June 4

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June 4

Austrian Airlines takes part in the Vienna Pride Parade

Austrian Airlines will take part in the Vienna Pride Parade on the Ringstrasse for the first time on June 8, 2024 and will be represented with its own Pride Truck. This commitment underscores the airline's support for the Pride movement and its goals, as Annette Mann, CEO of Austrian Airlines, emphasizes: "Our employees are as colorful and diverse as the rainbow. Any form of discrimination has no place at Austrian." With the slogan "Pride is ... WONDERFUL.COLORFUL" and the progressive Pride flag, the Austrian Pride Truck with starting number 55 will start. The truck has space for around 50 people, and the tickets were raffled off among the employees. On board, participants can expect a varied program with musical entertainment from the well-known drag queen and DJ Tamara Mascara as well as glittering glamor elements provided by glitter fairies. Michael Trestl, CCO of Austrian Airlines, explained: "As an airline, we connect people, cultures and economies every day. By participating in the Vienna Pride Parade, we are sending a strong, visible signal of our attitude towards our employees and our guests on board." Austrian Airlines' participation in the parade is a clear signal for visibility, acceptance and equality, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or gender characteristics. The Pride Truck was creatively implemented in collaboration with the Stargate Group and is intended to be a colorful highlight of the event.

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SAS joins SkyTeam: realignment before IATA general meeting

Shortly before the official opening of the IATA Annual General Meeting 2024 in Dubai, the CEOs of SkyTeam, Patrick Roux, and SAS, Anko van der Werff, announced in a joint press conference the Scandinavian airline's upcoming entry into the alliance. SAS, a long-standing member of the Star Alliance, will officially join SkyTeam on 1 September 2024, after the company's realignment that followed an equity investment by Air France-KLM is completed. This marks the first time that a founding member of one of the major airline alliances has changed affiliation. The CEOs stressed the speed at which SAS' integration into SkyTeam is progressing. Normally, an alliance joining process takes 18 to 24 months, but in this case the process has been accelerated by the expertise of the SAS teams, who are already familiar with the operations of a major airline. SAS's membership will not only bring SkyTeam 8 million members of its Eurobonus loyalty program and a strong presence in Scandinavia, but also provide access to a market with high income levels and a strong desire to travel. Despite the challenges in the Asian market due to the closure of Russian airspace, SAS sees the North Atlantic market as a key market, with particular emphasis on cooperation with SkyTeam partners Delta Airlines and Air France-KLM. Van der Werff also mentioned the potential to enter new long-haul markets, such as Latin America, and highlighted his partnerships with airlines such as Avianca and Aeromexico from his previous role. The conference also discussed the ongoing restructuring of SAS. Van der Werff confirmed that the US part of this process, which

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Thai Airways announces Brussels comeback

From 1 December 2024, Thai Airways will again offer daily direct flights between Brussels Airport and Bangkok. After a four-year hiatus due to cow plague, the Star Alliance airline is returning, strengthening Brussels Airport's intercontinental network. The route will be served with a Boeing 787-8, known for its efficiency in terms of emissions and noise. Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport, expressed his delight: "It is great news to welcome Thai Airways back to Brussels Airport. This daily direct connection to Bangkok strengthens our position as a European hub and offers our passengers even more travel options to Asia. Our airport is also an ideal gateway to the rest of Europe for Thai passengers. We look forward to a good collaboration." The resumption of flights represents an important addition to the airport's intercontinental network and offers an attractive travel option for both tourists and business travellers. Thai Airways' return also strengthens the Star Alliance hub in Brussels, used by Brussels Airlines, offering connections to European and international destinations.

