mistakenly offered premium-class flights at marked down prices. 

In 2014 Singapore Airlines agreed to honor some 400 business class flights to Australia sold at economy prices. Last year Hong Kong Airlines said it would do the same when a similar error was made. 

But in 2015, United Airlines cancelled hundreds of tickets it sold for $100 by mistake. The American airline said it would not honor the fares because the error was caused by a “third-party software provider”. 

And Air Canada are currently involved in a class action lawsuit at home for refusing to honor a similar price mistake in 2015. 

Manchester City were much better on the ball on Thursday and with luck siding them, they emerged 2-1 winners in this EPL match against Liverpool.

Our unbeaten run had ended and already the Citizens closed the gap with us – separated by a mere four points.

We must remember that every game is a final. And for sure, we must win every game.

Revealing Styles in the Aisles

It is a fatuously flighty exercise in flippant frivolity when Malaysian politicians couldn’t find anything important to raise in parliament – that they decided to bring up the issue of cabin crew garb. 

I remember there used to be loud protests about AirAsia’s attire. Now, PAS parliamentarians are raising hackles about the outfits worn by Malaysia Airlines’ female flight attendants:

Why this preoccupation with uniforms? We are telling the whole world that Malaysians are prudish – assuming of course, you believe their apparel is really revealing! 

Compare us with how other airlines clothe their cabin crew – and you can decide for yourself: 

China’s Hainan Airlines show off Paris-based Laurence Xu’s creations, taking inspiration from the cheongsam:

Icelandic low-cost carrier WOW air went with pink skirts and hats for women: 

Etihad Airways' uniforms combine 1960s Paris couture combine 1960s couture and contemporary runway looks:

Air Malta’s cabin crew wear suits complemented by colourful scarves and ties which mirror the uniqueness of the Maltese Islands with their proud heritage, colors, culture, symbols, hospitality and language:

China Eastern Airlines' uniforms, designed by Christian Lacroix are "simple, beautiful and dignified" – a fusion of an elegant oriental style and Shanghai style fashion:

Gulf Air's uniforms have a history of embracing French haute couture fashions: 

The red-hot AirAsia's uniforms. I'm referring to the color lah:

Virgin Atlantic’s uniforms feature a double-breasted ‘drape coat’, which can be worn fastened or open:

Korean Air’s uniforms are a mix of eggshell blue, white and cream but what is really striking is the gravity-defying neck scarves and the ribbon-like hairpins which remind us of “binyeo”, the traditional Korean hair accessory:

Russian airlines Aeroflot with their bright red vintage-inspired uniforms:

Emirates' uniforms are best described as iconic and they have remained relatively unchanged since 1997, with just a few minor tweaks in 2008:

Singapore Airlines have the same uniform since 1968 – in fact, they are considered to be the "longest serving uniform" in the skies:

Anyway, Transport Minister Anthony Loke yesterday advised the objectors to avert their gaze – it’s as simple as that! 

In case you’re wondering about my view – I love legs! Now, you know! LOL!