July 30

More articles from the category

July 30

Unpunctuality of Deutsche Bahn: SBB rejects more and more trains

Deutsche Bahn's chronic unpunctuality has far-reaching consequences for international rail traffic, especially for connections to Switzerland. The inadequate punctuality of German trains not only affects passengers in Germany, but also has a direct impact on cross-border traffic. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) have responded to this issue by stopping many trains at the border, causing significant delays and inconvenience for travelers. Punctuality in Deutsche Bahn's long-distance services has been a pressing problem for years. In 2023, only 64 percent of trains arrived at their destination on time, already taking into account a generous buffer of six minutes. These figures reflect Deutsche Bahn's ongoing difficulties in terms of operations and infrastructure. The ongoing delays not only affect passengers in Germany, but also cause problems for international connections. Deutsche Bahn's delays have a significant impact on cross-border traffic to Switzerland. In the first quarter of 2024, according to a response from the Federal Ministry of Transport to a request from Bundestag member Matthias Gastel (Greens), eleven percent of all German trains on the Munich-Zurich route were stopped at the border. This represents a drastic increase compared to the previous year, when only two percent of trains were stopped. On the Freiburg-Basel route, 12,4 percent of trains had to turn around, compared to less than ten percent last year. These measures by the SBB are a direct reaction to the repeated delays and have significant consequences for travelers. Punctuality and regular timetable of the Swiss railways The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) are

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Norse Atlantic Airways to continue Berlin-New York connection in summer 2025

Norse Atlantic Airways will again serve the route between Berlin and New York City in the summer of 2025. According to reports from Aeroroutes, the airline plans to operate four weekly flights on this route from May 23, 2025. A Boeing 787-9 will be used. This decision underlines Norse Atlantic Airways' continued commitment to the transatlantic market. Norse Atlantic Airways is a Norwegian airline specializing in long-haul flights between Europe and North America. It was founded by Bjørn Kjos, a co-founder of the successful low-cost airline Norwegian Air Shuttle. Norse Atlantic Airways offers flights with modern Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which are known for their fuel efficiency and passenger comfort. The airline focuses on affordable fares and a high standard of service to serve the transatlantic market. With Norse Atlantic UK, the airline has a branch in the United Kingdom that has its own certificates.

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Air Belgium will end judicial restructuring proceedings on 19 September 2024

After almost a year, the judicial restructuring procedure (PRJ) of the airline Air Belgium will be completed on September 19, 2024. The procedure began on September 25 last year after the company announced that it would cease its unprofitable passenger flights to South Africa and Mauritius. Since then, Air Belgium has received several extensions from the Nivelles Commercial Court to negotiate a sustainable plan with creditors and restructure operations. In May 2024, the deadline was extended to August 20, 2024 to allow for further negotiations. Part of the restructuring included the introduction of a new business model focused on ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance) services and cargo transport, as well as the replacement of older aircraft with more efficient models. Measures were also taken to reduce overheads and renegotiate contracts. Air Belgium is taking advantage of the legal maximum period of 12 months for the PRJ procedure. Talks with a potential new investor are currently underway, but details are still being kept confidential.

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Safety risk: Boeing demands comprehensive disclosure about Chinese titanium

For years, the use of titanium in the aerospace industry has ensured reliable performance and durability of aircraft components. But recent developments have cast a shadow over the safety and integrity of these key materials. Boeing, one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers, has asked its suppliers to disclose comprehensive documentation on Chinese titanium. This move comes amid a controversy over forged paperwork concerning the authenticity of the material. On July 18, 2024, Boeing sent a letter to its suppliers asking them to disclose documentation on Chinese titanium sourced since 2014. The demand for detailed documents by August 9 underscores the seriousness of the situation. It is currently unclear why Boeing is specifically asking for documentation on Chinese titanium from the past decade. Experts suspect that the move is related to concerns about the authenticity of the material and its documentation. Titanium is a critical material in the aerospace industry. Its high strength and light weight make it ideal for manufacturing components such as engine parts and landing gear of large aircraft. With the supply of titanium tight due to geopolitical tensions and the search for alternatives to Russian and Chinese material, any uncertainty about the origin of the material could have a significant impact on the entire industry. Fake documentation and its consequences Reports of fake documents on titanium alloys have raised serious safety concerns. In June 2024, there were reports that regulators were investigating whether false or faulty documents were used to verify the authenticity of titanium for parts on Boeing and Airbus jets. The documentation is in

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Smartwings plans winter charter flights from Braunschweig to Tromsø

The airline Smartwings will be offering a one-off charter flight connection from Braunschweig to Tromsø in Norway in the coming winter flight schedule. The flights, which will be operated for the travel company Momento, are planned for February 7, 2025 (outward flight) and February 12, 2025 (return flight). This information was confirmed by Braunschweig Airport and the travel company to the industry portal Airliners.de. It was also recently announced that the sister company CSA will only act as a wet lease provider for Smartwings from autumn 2024. There will no longer be flights under the OK code in the future.

