Français »
German "
Search
September 30, 2020

More articles from the category

September 30, 2020

Austrian takes off to Düsseldorf - Lufthansa continues to suspend Linz

Michael David September 30, 2020 23:12

Austrian has started selling tickets for Düsseldorf flights from Linz. However, Lufthansa's announcement of a drastic reduction in the winter flight schedule due to extremely low booking numbers caused by the coronavirus crisis, the end of which is not yet foreseeable, is now also affecting the connection between Linz and the Frankfurt hub. As the booking systems show, ticket sales have been suspended over the winter flight schedule period until the end of March. According to previous plans, Lufthansa intends to operate up to three daily flights between the Upper Austrian state capital Linz and the Main metropolis Frankfurt. However, the connection, which is particularly important for transfer passengers, is likely to continue to be a victim of the current coronavirus crisis, whose necessary willingness to book is suffering massively due to the continuation of short-time work, restrictions on travel in many companies and, of course, the various travel warnings and quarantine regulations. This particularly affects popular onward flights to destinations in Asia and North America. Booked passengers are currently being informed about the suspension of Linz-Frankfurt flights in the coming winter flight schedule until the end of March 2021. However, there is good news for the important business route in Upper Austria to the Rhine-Ruhr area to Düsseldorf: according to current information and booking status, Austrian will operate four days a week from Linz from November 02nd, 2020. On Mondays, the Bombardier Dash 8-400 takes off from Linz at 08:45 a.m., arriving in Düsseldorf at 10:15 a.m. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, Austrian will take off from Düsseldorf for Linz at 17:20 p.m. The flight schedule is thus geared to the needs of Upper Austrian business customers. The flights can be booked under both the OS flight number and the Lufthansa codeshare flight number.

Continue reading "

Unions accuse Lufthansa of “fare evasion at the expense of the state”

Jan Gruber September 30, 2020 16:03

The flight attendants' union UFO, the Cockpit Association and Verdi accuse the Lufthansa management of using nine billion euros in state aid to create non-union jobs "under dumping conditions as part of the Ocean project". Employees "from across the entire industry and are strongly criticising the federal government for the plan." A total of 14 staff representatives and works councils from across the industry have called for the plans to be stopped immediately in an open letter. If necessary, through political intervention. The Cockpit Association, Verdi and UFO unions support this demand and believe that the federal government has a duty to ensure that taxpayers' money is used appropriately. "In the slipstream of the crisis, the company is trying to push through its long-cherished 'Ocean' project in order to make a further attempt to create jobs without the influence of unions and to get rid of successful competition in this sector. This time, however, at state expense, because without taxpayers' money the company would be bankrupt; throwing thousands out on the one hand and then hiring them again at 1.400 euros gross on the other is brazen and indecent," explains Daniel Flohr, UFO chairman. "State aid is there to save jobs. The obvious main motive for the new "Ocean" foundation is to evade wage agreements at the state's expense. In the middle of the biggest crisis in aviation, a lot of money is being invested in a platform that is expected to incur start-up losses for years. We are calling on politicians to take a closer look at how billions in state aid are being used," says Marcel Gröls, chairman of collective bargaining policy at the Cockpit Association. The companies Tui and Condor also received state money during the crisis. Lufthansa's "Ocean" project is competing with these companies to drive them out - a war of annihilation at the state's expense is therefore inevitable.

Continue reading "

