June 19

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June 19

Salzburg Airport on the road to recovery despite legacy issues and weather service debate

Salzburg Airport is showing a clear recovery from the pandemic-related slump and is presenting impressive figures for the past year. With around 1,61 million passengers handled last year, the airport recorded an increase of 31,3 percent compared to the previous year. Managing Director Bettina Ganghofer is optimistic about the future and is aiming for a further increase to 1,66 million passengers this year, which is close to the pre-crisis level of 1,84 million passengers. Impact of the pandemic on staff and investments However, the pandemic has not only affected passenger numbers, but also staff levels. During the crisis, there were no replacements despite retirements, which had an impact on the airport's operations. However, almost all positions have now been filled again. Financially, the airport was able to record a consolidated annual surplus of around 3,4 million euros, of which around six million euros went into investments. Contaminated sites: Contamination by PFAS firefighting foam A major unknown for the future remains the remediation of contaminated sites. The use of PFAS firefighting foam in previous firefighting exercises contaminated the groundwater around the airport. Research into the remediation of these legacy contaminations is still in its early stages, and the exact extent and costs of the necessary measures are still unclear. Debate about the aviation weather services: safety concerns and criticism Another challenge is the planned conversion of the weather services to remote observation. The Austrian flight control agency Austro Control plans to provide all meteorological forecasts and warnings for the federal state airports exclusively from Vienna-Schwechat from July 1st. This means that the local experts will lose their jobs or have to move to Vienna. Kajetan Uriach, regional manager of the

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Drug smuggling at Detroit airport: Man arrested with 33 pounds of cocaine

A man was arrested at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) for attempting to smuggle 33 pounds of cocaine on a last-minute Delta Air Lines flight. Woodrow Campbell booked his flight from Los Angeles to Saginaw, Michigan, with a layover in DTW less than 24 hours before departure. Investigators say drug traffickers often use such last-minute bookings to bypass security measures. Campbell had previously been caught for drug smuggling when he was caught with over 2023 pounds of cocaine at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport in 10. This time, he had packed the cocaine in three pieces of luggage, two of which were examined upon arrival at the airport. A drug dog flagged both bags, which contained five compressed blocks of cocaine. The third piece of luggage, which arrived later, also tested positive for drugs. After a search warrant was obtained, officers arrested Campbell as he was about to board his connecting flight. This incident once again highlights the challenges faced by airport authorities in the fight against international drug smuggling.

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Reopening of Terminal 2 at Almaty Airport

Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan's largest and most important air transport hub, has undergone a significant expansion. The new Terminal 2 (T2) has opened much earlier than originally planned. Originally scheduled to open in late summer 2024, construction was accelerated due to increasing demand for flights to and from Almaty. With an area of ​​over 53.000 square meters and state-of-the-art equipment, T2 is a crucial step to increase the airport's capacity and quality. The new terminal increases Almaty Airport's capacity to up to 14 million passengers per year. This expansion is a strategic step to accommodate growing international travel. Terminal 2 is designed exclusively for international flights and offers a variety of modern facilities. These include 32 check-in counters and 20 check-in counters. In addition, four automated passport control stations are available, which speeds up check-in processes and ensures smoother passenger processing. The terminal's facilities include not only functional facilities, but also numerous amenities for travelers. Co-working areas and relaxation zones allow passengers to work productively or relax while waiting for their flight. Prayer rooms and special facilities for families with children and travelers with disabilities ensure that all passengers can enjoy a comfortable stay. Relocation of international flights With the opening of the new terminal, Air Astana, Kazakhstan's leading airline, has relocated all international flights to T2. This includes the popular non-stop flights to Bangkok, Seoul and Beijing. The existing

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Autobahn snack put to the test: Consumer protection examines sandwiches on the Westautobahn

The summer travel season is approaching, and for many drivers and holidaymakers, the rest stops along the motorway are indispensable places to stop for a quick meal. The ready-made sandwiches offered at motorway rest stops and petrol stations are particularly popular. But what about the quality of these snacks? The consumer protection agency of the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor (AK OÖ) investigated this in the summer of 2023 and examined nine different providers along the Westautobahn. The results are encouraging and give travelers security - at least as far as microbiological quality is concerned. Microbiological testing passes all tests Sandwiches are among the most microbiologically sensitive foods. The fresh ingredients such as ham, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes are easily perishable and require careful handling and storage. It is all the more gratifying that all of the bread roll samples tested passed the germ contamination test with flying colors. In the laboratory of Belan Ziviltechniker-GmbH, the samples were tested for spoilage and hygiene germs as well as pathogens. The guideline and warning values ​​for “sandwiches, open-faced rolls” of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology were used. All samples tested were rated as “perfect”, which can give travelers a good feeling in this respect at least. Sensory differences during tasting But it was not just the microbiological quality that was checked. The sensory test, in which appearance, consistency, color, smell and taste were assessed, also showed clear differences between the suppliers. The tomato and mozzarella ciabatta from Rosenberger in Ansfelden and the Panino Capri from Autogrill at the Lindach rest stop were particularly positive, and were rated as top by the experts in terms of sensory quality. Two other samples had

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Air Arabia opens new flight connection between Sharjah and Krakow

On June 15, 2023, Air Arabia inaugurated a new flight connection between Sharjah International Airport in the United Arab Emirates and Krakow John Paul II International Airport in Poland. The airline now offers daily flights on this route. The opening ceremony at Sharjah Airport was attended by prominent guests, including HE Jakub Slawek, the Polish Ambassador to the UAE. In Krakow, the first flight was traditionally greeted with a water cannon salute. Adel Al Ali, CEO of Air Arabia, stressed that the new route will enhance travel opportunities and strengthen trade and tourism ties between the two countries. Air Arabia operates a modern fleet of Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft equipped with amenities such as ‘SkyTime’ streaming and ‘SkyCafe’ catering. Bookings are available through Air Arabia’s website, call center and travel agents.

