Entertainment
Starfleet Academy Stops Playing Around With Standout Episode Perfect For Actual Trekkies
By Chris Snellgrove
| Published
Starfleet Academy has proven divisive to fans in large part because it is a strange brew: great actors and top-notch special effects mixed with weird characterization and writing straight out of an early aughts boner comedy. Defenders of the show have maintained that everyone just needs to give the series more time to find its space legs, and the latest episode may have effectively proved them right. “Come, Let’s Away” drops the awkward, forced humor of earlier episodes to deliver a tale full of action, romance, and higher stakes than Starfleet Academy has ever had before.
Part of what makes this particular Starfleet Academy episode so effective is the misdirection baked directly into its plot. “Come, Let’s Away” starts out with scenes of our characters hooking up, and it wisely leverages the solid chemistry between Caleb and Tarima before jumping into the main plot: a joint training exercise where Academy and War College cadets must restart a derelict starship. But when those cadets are kidnapped by killer cannibals, Chancellor Ake must turn to her old nemesis, Nus Braka, for help in saving her students’ lives.
Somehow, Star Trek Returned
For Star Trek fans wanting Starfleet Academy to be more like the Golden Age of Star Trek, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. First of all, it employs tropes and story beats very familiar to The Next Generation: for example, the cadets having to restart an old starship feels a lot like Riker having to get the USS Hathaway working for war games in “Peak Performance.” Speaking of Number One, “Come, Let’s Away” leans into Caleb and Tarima being the new Riker/Troi by giving them an Imzadi-esque mind link and having their shared romantic connection be a major key to resolving this plot.
While some Star Trek fans have enjoyed the show’s often lowbrow humor, I felt that this Starfleet Academy episode was much stronger for ditching the jokes and giving us an episode that plays out like a tense action thriller. From the moment they are captured, it is clear that our heroes are in mortal danger from bad guys (the Furies) who simply don’t play around. This is made abundantly clear when they partially eat a charismatic War College instructor (!) and then shoot his body out of the airlock to send a message to Starfleet.
The New Big Bad Is Finally Scary
The Furies are so dangerous that Chancellor Ake, at the urging of Admiral Vance, requests the help of Nus Braka, a notorious space pirate who has dealt with these foes before. This is definitely a stronger performance from Paul Giamatti than we saw in the first Starfleet Academy episode, and it helps that he is written much better. While his dialogue still has a few rough edges (like when he describes himself as “wanked” and “spanked”), he mostly comes off as genuinely dangerous, and his weirdly intimate interactions with Ake make him seem less like a Scooby-Doo villain and more like a flamboyant Hannibal Lecter.
Nus Braka is actually the personification of this episode’s greatest strengths: that it’s not afraid to raise the stakes by putting likable characters in mortal danger. In addition to offing the fun new War College instructor (and beware some major spoilers from here on out), they also kill B’avi, arguably the most likable of the War College cadets. Thanks to Nus Braka completely outwitting the Federation, his buddies were able to destroy a Starfleet vessel and ransack a starbase, giving this episode a shockingly high body count.
By Their Powers Combined
“Come, Let’s Away” is a far cry from the more carefree adventures of Starfleet Academy, but the grim subject matter also lends the show something it has desperately needed: some narrative weight. Previously, the show’s constant need to undercut tension robbed various episodes of their power, like filling the big, emotional Sisko episode with jokes about flatulence and genitalia. Also, it was tough to take SAM (a fairly solid character in her own right) very seriously in that Sisko episode because she spent most of her time onscreen talking and acting like a deranged TikTok skit come to life.
But SAM really shines in “Come, Let’s Away,” utilizing her powers in a logical way to restore power to a derelict vessel. Tarima uses her powers in a similarly logical way, and once she fully unleashes her abilities to pop some dude’s heads (Scanners-style!), we see how dangerous a Betazed warrior can be. Caleb also shines, both as Tarima’s partner in telepathic crime and as someone more resourceful than the average member of either the Academy or the War College.
