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January 30, 2025

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January 30, 2025

Kerosene shortage in Johannesburg: Lufthansa refuels in Namibia

Belinda Borg 30 January 2025 11:04

Lufthansa has had to resort to an unusual solution due to a kerosene shortage at Johannesburg Airport. After landing in South Africa, the planes first fly empty to Windhoek in Namibia to refuel there before taking off back to Frankfurt. The reason for the fuel shortage is a fire in a refinery on January 4, which continues to affect supplies. The restrictions are expected to last until the second half of February. Lufthansa is trying to maintain operations on the high-demand route between Frankfurt and Johannesburg without additional stopovers for passengers. An additional crew will remain on site to ferry the Boeing 747 directly to Namibia. The refueling stop in Windhoek has already been carried out successfully several times, so there have been no major delays so far. The effects of the kerosene shortage affect not only Lufthansa, but also other airlines. Airlines have to adapt their refueling strategies or find alternative sources of supply. It is currently unclear whether the shortages will continue beyond February.

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BGH provides clarity on travel cancellations during the Corona pandemic

Belinda Borg 30 January 2025 10:03

The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has made an important decision on the reimbursement of cancellation costs for travel cancellations during the corona pandemic. According to this, entry bans or travel cancellations that only occurred after the cancellation may not be taken into account when assessing the refund. The BGH thus followed a ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from February 2024. The decision was based on three cases in which travelers had canceled their booked package tours for 2020. They demanded that the organizers repay the deposits and cancellation fees they had made. The BGH has now made it clear that the legal assessment is based exclusively on the exceptional circumstances at the time of cancellation - later developments are not important. The cases were referred back to the responsible regional courts for retrial. These must now examine whether a significant impairment of the trip was already to be expected at the time of the cancellation. In the case of a trip to Japan in particular, the BGH criticized the previous reasoning of the lower court, which had denied the likelihood of a significant impairment. The courts must now clarify whether an exceptional infection situation already existed at that time.

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Lufthansa negotiates entry into Air Europa

Jan Gruber 30 January 2025 09:01

Lufthansa is apparently in talks about a minority stake in the Spanish airline Air Europa. According to a report in the Spanish newspaper "El Economista", the deal involves acquiring a stake of around 20 percent. There has been no official statement from Lufthansa so far. Air Europa has been looking for a new partner since the failed takeover attempt by British Airways parent company IAG. The EU Commission had expressed concerns about the full integration into the IAG Group, which already includes Iberia and Vueling. The airline must also repay state Corona aid amounting to 475 million euros and therefore needs fresh capital. Lufthansa is pursuing strategic goals with a possible investment. Air Europa has a strong route network to South America and a competitive cost structure. The German group, which recently invested in ITA Airways, could expand its presence in the South American market with an investment. In addition to Air Europa, investments in Air Baltic and TAP Air Portugal are also being examined as possible next steps.

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Windrose expands luxury travel offer with new train journeys

Jan Gruber 30 January 2025 08:39

The luxury tour operator Windrose is responding to a growing trend in travel behavior and is expanding its offering with four new train trips that are attracting increasing interest, especially among a younger audience. Luxury train travel is currently experiencing a renaissance and has become increasingly popular in recent years not only among traditional travelers, but also among a younger, adventurous target group. In a company statement, Managing Director Christian Böll explains that with the new offers, Windrose not only wants to meet demand, but also to meet the desire for unique and unforgettable experiences. The four new train trips in the operator's portfolio not only offer spectacular views of untouched landscapes, but also the promise of a comfortable, stylish travel experience that reflects the standard of a luxurious vacation. The focus of the new trips are historic trains that allow guests to travel through history, culture and breathtaking natural landscapes. Scotland: Round trip through the Highlands and Hebrides with the Jacobite Steam Train The first of the new travel offers takes the participants on a round trip through Scotland, which is known for its rough but breathtakingly beautiful nature. The Scotland round trip not only includes a visit to the majestic Highlands, but also a discovery tour of the islands of the Hebrides. A very special highlight of the trip is the ride on the Jacobite Steam Train, a historic steam train that steams through the Scottish landscape and has enchanted many travelers. This train, which became famous as the "Hogwarts Express" through the Harry Potter films, offers guests a nostalgic journey back in time to an era in which

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American Airlines expects first Airbus A321XLR

Jan Gruber 30 January 2025 08:05

American Airlines is expected to receive its first Airbus A321 XLR this year. However, an exact delivery date has not yet been set, as the industry portal "CH-Aviation" reports. The US airline has ordered a total of 50 aircraft of this type and plans to significantly expand its long-haul fleet by 2029. With the introduction of the Airbus A321 XLR, American Airlines wants to increase the number of its long-haul aircraft from the current level of around 125 to 200. The model is characterized by an increased range and is intended to be used in particular on transatlantic routes. In addition, the company plans to keep the Boeing 777-300ER in operation longer than originally planned. The airline currently operates 20 of these aircraft with an average age of eleven years. At the same time, American Airlines is holding talks with Airbus and Boeing about a possible new order for wide-body aircraft. However, no concrete decisions have been made on this yet.

