February 16, 2021

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February 16, 2021

Geneva is deep in the red

Geneva Airport posted a loss of 84,1 million Swiss francs last year. This is a negative first in the airport's long history, as it had previously always been profitable. The year 2019 ended with a profit of 84,1 million Swiss francs. Sales fell from 2020 million Swiss francs to 494 million Swiss francs in the "Corona year 191,2". The airport implemented various cost-cutting measures to keep the deficit as low as possible. Nevertheless, it posted a loss for the first time. Geneva was used by 5.600.906 travelers. Compared to 2019, this is a decrease of 68,8 percent. The outlook is difficult, at least in the short term, as Swiss currently only serves Zurich, Pristina and Frankfurt am Main. All other destinations have been suspended due to the tightened entry and quarantine regulations. The Lufthansa subsidiary is committed to the Geneva location and wants to reactivate the paused routes as soon as possible.

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Wizz Air opens “summer base” in Burgas

The low-cost airline Wizz Air suspects that there will be increased demand for holidays in Varna and Burgas in the summer of 2021. While it has had a base in Varna for several years, the carrier is now opening a seasonal base on the other side of the mountains in June 2021. An Airbus A320 aircraft is to be stationed in Burgas from June 10, 2021 to September 12, 2021. This aircraft will serve routes to Dortmund, Tel Aviv, Kiev-Zhuliany, Liverpool, Poznan, Eindhoven and Turku, among others. Fraport manager Frank Quante, who heads the airports in Varna and Burgas, considers Wizz Air's decision to be important for the tourist region and hopes that the carrier will later decide to station the airport year-round. Various airlines from Austria and Germany offer flights to Varna and Burgas in the summer months.

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Corona: Dekra awards Nuremberg a security certificate

Nuremberg Airport in Bavaria was the first German airport to receive a certificate from the testing organization Dekra confirming its preventive measures against the spread of Covid-19. The concept includes, among other things, the auditing of hygiene standards and is intended to confirm low-risk travel in times of Corona. Nuremberg Airport was the first airport in Germany to be certified with the “Dekra Trusted Facility” seal of approval. The security check is intended to help minimize pandemic-related risks for the employees of the tested provider and customers and to build trust. The process initially includes an interview based on the list of criteria, followed by an on-site audit and then regular checks by Dekra auditors with industry experience. The checklist includes over 100 criteria with varying weightings. At Nuremberg Airport, the routing and information for passengers, distance rules, ventilation in the passenger areas and disinfection and cleaning measures were evaluated, among other things. All passenger areas with check-in, security checks, waiting rooms, gates, baggage reclaim and shops were included. "Dekra offers comprehensive concepts worldwide for a safe life during the corona pandemic. To do this, we are combining our expertise in process audits, product testing and occupational health and safety," says Frank Barenscheer, authorized officer and member of the management board of Dekra Certification GmbH. "A key issue these days is the safety of millions of holidaymakers, whom we want to protect with a standard that is recognized throughout Europe." "Safety is always our top priority. The certificate is a confirmation of our commitment to ensuring that passengers, visitors and employees can rely on compliance with hygiene standards, especially in these times, and will hopefully soon be able to enjoy relaxed travel again.

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Munich: Air Baltic and Lufthansa start codeshare

From March 28, 2021, Latvian airline Air Baltic and Lufthansa will work together on the routes from Munich to Riga and Vilnius as part of a codeshare agreement. This will give passengers of the Baltic carrier the opportunity to transfer in Munich. Conversely, Kranich passengers can benefit from additional connections to the Baltic states. Air Baltic CEO Martin Gauss explains: “Lufthansa is a strong connectivity provider worldwide and we are pleased to strengthen our partnership and air traffic relations between the Baltics, Germany and beyond. Germany is one of Air Baltic’s key markets and we look forward to the partnership, which will offer passengers around the world better travel options.” Heiko Heidusch, Head of Airline Partnerships at Lufthansa says: “We are delighted to start this new collaboration with Air Baltic and further strengthen our network in the Baltic states, which are a strong market for business and leisure customers. With Air Baltic we have found a very reliable partner and together we can offer more opportunities to travel to the Baltic States via Munich.”