The Ensemble Cast Finally Shines
While the plot involved sidelining some of the main characters (Darem and the Doctor mostly do little more than twiddle their thumbs), this episode of Starfleet Academy did a great job of highlighting most of the ensemble cast. The youngsters got to finally stop being quippy cadets and put their training to use in a life-and-death situation, and they all brought unique strengths to the table while working as a team. In this way, this is probably the most traditional Star Trek episode we have seen so far, and to my surprise, it really left me wanting more.
From the beginning, I have been one of Starfleet Academy’s harshest critics, but it’s not because I want the show to fail; the cast is talented, the SFX are beautiful, and the writers (especially Tawny Newsome) are passionate about the franchise. However, episodes are frequently hampered by bad comedy and low-stakes, teenage drama. To make matters worse, the show occasionally makes huge changes to the lore (like making most Klingons extinct in an offscreen event) that inevitably upset old-school Star Trek fans.
However, “Come, Let’s Away” ditches both the forced comedy and the teen drama, and we get to see these young characters deal with the most Star Trek situation of them all: an Away Team mission that goes catastrophically wrong. The characters are competent, the stakes are high, and the new villains are generally loathsome, adding to the show’s own lure rather than (ahem) cannibalizing older lore. Speaking of loathsome, Giamatti’s Nus Braka establishes himself as the guy you love to hate, and the combination of his master manipulation and his casual cruelty has made this former joke of a character as chilling as Gul Dukat ever was.
Is The New Star Trek Series Finally Worth Watching?
Only time will tell if Starfleet Academy can keep up the breathtaking momentum of this episode: Vance promises that capturing Braka is now Starfleet’s highest priority, and I can only imagine Chancellor Ake (who was uncharacteristically subdued for most of this episode) is itching for payback. This (plus Tarima being in critical condition) certainly implies that the rest of the season will be relatively serious, which is a relief to fans like me who have hated the hokey humor. Of course, the show has been wildly uneven from the beginning, so we may very well be back to goofy shenanigans in the very next episode.
Optimistically, though, I want to believe that Starfleet Academy writers have successfully pulled the rug on our expectations, pivoting the show from a goofy YA comedy fest to something more in line with the golden age of Star Trek. This would be a great way to thread the needle of appealing to older and younger fans, and it would even match the general arc of most YA stories (which inevitably pit their young protagonists against serious, seemingly unstoppable foes). If (and it’s admittedly a big if) that happens, Starfleet Academy could do what NuTrek has been failing to do for nearly a decade: bring generations of fans together in their love of the greatest sci-fi franchise ever made.
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Entertainment
Ex-Disney head Michael Eisner slams networks for paying Trump money in settlements over Kimmel: 'That was bad'
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Eisner addressed his reason for speaking out after Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night talk show was suspended.
Travis Kelce
Maybe, I Should Stick to Football …
Hits Another Woman with Golf Ball!!!
Published
Travis Kelce‘s used to big hits while playing sports … but he’s not usually the guy doling them out — and certainly not with a golf ball!
The Kansas City Chiefs star played the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Friday … but ran into some trouble on the 18th hole — when he shanked a ball that smacked a bystander.
Check out the clip … the woman is being attended to by several staff members when Travis wades through the crowd.
Travis asks if she’s alright … and, the woman — later identified as Edenne Flinn of Salinas, California — seems to tell him she is. According to reports, Kelce signed an autograph for her.
JULY 2024
TMZ.com
While we’re sure Travis’ golf game has improved over the years, this isn’t the first time he’s done something like this. We shared video with you in 2024 of Kelce comforting a bloodied woman after he hit her with a golf ball in Lake Tahoe.
Bottom line … Travis turns golf into a full contact sport — so keep your head on a swivel!
‘Silence of the Lambs’
Buffalo Bill Actor Addresses Transphobia Controversy …
‘F***ing Wrong’ Portrayal
Published
“Silence of the Lambs” totally missed the mark when it came to handling gender identity onscreen … so says one of the movie’s biggest stars.
Ted Levine — the actor who played Buffalo Bill in the hit 1991 film — finally addressed the controversy surrounding his character in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.
If you haven’t seen the movie, Buffalo Bill is a serial killer who flays women and wears their skin over his own … which, in more recent years, many have claimed makes the character an unflattering portrayal of transgender or gender nonconforming people.
