August 11, 2022

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August 11, 2022

Easter Island reopens to visitors

Easter Island off the coast of Chile has been open to visitors again since the beginning of August. Previously, the island was closed to travel for more than two years to protect the population from the corona pandemic. At the beginning of August, the first flight by the airline Latam brought around 230 holidaymakers back to Easter Island, the first in 28 months. During the corona pandemic, the island had completely sealed itself off, and its 8.000 inhabitants lived again mostly from fishing and agriculture during this time. The measure had an effect: Rapa Nui, as Easter Island is called in the language of the local population, did not record any COVID-related deaths. In order to continue to maintain safety, tourists must observe certain entry rules. Anyone wishing to visit the island in the Pacific must present a negative PCR test that is no more than 24 hours old to enter the country. Children under the age of six only need a rapid antigen test. In addition, travelers from abroad are required to take another antigen test on site. Other travel documents that the Chilean authorities require from travelers include a mobility pass, an entry form and a return ticket. They also require a booking confirmation from an accommodation registered with the tourist office or, alternatively, an invitation letter from a resident of the island. This is reported by Check 24.

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FRA: Passenger numbers continue to rise

Passenger traffic at Frankfurt Airport rose by 76,5 percent in July compared to the same month last year, to 5,02 million passengers. This was the first time since the outbreak of the CoV pandemic that more than 5 million passengers flew through Frankfurt Airport in one month, as airport operator Fraport announced. The "dynamic upward trend" has thus continued - despite the day of strike by ground staff at the end of July. This reduced passenger traffic by around 100.000 travelers. However, the monthly figure is still 27,4 percent below the passenger numbers for July 2019. In the period January to July, the number of passengers rose by 177 percent to 25,8 million. All airports in Fraport's international portfolio also achieved significant growth in July and in the seven-month period. However, air freight business continued to decline and was 18,1 percent below the same month in 2021. The restrictions on airspace due to the war in Ukraine and comprehensive corona protection measures in China are having a negative impact. The number of flight movements increased by 26,9 percent to 35.005 takeoffs and landings. The total maximum takeoff weights increased by 31,9 percent to over 2,2 million tons (each compared to July 2021).

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VC airport check: MUC and LEJ in a neck-and-neck race

This year's frontrunner in the VC airport check is Munich Airport, which took first place due to its very good equipment, including ILS-DME transmitters on all runways. These transmitters enable safe approaches even in very bad weather conditions. However, Leipzig-Halle Airport has caught up and made a statement by renewing the north runway, including the uniquely good runway lighting on fast taxiways in Germany using so-called RETILs and new yellow runway edge lights. In third place, with equally good results, is Stuttgart Airport. "Even though operations at many airports are once again battling with major challenges this year, the level of safety remains very good. The airports are well prepared for the increasing traffic movements in terms of their equipment and are also investing in new equipment or optimizing processes through systematic improvements," says Mattias Baier, press spokesman for the Cockpit Association. "We hope, however, that the upturn that will hopefully follow in the coming years will also be used to install even more far-reaching improvements such as 24/7 stop bars or runway status lights in order to remain at the cutting edge of technology." But some other airports have also introduced notable changes. First and foremost, Heringsdorf Airport, where the approach lighting was renewed and new stop bars installed. The installation of stop bars is of crucial importance in preventing runway incursions, which represent one of the primary potential hazards at airports. The Airport and Ground Environment (AGE) working group of the Cockpit Association has been subjecting German commercial airports to an annual safety check since 1978. Since 1996, regional airports in

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Dreamliner: Boeing with first delivery in over a year