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Technical problem forces KLM flight to return to Tokyo

KLM flight KL862 from Tokyo Narita to Amsterdam had to return to Tokyo shortly after takeoff due to a technical problem with the cockpit window of the Boeing 787-9 (registration PH-BHA). The cockpit window was cracked. KLM stressed that the safety of the passengers and crew was never at risk. The passengers were accommodated in hotels and rebooked on another flight.

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NordLB sells majority of aircraft business to Deutsche Bank

After more than 40 years, Norddeutsche Landesbank (NordLB) is withdrawing from aircraft financing and selling a large part of its portfolio to Deutsche Bank. The sales contract has a volume of 1,67 billion euros. The purchase price has been kept confidential. The employees affected will continue to be employed within NordLB. NordLB manages a leasing portfolio of 278 aircraft and offers other financing solutions for aviation companies. The deal still has to be approved by the antitrust authorities; completion is expected in the second half of 2024. NordLB's entire aircraft business has a volume of around 2,75 billion euros and includes around 300 aircraft and engines. Part of the business is to remain with NordLB and be gradually phased out. Ross Duncan of Deutsche Bank emphasized the strategic importance of the transaction and NordLB's strength and experience in the aviation industry. Deutsche Bank prevailed in a bidding process against numerous national and international interested parties.

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Another FTI bankruptcy: Flight Trading GmbH also files for bankruptcy

The insolvency of the tour operator FTI has now also dragged the company's airline subsidiary, Flight Trading GmbH, into the abyss. The consequences of this further insolvency announcement are far-reaching and affect numerous players in the travel and aviation industry. The insolvency of Flight Trading GmbH is posing considerable challenges for airlines such as Sun Express, Eurowings and Condor. These airlines previously had ongoing contracts with Flight Trading for charter flights and flight quotas, which are now no longer valid. Due to the declaration of insolvency, the airlines can officially reschedule these contracts, which will lead to significant restructuring and adjustments to their flight schedules in the short term. Extensive cancellations and economic losses Even before the insolvency of Flight Trading GmbH, FTI had canceled all departures from July 6. According to the insolvency administrator, all package tours and certain individual services booked through the insolvent companies "FTI Touristik" and "Big Xtra Touristik" and through the sales brand "5 vor Flug" are affected. The total volume of cancelled travel bookings amounts to a high three-digit million amount. In total, around 175.000 booked package holidays were cancelled. Uncertain future of the airlines According to “FVW”, the financial damage to the affected airlines is not yet fully foreseeable. The charter operators are optimistic that they will be able to fill the vacant seats for the summer with other companies, but market observers assume that flight prices in the tour operator sector have fallen significantly following the FTI bankruptcy. This could lead to a drop in prices across the entire industry, which will put further pressure on the economic stability of the affected airlines. Historical context and outlook FTI Touristik, one of the largest tour operators in Europe, had already

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Emergency landing in New Zealand: Fire on Boeing 737

A Virgin Australia Boeing 737 was forced to make an unscheduled landing in New Zealand on its way to Melbourne after flames burst out of at least one engine during takeoff. A bird strike is suspected to be the possible cause. All 73 people on board were uninjured, the New Zealand Herald reports. The plane took off from Queenstown Airport and landed safely in Invercargill, where it was met by rescue workers. Eyewitnesses reported loud bangs and flames coming from the engines. The incident is currently being investigated.

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Lufthansa and ITA Airways: Concessions for EU approval of takeover

Lufthansa is close to receiving approval from the EU Commission to join the Italian state airline ITA Airways. This step marks an important milestone in the consolidation of the European aviation industry. But to obtain this approval, the German airline had to make extensive concessions. According to insiders, Lufthansa has agreed to allow two of its competitors to offer feeder flights to their hubs in Europe from Rome's Fiumicino airport. This is intended to ensure that competition on the transatlantic routes from Rome is not affected. In concrete terms, this means that passengers can, for example, change to US flights operated by the Dutch KLM in Amsterdam. According to flight schedule data, KLM already flies up to five times a day between Rome-Fiumicino and Amsterdam. ITA Airways itself serves the route up to twice a day. A person familiar with the process told the Reuters news agency that in addition to KLM, another Lufthansa competitor will offer these feeder flights. In addition, ITA Airways is to hand over some of its direct flights from Rome-Fiumicino to North America to another airline. These measures are aimed at increasing choice for consumers and promoting competition. Negotiations with the EU Commission Lufthansa did not comment directly on the new details, but confirmed that constructive talks with the EU Commission are taking place. Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager is apparently close to approving Lufthansa's takeover of an initial 41 percent of ITA Airways after a long struggle over the competition conditions. In the long term, the Alitalia successor is to be fully integrated into the Lufthansa Group. The EU Commission's conditions are intended to prevent the merger from being completed at a lower price.

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