Levine told the outlet he didn’t play the character as either … he always portrayed him as a screwed-up straight man — and, he had no qualms about the character while shooting the movie.
However, Levine says now, “[It’s] just over time and having gotten aware and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender. It’s unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it’s f***ing wrong.”
Producer Edward Saxon echoed Levine’s sentiments … telling THR the filmmakers didn’t think they’d upset the transgender community because they didn’t consider Buffalo Bill trans.
They felt he just was a sick individual with an “aberrant personality.” However, Saxon admits he feels the team wasn’t sensitive enough to sterotypes.
He goes on, “There’s regret, but it didn’t come from any place of malice. It actually came from a place of seeing this guy. We all had dear friends and family who were gay. We thought it would just be very clear that Buffalo Bill adapts different things from society, from a place of an incredibly sick pathology.”
BTW … Saxon also takes aim at President Donald Trump in the interview — telling the outlet he feels the prez likening immigrants to Hannibal Lecter is “as perverse as anything we were able to come up with in the film.”
Bottom line … people involved in the film weren’t trying to offend anyone — but, they certainly understand why they did.
Entertainment
Robin Williams 'had to be funny to survive,' says his “Good Will Hunting ”costar Stellan Skarsgård
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Skarsgård also recalled Williams needing to deliver a joke as soon as it came to him: “He had to produce it and get it out of the body. He couldn’t live with it inside.”
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This Comedic Actor Is!
Published
TMZ.com
This actor from across the pond has starred in — and even written — some of the biggest hit films of the 21st century … but, can you guess who he is without seeing his face?
It wasn’t mission impossible to get this star to talk to us back in 2015 outside celebrity hot spot Craig’s … and, he talked all about grooming for the modern man — including whether a dude would end up in some hot fuzz for getting a “Boy-zilian”
In fact, this British star says he’s cool with absolutely anything out there fellas wanna do!
Erika Kirk is marking the first Valentine’s Day without her late husband, right-wing conservative influencer Charlie Kirk.
“What I would give for one more love letter… They had such a deep reverence about them,” Erika, 37, wrote via Instagram on Saturday, February 14, alongside a photo of a letter she received from her late husband prior to his untimely death.
“You’d intentionally set aside the noise of the world and hand me words that felt sacred filled with a depth of love both of us could never quite articulate,” she continued in the caption. “I read it all even slower now. And as I read your words, the weight on my heart reminds me of a reality that we were never promised gray hair and rocking chairs even though we assumed it was guaranteed. But my goodness, do I love telling the babies about the fullness of our covenant that left a mark on my soul. My favorite love story.”
Charlie was shot and killed in September 2025 while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. He was 31.
Charlie Kirk is being remembered on what would have been his 32nd birthday. A new video, shared by his widow, Erika Kirk, and his nonprofit Turning Point USA via Instagram on Tuesday, October 14, paid tribute to the memories the right-wing influencer left behind with his family, including clips from the couple’s wedding day, the […]
“It’s with a heavy heart that we, the Turning Point USA leadership team, write to notify you that early this afternoon, Charlie went to his eternal reward with Jesus Christ in heaven,” a statement from Turning Point USA read at the time, confirming the political activist’s death.
After a 33-hour manhunt, a 22-year-old suspect turned himself into authorities at the behest of his parents, was subsequently arrested and charged for allegedly murdering Charlie. He is currently being held without bail in a Utah jail. If convicted, the 22-year-old faces the death penalty.
Erika has since taken over as CEO of Turning Point USA, the right-wing conservative nonprofit cofounded by Charlie and Bill Montgomery in 2012. In the midst of pyrotechnic-heavy public remembrances, numerous public appearances, conservative in-fighting and a controversial hug with Vice President JD Vance, Erika has been outspoken about her personal experience with grief.
“…there is no linear blueprint for grief. One day you’re collapsed on the floor crying out the name Jesus in between labored breaths,” Erika, 36, wrote via Instagram in October 2025. “The next you’re playing with your children in the living rooms surrounded by family photos, and feeling a rush of something you can only attempt to define as divinely planted and bittersweet joy as a smile breaks through your face.”