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing has resumed deliveries of its long-haul 787 "Dreamliner" aircraft after a break of more than a year due to production defects. A first new aircraft was handed over to US airline American Airlines yesterday (local time), both companies announced. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had only given the green light for deliveries to resume on Monday. Boeing had "made all necessary changes to ensure that the 787 "Dreamliner" meets all certification standards," the regulator said. Problems began two years ago Boeing discovered manufacturing defects in some "Dreamliners" in late summer 2020, and further problems subsequently arose. Delivery of the aircraft was therefore stopped between November 2020 and March 2021 and then again from the end of May 2021. The aircraft manufacturer has always stressed that the defects do not pose a safety problem for the aircraft that have already been delivered and are in operation. The problems with the "Dreamliner" had cost Boeing billions in losses at the end of 2021 and slowed the aircraft manufacturer's recovery from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the massive problems with the 737 MAX following two crashes in 2018 and 2019. Since its market launch in 2004, Boeing has delivered just over 1.000 "Dreamliners".

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Cotswold: Small plane makes spectacular crash landing

A few days ago, a small plane made a spectacular crash landing at Cotswold Airport in the UK. The pilot lost control of his plane and narrowly missed parked planes belonging to Tap Air Portugal and Red Wings. The planes belonging to the two airlines were in storage and were parked close together at the time of the incident. The small plane shot between the two parked planes. The pilot managed to turn just in front of the fence so that he could pass the Red Wings jet. The small plane then crashed into a ditch and hit a tree. The scene was caught on camera by chance. The pilot was able to exit the plane unharmed. In extreme cases, the incident could have been fatal. The aircraft he was piloting suffered considerable material damage, but the parked planes remained completely undamaged.

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Permanent strike in Spain: Ryanair does not expect any impact on flight operations

For around five months, two Spanish unions have been calling on Ryanair's cabin crew to go on strike. The carrier in question, however, has remained calm and explained that only a few employees are members of these two organizations. Ryanair does not expect any significant impact on flight operations and points out in a media statement that the vast majority are organized in the "much larger union CCOO," with which it has concluded a collective agreement for Spanish cabin crew. "These two tiny unions, which represent only a handful of our Spanish cabin crew, conducted a series of poorly supported strikes in June and July that had little or no impact on Ryanair flights to and from Spain. In July alone, Ryanair operated over 3.000 flights a day, carrying a record 16,8 million passengers - many of them to/from Spain. Ryanair expects that these latest threatened strikes, which affect only a handful of our Spanish cabin crew, will have no impact on our Spain flights or flight schedules in August or September. A correction: While a small number of Ryanair flights in Spain were cancelled or delayed in July, this was largely due to air traffic control strikes and flight delays. No flights were cancelled in July as a result of these unsuccessful and poorly supported strikes by the two minority unions (USO and SITCPLA), which represent only a small handful of Ryanair's Spanish cabin crew. The vast majority of Ryanair's Spanish cabin crew are represented by the CCOO union, which already has a collective agreement with Ryanair covering most of our

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The Bremen fire brigade trains on the largest mobile fire simulation system

Since mid-July 2022, Bremen Airport has been using a mobile fire simulation system based on the Airbus A320/Boeing 737 aircraft size class. According to the airport, it is the largest training object of its kind in the world. The training device consists of ten containers, has a wingspan of 20 meters, is 38 meters long, eight meters high and can be practiced from both sides and simulates 28 different and very realistic fire scenarios: from engine fires to the luggage compartments and the cockpit. A built-in sound system helps to provide an even more realistic representation and the camera system can be used to document exercises. The new simulator is a joint project between Stuttgart, Hanover and Bremen airports. The planning phase and construction took a total of four years. The system has been set up at Bremen Airport since mid-July and is being practiced by the airport fire department. "Safety is always the top priority in air traffic," says Michael Wiecker, head of the airport fire department. "That is why we are pleased that we are now involved in our own simulation facility, which is available to us for several months every year for training purposes. This means that we no longer have to hire an external facility." The International Aviation Organization (ICAO) stipulates that airports worldwide must train a "hot fire drill" once a year. "That is why we need such a facility, and also to recreate scenarios that are as realistic as possible, such as those that airport firefighters might find in aircraft. Training with real fire in a realistic environment teaches far more than any theory course." The acquisition costs for the fire simulation facility amounted to around 2 million euros, which will be paid for by all airports via a rental model.

