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April 2, 2025

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April 2, 2025

Lufthansa and UFO union agree on new collective agreement for cabin crew

Belinda Borg 2 April 2025 11:08

After intensive negotiations, Lufthansa and the UFO union have agreed on a new collective agreement for cabin crew. The agreement, which takes effect retroactively on January 1, 2025, includes new regulations on part-time employment that are intended to benefit both employees and the airline. The relevant committees on both sides have already approved the collective agreement. The new collective agreement aims to create better planning for employees and improve work-life balance. At the same time, it enables Lufthansa to implement long-term, needs-based personnel planning for part-time employees. Another advantage of the new agreement is the simplification of internal regulations, which should increase operational efficiency. Michael Niggemann, Member of the Lufthansa Executive Board for Human Resources and Legal Affairs, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement and emphasized that the new collective agreement is a further step toward a positive development of working conditions. The new agreement is intended not only to benefit employees but also to increase operational flexibility.

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Austrian Airlines and Spanish Riding School announce cooperation

Amely Mizzi 2 April 2025 10:27

Austrian Airlines and the Spanish Riding School have entered into a special partnership: The name of the world-famous equestrian institution will in future adorn the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner with the registration OE-LPL. This cooperation is intended to underscore the close connection between the Austrian airline and one of the country's most famous cultural ambassadors. The Spanish Riding School was founded in 1565 and is considered a center of classical equestrian art. Every year, around 360.000 people attend the Lipizzaner performances in the baroque Winter Riding School in Vienna. A large proportion of visitors come from abroad, particularly from the USA. Austrian Airlines serves six major airports in the United States, thus making it easier for international guests to visit the historic institution. As part of the partnership, Austrian Airlines will also sponsor the 12-year-old Lipizzaner stallion Favory Wera. The project is part of the "Highlights of Vienna" initiative, in which the airline's new Boeing 787-9 long-haul aircraft are named after famous Viennese landmarks. Last year, a Dreamliner was named after Schönbrunn Palace.

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Universal Air launches new flight connection from Debrecen to Leipzig/Halle

Stephen Steiner 2 April 2025 10:02

With the start of its summer flight schedule, Universal Air is expanding its route network and launching a new connection to Germany. Starting last Sunday, the young Maltese airline will be flying twice a week from Debrecen in Hungary to Leipzig/Halle. Universal Air will operate a Dash 8-Q400 turboprop aircraft for this route. The connection between Debrecen and Leipzig/Halle marks another step for the airline to expand its presence in the European market. The Dash 8-Q400, a well-known regional aircraft, will be used for this route due to its efficiency and capacity for up to 78 passengers. The flights will be operated twice a week. Later in the summer schedule, Universal Air plans to launch another route to Germany. A weekly connection from Munich to Rimini is planned, starting on May 29. This route will also be served by a Dash 8-Q400 and is scheduled to remain in operation until September 25, 2025. With these expansions, the airline aims to strengthen its international connections and expand its offerings for travelers in Europe.

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Bodensee-Airport Friedrichshafen expands summer flight schedule 2025

Amely Mizzi 2 April 2025 09:04

Friedrichshafen Airport on Lake Constance will be served regularly by a total of nine airlines in summer 2025. In addition to established connections, Wizz Air is adding two new cities to its schedule: Belgrade and Bucharest. The Hungarian airline is also increasing the frequency of flights to Skopje to three weekly connections, tripling Wizz Air's offering in Friedrichshafen. Starting in May, the German airline MHS, in cooperation with UKS Touristik, will fly to the Baltic Sea island of Usedom for the first time. MHS will also serve the Italian holiday island of Elba once a week. Classic holiday destinations such as Crete (Heraklion) and the Turkish Riviera (Antalya) will also be reinforced with additional flights. The popular destinations of Rhodes and Mallorca will also return to the summer program. Another highlight are the flights operated by the Austrian tour operator Rhomberg Reisen, which connects Friedrichshafen with Preveza in Greece and the French Mediterranean island of Corsica (Calvi). With these expansions, Friedrichshafen Airport is strengthening its offerings for both city trips and classic holiday trips. The FDH summer flight schedule at a glance:

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Global Airlines brings A380 across the North Atlantic

Amely Mizzi 2 April 2025 08:37

In May of this year, the up-and-coming airline Global Airlines is embarking on a bold venture: using the Airbus A380 on transatlantic flights between the UK and the US. This venture, which initially attracted many skeptics, has the potential to permanently change the aviation landscape on the popular North Atlantic route. The first flights are scheduled to take place in May, from Glasgow to New York and from Manchester to New York JFK – a first for the airline, which uses China Southern Airlines' jumbo jets. Global Airlines, a start-up that has attracted attention in recent years for its unconventional approaches to the aviation industry, plans to use the A380 for the high-demand connection between Europe and North America. The first commercial flight is scheduled to depart from Glasgow to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) on May 15, 2025. Six days later, on May 21, 2025, the airline will fly another A380 from Manchester to New York JFK. The first series of these flights will have a turnaround of four days each, indicating a regular, but not daily, flight connection. The decision to operate the A380 on this route is particularly noteworthy because the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft, has been increasingly phased out of many airlines' fleets in recent years. The reasons for this lie in the superjumbo's economic efficiency. The A380 requires a high passenger load factor to operate profitably, which is not always possible in the still-fluctuating demand for international flights following the pandemic.

