November 5, 2024

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November 5, 2024

Air Canada plans return of the Boeing 767-300ER: A new chapter for the airline

Canadian airline Air Canada recently announced its plans to reinstate the Boeing 767-300ER into its fleet. This marks a significant return for the wide-body aircraft, which was taken out of service in 19 due to the COVID-2020 pandemic. Air Canada, which once had 40 examples of this aircraft type, is thus making a statement about rebuilding and adapting its fleet to the changing needs of the market. Background and importance of the Boeing 767-300ER A proven commercial aircraft, the Boeing 767-300ER was first introduced by Air Canada in the 1980s. This aircraft stood out for its efficiency and range and has been an important member of the fleet over the years. The decision to reinstate the 767-300ER could be driven by both the need to expand capacity and an increasing demand for air travel as the market gradually recovers from the effects of the pandemic. According to aviation blog Ishrion Aviation, Air Canada plans to return two Boeing 2025-767ERs to its passenger fleet in 300. This return is part of a broader plan to bring a total of 21 new aircraft into service next year, including a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and several Airbus A220-300s and 737 MAX 8s. These new aircraft are intended to help expand flight connections and make the airline more competitive. The challenge of routes and capacity Despite plans to revive the 767-300ER, there is currently uncertainty about the exact routes the aircraft will serve and how long they will remain in the fleet.

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Deutsche Bahn in crisis: Overcrowded tracks and delayed trains as a symptom of a dilapidated system

Delays in long-distance traffic on Deutsche Bahn (DB) have increased sharply in recent years and are constantly reaching new records. A letter from the Federal Ministry of Transport, led by Volker Wissing (FDP), to selected members of the Budget Committee now sheds light on the causes: Insufficient capacity, tight timetables and bottlenecks characterize the German rail network and are responsible for more than half of the delays. This article sheds light on the background and the structural problems that make train travel in Germany a game of patience. The main reasons for the delays A recent analysis by DB shows that the overloaded route network and tight timetables are the main reasons for the increasing number of delays. In the first half of 2023, these factors were responsible for 18 percent of delays in long-distance traffic. The Deutsche Bahn network is particularly affected, having grown significantly over the decades without the necessary infrastructure being added. According to the “Handelsblatt”, these figures are based on a survey by the Ministry of Transport, which has examined the causes in detail over the last three half-year periods. In addition to the infrastructure, there are other organizational difficulties: around twelve percent of the delays were caused by operational deficiencies, including the provision of trains and a lack of staff. This shows a long-standing structural problem at Deutsche Bahn. Trains are often not ready for use on time or there is a lack of staff to operate them as scheduled. The shortage of skilled workers also affects railway staff and leads to delays in operations. External factors such as official interventions, the weather and other unforeseeable events also contribute to the delays. Around eleven percent of the

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Hainan Airlines changes aircraft on Chengdu-Vienna route

From January 2, 2025, the Chinese Hainan Airlines will use a Boeing 787-9 on its route between Chengdu and Vienna. The airline will thus replace the Airbus A330-300 model it has previously used. According to information from "Aeroroutes", the frequency of the flight will remain the same at three connections per week. The switch to the Boeing 787-9 is expected to offer a longer range and possibly improved travel comfort, as the model is optimized for long distances and is considered a more efficient alternative to the A330.

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Iberia celebrates 50 years of “Puente Aéreo”: An air traffic success story

On November 3, 2024, Spanish airline Iberia celebrated a remarkable anniversary: ​​the 50th anniversary of its "Puente Aéreo" service, the fast and flexible air connection between Spain's two most important cities, Barcelona and Madrid. This service, launched in 1974, has not only become an example of the evolution of air transport in Europe, but also an integral part of Spanish travel culture. The "Puente Aéreo" was created in response to the enormous volume of business travel between Barcelona and Madrid. With an innovative booking policy that allows passengers to arrive at the airport up to 20 minutes before departure and board the next available flight directly, the service has proven to be extremely popular. At both airports, passengers have access to special check-in and boarding areas, as well as lounges, which significantly increase travel comfort. A pioneer of aviation Although the Puente Aéreo was not the first air shuttle in the world, it was the first in Europe and at one point enjoyed the highest passenger numbers for a scheduled service in the world. The term itself is deeply rooted in Spanish popular culture and was even the subject of a legal dispute in which a court ruled that Iberia did not have exclusive rights to use the term. Initially, Iberia operated the route between Barcelona and Madrid as a monopoly, mainly using Boeing 727 aircraft. However, this dominance was challenged with the liberalisation of European airspace in the 1990s, when other airlines such as Air Europa and Spanair entered the market. Competition from rail The biggest challenge to the Puente Aéreo, however, came not from other airlines, but from

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Austrian Airlines plans flight number changes in the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule

Austrian Airlines will make changes to flight numbers on various routes in the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule. On the route from Vienna to Munich, for example, the previous flight numbers OS10X/11X will be changed to OS18X/19X, according to reports from "Aeroroutes". Further adjustments for other routes are expected and will be published in the booking systems in the coming days. This change is also expected to affect other short- and medium-haul connections and is part of an internal adjustment of the flight schedule.

