August 4, 2023

Czech Republic: First Budweis charter takes off after years of delay

Jan Gruber August 4, 2023 07:35

On August 2, 2023, the Czech airline Smartwings operated the first charter flight from Budweis Airport on behalf of a tour operator. The range of services from the new airport is still quite manageable. After years of delay, České Budějovice managed to obtain the necessary operating permits and carry out the first charter flight. Strictly speaking, the airport is not new, as it has been around for a long time. A few years ago, however, it was decided that it should be expanded and developed so that Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft could also take off, land and be handled. At first, they tried to market themselves aggressively as a low-cost alternative to Linz, but they were unable to get a single low-cost airline interested in Budweis beforehand. There are also no other scheduled flights to date. The service, which was launched on August 2, 2023, is being carried out as part of a charter contract by Smartwings for a Czech tour operator. According to the tour operator, booking figures are satisfactory. They are already thinking about expanding their offer. At least they currently have a big advantage, as they are the only provider with non-stop flights to holiday destinations from České Budějovice in their portfolio. If the airport management has its way, low-cost airlines should settle there as soon as possible. At least in theory, Budweis Airport has the potential to become a serious competitor for Linz Airport. However, an attractive offer must be put in place for this. In many cases, potential Linz passengers are already leaving today due to a lack of offers.

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Summer 2024: Vueling is increasing Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg

Amely Mizzi August 4, 2023 07:04

IAG's low-cost subsidiary Vueling plans to fly more frequently to the German airports of Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg in summer 2024. The existing Barcelona routes are to be increased. Effective March 31, 2024, up to 17 Hamburg rotations per week are to be offered. The Berlin route is to be served at the same frequency from April 1, 2024. From April 2, 2024, there will be up to 16 flights per week to Düsseldorf.

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AUA winter flight schedule from Klagenfurt is even smaller

Jan Gruber August 4, 2023 06:32

In the 2023/24 winter flight schedule, Austrian Airlines passengers from/to Klagenfurt will have to get used to significantly fewer rotations. Sometimes there will only be one flight per day on certain days. Available flight schedule data shows that on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays there will only be flights from Vienna to Klagenfurt at around 9:30 a.m. and then back to the federal capital. Only on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays will there be an early evening Vienna-Klagenfurt-Vienna rotation, which leaves Austria's largest airport at 17:15 p.m. Further thinning out will occur, for example, during the Christmas holidays, although this was already common on this route before the corona pandemic. According to Austrian Airlines, the reason for the reduction in service on the domestic Austrian route is that demand is insufficient. However, a report by Austrian Broadcasting contradicts this. It says that the aircraft are well utilized. The Chamber of Commerce is now also pinning its hopes on the new airport manager Maximilian Wildt, as connections to other hubs, such as Munich and/or Hamburg, would reduce dependence on Austrian Airlines. The airport's brief statement on this is that it is in intensive talks with AUA and that one of the airport management's major goals is to set up a hub connection to an airport in Germany. For logical reasons, only the Lufthansa Group itself or a partner airline that has the necessary interlining and codeshare agreements would come into consideration as an operator. However, Klagenfurt's interest seems to be very limited.

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Skyalps announces Cuneo-Rome

Amely Mizzi August 4, 2023 06:01

At the start of the 2023/24 winter flight schedule period, Skyalps will launch a non-stop connection between Cuneo and Rome-Fiumicino. This will initially be operated four times a week. The de Havilland Dash 8-400 operator plans to offer the new route from October 30, 2023 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. In addition, a maintenance hangar is to be built at Cuneo Airport. The turboprop fleet will be serviced in this hangar in the future.

