November 11, 2024

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November 11, 2024

Austrian Aeromedical Center and Health Center Vienna Airport combine their services

With the opening of the Austrian Aeromedical Center in the Health Center Vienna Airport, Vienna Airport is once again becoming a hub not only for international air traffic, but also for specialized medical services. From now on, aviation medical examinations and psychological care of the highest level can be obtained directly on site. In addition to Austrian Airlines' flight personnel, the Aeromedical Center's services are also available to external flight personnel. The airport and airline see this step as a strategic development of the so-called "AirportCity", which offers employees short distances and a wide range of services on site. Aviation medical care and psychological care for airline personnel In the Austrian Aeromedical Center, flight personnel and airline employees can be cared for in a state-of-the-art medical environment. According to Austrian Airlines CEO Annette Mann, the center is intended to strengthen the confidence and safety of airline crews. In addition to aviation medical examinations and ensuring health fitness, comprehensive psychological support is also offered here. This is particularly important in times of increased psychological stress due to global uncertainty and the special demands placed on flight personnel. Psychological support is provided by a specialised team that provides both preventive and crisis support. Under the leadership of Dr. Catharina Czerny, an experienced specialist in aviation medicine, the Aeromedical Centre has five doctors, two qualified nurses, an industrial and organisational psychologist and an emergency psychologist. The centre offers a wide range of aviation medical services, including flight psychology tests, which are used for both training and licensing in the cockpit and

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Virgin Atlantic adjusts route network: Engine problems cause concern

Virgin Atlantic, the British airline based in London, recently announced a series of changes to its route network due to ongoing technical problems with the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines on the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The market entry on new routes, such as to Accra in Ghana and the resumption of flights to Tel Aviv, had to be postponed. Instead, the airline announced the addition of a new route to Cancun, Mexico, which will operate with three weekly flights from London Heathrow from October 19, 2025. But while this new destination has been received positively for the British carrier, the technical difficulties cast a shadow over operational planning. Cancun as a new holiday destination: a strategic move Virgin Atlantic has decided to add Cancun to its route network to meet the growing demand for connections to the Mexican Caribbean. From October 2025, the airline will fly three times a week from London Heathrow to Cancun with an Airbus A350-1000. This flight will not only give travelers comfortable access to the beautiful beaches of Mexico, but will also offer connections to other destinations in Central and South America via the airline's codeshare partners, Aeromexico and LATAM. It is particularly noteworthy that the route will be the only direct connection between London and Cancun, further strengthening the status of the Mexican tourism destination. Virgin Atlantic's 12-strong Airbus A350-1000 fleet will form the backbone of the new connection. These aircraft can accommodate 397 passengers in three classes, including a state-of-the-art Upper Class (Business Class) known as "The Booth".

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Eurowings and Lufthansa: Flight cancellations cause uncertainty in the travel industry

The travel industry is currently facing growing uncertainty as media reports of flight cancellations and reduced flight connections in Germany and Europe make the rounds. The Lufthansa subsidiary Eurowings in particular is currently making headlines after reports emerged that the airline had reduced its domestic German connections by up to 40 percent. This news aroused concern in the industry as it suggested a further worsening of the already tense aviation conditions in Europe. But how is Eurowings reacting to this reporting? The airline denies this information and clarifies what is behind the alleged flight cancellations. Incorrect interpretation of figures: Eurowings reacts In a statement to "Touristik Aktuell", Eurowings stressed that the reports about the cancellation of domestic German flights had been misunderstood. The 40 percent reduction refers to a comparison of the number of flights between 2019 and the current situation, but not to an actual reduction in ongoing operations. In fact, the airline has not reduced its domestic German flights. Rather, according to the spokeswoman, Eurowings has significantly expanded its flight connections within Europe and also to more distant destinations since the pandemic - especially tourist destinations, which are among the most popular travel destinations. Background to the relocation: costs and demand A key reason for the changes in Eurowings' flight network is the rising location costs in Germany. After the massive slumps caused by the pandemic, the airlines are struggling with rising operating costs and a change in demand. In this context, those responsible at Eurowings decided to invest more in touristically attractive destinations, while domestic German connections were partially discontinued or restructured. The airlines are seeing

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Ljubljana: Murder at the airport parking lot

Last Saturday, November 9, 2024, the 39-year-old Iranian man suspected of stabbing his 7-year-old ex-partner several times at Ljubljana Airport on November 2024, 33, was arrested in Klagenfurt. Authorities in Austria and Slovenia had been feverishly searching for the suspect for two days after a Europe-wide manhunt was launched. The incident not only shocked the region, but also sparked speculation among the general public about the motive. The course of events and the investigation The murder occurred on Thursday when the woman, a 33-year-old Iranian, was found in the parking lot of Ljubljana Airport. Her death was the result of an attack in which the suspect fatally stabbed her several times with a knife. The woman's body was discovered in the parking lot, but the exact motives for her being there are still unclear. It is currently suspected that she may have been in an argument with her ex-partner. The police responded quickly to the murder case and, in cooperation with Slovenian authorities, a Europe-wide manhunt for the suspect was launched. The 39-year-old man, who lives in Klagenfurt, was finally arrested in his apartment on Saturday. The officers received support from the Austrian Cobra task force, a special unit for serious crimes. On Sunday, November 10, 2024, the man was remanded in custody. He is currently in Klagenfurt prison, where he is awaiting extradition to Slovenia. This is necessary because the crime was committed on Slovenian territory. The victim and

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End of an era: Good bye, Vistara!