Erika Kirk (née Frantzve) celebrated her 37th birthday with a throwback video of her late husband, Charlie Kirk. “I always loved celebrating you, and maybe because it was a reflection of how beautifully you always celebrated me,” Erika captioned an Instagram video on Thursday, November 20. “I romanticized growing old with you, the love of […]
She continued at the time, “They say time heals. But love doesn’t ask to be healed. Love asks to be remembered. It’s humbling to realize that this magnitude of suffering didn’t steal my love for my husband. It amplified it. It crystallized it.”
On Valentine’s Day 2026, Erika went on to urge her followers to “honor the Sabbath this weekend with your loved ones.”
“And if you’re married, take a minute to sit down and write to them a love letter. One that shows you see them, you love them, you honor them, and you want to continue to be better for them,” she added. “A letter like this might seem trivial, but you just never know the course life will take, if the Lord calls you home, even in your absence, as they reflect on your words, your love is still serving them.”
She concluded with a specific message to her late husband, “I love you Charlie baby, you will always be my Valentine.”
Whew, Roomies! Todd Tucker is calling cap on Kandi Burruss’ claims that he’s been living “rent-free” in her guest house. In previous court docs, the former ‘RHOA’ star aired out her estranged husband, accusing him of basically squatting in her home and not putting up a dime for the property’s upkeep. Now, Todd is clapping back in his own filings and setting the record straight about his living situation. On top of that, he’s also seeking temporary custody of their two children, Ace and Blaze.
RELATED: Whew! Kandi Burruss Claims Todd Tucker Lives “Rent-Free” In Her Guest House Amid Divorce & Hasn’t Pitched In For Their Kids
Todd Tucker Addresses Kandi Burruss’ “Rent-Free” Allegations In New Court Filing
According to TMZ, Todd Tucker responded to Kandi Burruss’ claims that he’s been living in her Atlanta guest house and dodging maintenance fees. In a new filing, Tucker admits he stayed in her guest house but says Kandi “unilaterally removed” him from the main house. He says her family allegedly moved his stuff without asking him or getting the court involved. Todd adds that he didn’t leave voluntarily but kept quiet to help “preserve peace and stability.”
The father of three also addressed Kandi’s claims that she’s been the sole provider for their kids. He says he’s actually been taking care of Ace and Blaze while Kandi has been busy working in New York. Additionally, Todd mentioned in his filing that before their split in November 2025, they both contributed to a shared bank account for expenses. Once they agreed to part ways, he said Kandi allegedly told him she would stop using the account and handle all of the bills herself. With that, Todd argued that Kandi’s claims about him being financially unstable are false.
“[Kandi] now attempts to reframe and weaponize this self-created financial arrangement as evidence of financial instability or neglect, while the timing and sequence of events demonstrate otherwise,” Todd reportedly notes in his filing.
Todd Reportedly Seeks Temporary Custody Of His & Kandi’s Kids
Todd didn’t stop there — he also called out Kandi for constantly throwing what he sees as negative shade at him. He says her comments are just a way to “shift the focus” from her extended “physical absence from their kids” and her “reliance on a third-party caregiver.” Because of that, Todd is reportedly seeking primary legal and physical custody temporarily until they lock in a permanent parenting plan. At first, Kandi wanted joint custody when she filed for divorce, but later switched to sole custody after Todd tried to claim it for himself.
The Internet Thinks Todd Was Taking Shots At Kandi With THIS Post
Even though Todd laid out his claims in new court docs, the internet thinks he already threw some shots at Kandi. Recently, he posted videos on his Instagram Story cruising around listening to Rick Ross’ ‘Stay Schemin’. Some folks on social media thought he was trolling, while others swore he might’ve been plotting something. That had ‘RHOA’ fans remembering when Kandi’s Aunt Bertha said, “it could’ve been scheme that Todd set up.” Peep the videos Todd shared below.
RELATED: Oop! Social Media Thinks Todd Tucker Clapped Back At Kandi Burruss’ “Rent-Free” Claims With ‘Stay Schemin’ Song (VIDEO)
What Do You Think Roomies?
