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June 15, 2023

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June 15, 2023

Skyalps retrofits Dash 8 400 fleet with winglets

Jan Gruber June 15, 2023 21:40

The Bolzano-based regional airline Skyalps is fitting its de Havilland Dash 8-400 fleet with winglets from Tamarack Aerospace. A corresponding letter of intent has already been signed. The so-called "Eco Smartwing Winglet" is to be fitted. Wing tips have different names depending on the manufacturer. It is a technology that engineers have "copied" from large birds that glide over long distances. Winglets not only ensure a more stable position in the air, but also help operators save fuel and therefore costs. The latter is also the main reason why many operators decide to retrofit. For Skyalps, the fact that wing tips are intended to improve the climbing performance of the de Havilland Dash 8-400 was also a decisive factor. Given that the home base of Bolzano is surrounded by mountains on three sides, this is certainly advantageous. The regional airline also wants to implement additional measures or retrofits that should ideally reduce noise and emissions by 50 percent. This is to be achieved by redesigning the cabins, among other things. Material that weighs less is to be used. This should lead to lower fuel consumption. Lighter avionics are also to be installed. The airline is still tight-lipped about the origin of the new parts and simply explains that, together with partners, it wants to achieve a particularly light, efficient and sustainable de Havilland Dash 8-400. In November of this year, the first converted aircraft is to set off on a longer journey. The turboprop aircraft will be flown as part of demonstration flights in the United Arab Emirates and

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After allegations of harassment: Ryanair fires chief pilot without notice

Amely Mizzi June 15, 2023 20:06

The low-cost airline Ryanair and its previous chief pilot are now going their separate ways. At the end of May 2023, the company received an anonymous tip-off alleging harassment. As part of internal investigations, a large number of female pilots are said to have complained about the 50-year-old man. Now he has been fired without notice. The workforce was informed on Wednesday in a circular that the previous chief pilot had been separated with immediate effect. He also held a Nominated Person position, which is now being filled. According to an internal memo, the allegations, for which the presumption of innocence applies, are as follows: The manager and pilot had displayed "repeated inappropriate and unacceptable behavior towards a number of young female pilots, which violates Ryanair's anti-harassment policy." The low-cost airline made the decision as "the result of an investigation conducted in recent days." According to a media report in the Irish Independent, the ball got rolling when someone anonymously complained to the designated department within Ryanair at the end of May. The complaint was not ignored, but an internal investigation was launched. In the course of this, eight young female pilots are said to have "opened the air" and confided in the company about their experiences. The statements are also said to have been substantiated by text messages that the now former chief pilot is said to have sent to them. The captain was also accused of changing the duty rosters so that he could fly with his "favorite ladies." The total number of allegations and evidence that the young pilots were able to provide were not disclosed to the management team led by Ryanair DAC boss Eddie Wilson.

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Budweis: Tour operator wants to have sold 70 percent of the charter places

Jan Gruber June 15, 2023 19:51

In August 2023, the first charter flights to Antalya, Crete and Rhodes are scheduled to take off from the Czech airport České Budějovice. The tour operator is extremely satisfied with the demand and explains that around 70 percent of the capacity has already been sold. So far, there are no regular scheduled flights from Budweis. The conversion of the former military airport into a civil airport has been dragging on for a long time. The corona pandemic has also led to further delays. This year, the first charter flights will be launched by the tour operator Čedok. The operations will be carried out using aircraft from Smartwings. Remarkably, the tour operator is able to sell package tours and flight-only offers at higher prices than comparable offers from Prague. According to the provider's media office, there is such high demand for holiday flights from Budweis that around 70 percent of the capacity has already been sold. This is seen as a great success, because due to the airport's history there is no previous experience to draw on.

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In the A321neo: China Airlines launches free WiFi

Jan Gruber June 15, 2023 19:43

Since June 1, 2023, the Taiwanese airline Chaina Airlines has been offering free WiFi on all flights operated with the Airbus A321neo aircraft. The prerequisite is that you have a frequent flyer card or have booked premium business class. Members of the Dynasty customer loyalty program need at least one of the following levels: Paragon/Emerald/Gold. Premium business class passengers can also use the WiFi above the clouds free of charge. However, the free offer is not entirely without restrictions, as a maximum of 300 megabytes is available per passenger.

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Summer 2024: Eurowings Discover sets course for Harstad/Narvik

Amely Mizzi June 15, 2023 19:35

The holiday airline Eurowings Discover will operate a non-stop connection between Frankfurt am Main and Harstad/Narvik (Norway) in the summer flight schedule. According to the company, this is the only direct connection from Germany. At the same time, it is also the first destination that the Lufthansa subsidiary will serve in Norway. The first flight is scheduled to take place on May 16, 2024. For the time being, this route is limited to September 8, 2024. Medium-haul Airbus A320 jets will be used. These will fly between the two airports on Thursdays and Sundays. The journey time is around three hours. The municipality is located in the north of Norway and is an ideal starting point for a trip to the Lofoten Islands. The Norwegian archipelago, which extends over around 1300 square kilometers and 80 islands, is considered a dream destination in the North Sea and is particularly popular with travelers from Germany. The Lufthansa Group is thus responding to the great demand from tour operators and end customers for non-stop connections to this region. Until now, the remote archipelago has only been accessible from Germany via a connecting flight. Despite its location in the far north, travelers can look forward to mild temperatures in summer. The archipelago is located between 100 and 300 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle in the Atlantic and is known for its diverse and untouched landscape.