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Jet Airways receives ultra-short-term AOC

Amely Mizzi August 4, 2023 05:32

Jet Airways was granted an AOC for a very short period of time by the Indian Civil Aviation Authority (DGCA). This is primarily intended to enable the carrier to complete the insolvency proceedings. Jet Airways should actually have been back in the air long ago, but there have been numerous circumstances that have led to the commercial comeback flight not being carried out. Despite the fact that the former Etihad Airways stake was taken over by the Jalan Kalrock consortium, the company has not yet been able to exit the insolvency proceedings. A large number of legal questions were or are pending in court. The Indian Civil Aviation Authority reissued Jet Airways' AOC on July 28, 2023. However, this is only valid until September 3, 2023. By this date, the new owners of the company must fulfill all points of the approved restructuring plan. They must also apply for recertification as an aviation company before September 3, 2023. Otherwise, the air operator's certificate will expire permanently. The consortium is confident that Jet Airways will be brought back into the air. It will continue to work to revive the carrier and will cooperate with lenders, authorities and courts. However, various creditors, including the Bank of India, are pushing for Jet Airways to be wound up once and for all. A court also recently ruled that the acquired company must rehire around 160 employees who were laid off shortly after the grounding. Another ruling states that all outstanding wage claims of the former workforce must also be paid out. The sum of the various legal disputes has meant that Jet Airways has not yet been able to

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Summer 2024: Eurowings takes on Keflavik from Stuttgart

Jan Gruber August 4, 2023 05:05

From Stuttgart, Eurowings plans to offer the destination Keflavik in the 2024 summer flight schedule. This will initially be offered twice a week. The first flight is scheduled for May 19, 2024. Flights from Stuttgart to Keflavik will depart late on Thursdays and Sundays. The return flights will operate at night on Mondays and Fridays. Airbus A320s are normally used as the aircraft.

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Vienna: Ministry of the Interior is increasing the capacity of border controls

Amely Mizzi August 4, 2023 04:33

The Austrian Interior Ministry has reportedly increased the capacity of border controls at Vienna-Schwechat Airport. It is the largest border crossing point in the republic. This week, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) also highlighted the positive cooperation with Vienna Airport AG. "The safety of all people at the airport is our top priority, which is why staff are being increased and technical equipment is being extensively modernized. I would like to thank Vienna Airport for the close and proven cooperation that has lasted for decades," said the government member. At peak times, Vienna-Schwechat Airport has more than 100.000 passengers a day. According to the Interior Ministry, this means that the police have extremely different security tasks. Different international threat situations have placed ever greater demands on the law enforcement authorities in recent years. Securing the infrastructure plays a special role in this. In the recent past, in addition to purely theoretically possible terrorist actions, so-called climate stickers have also been added. Just a few days ago, the police managed to thwart a disruptive action by the airport before the self-proclaimed "climate protectors" could even get out their superglue. It happens again and again that passengers forget their luggage somewhere in the airport in a rush or out of sheer forgetfulness. Of course, the people affected then do not hear the announcements, so the police have to intervene for safety reasons. Fortunately, so far the content has always been completely harmless and the officers were able to give the all-clear quickly, but better safe than sorry. Another important field of activity is the criminal investigation department: the airport as a hub for international travel also brings with it various forms of crime. Special focus

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Summer 2024: Pegasus plans Antalya-Münster/Osnabrück

Jan Gruber August 4, 2023 04:01

The Turkish holiday airline Pegasus plans to offer a non-stop connection between Antalya and Münster/Osnabrück in the 2024 summer flight schedule. The first flight is scheduled for April 1, 2024. For the time being, four weekly rotations between the two cities are planned. The sale of tickets has already started. As a rule, aircraft from the Airbus A320neo series will be used.

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More articles from the category

Czech Republic: First Budweis charter takes off after years of delay

Summer 2024: Vueling is increasing Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg

AUA winter flight schedule from Klagenfurt is even smaller

Skyalps announces Cuneo-Rome

Jet Airways receives ultra-short-term AOC

Summer 2024: Eurowings takes on Keflavik from Stuttgart

Vienna: Ministry of the Interior is increasing the capacity of border controls

Summer 2024: Pegasus plans Antalya-Münster/Osnabrück

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