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Oman Air has closed its German office

Belinda Borg 30 January 2025 07:36

The economically pressured airline Oman Air has taken a drastic step in its restructuring, which now also affects the German office. At the turn of the year, the airline's eight-person sales and marketing team in Frankfurt was almost completely disbanded. The consequences of this decision are not only felt by the affected employees and their families, but also by the travel industry, which has previously worked closely with Oman Air's German office. According to statements by Thomas Müller, the previous Germany manager, the company is reacting to the ongoing difficult economic situation, which has required a comprehensive restructuring of the company for some time. In December 2023, Oman Air employees in Frankfurt received the news that their positions would be eliminated due to the company's restructuring measures. The staff cuts and restructuring affect not only the German office, but also other markets such as France and Switzerland. Müller described the changes as "more drastic than expected" and stated that the reorganization was already initiated in mid-2023 in order to streamline internal structures and reduce costs. These measures were necessary to free the airline from a difficult economic situation and to secure its long-term competitiveness. The decision to almost completely reduce the sales and marketing team in Frankfurt is part of a central restructuring. In future, there will only be one Regional Sales Manager in Europe based in London. In addition, the sales contacts for the individual markets such as Germany, France and Switzerland will be managed directly from the respective markets. The responsibility for the

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Change in the management of EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse

Stephen Steiner 30 January 2025 07:02

Basel-Mulhouse Airport is getting a new management level: Renaud Paubelle has been appointed Deputy Director of EuroAirport by the Board of Directors. He will take office on July 1, 2025, succeeding Marc Steuer. Together with Tobias Markert, who will start as Director on April 1, 2025, he will form the airport's binational management team in the future. Paubelle brings extensive experience in managing major infrastructure projects. He has been CEO of Strasbourg Airport since 2020 and previously held senior positions at the seaports of Guadeloupe and Marseille. There he was responsible for extensive development and investment projects. As Chairman of Strasbourg Airport, he led the reconstruction of operational processes after the Corona crisis and pushed for a diversification of sources of income. His predecessor at EuroAirport, Marc Steuer, had been in the management since 2022 and was involved in major investment projects. The Board of Directors recognized his commitment to the airport.

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Celebrity Cruises expands: entry into the river cruise business planned

Amely Mizzi 30 January 2025 06:38

The US cruise line Celebrity Cruises, which is known worldwide for its luxurious ocean-going ships, is now taking a bold step into the world of river cruises. The first river cruises under the new brand "Celebrity River Cruises" are to be offered for sale this year. The first of a total of ten river ships ordered is scheduled to make its maiden voyage in Europe as early as 2027. This step represents a significant expansion of the company's portfolio and could significantly enrich the cruise segment on Europe's rivers. The decision to enter the lucrative river cruise market follows the recent announcement of the order of a sixth ocean-going ship in the innovative Edge class. Celebrity Cruises, which is part of the Royal Caribbean Group, has thus decided to consistently expand its offering in order to offer its guests an even wider range of travel options. Jason Liberty, President and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, said in a statement that the decision to enter the river cruise market was the "next logical step". The new Celebrity River Cruises brand aims to "renew and improve the river cruise experience" and meet the increasing demand for "culturally enriching travel experiences". Celebrity Cruises has already established itself as one of the leading brands in the premium cruise segment, and now this reputation is to be transferred to the river sector. The company promises to integrate its expertise in the areas of upscale design, exclusive hospitality and excellent gastronomic experiences into the river cruise business. The decision to choose Europe as the first destination is a strategic choice, as the European river cruise market is already one of the fastest growing markets in the global

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SAS introduces high-speed internet with Starlink

Stephen Steiner 30 January 2025 06:07

The Scandinavian airline SAS will introduce a new high-speed internet service on board its aircraft at the end of 2025. As the company announced, the service will be provided via SpaceX's Starlink satellite network. The internet will be available throughout the flight, including take-off and landing. The new service is aimed primarily at frequent flyers. Members of the EuroBonus frequent flyer program will receive access free of charge. It has not yet been officially confirmed whether and what fees will be charged for other passengers. With the introduction of Starlink internet, SAS joins a growing number of airlines that rely on satellite connections. This technology promises significantly higher speeds and a more stable connection than conventional on-board networks. The fleet will be converted gradually.

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Lufthansa flight LH2507 makes unscheduled landing in London after engine problems

Amely Mizzi 30 January 2025 05:35

A Lufthansa Airbus A319 en route from Manchester to Munich on Wednesday, January 24, 2025 on flight LH2507 was forced to make an unscheduled landing at London's Heathrow Airport due to a technical problem with the engine. The crew decided to change the route to London following an incident near the English Channel that caused engine problems. All 107 passengers who were on board the aircraft at the time were rebooked to continue their journey. According to a Lufthansa spokeswoman, the technical problem occurred near the English Channel when the aircraft was travelling at a cruising altitude of around 10.000 metres. The pilots, who responded to the situation quickly and professionally, chose nearby Heathrow Airport as their destination for landing. An Airbus A319 is considered to be an extremely reliable aircraft and technical problems like this are comparatively rare. However, the crew of flight LH2507 implemented all necessary safety precautions to ensure a safe landing. The Lufthansa spokeswoman confirmed that the Airbus A319 had landed safely at Heathrow Airport and stressed that the technical investigation is now being carried out in London. While the aircraft will remain in London for repairs, rescheduling of passengers has been initiated. Passengers have been offered alternative flights to continue their journey. However, it was not specified how long the repair of the affected engine would take. Safety comes first Lufthansa emphasized that the safety of passengers and crew is its top priority at all times.

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