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Graz Airport looks back on a successful Airportrun

Amely Mizzi June 15, 2023 19:05

The new edition of the Airport Run, which has already been successful in the past, took place at Graz Airport on the evening of June 14, 2023. Although the airport expanded the starting field to 700 participants, all starting numbers were allocated within a short time. The runners obviously did not want to miss out on the special atmosphere between taking off and landing planes on the approximately 5,8-kilometer-long route. Styrian with heart Chairman Marcel Resch accepted the check with great joy and assured: "I am so grateful. The money will conscientiously benefit people in the region. True to the motto: 'Run together to be there to help each other', I would like to thank you on behalf of our protégés for so much commitment and heart." "The fact that all starting places could be allocated this year, even though we issued 200 more starting numbers, shows how attractive the airport location is," explain Wolfgang Grimus and Jürgen Löschnig, the managing directors of Graz Airport. “But at the same time it also shows that the people of Styria have a big heart for those who are not doing so well!” The excitement finally rose again at the award ceremony: The winners of the respective categories were given great prizes, such as travel and hotel vouchers, high-quality goodie bags from Heinemann Duty Free and the airport or vouchers for the champagne brunch in the Globetrotter restaurant at Graz Airport. Two special prizes were then raffled off among all participants: an all-inclusive hotel stay for 2 people in Hurghada at the Grand Resort Hurghada including flight, sponsored by ETI, and a hotel stay of

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Salzburg Airport is in the black, but ahead of major investments

Jan Gruber June 15, 2023 18:56

Salzburg Airport was able to generate a profit of 2022 million euros in the 2,2 financial year. This means that the turnaround has been achieved, as 2021 had to be closed with a loss of 25,6 million euros. However, not all consequences of the pandemic have been overcome yet, according to Managing Director Bettina Ganghofer. The manager expects Austria's second-largest airport to have around 1,5 million passengers this year. Last year there were 1,2 million passengers. At the moment, the signs are that things will continue to improve, says Ganghofer. In the DA-CH region in particular, however, the recovery of aviation would progress much more slowly than in other EU countries. New terminal is likely to cost 20 million euros more Salzburg Airport will have to make some costly but necessary investments by 2030. In addition, a remediation of contaminated sites will have to be carried out, which will also not be cheap. Terminal 1, which is now showing its age, is to be rebuilt. The original plan was to cost around 80 million euros. Due to general cost increases, it is now expected to cost at least 100 million euros. The earliest possible start of construction is in 2026. The general plan is to be put out to tender and awarded this year. Construction work could then take six to seven years. A lot of things need to be renewed all around. For example, a new bulky baggage scanner is needed and the so-called "entry-exit system", which is mandatory across the EU, must be installed. This is intended to serve security purposes, as it is intended to enable third-country nationals to be better "monitored" at the EU's external borders. Regardless of the fact that Salzburg Airport

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Ofner and Stöckl demand resumption of Salzburg-Vienna

Jan Gruber June 15, 2023 18:29

Some time ago, Austrian Airlines suspended domestic flights between Salzburg and Vienna-Schwechat. Now Christian Stöckl, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Salzburg Airport, and Günther Ofner, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG, are calling for these to be resumed. The two officials are expressing a completely opposite opinion to that of Transport Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens), who wants to see all domestic flights suspended under the guise of climate protection. The so-called Air Rail service, which Austrian Airlines operates in cooperation with the ÖBB, does not seem to be being accepted by passengers as hoped. Especially with regard to Linz and Salzburg, many passengers seem to prefer to drive to Munich Airport rather than take the train to Vienna Airport. - "It is time to reintroduce feeder flights from Salzburg to Vienna," demands WKÖ aviation chief Günther Ofner. He is thus supporting the demand of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Salzburg Airport, the former Deputy Governor Christian Stöckl. The effects of the discontinuation of short-haul flights from Salzburg to Vienna are not necessarily what the inventor had in mind. "Due to the discontinuation of the Salzburg-Vienna flight connection, the majority of passengers who flew from Salzburg to the rest of the world via Vienna now either use their car to Munich Airport or fly from Salzburg to their final destinations via Frankfurt or another hub, sometimes outside of Europe. This is not good for Austria as a business location or for the environment," says Ofner. Austrian Airlines is currently not flying to Salzburg at all. The carrier has gradually withdrawn from Austria's second-largest airport. With the discontinuation of the hub connection to Vienna-Schwechat, it has said goodbye to the airline altogether. In Linz, too, it is no longer in the running.

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Eurowings Discover flies non-stop to Norway

Ermal Muji June 15, 2023 17:27

The German airline Eurowings Discover will fly a new route in Norway during the summer season: In the future, Harstad/Narvik-Evenes will be accessible non-stop from Frankfurt. Eurowings Discover was able to confirm the start of flights on another connection in Norway during the summer season. The airline plans to start the Frankfurt-Harstad/Narvik-Evenes route from May 16, 2024. The flights will be operated twice a week, as confirmed by the Aeroroutes portal.

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Etihad Airways is increasing Abu Dhabi-Rome Fiumicino

Ermal Muji June 15, 2023 16:44

The national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways, is planning to increase its flight schedule. Specifically, the airline is planning to increase the number of flights from Abu Dhabi to Rome Fiumicino. Etihad Airways is planning to expand its flight schedule. In addition to adding flights to St. Petersburg, the airline is also planning to increase flights to Rome Fiumicino. The carrier already offers seven weekly flights on this route, but this will be increased to 11 flights per week in the future, as confirmed by the Aeroroutes portal.

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