November 5, 2024

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November 5, 2024

Berlin: Easyjet expands winter flight offer with new destinations

The airline Easyjet has presented its winter flight schedule for the 2024/2025 season and is offering a variety of new destinations from Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The cities of Agadir in Morocco, Lyon in France and Cairo in Egypt will now be served. The connection to Agadir will start on November 5th, while Lyon will be served regularly again from November 8th and Cairo from November 6th. In addition, Tromsø in Norway and Rovaniemi in Finland will be added to the program in December. Liverpool in the UK will also be served again from February 14th, 2025. In addition to these new destinations, Easyjet has also increased the frequencies of existing connections to popular holiday destinations such as Madeira, Barcelona and Rome to meet the increased travel needs in the winter season.

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Brussels Airlines honors the Atomium with new special paint job

Brussels Airlines has announced the latest Belgian icon to appear as a special livery on one of its aircraft. This livery is dedicated to the Atomium, one of Brussels' most iconic landmarks, and was chosen from over 900 designs submitted as part of an open competition. The design was created by Thomas Faes, an architect from Brabant-Walloon, who wanted his creative concept to honour not only the Atomium itself, but also Belgian identity. The design and its significance Thomas Faes, 44 years old, decided at the last minute to radically revise his proposal. His aim was to create a design that was universal and representative of Belgium. In his own words, he describes the Atomium as a symbol of his childhood, highlighting the unique visual effect of the structure's spherical structures. Originally built for the 1958 Brussels World's Fair, this structure depicts an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times and represents both scientific progress and Belgian engineering. Brussels Airlines launched a competition in August to find the next Belgian Icon. After a pre-selection by an internal jury and a subsequent public vote in which more than 50.000 votes were cast, Faes' design was chosen as the winner. The jury, made up of prominent figures from culture and sport, praised the diversity and creativity of the submitted designs and the Atomium was ultimately chosen as the perfect choice for the next special livery. Collaboration and future steps Following the selection of the design, Brussels Airlines will now work with Thomas

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More than just a beach holiday: Winter activities on Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura, the second largest of the Canary Islands, not only attracts visitors with its white sandy beaches and a mild climate all year round, but also offers a wide range of activities for those seeking relaxation and adventure in winter. While many travelers associate the island primarily with sun, beach and sea, Fuerteventura shows a different, exciting side in the cooler season. This unique mix of nature, culture and sport makes the island an ideal destination for a winter short break. Fuerteventura's impressive landscape ranges from the spectacular sand dunes of the Corralejo Nature Park in the north to the mountainous regions in the interior of the island. Hikers and nature lovers can explore the diverse hiking trails that lead through rugged gorges and remote valleys. A trip to the sand dunes, where the colors of the sunset are reflected picturesquely in the sand, is particularly recommended. Art lovers will get their money's worth in Gran Tarajal, a picturesque coastal town. The streets are lined with impressive murals that reflect the local culture and give an insight into the everyday life of the residents. A leisurely stroll is a wonderful way to enjoy the creative atmosphere of the place. Festivals and events in winter A special highlight in November is the international kite festival in the Corralejo Nature Park. This colorful spectacle attracts hobbyists and spectators from all over the world who let their homemade kites fly into the sky. The 11th edition of this festival will take place from 17 to 2024 November 37 and offers an unforgettable experience not only for families. Sport and adventure on two wheels Fuerteventura is also a paradise for

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Travelcoup presents summer flight schedule 2025 with new destinations