Taylor Sheridan‘s grip on the streaming habits of Paramount+ subscribers is hugely impressive. On all streaming sites, there is a constant battle between the top titles for first place. On Paramount+, that battle is often fought between several projects all under Sheridan’s name, as the master producer oversees his streaming kingdom ahead of his exit. However, whilst Landman and Tulsa King continue to prove popular, another of his shows is showing signs of fatigue following recent devastating news.
Although Paramount+ has officially renewed the series following a bloody Season 4 finale, it was also confirmed that Mayor of Kingstown Season 5 will be the show’s last. Jeremy Renner is set to return as Mike McLusky for one last time in the fifth season, alongside Edie Falco‘s Nina Hobbs, with the final installment being reduced from the usual ten-episode order to just eight. Following the announcement of Sheridan’s departure from Paramount, Mayor of Kingstown is the first of his shows to announce an end date, with more sure to follow suit.
This confirmed ending and no sign of a release date for the fifth season have combined to leave Mayor of Kingstown struggling to keep up with its sibling series on the streaming charts. At the time of writing, the series ranks just tenth in the Paramount+ top ten in the U.S., with it expected to drop entirely from the charts in the coming days. Of course, when the fifth season debuts, this will change, and it will likely rocket back to the top as fans spend one last season with MCU alum Renner‘s Mike McLusky.
How Did Jeremy Renner React to the ‘Mayor of Kingstown’ News?
Many were quick to express their sadness on social media following the news that Mayor of Kingstown would be coming to an end. Among these posts was one from the series’ star Renner, who addressed the news with grace and optimism. “Season 5. Rebirth. Renewed, here we go. Back to work this year, we’re excited, and I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you to everyone, and I love you,” Renner said, following with a note of gratitude, saying:
“I find myself in deep gratitude this gorgeous morning. After a rebirth, today, announcing a renewal of Mayor of Kingstown Season 5… what a blessing… and it’s all because of the amazing, dedicated fans. Thank you.”
Mayor of Kingstown is streaming on Paramount+ now.
- Release Date
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November 14, 2021
- Network
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Paramount+
- Showrunner
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Dave Erickson
- Directors
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Stephen Kay, Guy Ferland, Christoph Schrewe, Clark Johnson, Paul Cameron, Tasha Smith, Taylor Sheridan
- Writers
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James Arcega Tinsley
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The “Karate Kid” star has a complicated history with the artist formerly known as Kanye West.
On the heels of his Super Bowl 60 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Diggs officially entered a plea in the case that could have him facing serious jail time if convicted.
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Stefon Diggs Pleads Not Guilty On Assault Charges In Chef Incident
On Friday, February 13, Stefon Diggs appeared in Dedham District Court in Massachusetts for his arraignment on assault charges about an incident involving his former live-chef, according to TMZ.
Accompanied by his legal team, including attorney Mitchell Schuster, Diggs entered a not guilty plea to the December 2025 charges.
“We’re confident that after the facts and evidence are reviewed in this case, he will be completely exonerated,” Schuster told the media waiting outside the court.
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Diggs Is Facing Felony And Assault Charges Over The Incident
His arraignment, initially set for January 23, was pushed back to accommodate the Super Bowl and was ultimately moved to February 13.
Per TMZ, the victim said via the incident report that she initially contacted authorities on December 16, 2025, noting that the alleged assault occurred just days prior on December 2.
In a detailed account, the victim explained that she was inside her bedroom in Diggs’ home with the door unlocked when the NFL star came inside to discuss the ongoing text messages sent between them due to a dispute over payment she said she had not received.
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She continued, noting that Diggs became increasingly angry during the conversation before he allegedly slapped her in the face.
As she attempted to push Diggs away after being slapped, he allegedly “tried to choke her using the crook of his elbow around her neck.” The victim also said that Diggs then positioned himself behind her with his arm wrapped around her neck, which made it difficult to breathe.
At this point in the altercation, the victim said she thought she would black out, but when she tried to pull away, Diggs tightened his grip.
Towards the end of the incident, the victim alleged that Diggs threw her on the bed and said, “Thought so,” before exiting the bedroom.