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Condor sees itself on the right track

On March 1, 2024, Peter Gerber took over the helm of Condor Flugdienst GmbH and, in his first public address at the traditional Condor Talk Night in Frankfurt am Main, painted a positive picture of the company's future. In front of an audience of around 300 guests, Gerber expressed his satisfaction with the year so far and announced that 2024 would go down in history as a "very successful" year for Condor. This is particularly noteworthy as the holiday airline has stabilized again after the challenges of recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and is on a growth path. Fleet modernization as the key to success A key theme of Gerber's address was the impressive logistical achievement of integrating 18 new aircraft into the existing fleet within just 18 months. This includes the introduction of the Airbus A330-900 Neo, which is considered one of the most modern aircraft in aviation. Gerber stressed that this is an achievement that no other airline has achieved so far, and shows Condor's ambition to hold its own in international competition. In addition to this fleet modernization, the airline has also significantly increased its long-haul capacity. With a 33 percent increase in available seats, Condor has achieved the largest growth in the company's history, which not only strengthens its market position but also promotes customer satisfaction. Gerber pointed to an increase in the Net Promoter Score (NPS) to 34, which indicates increasing passenger satisfaction and is of great importance to the airline, as this value measures the willingness of customers to

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Riyadh Air plans further wide-body aircraft orders for 2025

Saudi Arabian airline Riyadh Air confirmed its plans to order additional wide-body aircraft in 2025 at the Future Investment Initiative forum in Riyadh. According to Chief Financial Officer Adam Boukadida, the company will seek a request for proposals for ultra-wide-body aircraft with over 300 seats, considering both Boeing and Airbus. This announcement follows an order for 60 Airbus A321neo earlier this week, which the airline plans to use to equip its fleet for short and medium-haul routes. Riyadh Air had already ordered 2023 Boeing 39-787s in 9 with options for a further 33 to expand the planned route network to 2030 destinations by 100 and to over 2035 by 120. The planned fleet growth will be secured by a one-year revolving credit facility of 3 billion Saudi riyals (approximately USD 788,9 million), which was signed during the forum. The financing, supported by several Saudi Arabian and international banks, will cover aircraft purchases and operating costs before operations begin in summer 2025.

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Marijuana smuggling at San Diego Airport: Several arrests

San Diego International Airport (SAN) saw a high-profile incident last week when four passengers were arrested attempting to smuggle over 150 pounds of marijuana on a long-haul flight to London. These arrests highlight the challenges of drug trafficking and security measures at international airports. The suspects, two men and two women, were apprehended by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials after their suitcases were inspected for suspicious contents during a routine security check. The customs officer discovered over 90 packages of marijuana hidden in the bags. According to authorities, the travelers had claimed not to have known the drugs were in their luggage, although investigations revealed that they were compensated for the transport. Background to the incident The arrests at San Diego Airport are part of a larger trend that has been observed in recent months. The amount of marijuana discovered in airport luggage has reportedly increased in recent years, particularly in connection with international flights. In the UK, for example, there has been a dramatic increase in arrests for marijuana smuggling, indicating an increasing interest in the high-priced cannabis products from countries such as the US and Canada. Experts at the National Crime Agency in the UK report that many of the smugglers are recruited by organised crime groups who pay large sums to transport drugs, often under the pretense that the likelihood of being caught is low. In reality, however, smugglers face heavy penalties that can reach up to 14 years in prison.

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China Eastern Airlines receives first Airbus A321neo

China Eastern Airlines took delivery of its first Airbus A2024-321NX in Hamburg-Finkenwerder at the end of October 200 and plans to use it, along with other aircraft ordered, to renew its Airbus fleet. The new aircraft (registration B-32HX) was flown to Shanghai via Astana after delivery and is expected to be integrated into commercial operations soon. The airline has ordered a total of 68 units of the A321-200NX, which are to be delivered by 2027. This order is part of a larger order from 2022, in which several Chinese airlines ordered a total of 292 aircraft from the A320neo family. The new model will gradually replace China Eastern's older A321ceo fleet and is equipped with two classes, including 12 business and 186 economy seats. China Eastern plans to use the A321-200NX primarily on profitable domestic routes, but is also considering expansion to international routes to Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia. China Eastern currently operates numerous Airbus and Boeing aircraft, as well as COMAC C919 aircraft and ARJ21-700 regional jets from OTT Airlines, a subsidiary.

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