Bubbles, Bailouts & Bloated Fares: SEA Airlines Are in a Mess

Airlines, aviation, and by extension, airports… What a mess! This week, Gary and Hannah attempt to unpick the complex interplay of airlines, governments and travel bans that is confusing travellers across South East Asia. The early post-COVID recovery is plagued by bailouts, air bubbles that haven’t come to fruition, governments announcing and delaying the lifting of travel bans and different states within countries being treated or responding differently. We’ve got quarantines, high fares, flight cancellations… and very little guidance from ASEAN. Is there a route map for rebooting air travel in South East Asia?