Newest Low-Cost Airline to Launch in the US

David Neeleman, the CEO of American low-cost airline JetBlue Airways, will launch a
new affordable airline called Breeze Airways.
Previously known as Moxy, Breeze is Neeleman’s fifth airline brand. It will
target underserved airports and destinations that have only a few direct flights.
Neeleman did not specify which cities Breeze will serve, but he revealed that the new
airline’s headquarters will be located in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Breeze has recently applied for an operations certificate at the Federal Aviation
Administration and the US Department of Transportation. Neeleman said that Breeze
will start operating by the end of the year if things fall into place.
According to Neeleman, Breeze will cater to markets and places overlooked by bigger
airlines.  Some of these are places with no direct flights, secondary airports in big cities,
and locations that can only be reached through multiple modes of transportation.
Breeze plans to introduce point-to-point flights to these markets.
Neeleman is confident that Breeze will be profitable because of the opportunity left
behind by larger airlines, which typically flock to popular destinations and ignore lesser-
known ones.
To entice customers, Breeze Airways will offer cheap fares, new destinations with
nonstop flights, and good service. Breeze’s airplanes will have spacious legroom and in-
flight streaming entertainment. Additional upgrades such as snacks or Wi-Fi may be
purchased for a certain fee. The airline might also offer first-class or flat-bed seats on
certain routes.
Neeleman is also planning to create an all-in-one mobile app for the new airline. He said
that the app will be used for changing or canceling flights or ordering food during a
flight.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Do you think it is a good idea for Breeze Airways to fly to underserved destinations?
Why or why not?
• Given its offerings, do you think Breeze Airways can effectively entice customers?
Why or why not?
• What are some underserved markets in your country (e.g. work-from-home
employees, stay-at-home moms)? Discuss.
• If you had the opportunity, what kind of business would you start to cater to these
underserved markets? Explain.
Switzerland to Set Aside Billions of Dollars to Promote Education and Research

The Swiss government will be allocating nearly $29 billion to further promote education
and research in the country for the next four years.
Switzerland’s education system is recognized around the world. Recently, seven Swiss
universities made it to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020.
Because of the country’s global reputation, around 20% of its student population is
comprised of international students.
To continue raising the bar, the Swiss government will prioritize the funding of its
higher education. Aside from focusing on research and innovation, the country will
prioritize vocational and professional training.
Most of the funds will be allocated to universities and research institutes, with the former
receiving around $17 billion and the latter around $7.2 billion. The country’s Federal
Council will also allocate around $4.4 billion to vocational training. This is to help people
who have difficulty landing a job acquire basic skills.
According to Education Minister Guy Parmelin [gee PAH-mee-lan], the country has
already been successful in promoting education and research. He attributes this
success to the strong cooperation between the country’s districts and the national
government.  Because of this success, he wants to ensure that Switzerland maintains
its status as a global frontrunner in the education, research, and
innovation sectors through continuous promotion of them.
Parmelin is also looking forward to collaborating with Brussels with regards to
Switzerland’s possible involvement in the European Union’s research and education
initiatives.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Do you think allocating nearly $29 billion for education and research is a good move?
Why or why not?
• In your opinion, should your country’s government follow in the footsteps of the Swiss
government? Explain.
• Do you consider your country’s education sector to be globally competitive? Why or
why not?
• What are the advantages of graduating from a globally competitive institution?
Discuss.
Elderly Woman Becomes Famous Fitness Social Media Personality

