The airline Air France plans to use a larger aircraft on the Paris CDG-Athens route from August 2024. Specifically, the airline plans to use an Airbus A330-200. The airline Air France plans to use an Airbus A2024-330 on the Paris CDG-Athens route from August 200. The route is to be served daily, as the portal Aero Routes reports.
The airline El Al Israel Airlines will extend its codeshare partnership with Thai Airways International in August 2024. The extension will affect flights from Bangkok to Japan. The airline El Al Israel Airlines will extend its codeshare partnership with Thai Airways International in August 2024. The extension will affect flights operated by Thai Airways International from Bangkok to Japan. These connections will be offered from August 1, reports the portal Aero Routes.
The airline Air Arabia is planning to launch a new connection to the Maldives in this year's winter season. Daily flights to Malé are planned. The airline Air Arabia plans to launch the new Sharjah-Malé connection in winter 2024/25. Flight operations are scheduled to begin on October 27, as the Aero Routes portal reports. The route is to be served daily with an Airbus A320.
Wizz Air, one of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe, is planning a major expansion of its fleet that could have far-reaching implications for airfares and the market landscape in the Middle East. Marion Geoffroy, Managing Director of Wizz Air in the UK, has announced that the introduction of the Airbus A321XLR could lead to a dramatic reduction in the cost of flying between the UK and the Middle East. These new aircraft, scheduled for delivery from February 2025, could not only reduce costs for passengers but also put Wizz Air UK in direct competition with established airlines such as Emirates and Etihad. This move could fundamentally change the competitive landscape in the market for international flights between the UK and the Middle East. The Airbus A321XLR is the latest model in the range of Airbus single-aisle aircraft and offers a number of improvements over its predecessors. With increased fuel capacity and a maximum range of up to 11 hours, the A321XLR represents a significant advance in the efficiency and flexibility of short- and medium-haul aircraft. According to Airbus, fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 30% per seat compared to older models, significantly reducing operating costs. The long range of the A321XLR allows airlines such as Wizz Air to operate long-haul flights without stopovers, which were previously the preserve of larger and less fuel-efficient aircraft. This is particularly beneficial for the low-cost sector, where the reduction in operating costs can be directly translated into lower ticket prices for passengers. Wizz Air UK: Strategic expansion and cost reduction Wizz Air
Tap Air Portugal, the national airline of Portugal, is entering a crucial phase in its history. As the airline navigates the busy summer season, it is preparing for the next step in its long-awaited privatisation process. CEO Luís Rodrigues recently indicated that news on the company's future is expected in September. The Portuguese government is considering two main scenarios for privatisation: an international tender or an outright sale. These developments are of key importance for the airline and could have far-reaching implications for the aviation market in Europe. As part of the upcoming privatisation, the Portuguese government plans to sell Tap Air Portugal either through a public tender process or through a direct sale process. Portugal's Infrastructure Minister had previously indicated that official announcements could be made in September, but no concrete discussions have taken place with the airline yet. The lack of clarity about the exact details of the privatisation plan has raised questions among the government, potential investors and the public. According to Luís Rodrigues, CEO of Tap Air Portugal, the company is prepared for all possible scenarios. This indicates that Tap Air Portugal can respond flexibly to the demands and changes that come with the privatization process. Rodrigues stresses that the company has not received any official proposals or offers, which indicates that the negotiations and decisions are still in the early stages. Two scenarios for privatization The Portuguese government is considering two main scenarios for the privatization of Tap Air Portugal. The first scenario envisages an international tender, in which
The aviation industry is about to take a significant step in the evolution of short- and medium-haul jets: Airbus has received European certification for its latest model, the A321 XLR. This represents an important milestone and paves the way for the long-haul aircraft to enter service at the end of this summer. With type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Airbus has the opportunity to serve the market with a state-of-the-art aircraft that is praised for its range and efficiency. The Airbus A321 XLR (Extra Long Range) is an extension of the successful A320 family, which has already provided proven service in the short- and medium-haul sector for years. However, unlike its predecessors, the A321 XLR is specifically designed for long-haul flights and represents a new standard in the single-aisle jet category. The main difference is in its range: with a large, fixed tank in the fuselage and the possibility of integrating an additional optional tank, the A321 XLR can travel up to 8700 kilometers. This allows it to handle intercontinental routes such as crossings of the Atlantic. The aircraft can accommodate between 180 and 244 passengers, combining efficiency with comfort. The first flight of the A321 XLR took place in June 2022, and the model has since undergone numerous tests to meet safety and performance standards. Technical details and production steps An essential part of the development of the A321 XLR was the creation of a new assembly line in Hamburg. Around 300 employees are involved in the production of this model, where they manufacture sections of the aircraft fuselage, assemble them and build the central fuel tank