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Cologne/Bonn had 1,6 million passengers in the 2022 summer holidays

Since the start of the summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne/Bonn Airport has repeatedly made headlines due to extremely long waiting times at security checks. The airport was used by around 1,6 million passengers during the six-week school holidays. This means that around 80 percent of the pre-crisis level has been reached. In direct comparison with the same month last year, Cologne/Bonn grew by around 55 percent. The peak day was July 40.000, 31, with almost 2022 passengers. In the same month, the airport had more than a million passengers again - for the first time since October 2019. At peak times, traffic volumes reached pre-crisis levels. The most popular holiday destinations were Antalya, Palma de Mallorca and Istanbul. "We are pleased about the positive traffic development, but we very much regret that airport operations were not as we would like and as our guests can expect," says Thilo Schmid, CEO of Cologne/Bonn Airport GmbH. "It is positive that this situation has now been significantly improved and the waiting times at passenger checkpoints have noticeably reduced again." Aviation security checks are a sovereign task and are carried out in Cologne/Bonn by the Federal Police, which employs a private service provider for this purpose. The airport is not actively involved in the checks, but is in constant contact with those responsible for the process and takes its own steps to provide further support and also coordinates these with the Federal Police. An additional service provider has been employed to guide travelers and prepare them for the checks. Numerous signs in the terminal provide information and guidance. The airport also provides passengers with water during longer waiting times.

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Munich: Warning strike at Swissport Losch led to cancellations

On Wednesday, a number of flights were cancelled at Munich Airport due to a warning strike at the ground handling service provider Swissport Losch. The Verdi union called for a work stoppage between 10:00 a.m. and 15:00 p.m. The company in question is a ground handling service provider and is therefore active in the areas of baggage and apron buses, among others. The warning strike resulted in delays and flight cancellations. According to an airport spokesperson, the Lufthansa Group alone had to cancel around 36 take-offs and landings. Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa Cityline and Eurowings were affected, among others. Holiday flights, for example to Palma de Mallorca, were also cancelled. The Verdi union explains that it wants to use the warning strike to increase pressure on the employer. After agreeing with Lufthansa on pay increases for ground staff, the aim is to achieve this in Munich at Swissport Losch. The current offer, which involved a wage increase of around ten percent for a period of one year and a one-off payment of 250 euros, is not considered acceptable. The employee representatives also point out that Lufthansa has agreed to a wage increase of around 19 percent in the lowest wage groups. They want to implement something similar at Swissport Losch. Swissport Losch München GmbH & Co. KG is a joint venture between Losch and Swissport. At Munich Airport, the company is a full-fledged ground handling provider with passenger, baggage, freight, apron, bus and transport services in its portfolio. According to official information from the airport, the company currently has a market share of around 40 percent. Its direct competitor is the airport subsidiary Aeroground.

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Originally destined for Smartavia: Aer Lingus has taken over Airbus A320neo

Earlier this month, the Irish IAG group member Aer Lingus officially took delivery of the first Airbus A320neo, which was originally intended for a Russian airline. The medium-haul jet has the registration EI-NSB. Due to the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States of America against the Russian Federation due to the invasion of Ukraine, Smartavia is unable to take delivery of the Airbus A320neo aircraft ordered through leasing companies. The International Airlines Group was able to secure at least four aircraft for its subsidiary Aer Lingus, which were originally intended for Smartavia. The first unit is owned by leasing company CDB Aviation and was recently repainted in Aer Lingus' colors in Ostrava. In the meantime, the aircraft has been transferred to Shannon in Ireland. The date for the EI-NSB's first commercial flight has not yet been set. Extensive maintenance and preparation work is currently being carried out in the group's own technical department. The remaining "ex-Smartavia" aircraft are to be handed over to Aer Lingus within the next few months. In addition, two more aircraft of this type have been secured. A few weeks ago, Aviation.Direct took a closer look at Aer Lingus' short-haul product. The corresponding report can be found at this link.

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