November 21, 2024

More articles from the category

November 21, 2024

Experience Lapland: Adventure and community with "Join The Crew"

A winter holiday that combines adventure, community and unforgettable experiences: "Join The Crew", a provider of outdoor group tours, is offering special trips to Lapland in the 2024/2025 winter season. Here, in the northernmost part of Finland, solo travelers between the ages of 20 and 39 can expect a mix of sporting activities, breathtaking nature experiences and intense group bonding. Lapland is considered one of the most spectacular winter travel destinations in Europe. With snow-covered landscapes, low temperatures of up to -30 degrees and the promise of almost guaranteed snowfall, the region offers ideal conditions for activities such as snowshoe hiking, husky sledding and snowmobile tours. But what really makes Lapland unique are the "Big Five" of adventure tourism: Northern Lights, fat bike tours, barbecue evenings in traditional Lappish wooden huts (kotas), sauna visits followed by ice baths and unforgettable encounters with reindeer. The trip begins with a flight to Kittilä Airport, from where the crew of up to eleven people is taken to their cozy holiday home. Here, surrounded by untouched nature, the participants experience a week full of adventure and community. Unforgettable experiences with "Join The Crew" A highlight of the tour is the hunt for the Northern Lights. Equipped with snowmobiles and accompanied by experienced local guides, they head out into the wilderness, where the green and pink lights of the northern sky create magical moments. The snowshoe hike in Ylläs National Park also impresses the participants: Absolute silence, fresh powder snow and the fascinating contrast of the dark forests and white snow cover create a unique atmosphere. The husky sleigh ride is particularly popular, where travelers glide through the snowy landscape and get to know the dogs up close. After such an adventure, the Lapland Kotas with their

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Emirates: Additional rotation to Madagascar during peak travel season

Emirates is expanding its service on the route between Dubai and Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. To meet the increased demand during peak travel season, the airline will be offering an additional fifth weekly flight from December 13, 2024. This service will initially be available for four weeks and will significantly increase capacity on the route. With the new frequency, travelers will have over 1.800 seats per week available in both directions. The flights, which also include the Seychelles as a stopover, offer an ideal connection between Dubai, the Seychelles and Madagascar. This is particularly attractive for vacationers, business travelers and those who want to combine both destinations. The additional flights will be operated on the proven Boeing 777-300ER, which offers passengers first-class comfort in three classes - First Class, Business Class and Economy Class. In total, the aircraft has space for 360 passengers per flight. With the expanded service, Emirates is strengthening its position in the Seychelles and Madagascar markets. Flights EK707 and EK708 connect Dubai, the Seychelles and Antananarivo and offer flexible travel times. The flight departs from Dubai to the Seychelles at 09:10, the onward journey to Madagascar departs at 15:20. The return flight to Dubai departs Antananarivo at 18:35 and arrives in the United Arab Emirates the next morning at 04:20. These times are ideally coordinated to enable seamless connecting flights within the Emirates network.

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Summer 2025: Eurowings plans 42 destinations

With an expansion of its offering, Eurowings is setting new standards at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) from summer 2025. Germany's leading holiday airline is planning 42 direct destinations, including numerous new destinations and more intensive connections to existing destinations. The expansion underlines the importance of Berlin in the Lufthansa subsidiary's route network and emphasizes the strategic focus on attractive holiday regions. For the first time, destinations such as Bilbao in Spain, Corfu in Greece, Faro in Portugal and Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia are on the flight schedule from BER. Newcastle in the north-east of England also complements the list of direct connections and appeals to both tourists and business travelers. These new additions expand the offering in southern Europe and northern England and offer a greater choice for passengers from the capital region. In addition to the new destinations, Eurowings is intensifying existing routes. Cities such as Malaga, Heraklion, Rhodes, Graz, Helsinki and Nice will be served more frequently in the future. The commitment to Mallorca remains particularly strong, which will be accessible from BER up to 21 times a week. This frequency underlines the role of the Balearic island as a favourite destination for German holidaymakers and a key destination for Eurowings. Positive impulses for the capital region Aletta von Massenbach, the managing director of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH, praises the airline's commitment: "The expanded offer improves the region's accessibility and strengthens the BER location and the regional economy." Jens Bischof, CEO of Eurowings, also sees great potential in the capital: "Our commitment to BER is a clear commitment to Berlin and to the Lufthansa Group's market leadership in the region." Burkhard Kieker, managing director of visitBerlin, emphasises the importance for tourism: "Eurowings is

