C.<p>One <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/random" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>random</span></a> occurrence about the <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/tension" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>tension</span></a> between the US and Canada that has popped up locally...</p><p>There are (and have been for a few months) billboards around my city announcing United Airlines' new direct flights between <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/Regina" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Regina</span></a> (<a href="https://mindly.social/tags/YQR" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>YQR</span></a>) and <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/Denver" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Denver</span></a> (<a href="https://mindly.social/tags/DEN" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>DEN</span></a>). The billboards announce that flights start May 15. This has almost certainly been in the planning stages for at least a year; it takes time to negotiate with <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/airport" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>airport</span></a> authorities, obtain clearance from a foreign government, figure out how to schedule planes and crews and ground services without screwing up any existing routes, and on and on.</p><p>This is a big deal for my city; it's a small city, with lousy connectivity to, well, everywhere. You pretty much have to connect to <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/flights" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>flights</span></a> in Calgary or other bigger cities to get anywhere by <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/plane" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>plane</span></a> from here. Direct flights from Regina to USA destinations come and go over time as airlines try it, abandon it, rinse and repeat with a different airline.</p><p>And in the last couple of months, because of Orange Donny's decision to light <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/Canadian" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Canadian</span></a> goodwill for the <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/USA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USA</span></a> on fire while dancing naked in the glow [1], air travel numbers from <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/Canada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Canada</span></a> to the USA are down ... 70% from a year ago, at last report.</p><p>I don't think there is any air route which can be operated <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/profitably" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>profitably</span></a> at 30% <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/occupancy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>occupancy</span></a>.</p><p>I'm guessing those direct flights are not going to stick around long this time, either.</p><p>[1] I probably should have bought stock in a brain <a href="https://mindly.social/tags/bleach" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>bleach</span></a> company before saying this.</p><p><a href="https://mindly.social/tags/UnitedAir" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>UnitedAir</span></a></p>