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April 7, 2025

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April 7, 2025

Vienna Airport cooperates with Ukrainian airports

Stephen Steiner April 7, 2025 11:05

Vienna Airport will cooperate more closely with Ukrainian airports in the future. A corresponding agreement has been signed with the Airport Association of Ukraine. The aim of the cooperation is to promote the exchange of expertise and to support Ukrainian airports with technical equipment and special vehicles. This is intended to strengthen the operational infrastructure in preparation for the resumption of regular flight operations after the end of the war. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Julian Jäger, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG and President of the Association of Austrian Airports (AÖV), and Petro Lypovenko, President of the Airport Association of Ukraine, as part of a delegation trip to Ukraine. Among those present were Lower Austria's Governor, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, and representatives of the Federation of Lower Austrian Industries. In addition to the exchange of know-how and potential synergies, the cooperation agreement also provides for the identification of shared market potential. Vienna Airport is already established as an important hub between East and West and is committed to the region through its stake in Kosice Airport, which is located just 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. At the same time, a 60-member business delegation from the Lower Austrian Federation of Industrialists visited Ukraine. In addition to company visits, political discussions were held with high-ranking representatives of the Ukrainian government. Several economic cooperation agreements were also signed. A symbolic item on the program was a visit to the Hostomel military airport, which was the scene of heavy fighting in 2022.

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RSD once again awarded as “TOP Tour Operator”

Belinda Borg April 7, 2025 10:00

The tour operator RSD Reise Service Deutschland was once again awarded the "TOP Tour Operator" certificate at this year's International Tourism Exchange (ITB). The company has received this award for the second time in a row, thus underscoring its economic stability and tourism performance. Certification was achieved through two independent audit procedures that evaluated both economic and tourism criteria. The audit of the economic performance was conducted by the auditing firm Rinke Treuhand, which analyzed the company's creditworthiness based on industry-specific criteria. At the same time, experts from tourVERS GmbH evaluated RSD's tourism offerings, including the price-performance ratio and the quality of its consulting services. TourVERS specializes in legally required customer protection and has extensive market knowledge in the tour operator sector. RSD Managing Director Horst Zsifkovits expressed his delight at the renewed award and emphasized the importance of the certification for the company. tourVERS Managing Director Michael Wäldle also congratulated the tour operator and emphasized that the award of the certificate should not be taken for granted. The “TOP Tour Operator” seal is awarded exclusively to companies that achieve above-average results in both test areas.

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State Secretary Zehetner-Piewald presents strategies for Austrian tourism

Stephen Steiner April 7, 2025 09:08

Elisabeth Zehetner-Piewald, State Secretary for Energy, Startups, and Tourism since April 1, 2025, presented her plans to strengthen Austrian tourism to the Tourism Committee. Despite an increase in overnight stays in 2024 to around 154 million (+2,1%), revenues in the industry are declining. Zehetner-Piewald emphasized the need to take measures to secure skilled workers, reduce bureaucracy, and manage visitor flows in order to increase public acceptance of tourism. A key concern is ensuring a sufficient supply of qualified specialists. The State Secretary referred to the planned increase in seasonal quotas for foreign workers by 898 places to a total of 4.287. This measure is intended to meet the demand for seasonal workers, particularly during peak periods. At the same time, the aim is to reduce bureaucracy and ease the burden on businesses, giving them more freedom to focus on their core activities. Another issue is the taxation of tips. The Salzburg Chamber of Commerce is calling for a general tax exemption for tips, as they are considered recognition for good service. Zehetner-Piewald emphasized the importance of legal certainty in this area and pointed to ongoing efforts to find a practical solution. Finally, the State Secretary emphasized the importance of major events for regional development. She pointed to the positive effects of the European Capital of Culture events in Bad Ischl, which, however, also brought challenges for the local population. In the future, such events should be designed to both promote tourism and ensure public acceptance.

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Virgin Atlantic returns to Canada: Daily flights between London and Toronto

Stephen Steiner April 7, 2025 08:33

After over a decade of absence, Virgin Atlantic resumed flights to Canada on March 30, 2025. With the new daily direct service between London Heathrow Airport and Toronto Pearson International Airport, the airline is strengthening its presence in North America and offering travelers expanded options for transatlantic flights. The inaugural flight, flight number VS 147, departed London at 18:02 p.m. local time and landed in Toronto on schedule at 20:42 p.m. local time. On board was Sir Richard Branson, founder and president of Virgin Atlantic, who personally underscored the significance of this event. In a statement, Branson expressed his delight at returning to Toronto, emphasizing the energy and spirit of the city. Details of the new flight The route will be operated by a Boeing 787-9, which can accommodate a total of 258 passengers: 31 seats in Upper Class, 35 in Premium Economy and 192 in Economy Class. Virgin Atlantic expects to carry over 165.000 passengers annually on this route. Alongside the launch of Toronto flights, Virgin Atlantic announced an expanded codeshare agreement with Canadian airline WestJet. This partnership will allow passengers to book seamless connections from Toronto to 13 other Canadian cities, including Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Ottawa. Sharing Terminal 3 at Toronto Pearson International Airport will ensure a smooth transition between flights. Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Atlantic, emphasized that this collaboration underscores the importance of the Canadian market and offers customers expanded travel options. Connections to India and

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Hallstatt receives new funicular to increase capacity