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SkyUp MT sets course for Saarbrücken

Saarbrücken-Ensheim Airport is facing a new era in international air traffic. After repeated problems with the airline Smartlynx, which in the past caused numerous inconveniences such as delayed and canceled flights and unplanned stopovers, the airport is now presenting a new summer flight schedule for 2025. The long-gone partnership with Smartlynx, which has repeatedly made headlines in recent months, will not be continued next year. Instead, two new airlines are entering the scene: SkyUp Airlines Malta and Aegean Airlines. These changes could have a lasting impact not only on the future of the airport, but also on travel options for the region. The end of a problematic partnership: Smartlynx The cooperation between Saarbrücken-Ensheim Airport and the airline Smartlynx was accompanied by various difficulties. Passengers repeatedly had to contend with delays and flight cancellations, which led to discontent and negative headlines. Unplanned stopovers and changes in destination airports caused frustration among travelers. These recurring problems ultimately contributed to Smartlynx no longer appearing in the new summer flight schedule for 2025. The airport is thus saying goodbye to a partner that maintained air traffic as part of charter flights to destinations in the Mediterranean and North Africa. However, the unreliability and repeated inconveniences ultimately led to the decision not to continue this contract. Instead, the company is relying on a new order for the service with new and hopefully more stable partners. The new airlines: SkyUp Airlines Malta and Aegean Airlines In the 2025 summer flight schedule, passengers can look forward to two new airlines. SkyUp Airlines Malta, a subsidiary of the Ukrainian low-cost airline

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Christmas travel: Flixbus increases its offer

The upcoming Christmas holidays are a welcome opportunity for many to go home or plan a festive short break. If you value comfort and good accessibility, FlixBus and FlixTrain have suitable offers. With an extended timetable and attractive prices, the means of transport ensure a stress-free journey to the most popular destinations in Europe, be it to the festively decorated Christmas markets or to the snow-covered ski resorts in the Alps. FlixBus is responding to the high demand in the winter months by expanding its offer by almost 20 percent. Particularly popular routes such as Berlin - Hamburg, Berlin - Copenhagen or Munich - Lyon are also served during the holidays. The long-distance bus market has changed rapidly in recent years and FlixBus has built up a significant presence in Europe. With around 700 cities directly accessible, including more than 300 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the company is an important part of international long-distance transport. The additional buses enable travelers to get from one city to another quickly and comfortably without having to forego comfort. Especially during the holidays, when traffic is particularly high, FlixBus offers a stress-free solution for travelers who do not want to deal with traffic jams or overcrowded trains. FlixTrain: Convenient train connections in Germany FlixTrain offers a practical alternative to the car or plane with its winter timetable. FlixTrain serves around 50 cities in Germany and allows travelers to travel from one destination to the next in a relaxed manner. Particularly popular routes such as Hamburg - Cologne and Berlin - Frankfurt are served several times a day.

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Vienna: Austrian Airlines opens new lounge in the non-Schengen area

With a fresh design and innovative concepts, Austrian Airlines is opening its new lounge areas in the non-Schengen area at Vienna Airport today. The lounge on level 3 is not only a place for rest and relaxation, but also sets standards in terms of design, service and privacy. As part of the ongoing south terminal expansion, the lounge will be the point of contact for travelers who can enjoy not only comfortable amenities but also a view of the busy airfield and the construction work. The opening of the new lounge is part of a long-term plan that will open a new chapter in the airline's travel experience until the terminal expansion is completed in 2027. A lounge experience: design meets Austrian hospitality When designing its new lounge, Austrian Airlines is consistently pursuing a concept that combines both innovative design approaches and traditional Austrian hospitality. The heart of the lounge is the design, which creates a unique feel-good ambience with a harmonious mix of modern and classic elements. Natural materials and earthy tones characterise the interior, with furniture such as the iconic Thonet armchairs in Austrian red offering a modern interpretation of the classic. These design accents not only reflect the traditional style, but also convey the unmistakable feeling of Austrian cosiness. The lounge is designed to meet the needs of travellers - be it for relaxing moments before departure or for productive work phases. Particularly noteworthy are the Oval Single Chairs, which offer additional privacy and are ideal retreats for both business and leisure travellers. In addition, there are soft carpets and a