Whether it's a flight cancellation or a train delay: In the event of conflicts with travel companies, consumers in Germany have the option of turning to the Travel and Transport Arbitration Board. This institution helps to resolve disputes out of court and ensures that travelers' rights are protected. The Arbitration Board's current half-year report shows that the number of complaints in certain areas has increased, while the aviation sector has seen a stable complaint situation. In the first six months of 2024, around 19.500 complaints were submitted to the Travel and Transport Arbitration Board, an increase of around four percent compared to the same period last year. The increase in complaints in rail transport is particularly striking. With around 3.400 arbitration cases, around 1.000 more than in the previous year, almost one in five applications concerned problems with train cancellations and delays. This reflects increasing dissatisfaction among travelers with the punctuality and reliability of rail. Deutsche Bahn is often the focus of criticism. Delays and train cancellations are commonplace and cause considerable inconvenience for passengers. The causes are often technical problems, bottlenecks in the rail network or weather conditions. The railway has announced several times that it will invest in infrastructure and modernization, but implementation seems to be progressing slowly, as the current increase in complaints shows. Stable complaint situation in the aviation sector The majority of complaints, almost 81 percent, come from the flight segment. These mainly concern canceled flights or delays. With around 16.000 applications, the absolute number of complaints remained largely stable compared to the previous year. This indicates that the airlines have made an effort to improve the quality of their
The Italian airline ITA Airways, successor to the former Alitalia, is surprisingly strong and optimistic in its business development. The President of ITA, Antonio Turicchi, attributes this upward trend directly to bold fleet investments. Thanks to new aircraft such as the Airbus A220 and A350, ITA sees itself in a position to successfully compete in the tough short- and long-haul routes and to make profits early on. Antonio Turicchi, the Executive President of ITA Airways, stressed to the Italian newspaper "Corriere Della Sera" that the airline could exceed the turnover mark of 4 billion euros as early as next year. This would be two years earlier than planned in the business plan. The positive business outlook allows ITA to anticipate part of the growth expected for 2027 as early as 2025. Turicchi predicts that ITA could report a positive EBIT of 2025 to 250 million euros to Lufthansa in 300. Following approval from the EU Commission, Lufthansa plans to complete its investment in ITA Airways in 2024. Lufthansa will make a capital contribution of 41 million euros to ITA for the first 325 percent. The share could be increased to 2025 percent as early as 90. This early investment is directly linked to the positive business development at ITA. Fleet modernization as a success factor In the first half of 2024, ITA Airways invested 250 million euros in new aircraft. This strategic decision has proven to be extremely beneficial. "No other European airline has brought as many new aircraft to the market as we have," said Turicchi. With the new Airbus A220 and A350, ITA has gained significant market share. On domestic flights, the
Hannover-Langenhagen Airport recorded increasing passenger numbers in the first half of 2024 and is approaching the level before the corona pandemic. Around 2,2 million passengers used the airport, around 15 percent more than in the same period last year. 5,3 million passengers are expected for the full year, which is almost the same as in 2019 with almost six million passengers. Popular destinations in the first half of the year were the Turkish airports of Istanbul and Antalya, the holiday resorts of Mallorca and Hurghada, and the domestic destinations of Munich and Frankfurt. There were no problems with check-in or security checks at the start of the summer holidays. The utilization of the new routes to Italy and Malaga in Spain was in line with expectations. Eurowings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, has expanded its base in Hanover and will fly to 17 destinations in the summer, including Rome, Naples, Catania and Bergamo. Cargo traffic at Hanover Airport also increased by 24 percent in the first half of the year, an area that had gained in importance during the pandemic.
Ryanair has seen a significant drop in profits in the first quarter of 2024. Despite a ten percent increase in passenger numbers to 55,5 million between April and June, the Irish low-cost airline is struggling with a weak pricing environment. The average flight price fell by 15 percent, causing net profit to collapse from EUR 663 million in the previous year to EUR 360 million. Flight occupancy fell slightly to 94 percent. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary stressed the need to provide "more price incentives" and expects "significantly lower flight prices" for the current second quarter. The airline will not issue a profit forecast for the full fiscal year until further observation of price developments. At the same time, Boeing is catching up with deliveries of the 737 Max to Ryanair. At the end of the quarter, Ryanair had 156 of these aircraft in its fleet, and by the end of July this figure is expected to rise to 160. However, this is 20 fewer than originally planned for the summer. Due to the delays, Ryanair is foregoing its usual summer break in aircraft deliveries this year.
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