Supplier Isovolta is cutting 80 jobs in Wiener Neudorf

Jan Gruber September 30, 2020 15:53

The Isovolta Group produces lightweight materials for the lower parts of aircraft cabins at its Wiener Neudorf site with around 160 employees. The decline in demand from Airbus and customers in Europe and the Middle East is now having an impact. Up to 80 employees will be laid off, with 50 workers being given the opportunity to move to sister company Fundermax in Neudörfl or Wiener Neudorf. "We are seeing a drop in sales of 60 percent, and even up to 80 percent for spare parts," explains Peter Höllwarth, CEO of Isovolta. "There is no recovery in sight for the time being, and pre-crisis levels may not be reached again for a few years. We are therefore unfortunately forced to reorganize our production site in Wiener Neudorf." 2020 started very well, but the corona pandemic changed everything from April 2020. Management is trying to fill positions internally wherever possible in order to keep as many employees as possible in the company. "We deeply regret this necessary, difficult step, but we must react to the serious crisis in the industry and align our organization accordingly. Our teams will be even more flexible in the future with new job profiles, processes and procedures," said Höllwarth. All 160 employees at the Wiener Neudorf location have been notified of their termination at the Lower Austria Employment Service. The managing director stresses, however, that this is solely for reasons of labor law and that individual discussions and detailed planning will only now be carried out together with the employees.

Continue reading "

Innsbruck restricts the operating hours

Jan Gruber September 30, 2020 15:27

Innsbruck Airport will restrict operating hours from October 1, 2020. As reported, the majority of the workforce will be sent back to short-time work. However, the airport emphasizes that it remains ready for emergencies at all times. The shops, the restaurant and even the tobacconist's will close. "Due to the current situation, we have unfortunately had to decide to go back to short-time work at Innsbruck Airport from October 1, 2020," says airport managing director Marco Pernetta. "The number of flights is simply too low at the moment and in the coming weeks. From October 5, 2020, the airport's operating hours and the terminal's opening hours will also be adjusted. We ask all passengers and those picking them up not to come to the airport earlier than two hours before departure or arrival so that they do not have to stand in front of locked doors." The police and Christophorus heliport adjacent to the airport is not affected by these restrictions. The airport police station will also remain open. Due to weak demand, the MPreis grocery store, the Ruetz bakery, the airport restaurant and the tobacconist (airport shop) will also be closed completely for the time being. The same applies to the Travel Value Shop (duty free shop) and the business lounge. As soon as there are more flights and demand increases, these will of course be open again. Other companies located at the airport - such as car rental companies - are still open and accessible, although customers are asked to contact the respective company directly with any enquiries.

Continue reading "

Asiana flies pallets instead of passengers in the A350

Jan Gruber September 30, 2020 15:15

Due to a lack of demand from passengers, Asiana Airlines' first Airbus A350 must now help out as a freighter. In cooperation with Airbus and EASA, a solution was developed and approved to use the cabin as a cargo hold. Airbus announced that the 238 economy class seats had been removed and securing devices for pallets had been installed. This measure increases the maximum cargo capacity to a total of 28 tonnes. The Korean branch of the European aircraft manufacturer is supporting Asiana with the conversion. "We congratulate Asiana Airlines on being the first operator to convert an A350 with the Airbus solution. In these challenging times, we are pleased to see that our airline partners are moving quickly to meet their needs. Airbus remains committed to supporting our airline partners by providing solutions for their new requirements," said Anand Stanley, Head of Region, Asia-Pacific at Airbus.

Continue reading "

Sky Up Airlines is threatened with bankruptcy

Granite Pireci September 30, 2020 14:42

The coronavirus crisis has hit the Ukrainian charter and low-cost airline Sky Up Airlines hard. So hard that bankruptcy cannot now be ruled out. This would mean the loss of almost 1.300 jobs in one fell swoop. In the first six months alone, the company's losses amounted to 18 million US dollars, as ch-aviation.com reports. Co-founder Alexander Alba now sees the government as responsible. He very much regrets that the government is not providing any money to the ailing carrier - even though it is paying taxes and all other duties properly. Competitors such as Wizz Air are receiving millions in state aid, while Sky Up Airlines is getting nothing, Alba continued. He is calling for at least state guarantees to secure the loan. The airline's fleet consists of one Boeing 737-700, six Boeing 737-800 and four Boeing 737-900, which mainly fly on international routes.  