As part of the continued expansion of the semi-private jet concept, Travelcoup, Europe's first operator of its kind, has unveiled its summer flight schedule for 2025. The company, which specializes in luxury air travel between established cities and popular holiday destinations, announces that Berlin and Düsseldorf will now be added as new locations in addition to the existing departure airports of Munich and Zurich. This expansion offers travelers more flexibility and access to a variety of destinations, especially in the Mediterranean. Travelcoup will offer weekly connections from Munich and Zurich to Nice (France) from May 19, 2025, followed by the launch of a route from Berlin to London Stansted on June 6, 2025. The connection between Munich and Palma de Mallorca and from Zurich to Palma will operate from April 10, 2025, with flights always operating on Thursdays and Sundays. This expansion includes a total of 34 weekly flights to five different destinations, offering passengers an unparalleled level of comfort and flexibility. Niclas Seitz, CEO of Travelcoup, emphasizes that the expanded flight offer closes a gap between classic business class and private jet travel. With a fleet consisting of two Embraer jets, the ERJ-135 and ERJ-145, passengers can enjoy the amenities and comfort of a private jet without having to bear the high costs of a full private flight. The jets offer a maximum of 22 first-class leather seats in a 1-1 configuration, which ensures generous legroom of at least 109 cm, as well as free gourmet snacks and fine drinks during the flight. A key feature of the Travelcoup experience is the first-class handling at the airport. Passengers can enjoy exclusive check-in without long

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Air France expands flight network with direct connection to Orlando from May 2025

Air France announces that it will launch a new non-stop flight between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Orlando (Florida) next year. The new connection will begin on May 21, 2025, and will include four flights a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The flights will be operated with the Airbus A350-900, which can accommodate 34 passengers in business class, 24 in premium class and 266 in economy class. The planned flight schedule will depart Paris at 17:05 p.m. and arrive in Orlando at 20:45 p.m. The return flight will leave Orlando at 23:00 p.m. and arrive in Paris the next day at 13:30 p.m. This connection will be Air France's 18th destination in the United States and 25th in North America. Orlando is known for its theme parks, mild climate and rich cultural offerings that attract tourists from all over the world. However, the launch of the new route is subject to government approval. In addition to Orlando, Air France plans to add Kilimanjaro, Salvador de Bahia and Manila to its global network with the start of the winter season.

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Mannheim: Rhein-Neckar-Air is bankrupt

The Mannheim-based virtual carrier Rhein-Neckar-Air (RNA) got into financial difficulties and filed for insolvency at the Mannheim District Court on October 28. The reasons for this step, according to managing director Axel Reißmann, are an unpaid claim from a tour operator. Despite this financial burden, RNA plans to maintain flight operations and continue to serve important routes. The future of the airline, however, is subject to financial restructuring. Rhein-Neckar-Air, which mainly offers flights from Mannheim to the cities of Berlin, Hamburg and Sylt, had carved out a niche for itself as a regional provider. The airline, which is often referred to as a "mini airline", was founded in 2014 and is committed to direct connections without detours. With its fleet of Dornier 328 aircraft, which are ideal for short runways, RNA particularly serves the needs of business travelers and holidaymakers in the Rhine-Neckar area. The airline primarily advertises the accessibility of regional travel destinations and fast service. The routes to Berlin and Hamburg have not been served for some time. Most recently, the airline was mainly active in the direction of Sylt and Heringsdorf. Rhein-Neckar Air does not have its own AOC, which is why it is not formally an airline at all. The flights were recently operated by MHS Aviation, which is expressly not affected by the insolvency application. Reason for the financial difficulties According to managing director Dirk Eggert, a key factor in the insolvency is the failure of a tour operator to pay. According to the “Mannheimer Morgen”, the operator owes RNA a sum in the mid-five-figure range. The airline has not yet been able to close the resulting financial gap, which ultimately led to the insolvency.

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Germany: Condor relocates capacities abroad

