October 3th

More articles from the category

October 3th

LATAM Airlines upgrades Boeing 777 with Aeroshark technology

The South American airline LATAM Airlines plans to equip four more Boeing 777-300 ERs of its Brazilian subsidiary with the innovative Aeroshark technology. After the successful test of a converted Boeing 777 in December 2023, which showed a reduction in fuel consumption of around one percent, a total of five aircraft are to be equipped with this special film. Aeroshark is a surface film that imitates the aerodynamic structure of shark skin. The film, which was developed by BASF and Lufthansa Technik, has ribs around 50 micrometers in size. By applying it to several hundred square meters of the fuselage and engine nacelles, air resistance is reduced, which leads to a reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

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Lufthansa postpones opening of new first-class check-in in Frankfurt to summer 2025

The German airline Lufthansa has postponed the opening of its new First Class check-in at Frankfurt Airport. Instead of in autumn 2024 as originally planned, the inauguration will now only take place in summer 2025. The reason for the delay is extensive technical renovation work that has turned out to be more complicated than initially expected. However, the decision to focus more on premium offers remains the focus of the company's strategy. Lufthansa wants to further optimize its customers' travel experience by improving premium services and facilities. These changes are part of a larger initiative to strengthen competition in international air transport, where premium services are becoming increasingly important. In addition, Lufthansa plans to expand its route network and increase customer loyalty through new offers. The premium services should not only offer passengers more comfort, but also a higher level of exclusivity.

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Jetblue Economy: Only cold meals on long-haul flights

American airline Jetblue has announced that it will now only offer cold meals in economy class on its transatlantic flights. This change affects all flights, regardless of aircraft type or departure point. Previously, passengers on certain Airbus A321neo flights had the option of enjoying hot meals. The standardization of menu selection is intended as a cost-saving measure. The decision to reduce meal options is part of the airline's efforts to reduce its operating costs. According to Jetblue, the quality of the cold meals will not be affected, but passenger comfort will be reduced by the elimination of hot dishes. This measure could also impact the perception of the airline's customer service, especially in a market where many airlines compete for passengers' favor.

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Warning strike leads to flight cancellations at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports

An all-day warning strike by Lufthansa Airport Services employees caused numerous flight cancellations at Leipzig/Halle and Dresden airports on Wednesday. Nine flights were cancelled in Leipzig/Halle, including connections to Frankfurt, Mallorca, Vienna and Düsseldorf. Flights to Frankfurt, Munich, Mallorca, Zurich and Düsseldorf were also cancelled in Dresden. The strike was organised by the Verdi union, as wage negotiations for the subsidiaries Airport Services Leipzig and Dresden have so far been unsuccessful. Lufthansa has since announced that it will close both companies and outsource their work to external service providers. Around 140 employees are affected by the closure. Passengers who use these connections as feeder flights are particularly affected, as autumn holidays have begun in some federal states.

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DiscoverEU: 35.500 travel tickets for young Europeans

The European Commission is launching a new call for proposals for the DiscoverEU initiative, which offers young people the opportunity to explore Europe by train. Young people born in 2006 can apply until October 16, 2024 to win one of 35.500 free travel tickets. 709 tickets are planned for Austria. These will allow the winners to travel through Europe for up to 2025 days between March 2026 and May 30. DiscoverEU, part of the Erasmus+ program, enables young people from EU countries and other participating countries such as Norway, Serbia and Iceland to discover Europe and its cultural treasures. Special offers such as the DiscoverEU cultural route take participants to UNESCO World Heritage sites and barrier-free cities. In addition to the travel ticket, participants receive a discount card that offers benefits for public transport, accommodation and cultural offers. Young people with disabilities and health restrictions who receive special support are particularly encouraged. Since DiscoverEU was launched in 2018, 319.000 tickets have been issued. The initiative aims to promote intercultural understanding and encourage young people to use trains more often as a sustainable means of transport.

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ÖBB buys its own headquarters in Vienna

The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) have acquired their corporate headquarters at Vienna Central Station. The 23-story office building, which has been held by Bank Austria's real estate fund Realinvest Austria since 2014, was previously leased to ÖBB on a long-term basis. After the previous owner considered selling it to a third party, ÖBB decided to buy the approximately 33.000 square meter building itself. The purchase price was officially kept confidential, but market experts estimate it to be around 150 million euros. With the purchase, ÖBB is securing its central location for the long term and is relying on a sustainable solution for its employees. The building, which offers modern office concepts, is located in the immediate vicinity of Vienna Central Station, which makes it particularly attractive for ÖBB. Insiders report that the family office of an Austrian investor was also interested in the property, but was not awarded the contract. The transaction was first reported by the medium "Gewinn".