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Cardi B Previously Defended Him Against The Allegations Before Their Rumored Split
Cardi B and Stefon Diggs have likely broken up, after a tense Super Bowl weekend that ended with both of them unfollowing each other on Instagram.
However, weeks before, the Grammy winner defended the father of her infant son against the claims that he assaulted his former chef, and she also shut down claims that she told the victim to keep quiet about it.
Per Billboard, Cardi took to social media and posted an alleged text exchange between herself and the victim to prove that she was not involved, but she quickly deleted it.
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“Not once has that woman said anything to me about being touched.. NOT ONCE!! Mind you, we were talking every single day until she left that house, and she JUST wrote me this,” she explained, after the woman also alleged that Cardi knew about what happened, but did not help her.
“But I’m gonna let the courts handle this sh-t and when it gets handled I want all yall talking sh-t on your f-cking knees with apologies just as loud as the way yall been harrassing over a lie.. and I put that on my two-month-old son in the name of the lord!! That’s how confident I am,” Cardi added.
Diggs Found Himself In Additional Legal Trouble Days Before The Super Bowl
On February 5, Stefon Diggs was mentioned in a lawsuit from a man who has alleged that the football star blamed him for a stolen Ferrari that was supposed to be transported from Miami to New York and then to its final destination in Houston, according to TMZ.
The luxury vehicle was stolen when it arrived in Houston, and an investigation “confirmed it was stolen by third parties in a sophisticated theft,” per the outlet.
The man alleges via the lawsuit that Diggs told those close to him that he was responsible for stealing the car despite never being arrested or charged regarding the theft.
He is suing Diggs for “shortage of patronage for his concierge and consulting business,” which he said he has suffered due to Diggs’ allegations.
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Mounting Legal Issues Have Been Persistent For The Football Star
Diggs fired back and filed a libel lawsuit against Griffith, denying the allegations and stating they were fabricated in an attempt to air out personal grievances.
In early 2025, the Patriots star was sued by a former girlfriend, who alleged he physically assaulted her in a 2024 altercation, claims that he also denied.
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![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-400x240.jpg)
![Heathrow has said passenger numbers were 60% lower in November than before the coronavirus pandemic and there were “high cancellations” among business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas for Christmas as Omicron spreads. The UK’s largest airport said the government’s travel restrictions had dealt a fresh blow to travel confidence and predicted it was likely to take several years for passenger numbers to return to pre-pandemic levels. This week ministers said passengers arriving in the UK would have to take a pre-departure Covid test, as well as a post-flight test, because of fears about the spread of the new variant. “[The] high level of cancellations by business travellers concerned about being trapped overseas because of pre-departure testing shows the potential harm to the economy of travel restrictions,” the airport said in an update. Heathrow said the drop in traveller confidence owing to the new travel restrictions had negated the benefit of reopening the all-important corridor to North America for business and holiday travel last month. Eleven African countries have been added to the government’s red list, requiring travellers to quarantine before reuniting with families. “By allowing Brits to isolate at home, ministers can make sure they are reunited with their loved ones this Christmas,” said John Holland-Kaye, the chief executive of Heathrow. “It would send a strong signal that restrictions on travel will be removed as soon as safely possible to give passengers the confidence to book for 2022, opening up thousands of new jobs for local people at Heathrow. Let’s reunite families for Christmas.” Heathrow said that if the government could safely signal that restrictions would be lifted soon, then employers at Heathrow would have the confidence to hire thousands of staff in anticipation of a boost in business next summer. The airport is expecting a slow start to 2022, finishing next year with about 45 million passengers – just over half of pre-pandemic levels. This week Tui, Europe’s largest package holiday operator, said it expected bookings for next summer to bounce back to 2019 levels. However, Heathrow said on Friday not to expect the aviation industry to recover for several years. “We do not expect that international travel will recover to 2019 levels until at least all travel restrictions (including testing) are removed from all the markets that we serve, at both ends of the route, and there is no risk of new restrictions, such as quarantine, being imposed,” the airport said.](https://wordupnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/shutterstock_1100012546-scaled-80x80.jpg)
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