Continue reading "

Aer Lingus is evidently kicking franchise partner Stobart Air

Granite Pireci September 30, 2020 14:22

The regional airline actually wanted to operate under the Aer Lingus Regional brand until 2022. But it seems that the Irish Stobart Air will have to find a new customer. As the news magazine CH-Aviation reports, Aer Lingus is looking for a new buyer for its own Aer Lingus Regional brand. And that despite the fact that the existing contractual relationship with Stobart Air is valid until the end of 2022 - a few weeks ago they wanted to extend it in order to create a "solid financial basis" for future business. Stobart Air operates regional and feeder flights for Aer Lingus under the "Aer Lingus Regional" brand and flies mainly to destinations in Ireland, the United Kingdom and France.

Continue reading "

Ukraine International postpones comeback in Düsseldorf

Jan Gruber September 30, 2020 14:11

Ukraine International actually wanted to fly from Kyiv-Borispil to Düsseldorf and Brussels again at the beginning of October. But that won't happen - at least for the time being. The carrier has announced October 24, 2020 as the new date for the resumption of the two routes. Furthermore, the connections from Kharkiv and Dnipro to Tel Aviv will be temporarily suspended from October 4, 2020 and October 8, 2020 respectively. The reason for this is the strict entry regulations on both sides, with the carrier pointing out that from September 25, 2020 to October 11, 2020, crossing the border into Israel is de facto not possible. As a result, Tel Aviv flights from Kyiv and Odessa will also be restricted. Ukraine International will fly from Borispil on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Only one round trip, on Thursdays, is offered from Odessa to Ben Gurion Airport.

Continue reading "

DFS: Not recovery, but stagnation

Jan Gruber September 30, 2020 13:34

Air traffic in Germany is expected to reach only around 2020 percent of pre-crisis levels by December 45. This is the assumption of the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) in its latest forecast. The record levels of 2025 will not be reached again until 2025 at the earliest. The company also notes that the recovery of the aviation industry has stalled after the upward trend that was recorded between June and the end of August 2020. Tourism in particular has contributed greatly to the fact that travel has started up again, albeit at a low level. According to the DFS, the latest travel and quarantine regulations are leading to significantly lower demand. At the same time, no impetus from intercontinental traffic is expected for the fourth quarter of 2020, and a recovery in business travel is still not foreseeable. The German Air Traffic Control has therefore adjusted its forecast for the further development of German air traffic. It is currently assumed that volumes will stagnate at the current level. In August and September 2020, the DFS only controlled 45 percent of the flight volume compared to the same period last year. "These traffic figures will remain the same for the time being, as there are no signs of a significant upturn so far. We expect traffic in the Corona year 2020 to be more than halved compared to the previous year," said DFS CEO Prof. Klaus-Dieter Scheurle. At the beginning of the crisis, the DFS had still assumed that traffic would slowly increase again towards the end of the year - from 45 percent in September to 75 percent in December. "The rising number of infections and the testing and quarantine regulations for returnees are dampening

Continue reading "

Vienna will offer rapid corona tests

Jan Gruber September 30, 2020 13:21

Around 60.000 PCR tests have been carried out at Vienna Airport since the beginning of May. However, the paid service has repeatedly been criticized because, for example, in Germany this private service is offered at a much lower price. The VIE management nevertheless considers the test station in the Office Park to be a success. "This is not only a decisive contribution to containing the pandemic, but above all it enables necessary air travel to be carried out safely and healthily. Without the possibility of traveling by plane, there is a risk of serious long-term consequences for the economy and jobs, because without acquiring new orders, companies will run out of work in the coming months. More freedom of travel is therefore absolutely necessary: ​​This urgently requires Europe-wide coordination and standardization of testing and travel regulations, and more initiative is urgently required from the EU Commission here," explains Günther Ofner, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG. Rapid antigen tests will also be offered shortly. The necessary approvals and recognition by the authorities are currently still pending. As soon as these have been granted, the range of tests will be expanded. “Classic” PCR tests can be carried out daily between 7:00 a.m. and 20:00 p.m. without prior registration at a cost of 120 euros. The result should be sent by email the following day at the latest.

Continue reading "

Navigation

Visit us on

Facebook f X-twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Telegram rss Threads Google Hm-mail-open Wordpress
login logo

Aviation.Direct is published with love in and