September 16, 2024

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September 16, 2024

First test flights of Saudi Arabia’s new airline Riyadh Air completed

Saudi Arabia's new national carrier, Riyadh Air, successfully completed its first test flights on September 12. Flight RX5001 departed from Riyadh for Jeddah and returned as RX5002. A Boeing 787-9 from the existing airline Saudia was used for the test flight. These test flights are part of the certification process to obtain the Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Saudi Aviation Authority (GACA). Riyadh Air plans to begin regular operations in summer 2025.

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Lufthansa and Air Baltic: A potential new major shareholder for Latvia’s national airline?

The Latvian airline Air Baltic has written a remarkable success story in recent years. Now, two significant developments are looming for the airline, which is planning to go public soon: firstly, the possible entry of the Lufthansa Group as a major shareholder and secondly, the expansion of the wet-lease cooperation with the German group. This week it was announced that the Lufthansa Group is interested in buying shares in Air Baltic. Such an investment would open the door for the German airline to a growing market in Eastern Europe. Lufthansa could thus consolidate its position in Northern and Eastern Europe and at the same time gain access to a modern fleet. The fleet of Airbus A220-300 jets in particular makes Air Baltic an attractive partner, as these aircraft are considered particularly efficient and environmentally friendly. The timing of this news is no coincidence: Air Baltic is planning an IPO next year, which should generate further capital for the company and catapult it into the next phase of its growth. An entry by Lufthansa before this step could give the German group an advantage and help Air Baltic to maximize its value before it goes public. The IPO could also change the dynamics in the European aviation industry, especially if other players show interest in Air Baltic. Extension of wet-lease cooperation Parallel to the speculation about a possible entry by the Lufthansa Group, the group confirmed an extension of the existing wet-lease agreement with Air Baltic. This agreement allows Lufthansa to rent aircraft including crew, maintenance and insurance from Air Baltic to meet its own needs.

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Japan Airlines offers international flights with free domestic connections

Japan Airlines (JAL) is offering free domestic flights within Japan to international travelers who book an international flight with the airline. The company announced this. Travelers from selected countries, including the USA, Canada, China, Australia and Singapore, can benefit from this offer if they book international and domestic flights together. The airline has not specified a time limit for the offer. The aim of the campaign is to promote tourism in Japan and make it easier for travelers to access different regions of the country.

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