November 11, 2024 marks the end of an era in Indian aviation history. On this day, Vistara airline, founded in 2015 as a joint venture between the Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, will cease operations as a standalone brand and be fully integrated into the Air India Group. This move is the result of the Tata Group's purchase of Air India in 2022 and represents a significant milestone in the reshaping of the Indian aviation market. From November 12, 2024, all Vistara flights will operate under the Air India banner, with the previous flight code 'UK' being replaced by the code 'AI', with a '2' prefixed to the new flight numbers to mark the transition. This move follows a long series of developments aimed at consolidating the aviation landscape in India and strengthening Air India as a full-service national airline. Vistara itself bid farewell to its customers and employees in an emotional social media post on its last day of operations. The post contained the message: "As the aircraft soars, so do our dreams; let us soar into the future where the sky is not the limit, but only the beginning." These words reflect not only the end of a chapter, but also the vision of further growth and advancement under the Air India umbrella. The background to the merger: A strategic step The integration of Vistara into Air India is a direct result of the purchase of Air India by the Tata Group in 2022. With this acquisition

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Riyadh Air: On course for expansion even before the first flight

Saudi startup airline Riyadh Air has ambitious plans for the coming years. With a fleet of more than 200 aircraft, the airline aims to shape not only national but also international air traffic. As part of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to position the kingdom as a global transport hub, Riyadh Air announced that it will further expand its aircraft fleet. This includes new orders from leading aircraft manufacturers and strengthening aviation capacities to promote both tourism and international business relations. Important investments for a promising future Riyadh Air, which is expected to receive its air operator license in early 2025, has already taken big steps towards expansion. Just recently, at the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Saudi Arabia, the airline signed a contract for 60 Airbus A321neo aircraft. The contract was signed on October 30, 2024 between Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, and Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft. The aircraft are to be delivered between 2026 and 2030. This step underlines Riyadh Air's long-term goals to establish itself as a major international airline. But the Saudi Arabian airline has much more planned. Orders for wide-body aircraft are also being discussed. The airline is currently evaluating both the Boeing 777X and the Airbus A350-1000 to further expand its fleet. A contract for these aircraft is expected to be signed in the first or second quarter of 2025, according to CEO Tony Douglas. Riyadh Air and the Vision 2030 Riyadh Air is not only in the foreground as a new airline, but also plays a key role in Saudi Arabia's ambitions to become a leading international airline.

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Strong increase in passenger numbers at Berlin Brandenburg Airport in October 2024

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) recorded a significant increase in passenger numbers in October 2024. From October 18 to November 3, a total of 1,386 million passengers traveled through the airport, which marks a significant increase compared to the previous year. The entire month of October brought 2,56 million passengers, an increase of 8,6 percent compared to October 2023. The busiest day was October 18, when around 98.000 passengers used the airport. In total, BER welcomed 2024 million passengers from January to October 21,62, an increase of 10,6 percent compared to the previous year. The number of flight movements and air freight loaded also increased in October, further underlining the airport's positive development.

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Hainan Airlines Dreamliner returns to Rome after engine fire

A flight operated by Chinese airline Hainan Airlines had to turn around on Sunday after an engine fire shortly after takeoff in Rome. The Boeing 787-9 was en route to Shenzhen in southern China with 249 passengers and 16 crew members on board. According to the airline, the fire was caused by a bird strike in the right turbine. The crew reacted quickly and dumped fuel over the Mediterranean before returning safely to Fiumicino airport. The plane landed at around 11 a.m. without further incident and all passengers were able to leave the plane in an orderly manner. No one was injured and the incident is currently being investigated.

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Air Baltic sets new records for passenger numbers and load factor in October 2024

Latvian airline Air Baltic achieved historic record figures in October 2024. With 470.800 passengers carried, the airline recorded an increase of 11% year-on-year. In addition, load factor rose to 84,1%, an improvement of 5,7 percentage points compared to the same month last year. In total, Air Baltic operated 4.160 flights, an increase of 2% compared to October 2023. These positive results underline the airline's continued growth. This year, Air Baltic has carried more than four million passengers and operated 39.600 flights. Recent developments include the opening of nine new routes for the winter season and the expansion of flight offer to 16 new destinations in the coming summer season. Air Baltic plans to further expand its global connectivity by strengthening the connection between the Baltic states and the international travel world. The airline currently offers more than 130 routes from its bases in Riga, Tallinn, Vilnius and Tampere and also flies seasonally to Gran Canaria.

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Emirates once again named “Best Airline in the World”

Emirates has once again been named World's Best Airline at the Ultras 2024 Awards. Voted for by thousands of travellers around the world, this award recognises the airline for its innovative services, products and outstanding value for money. Emirates was proud to accept the award, which was recently presented at Kensington Palace in London. The airline has already received more than 20 awards this year, including World Best Airline from Telegraph Travel and Best Airline at The Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards. Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates, stressed the importance of continued investment in the airline to further enhance the travel experience. Part of this effort is an extensive refurbishment programme that includes over 200 aircraft being fitted with new interiors. Emirates is also focusing on advanced technologies and an expanded route network that includes new destinations such as Bogotá and Madagascar. In addition to the Ultras 2024, Emirates was recently honored with the "APEX World Class Airline 2025" award and several awards at the Forbes Travel Guide Air Travel Awards. Emirates' special features include the luxurious cabins of the Airbus A380, the unique A380 Shower Spa and the "ice" entertainment offering, which was named "Best Inflight Entertainment" at the Business Traveller Awards 2024. Emirates is also now cooperating with Spotify to offer travelers a wider selection of podcasts and music.

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