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TAP Air Portugal: Financial stability despite challenges in the third quarter of 2024

TAP Air Portugal has announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, showing a remarkable performance despite difficult global economic conditions. Although the company achieved a net profit of 117,8 million euros, a decrease of 62,8 million euros compared to the same period last year, the airline has improved significantly compared to the pre-crisis levels of 2019. Revenue increased by 2024 percent in the third quarter of 2, surpassing 2019 results with an increase in operating income of 23 percent. TAP Air Portugal, the world's leading airline between Europe and Brazil, has recovered from the pandemic and is pursuing continuous expansion. In the first nine months of 2024, the airline carried a total of 12,3 million passengers, an increase of 1,5 percent compared to the previous year. Capacity increased by 2,3 percent compared to the first nine months of 2023. These advances, especially compared to the years before the pandemic, underline the airline's successful reconstruction. Capacity, measured in seat kilometers (ASK), reached 97 percent of 2019 levels in the third quarter. This represents a significant step in the airline's recovery as it continues to strive to expand its network of international flights and maximize passenger load factor. The load factor, which measures the percentage of seats occupied, reached 86,2 percent, an improvement of 1,4 percentage points year-on-year and shows that TAP is able to better utilize its capacity. Increased operating costs and currency problems However, the airline also faced challenges that have affected its

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Ryanair threatens to drastically cut capacity in France

The government's planned increase in passenger taxes in France is facing significant opposition from airlines, particularly Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair. According to a statement by Ryanair's commercial director Jason McGuinness, the company plans to reduce capacity to and from French regional airports by up to 2025 percent from January 50 if the French government goes ahead with its plan to triple the passenger tax. This decision could have serious consequences for the French aviation industry and the affected regional airports, which are already struggling with challenges. Due to an unexpectedly high budget deficit, the French government is forced to take fiscal consolidation measures in the 2025 budget plan, including a significant increase in taxes on airline tickets and private flights. The plan is facing opposition not only from airlines such as Ryanair, but also from representatives of the affected airports, who fear that the tax increase could negatively affect passenger volumes and weaken the low-cost airline market in particular. Ryanair currently flies to 22 smaller regional airports in France, which are mainly served by low-cost airlines such as Ryanair. Ryanair has not yet announced which of these airports will be affected by the cuts. However, the company announced that the two airports near Paris - Beauvais and Vatry - are not on the list of cuts. These airports are of central importance to Ryanair as they are important hubs for connections to and from France. The Irish airline currently carries around 5,7 million passengers in France, which represents an increase of 19 percent compared to the previous year. However, Ryanair warns that the

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El Al Israel Airlines reports strong growth in the third quarter of 2024

Israeli airline El Al has recorded a remarkable financial recovery in the third quarter of 2024, driven by increased demand and successful operational adjustments. The company's revenue increased to approximately $1.004 million, an increase of 20 percent from the previous quarter. In addition, the number of available seat kilometers (ASK) increased by 15 percent, while the seat load factor (LF) rose to approximately 94 percent - a significant increase year-on-year. The company was able to significantly increase profits, with net profit reaching $187 million, a significant improvement compared to $52 million in the third quarter of 2023. These positive results are also reflected in cash flow, which saw a significant increase of approximately $320 million. The company also benefited from a capital increase and increased profitability, while financial debt was reduced. El Al CEO Dina Ben Tal Ganancia stressed the airline's continued efforts to keep Israeli airspace open, which is of great importance for Israel's economic and diplomatic situation.

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Binter expands its fleet with new Embraer E195-E2

The Canary Islands airline Binter has expanded its fleet with two new Embraer E195-E2s. The two aircraft, named "Vigo" and "Baleares", were introduced specifically for the connection between the Canary Islands and mainland Spain. With the expansion, Binter's fleet will grow to a total of 40 aircraft, consisting of 28 ATRs and 12 Embraer E195-E2s. A further four aircraft of this type have already been ordered. The new jets will improve the islands' connectivity and increase the number of direct destinations to 28. Particularly noteworthy is the possibility of both increasing the frequency of existing routes and adding new connections. The Embraer E195-E2 has space for 132 passengers and impresses with increased fuel efficiency and reduced noise. This expansion strengthens Binter as a regional carrier and underlines its commitment to further developing the Canary Islands as a hub for international air traffic.

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