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New singles bar “The Blind Gate” opens at Cologne/Bonn Airport

Belinda Borg 2 April 2025 08:03

A new pop-up bar called "The Blind Gate" has opened at Cologne/Bonn Airport, specifically for solo travelers. In collaboration with Eurowings, this bar offers singles the opportunity to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere before departure. The concept aims to connect travelers and encourage new encounters. Eurowings, as the largest airline at Cologne/Bonn Airport, is also introducing the "Click & Connect" feature. This allows passengers to select so-called "Flie's Seats" specifically for solo travelers during the booking process. Travelers who use this option can meet their blind date in "The Blind Gate" before departure. The airport will cover the cost of two drinks to make getting to know each other easier. The bar features a modern design with stylish lounge areas and soft lighting. A carefully curated drinks menu offers a selection of classic cocktails, fine wines, and special signature drinks. These are accompanied by small culinary highlights that vary seasonally. This ambiance is intended to make it easier for guests to strike up conversations in a pleasant atmosphere. Thilo Schmid, CEO of Cologne/Bonn Airport, emphasizes the importance of this innovative concept: "With 'The Blind Gate,' we are creating an extraordinary opportunity for singles to get to know each other in a special setting right in the middle of our terminal." This offering underscores the airport's commitment to making travelers' stays varied and appealing.

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Virgin Atlantic reports decline in demand for US traffic

Belinda Borg 2 April 2025 07:32

In recent months, British airline Virgin Atlantic has experienced a noticeable decline in demand on routes between the US and the UK. This development comes after a solid start to the year and underscores the growing uncertainty in transatlantic air travel. Virgin Atlantic joins recent warnings from Delta Air Lines, which point to general economic uncertainty in the United States. The reasons for the decline in demand are varied and range from uncertain consumer behavior to the general economic conditions. Economic uncertainty is the main cause. Virgin Atlantic, known for its flights between the UK, the US, and the Caribbean, has experienced a period of stagnant and even negative demand in recent weeks. Chief Financial Officer Oli Byers attributed this development to economic uncertainty in the US, which has led to restraint in consumer spending. In the US, one of the airline's most important markets, hesitant booking behavior has been observed, which could continue in the coming months. Although demand from the US to the UK has declined in recent months, Byers nevertheless expressed optimism about the long-term outlook. Despite the current decline, Virgin Atlantic expects revenue from transatlantic flights to increase year-on-year. This is primarily due to strong demand from the UK to the US, which has remained stable, particularly in the corporate sector. Business travelers, who rely on transatlantic connections even in uncertain times, ensure relatively stable demand in this segment.

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Ryanair expands flight offer from Weeze Airport in summer 2025

Belinda Borg 2 April 2025 07:00

Ryanair plans to expand its presence at Weeze Airport in the 2025 summer flight schedule. The Irish airline will station a seventh aircraft in the Lower Rhine region and add four new destinations to its route network. From the end of March 2025, the following destinations will also be served from Weeze: This expansion corresponds to a capacity increase of approximately 150.000 additional seats. Dr. Sebastian Papst, Managing Director of Flughafen Niederrhein GmbH, emphasized that the stationing of a seventh aircraft is a clear commitment to the Lower Rhine region and will strengthen tourism and the economy in the region. The new connections increase the number of destinations accessible from Weeze to a total of 46. Existing routes include Palma de Mallorca, London Stansted, Malaga, Dublin, and Porto. The new destinations expand the offering to include attractive travel destinations in Southern and Eastern Europe.

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Swiss subsidy cuts could endanger regional airports such as Altenrhein

Amely Mizzi 2 April 2025 06:31

Switzerland is facing the challenge of rethinking its subsidies for air traffic control at the country's 60 regional airports. A central point of this discussion is St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport, which could be affected by the planned cuts. This decision could not only jeopardize the airport's continued existence but also have significant repercussions for the entire aviation infrastructure in Eastern Switzerland. As part of the 2027 relief package, the Swiss government plans to eliminate subsidies amounting to 25 million Swiss francs (approximately 26,2 million euros), which are currently financed from the mineral oil tax. This decision has caused concern among many stakeholders. St. Gallen-Altenrhein Airport has since confirmed this development and taken measures to maintain operations despite the uncertain financial situation. Financial uncertainty and postponed infrastructure projects The effects of the planned cuts also have direct consequences for airport operations in St. Gallen-Altenrhein. The runway renovation, originally planned for August of this year, has been postponed for the time being due to the uncertain financial future. Thomas Krutzler, CEO of the People's Air Group, which operates the airport, explained: "Without planning security, it makes no sense to invest millions in runway renovation." Instead, targeted repair and maintenance measures will initially ensure the safety of operations. Krutzler emphasized that these repairs will be carried out primarily at night so as not to disrupt flight operations. However, the airport's operational closure, which was originally planned for the renovation, remains in place, and the airport will remain closed to traffic between August 11 and 29 of this year. The uncertainty associated with the financial cuts

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Lufthansa stations Airbus A350-900 in Frankfurt for long-haul flights

Stephen Steiner 2 April 2025 06:06

Lufthansa has decided to relocate six Airbus A2025-350s from Munich to Frankfurt starting with the 900 summer flight schedule. This measure is intended to compensate for delays in aircraft deliveries and strengthen the long-haul fleet in Frankfurt. The first four aircraft, with the registration numbers D-AIXI, D-AIXO, D-AIXG, and D-AIXE, were transferred to Frankfurt at the end of March 2025. The A350-900s will be deployed on the routes from Frankfurt to Seoul and Shanghai on March 30, 2025. Denver will be served with this aircraft type starting May 1, and Seattle will be served with this aircraft type starting July 1. Jens Ritter, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Airlines, explained that the temporary deployment of the A350 from Frankfurt serves to fill a gap created by delayed aircraft deliveries. The Airbus A350-900 seats up to 293 passengers and features modern cabin amenities. 30 aircraft of this type are currently in service from Munich, with 14 more to follow by 2029. The new A350 aircraft with the Allegris cabin will be operated exclusively from Munich.

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