Joan MacDonald, a 73-year-old Canadian, is now a famous fitness Instagram

personality with over 500,000 followers.
Three years ago, MacDonald was overweight and in poor health. She was on
medication to treat conditions like high blood pressure, acid reflux, and high cholesterol.
As she aged, she began to have more physical problems.
MacDonald’s daughter, Michelle, convinced her to change her lifestyle and taught her
some exercises and healthy eating habits. After more than six months, MacDonald lost
around 28 kilograms and was able to stop using her medication. She started to feel
better physically and gained more self-confidence.
MacDonald credits her transformation to the exercise and diet tips that she learned
from her daughter. Her fitness regimen includes going to the gym, where she lifts
weights and does 15- to 30-minute cardio exercises, five times a week. She eats five
small meals every day, and her diet consists of grains, meat, and vegetables.
Michelle created MacDonald’s Instagram account back in 2018. She manages the
account, but MacDonald is the one who directly engages with her followers. The 73-
year-old personality shares workout tips, photos and videos of her progress, and some
encouraging words on her page.
MacDonald said that being a social personality is something new to her. She had to
learn how to use a smartphone. Ever since her following grew, women of different ages
have reached out to her to share their success stories.
MacDonald advises other women who want to follow in her footsteps to seek a trainer
and a support group that can uplift them.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Do you think fitness advice from a social media personality like MacDonald is
credible? Why or why not?
• Is it necessary to have a trainer and support group to achieve the same success as
MacDonald’s? Explain.
• What do you think are the pros and cons of becoming a famous social media
personality? Discuss.
• If you had the opportunity, what type of social media personality would you want to
become (e.g. beauty, travel)? Why?
Tallest Waterfall in Ecuador Disappears

The 150-meter San Rafael Waterfall disappeared because of a sinkhole.

Considered the tallest waterfall in Ecuador, the San Rafael Waterfall
attracted thousands of visitors every year. The falls were located along the
Coca River and were known for having abundant vegetation and butterflies.
The NASA Earth Observatory reported that the water cascading from the
falls stopped flowing in early February. According to local officials, a
sinkhole appeared and changed the flow of its water source. However,
what caused the sinkhole remains unconfirmed.
Geologist Alfredo Carrasco speculated that earthquakes and volcanic
activity in the area naturally caused the sinkhole. He mentioned that an
intense earthquake in 1987 severely damaged the trans-Ecuadorian oil
pipeline that goes through the area.
Contrary to that, South America Water Program coordinator Emilio Cobo
suggested that a nearby hydroelectric plant that opened in
2016 triggered the sinkhole. He said that sediments from the river were
likely trapped by the hydroelectric plant, which increased the erosive effect
of the water.
Researchers believe that the sinkhole has changed the landscape of the
region, as it turned the river into three small streams, with each one having
small waterfalls. According to experts, the new waterfalls could increase
the risks of landslides and potentially harm animals in the area.
Despite the massive changes that the sinkhole has caused, Ecuador’s
tourism ministry said that it has no plans to restore the San Rafael
Waterfall. The ministry has also prohibited tours of the falls.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• In your opinion, which is the more likely cause of the sinkhole? Speculate.
• Do you think the San Rafael Waterfall should be restored? Why or why
not?
• Do you think most changes in the environment are man-made? Why or
why not?
• How can humans make sure that their actions will have a minimal
negative impact on the environment (e.g. proper maintenance)? Discuss.
German Court Orders Tesla to Stop Factory Construction
A court has issued an order directing American car manufacturer Tesla to
temporarily halt the clearing of land and forest for its new factory in
Brandenburg, Germany.
The order was issued by the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-
Brandenburg. This was after the Green League of Brandenburg, an
environmental protection group, had filed a lawsuit opposing Tesla’s
clearing of a 92-hectare forest land.
When the lawsuit was filed, Tesla had not yet obtained a permit to start the
actual construction of the factory. However, it had already cleared almost
50% of the trees at the site with permission granted by the state
environment office. According to the court, the site would have been
completely cleared if the order had been delayed further.
Tesla announced its plan to build its first factory in Europe late last year,
and the factory was scheduled to start operations in 2021.
The court order put the company at risk of further delaying or totally halting
the factory’s construction. However, by mid-February, the Berlin-
Brandenburg court finally gave Tesla the green light to continue with the
clearing.
In response to the court order, Tesla CEO Elon Musk had explained that
the new factory would benefit the environment because it would produce
automobiles powered by renewable energy. The company also said it
would replant trees in an area three times the size of its factory site.
Several lawmakers in Germany had expressed their concern over the
temporary cessation of Tesla’s construction. They were worried about the
issue’s possible impact on Germany’s business development credentials
and the country’s pro-business reputation.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
• Do you agree with the German court’s order to temporarily stop the
clearing of land for the construction of Tesla’s Gigafactory? Why or why
not?
• How do you think the temporary halting of Tesla’s construction affects
Germany’s pro-business reputation? Discuss.
• How do manufacturing factories affect their surroundings (e.g. providing
jobs, polluting the environment)? Discuss.
• Do you think a manufacturing business can truly be environment-friendly?