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Iberia has added Madrid-Ljubljana

Iberia has launched a new non-stop service between Madrid and Ljubljana, Slovenia. This route will be operated by Air Nostrum with a Canadair Regional Jet 1000 and will offer over 2.500 seats twice a week this summer, on Mondays and Thursdays. The first flight, IB8666, was welcomed in Ljubljana with a traditional water bow ceremony. The event was attended by representatives of the Slovenian Air and Maritime Directorate and Fraport Slovenija. The new service will facilitate access to Iberia's extensive network of 141 destinations and is intended to promote tourism in both regions, highlighting the historical and tourist attractions of Ljubljana and its surroundings, such as Lake Bled.

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Easyjet pilot faints during flight

On July 27, 2024, a serious incident occurred on a flight operated by British low-cost airline Easyjet from London to Lisbon. A first officer on the Airbus A320-200 fainted during the flight, prompting the aircraft to make an emergency landing and causing a medical emergency. The incident raises questions about aviation safety and highlights the importance of well-coordinated emergency protocols. The Airbus A320-200, flight number EZY2459, took off from London Luton Airport (LTN) at 07:35 local time and had 193 passengers on board. During the flight, the first officer felt unwell and eventually lost consciousness. The captain, who is responsible for full control of the aircraft in such situations, immediately took control and continued the flight. The landing took place as scheduled at 10:10 local time at General Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) in Lisbon, Portugal. Emergency measures and responses Given the critical situation, the captain triggered a red alert, a protocol used in the event of a medical or technical emergency to ensure the safety of everyone on board. This measure signals ground stations and rescue teams that they must prepare for a possible emergency. After the safe landing, the unconscious first officer was received by paramedics and immediately taken to the Santa Maria Hospital in Lisbon, where he received medical treatment. In a statement, Easyjet confirmed the incident and stressed that the safety of passengers was never at risk. "The safety and well-being of passengers and crew is Easyjet's highest priority," said a spokesperson.

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Boeing seeks new CEO: Candidate list takes shape

Following new quality issues, the US aircraft manufacturer Boeing is planning to replace its management. The current CEO Dave Calhoun is to be replaced by 2025 at the latest. Both internal and external candidates are being considered for his successor. A name that is often mentioned is Kelly Ortberg, former CEO of Collins Aerospace and consultant at RTX. Stephanie Pope, who recently took over responsibility for the commercial aircraft division at Boeing, is also considered a promising candidate. Pat Shanahan, CEO of Spirit Aerosystems, and former Boeing CFO Greg Smith, who currently heads the board of directors of American Airlines, are also being considered as possible successors.

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Delta Air Lines: Incident at Salt Lake City Airport and consequences for passengers

Last weekend, a notable incident occurred at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) that had a significant impact on Delta Air Lines' air traffic. Two aircraft, a Boeing 737-900ER and an Airbus A320, collided on the ground, causing significant delays and operational challenges. The circumstances of this incident and the wider consequences for the airline and its passengers raise questions about flight safety and crisis management in air transport. According to reports from local media and local air traffic control, the two aircraft collided as they were preparing for takeoff. The Boeing 737-900ER, registered as N853DN and operating flight DL2046 to Bozeman, Montana, struck the tail of the Airbus A320, registered as N361NW and operating flight DL2677 to Dallas/Fort Worth. Both aircraft were queuing on the runway when the left winglet of the Boeing touched the right winglet of the A320. Air traffic control had cleared DL2046 to take off after the crew stressed that they could safely use the runway despite the prevailing wind conditions. However, in the course of the incident, both aircraft were damaged and had to return to the terminal. The passengers on both planes had to disembark and were rebooked onto other flights. The immediate consequence of the incident was a massive delay for the passengers on both flights. Delta used replacement aircraft to get the travelers to their destinations. The passengers on flight DL2046 reached Bozeman more than 15 hours late, while the passengers on DL2677 arrived in Dallas almost 12 hours later than planned.

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Croatia Airlines takes delivery of first Airbus A220

In a significant step towards modernising and strengthening its position in European air transport, Croatia Airlines, the national airline of Croatia and a member of Star Alliance, recently took delivery of the first of a total of 15 new Airbus A220-300 jets. This milestone marks the start of a comprehensive fleet renewal programme that will not only enable the airline to increase operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact, but also sustainably improve the passenger experience. By taking delivery of the first new aircraft under a leasing agreement with Air Lease Corporation (ALC), Croatia Airlines is celebrating its 35th anniversary while also embarking on a forward-looking renewal of its entire aircraft fleet. The introduction of the new Airbus A220-300 is part of the largest project in Croatia Airlines' history. The airline has decided to completely renew its fleet by purchasing modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. The programme includes a total of 15 new A220-300s, which will be gradually integrated into the fleet over the next few years. The next delivery is planned for the end of 2024, followed by another six aircraft in 2025, four in 2026 and three in 2027. In addition to ALC, Griffin Global Asset Management and Azorra are involved as other leasing partners. The decision to use the Airbus A220-300 reflects Croatia Airlines' ambition to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. The new aircraft offer fuel savings of up to 25% per seat, which is not only environmentally beneficial but also enables significant financial savings. This is particularly relevant in an industry that is increasingly

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