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From March 1, 2021: Germany wants to start free rapid tests

In the Federal Republic of Germany, they want to copy the free rapid antigen tests already practiced in Austria with modifications. From March 1, 2021, residents of Germany will be able to get tested free of charge in selected pharmacies, among other places. Health Minister Jens Spahn (CDU) announced on Tuesday that from March 1, 2021, cities and municipalities will be able to commission test centers and pharmacies to carry out rapid antigen tests. The costs for this will then be borne by the state. The editorial network Germany had previously reported on a corresponding draft from the government member. However, the initiative is not yet completely fixed, as Spahn's proposal is not due to be discussed in the cabinet until next Monday. The idea is that people who do not show symptoms can be tested by medical professionals in pharmacies and other test stations. If the rapid antigen test is positive, verification using PCR is planned. The planned free tests are intended to relieve the burden on health authorities and at the same time ensure greater safety in Germany. In Austria, all residents have been able to get tested free of charge in pharmacies since February 8, 2021. In many places, there are also state and municipal testing centers that can also be used free of charge. For example, for a new haircut or nail care, a negative result that is no older than 48 hours must be presented. It is not known whether Germany will also "copy" this model from March.

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Corona security: Postbus works council loses in court

The Eastern Region Transport Association announced on Tuesday that the application for an interim injunction in connection with the resumption of ticket sales by bus drivers had been rejected by the Vienna Labor and Social Court. The works council of the ÖBB subsidiary Österreichische Postbus AG and the Vida union have serious concerns that opening the doors in the area of ​​the bus drivers will increase the risk of infection for them. The employee representatives took the employer's order to court. The Eastern Region Transport Association states: “In public regional bus transport, a high level of "corona safety" applies due to the FFP2 mask requirement, rapid air exchange (ventilation systems, draft through open doors) and regular cleaning. AGES data also shows no corona clusters in public transport. As far as humanly possible, passengers and employees of the transport companies are not exposed to any increased risk. The application for an interim injunction to stop ticket sales and to close the front doors in VOR Regio buses by the works council of VOR's partner company Postbus was rejected by the responsible labor and social court." The VOR also wrote in a press release that it had received repeated complaints from people who were unable to buy tickets online or from vending machines. "This is an important measure to enable safe mobility, especially for older people or people without an internet connection," said the transport association. Legal remedies are open The matter is not yet over, because the union and the Postbus works council have the opportunity to appeal against the court's decision. Furthermore, a decision can also be made in the so-called ordinary procedure, i.e. without an interim court order. The Austrian Postbus AG

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UK sends travelers from risk areas to hotel quarantine

Anyone entering Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 33 countries on a red list must immediately go into quarantine in a hotel for ten days. The measure is intended to protect the country from the spread of CoV variants and has been in force since yesterday. From Europe, only Portugal is affected, plus all South American countries, southern African states and the United Arab Emirates. All other entrants, including those from Austria, must continue to self-isolate for ten days after arrival. What is new for everyone is that in addition to a CoV test before leaving for the United Kingdom, they must now also take two tests in the country itself - no later than the second and no earlier than the eighth day after entry. This would cost the equivalent of 240 euros for each person, according to the ORF. Proof of booking an appointment must be shown on arrival. For the red list, the government has initially reserved 4.600 rooms in 16 hotels near the airport. The stay costs around 1.750 British pounds per person. If you violate the rules, you face draconian penalties: anyone who does not check into one of the specified hotels must pay up to 10.000 pounds. Providing false information on the mandatory entry form can even result in up to ten years in prison!