Condor has announced an expansion of its city offering for the 2025 summer flight schedule. New to the program are daily non-stop flights to eight European cities from Frankfurt, including Rome, Milan, Prague, Vienna, Zurich, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. Condor is increasingly positioning itself as a provider of city destinations, which CEO Peter Gerber underlines. "Condor is no longer a classic holiday airline," says Gerber. "We are consistently developing our flight schedule in line with the needs of our guests." The decision to also focus on city trips is a logical response to the changes in the travel market: many business travelers today take the opportunity to combine work and leisure. The expansion of this offer shows that Condor is strengthening its market position not only for long-haul destinations such as New York and Bangkok, but also in short-haul traffic within Europe. However, the reorientation is not only based on strategic considerations, but also as a reaction to rising location costs in Germany. Other airlines such as Ryanair and Eurowings have already reacted to this development and moved capacities to other markets that are more economically attractive for the airlines. Condor is also following this example and plans to move five aircraft to Zurich, Vienna, Prague, Milan and Rome in summer 2025 in order to secure its economic stability there. A key argument for moving aircraft and capacities is long-term competitiveness, as airlines in Germany are suffering from increased taxes and infrastructure costs. Peter Gerber stressed the urgency of a more cost-effective structure at German airports in order to maintain the attractiveness of the location and thus enable growth. Condor's decision to move aircraft to other European countries illustrates the

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Lufthansa Cityline staff representatives sue parent company over City Airlines

The staff representatives of Lufthansa Cityline have filed a lawsuit against the Lufthansa Group. The reason is the subsidiary Lufthansa City Airlines, founded in 2024, which, according to the union, is operated as a competitor to the existing Lufthansa Cityline and undermines labor law standards. The staff representatives are calling on the court to determine that Cityline is indispensable for the operation of City Airlines and that the planned closure of Cityline is therefore obsolete. Lufthansa City Airlines was introduced as a cost-saving alternative for short-haul flights and as a feeder to the Lufthansa hubs in Frankfurt and Munich. It is intended to replace Cityline in the coming years and, according to the group, employs its own management structure and employment contracts that enable lower wages. Industry observers, however, view this critically, as the new offshoot is structurally closely linked to Cityline and dependent on low personnel costs. Despite internal criticism of the working conditions and allegedly poor management at Lufthansa Cityline, the Lufthansa Group refused to comment on the allegations.

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Capacity collapse at Lufthansa: Seat capacity shrinks despite Europe-wide growth

A recent analysis by Air Service One shows that Lufthansa is one of the few major European airlines to reduce its seat capacity in the 2024/2025 winter flight schedule. With 24,2 million seats in this period, the airline recorded a decline of 3,9 percent compared to the previous year. The report cites engine problems with "Pratt & Whitney" models and delivery delays for new aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and 777X as reasons, among others. This is particularly affecting long-haul routes and the Munich hub. In addition, restructuring within the Lufthansa Group is having an impact on capacity: Lufthansa Cityline handed over many regional routes to its Italian subsidiary Air Dolomiti. At the same time, the new Lufthansa City Airlines, which will serve short-haul routes more cheaply in the future, is growing, as is Discover Airlines, which has increased its capacity to 25 percent. Other major airlines, including Ryanair and Turkish Airlines, were able to expand their seat capacity by 6,6 to 8 percent and are benefiting from overall growing demand on European routes.

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Financial challenges in the air taxi industry: Further bankruptcies loom

In the rapidly evolving aviation industry, numerous start-ups operating in the field of air taxis are facing significant financial challenges. A recent analysis by the Lufthansa Innovation Hub shows that these companies urgently need fresh capital to continue to pursue their plans to introduce electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL). The situation is particularly worrying for companies such as Archer and Vertical, which could face financial bottlenecks in the coming year if they do not tap into new sources of funding. Financial bottlenecks and investor frustration According to a report by AIN Online, the financial situation of Vertical's main shareholders, in particular Stephen Fitzpatrick, is becoming critical as he has announced that he will not provide a second round of financing of $25 million. This situation highlights the uncertainty that many investors feel in relation to the aviation industry, especially considering that many of these start-ups have invested immense sums without yet being able to present market-ready products. On the other hand, however, there are also positive outlooks: the companies Joby and Eve are more resilient and, according to the analysis, have sufficient financial resources until the end of 2026 and beyond. Eve, which is backed by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer, recently received a loan of 50 million US dollars from Citibank, which should help stabilize the company's finances. Toyota has also announced that it will invest a further 500 million US dollars in Joby, which strengthens the company's position and gives a positive outlook for future development. Lilium and the challenges of insolvency The situation of Lilium, another prominent player in the field of

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