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Belavia fails in EU court: sanctions remain in place

Belarusian state-owned airline Belavia has failed to persuade the Court of Justice of the European Union to lift sanctions imposed since 2021. These sanctions had been imposed in response to the airline's alleged involvement in transporting migrants from the Middle East to Belarus who subsequently attempted to enter the EU by land, particularly Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The court order confirmed that Belavia was actively involved in bringing third-country nationals from the Middle East, mainly from Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey, to Belarus. To facilitate this transport, the airline had opened new routes and increased the frequency of existing flights. Local tour operators acted as intermediaries in the sale of tickets, helping to conceal the true intentions of passengers. The court ruled that these activities mark Belavia as contributing to the Lukashenko regime's efforts to facilitate illegal border crossing. The sanctions against Belavia were imposed after it became known that passengers of the airline wanted to enter the EU and some had even obtained visas from an honorary consulate of Belarus to make their trip appear legal. Media reports supported the court's decision by citing statements from people who had used Belavia flights to get to the EU. During the court proceedings, Belavia argued that other airlines had also offered similar flights between the UAE and Turkey on the one hand and Belarus on the other. In addition, Belavia had transported many people from Minsk to third countries in the period from October to December 2021. The

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Wizz Air is expanding its Varna base

Varna Airport, operated by Fraport Twin Star Airport Management AD, is significantly expanding its flight offer. During the summer season, over 60 destinations in more than 25 countries will be served. Low-cost airline Wizz Air will station its second aircraft at the “Airport of Roses” and offer regular flights to Frankfurt-Hahn, Prague, Tel Aviv and Vienna. In addition, frequencies to Berlin, Memmingen, Dortmund and Charleroi will be doubled. The new flights will start in August and can already be booked on the Wizz Air website. This expansion is the result of the close cooperation between Fraport Twin Star Airport Management and Wizz Air, which aims to further improve Varna's connectivity. Frank Kwante, CEO of Fraport Twin Star Airport Management, emphasized the importance of this development: “It is very important for Varna's connectivity that Wizz Air brings back its second stationed aircraft. We believe that our strong cooperation with Wizz Air will contribute to the further growth of our airports.”

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Gama Aviation wants to take over Tyrolean Jet Services

In a recent announcement to the London Stock Exchange, Gama Aviation confirmed that it is in advanced talks to acquire Austrian aircraft management and charter company Tyrolean Jet Service. This potential acquisition is a significant step for Gama Aviation, which is already known as a leader in aircraft management, charter, FBO (Fixed Base Operator) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul). The acquisition talks are part of Gama Aviation's broader strategy to further expand its aircraft management and charter business. "Gama's interest in Tyrolean Jet Service is in line with the Group's strategy to grow its aircraft management and charter business," the official announcement said. However, the company cautioned that the talks are ongoing and require further negotiations, review and board approval. A final deal is not expected until after the company's delisting from the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). Gama Aviation is currently in the process of delisting from AIM, a sub-market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE) for small and medium-sized growth companies. This move follows a successful share buyback program that consolidates ownership to the two main shareholders. The delisting will enable Gama Aviation to focus on long-term strategic objectives and respond more flexibly to market changes. The Tyrolean Jet Group, which holds Air Operator Certificates (AOCs) in Austria, San Marino and Malta, has specialized in international and private jet charter flights over the years. The company's fleet includes business aircraft such as Cessna Citations, Citation XLS+ and Embraer Phenom types. The company offers comprehensive services in

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Wizz Air launched in Stuttgart

Since June 1, 2024, the Hungarian airline Wizz Air has been connecting Stuttgart with Budapest. The new flight route will be served five times a week. Ulrich Heppe, Managing Director of Stuttgart Airport, was enthusiastic about the new connection: "We are delighted that Wizz Air is now starting operations in Stuttgart and flying to Budapest five times a week." Wizz Air has also already announced a second route from Stuttgart: From the winter flight schedule, the airline will fly to Tirana three times a week. This new route expands the airline's existing offering in southern Germany, which previously includes airports such as Memmingen, Friedrichshafen and Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden. Valeria Bragarenco, press spokesperson for Wizz Air, emphasized the importance of the new connection: "With this new route, we want to enable seamless connections between two dynamic cities and open doors to unforgettable experiences and adventures. We look forward to welcoming passengers on board and further redefining the possibilities of low-cost and sustainable air travel."

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