1. A bumpy week for Korean Air, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines
Crying babies, air turbulence, and bags falling out of luggage compartments onto people’s heads can get the average air passenger a little upset. But Korean Air learnt this week that nuts handed out in hygienically sealed bags instead of on a plate can have a similar emotional impact.
Similarly, Cathay Pacific felt the wrath of Seth Rogen this week after the airline decided not to let the comedian/actor's stub-nosed, flat-faced Cavalier King Charles spaniel onto a plane. It’s a breed of dog that is more likely to die on an aircraft due to air pressure, according to the New York Times.
Finally, Singapore Airlines managed to avert a PR disaster relating to its erroneous pricing of business class tickets.
2. A Harvard professor that netizens are calling a “jerk”
Ben Edelman, a Harvard professor who teaches at the Harvard Business School unleashed a tirade against the owner of a Boston-area Chinese restaurant over a $4 overcharge. Leaked emails have gone viral and prompted scorn from around the globe. Edelman did apologize, eventually.
3. Yahoo! consolidates efforts in Southeast Asia
The company has shut down offices in Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia for strategic reasons. Find out what here.
4. New Year, new jobs
Paul Soon, CEO XM Asia-Pacific, will leave the company early next year. RGA’s Ronnie Liew joins TSLA as chief tech officer. Ronald Ng, CCO at BBDO Singapore, will leave the agency for personal reasons and move back to the US. Neil Stewart will leave Maxus for Facebook.
5. Agency of the Year Awards
In case you missed it (despite us talking about it nonstop all week long), check out all the winners, shortlists, photos, videos and tweets from the Agency of the Year awards 2014.
6. Instagram reaches 300 million average monthly users
Find out what this milestone means for marketers.
7. Good reads on Southeast Asia
‘Citra Pariwara’, Indonesia’s creative festival. How kids in Southeast Asia use devices. AIS, Thailand’s largest telecommunications network returns to its brand roots. And a look at film crowdsourcing in Southeast Asia.
8. The continuing Uber saga
Find out what experts are saying and the implications of the Uber fallout in India.