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Lufthansa wants to strengthen its premium strategy

In 2024, Lufthansa faces a crucial challenge: While the airline continues to struggle to break even in its core business, CEO Carsten Spohr is relying on a comprehensive premium strategy to turn things around permanently. In view of growing competition and changing travel trends, it is essential for the traditional airline to position itself in the upper segment of the market. This strategy is accompanied by massive investments in a modern fleet and the optimization of operational processes, particularly in the feeder system. The reorientation of Lufthansa's strategy Carsten Spohr announces Lufthansa's direction: "Premium, Premium, Premium." With this philosophy, the airline not only wants to improve its own offerings in the flight market, but also secure its market position in the long term. Spohr emphasizes the immense importance of Lufthansa Airlines, which alone accounts for 44 percent of the entire Lufthansa Group's turnover. Particular attention is being paid to the expansion of the intercontinental and feeder fleet, including the new long-haul product Allegris, which, together with the overhaul of the Business Class in the A380 and the new lounge areas, represents a comprehensive product offensive. The importance of the core Lufthansa brand is undisputed. The airline is not only a central part of the Lufthansa Group, but also the largest hub in the existing network. With the planned takeover of ITA Airways, Lufthansa will expand its reach to a total of six hubs, including Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, Brussels and Rome. This will enable more comprehensive links between the hubs and improve the availability of connecting flights. Adapting to demographic trends and travel patterns The aviation industry is constantly changing and Lufthansa must adapt to these changes. Spohr emphasizes that

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Wizz Air opens new training center at Rome Fiumicino Airport

Wizz Air has opened its new Pilot Training Centre at Rome Fiumicino Airport. The state-of-the-art facility is the company's second training centre after Budapest and is expected to train more than 4.800 pilots annually. Equipped with two Airbus A320 simulators and modern training rooms, the facility offers advanced training opportunities. A third simulator is scheduled to follow in 2025. The opening underlines Wizz Air's commitment to safety and innovation in aviation, as well as the long-term strengthening of its presence in Italy, one of its most important markets. The centre was officially inaugurated on 1 October 2024 in the presence of Wizz Air CEO József Váradi, Managing Director of Aeroporti di Roma Marco Troncone and James Cahill, Vice President of CAE. The investment is also expected to create new job opportunities in the region and underline the importance of Rome Fiumicino Airport as a key European hub.

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Airbus on the home stretch: A321XLR ready for first customer Iberia

On October 1, 2024, Airbus reached an important milestone on the way to delivering the first A321XLR aircraft to its launch customer Iberia. The new model, known for its exceptional range and efficiency, successfully completed its first flight test at Airbus's Hamburg-Finkenwerder airfield. This test marks not only a crucial step in the aircraft's development, but also a new era in the aviation industry in which efficiency and sustainability play a central role. The airline plans to put the aircraft into service as early as the end of October, which is of great importance for the aircraft manufacturer and the aviation industry as a whole. A technological advancement for Airbus The A321XLR (Extra Long Range) is the newest member of the Airbus A320 family and promises a remarkable range of up to 8.700 kilometers, making it ideal for transatlantic flights and longer international routes. By using the latest technologies, including highly efficient engines and an aerodynamic design, the A321XLR not only offers better fuel efficiency but also reduced CO₂ emissions compared to previous models. The test flights, which were carried out in Hamburg, are an essential part of the extensive testing process that Airbus carries out for all new aircraft. During the four-hour test over northern Germany and the North Sea, the aircraft flew several circular patterns to check various flight maneuvers and evaluate performance. The A321XLR currently carries the provisional registration D-AVYR, but this will be changed to EC-OIL when it is taken over by Iberia. Iberia prepares for deployment Iberia, the national airline of Spain, already has plans to deploy the A321XLR

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TUM Convergence Center: New innovation location planned at Munich Airport

The Lufthansa Group, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Munich Airport have launched a joint innovation project. The "TUM Convergence Center" is a research center that is being built on around 20.400 square meters of the LabCampus at Munich Airport, which is intended to connect business and student engagement. A corresponding letter of intent was signed in the presence of Bavaria's Minister of Science Markus Blume and Finance Minister Albert Füracker. The research focuses of the new center include aviation, mobility, robotics and security. Particular attention is being paid to the sustainable development of aviation. The center is intended to provide a platform on which students, scientists, start-ups and business partners can work together on innovative projects. The initiative is an important step to further strengthen Munich as a major location for research and development and to find new solutions for aviation.

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