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FRA: New fire station 1 in operation

After almost 2,5 years of construction, the new Fire Station 1 in CargoCity South at Frankfurt Airport has gone into operation. The building complex for the airport fire department extends over a plot of land measuring around 2,1 hectares. 31 people work there on a 24-hour shift. In addition to changing rooms, a laundry, a respiratory protection workshop and 33 individual rest rooms, there are 18 parking spaces for fire engines in the vehicle hall. "The fire station is technically up to date and enables us to combine important functions," says Annette Rückert, Head of Preventive Fire Protection at Fraport AG. The neighboring Fire Department Training Center also offers special highlights for the training and further education of firefighters: A 8,5-meter-long training bridge at a height of 30 meters is used to train prospective firefighters in height habituation and rescue. In the 23-meter-high training tower, which is equipped with a smoke system, the rescue of people from high, burning buildings can be simulated. "The modern training areas allow us to carry out training under real conditions and prepare the candidates for their careers as best as possible," emphasises Rückert. With the commissioning of the new station and the subsequent completion of the modernisation work on the existing fire station 2 in the north of the airport, the station concept will be changed from four to three fire stations. The old fire stations 1 and 3 will be taken out of service. Fire station 2011 on the northwest runway, which has been in operation since 4 and was previously called fire station 3, will in future be called fire station XNUMX. The three-station concept will create a much more efficient structure for the airport fire service. The deployment of personnel will be more flexible, the complexity of operational processes will be reduced, internal training and further education as well as

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Aviation industry pushes for the suspension of the EU-Qatar air transport agreement

Activating the EU-Qatar air transport agreement CATA would currently be very "harmful" for Europe and therefore irresponsible. In the market environment of the pandemic, companies, unions, members of parliament and the chair of the EU Parliament's Transport Committee, Karima Delli, are calling for a postponement. The EU Commission must now listen to this broad coalition and at least pause the agreement, demanded the Cockpit association. VC Board Member for International Affairs, Maria-Pascaline Murtha, explains: "Covid-19 has plunged air traffic into the worst crisis in the history of the industry through no fault of its own. Granting state-subsidized airlines from third countries a massive expansion of market access in Europe at this absolutely critical time would be irresponsible and would endanger countless jobs in the European Union. Commissioner Valean, please do the right thing for our European aviation industry and its employees and pause the CATA agreement!” Background In March 2019, the EU Commission concluded a comprehensive air transport agreement called CATA (Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement) with the State of Qatar. The agreement provides for a gradual opening of the European market to airlines from Qatar. According to leading industry representatives, the basic idea of ​​an open skies agreement with Qatar would currently run diametrically counter to European economic and employment interests due to the Covid 19 crisis. Activation is therefore not appropriate. According to media reports, CATA is currently in the process of being finalized within the Commission, after which the European Council would also have to approve it.

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ÖAMTC: “Customers must insist on their rights”

A one-week package holiday was booked in August 2020. It was cancelled by the tour operator four weeks in advance. The customers then demanded that their money be returned - so far in vain. In the mobility club's legal advice, such cases arise again and again in which the tour operator does not refund the money, even though the trip was cancelled on their part or the free cancellation on the part of the traveller was justified. "The tour operators repeatedly argue that the airline has not yet refunded their part of the travel price to them - and that a payment to the customers can only be made afterwards," says ÖAMTC lawyer Verena Pronebner. She clarifies: "However, this argument is legally completely irrelevant. The tour operator is solely responsible and liable for the provision of the services owed, including the flight." According to the Package Travel Act, the tour operator is clearly obliged to make an immediate refund, but no later than within 14 days. "The mobility club understands that this deadline could not be met in some cases, especially in the last year, which was so challenging for the industry. But there is no question that customers must get their money back from the organizer as quickly as possible. It cannot be the case that customers are often kept waiting for months - and are deliberately told untruths," the lawyer makes clear. Travel agencies and booking platforms also act in a similar way. From a legal point of view, they are not debtors, but usually take on the role of vicarious agents of the tour operator - as a result, they too must quickly repay the customer funds that were wrongfully withheld. Travelers should therefore not be put off, but should insist on their rights.

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