Belinda Borg April 7, 2025 08:04

The new funicular railway, a joint project between the Salt Mine Museum, Hasenauer.Architekten, and the Doppelmayr Group, was unveiled in Hallstatt on April 3rd. The new cable car is designed to increase capacity from 24 to 60 passengers per trip to accommodate the growing number of tourists. The existing cable car will remain in operation until August 31st, before construction work begins. The Doppelmayr Group, represented by Garaventa and Carvatech, is responsible for the technical implementation. The cabins, whose design is inspired by salt crystals, feature level control for barrier-free access. Hasenauer.Architekten designed the valley station, which blends harmoniously into the UNESCO World Heritage landscape and houses a Salt Mine flagship store. The mountain station will feature a viewing terrace and dining options. The new cable car is intended to offer Hallstatt a sustainable tourism solution and create a unique experience for visitors. The construction work will last until June 2026, and the Hallstatt Salt Mines will remain closed until then.

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Safety advice for Boeing 787: FAA proposes software update

Belinda Borg April 7, 2025 07:34

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published a draft of a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) affecting certain Boeing 787 models. This follows reports of inadvertent changes to the VHF radio frequencies in the Tuning Control Panel (TCP) without the flight crew's intervention. These unintentional frequency changes could result in important air traffic control communication instructions being missed, posing a significant safety risk. Background to the Directive Several incidents have shown that on the Boeing 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 models, automatic changes between active and standby frequencies in the TCP occur without the crew's intervention. Such inadvertent frequency changes could result in air traffic control instructions, such as changed clearances or flight path changes, not being received. This increases the risk of incidents such as collisions or unauthorized runway crossings. The FAA proposes that operators of affected Boeing 787 models update the Tuning Control Panel operating software to version COL43–0025–0004 or a later version. This update is intended to prevent inadvertent frequency changes and ensure communications security between the flight crew and air traffic control. Additionally, a software configuration review is required to ensure that the correct software version has been installed. Boeing will provide this software update to operators at no additional cost. Affected Aircraft and Implementation Deadline: The proposed directive affects a total of 157 U.S.-registered Boeing 787 aircraft. Three of these aircraft already received the update during production and are therefore exempt from the directive. The FAA sets a deadline for implementation, beginning with the effective date of the final directive. The FAA estimates the costs.

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TEDxKlagenfurt takes off: Conference in the airport hangar

Amely Mizzi April 7, 2025 07:01

On June 28, 2025, TEDxKlagenfurt will take place for the first time in an unusual setting: a hangar at Klagenfurt Airport will serve as the venue for the ideas conference. This year's motto, "UP - Unique Perspectives," reflects the special choice of location, which, according to the organizers, is intended to encourage new perspectives and unconventional ways of thinking. The conference, led by curator Eithne Knappitsch, will feature a selection of speakers who interpret the theme "UP" in different ways. Previously announced speakers include Gottfried Prinz, transformation coach and CEO, Farayi Chipungu, professor at Harvard University, and Manon Dave, music producer. The other speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. Launched in 2013, TEDxKlagenfurt has grown into an event attracting participants from across the Alpe-Adria region. As usual, the talks will be held in English, and around 500 guests are expected. Ticket sales begin on April 2, 2025.

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VietJet takes Comac ARJ21 into wet lease

Stephen Steiner April 7, 2025 06:35

In a move to expand its regional network, Vietnam's leading low-cost airline, VietJet, plans to become the first Vietnamese airline to operate Chinese COMAC ARJ21-700 regional aircraft, also known as the C909, on domestic routes. These flights are scheduled to begin in mid-April 2025. Importantly, VietJet's move will fill the gap created by Bamboo Airways' withdrawal from flights to Con Dao Island, an important destination for tourism and administration. The COMAC C909 is expected to be deployed on two key routes: from Hanoi (HAN) to Con Dao and from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) to the island. According to internal plans, four round-trip flights per day will be operated on both routes starting April 15, 2025. This development is not only significant from an aviation perspective, but also geopolitically remarkable, as it marks the first regular operation of a Chinese-made commercial aircraft in Vietnamese airspace. The air connections to Con Dao Island are strategically important. The region, which until now had been served almost exclusively by Bamboo Airways, would have been dependent on sea routes in the event of persistent flight cancellations. However, the approximately 230-kilometer ferry crossing often takes more than six hours—a serious disadvantage, especially for business travelers and emergency transports. Technical profile of the aircraft used: VietJet is initially leasing the aircraft from the Chinese Chengdu Airlines through a wet lease. Two COMAC ARJ21-700 aircraft are planned: one with the registration B-652G, which is 2,8 years old, and a younger unit with the registration B-656E. Both

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Girls conquer male domain at Dortmund Airport

Belinda Borg April 7, 2025 06:09

As part of the nationwide Girls' Day, Dortmund Airport opened its doors to 14 schoolgirls to give them an insight into the work of the airport fire department. The goal was to inspire girls to pursue careers in which women are underrepresented. The participants, aged 13 to 15, had the opportunity to experience the day-to-day work of a fire department firsthand. The day included a tour of the airport grounds, during which the girls learned about fire protection procedures in the terminal and the apron with its runway. A special highlight was the practical exercise with the water cannons of the "Panther" airfield firefighting vehicle. Airport Managing Director Ludger van Bebber emphasized the importance of such career orientation measures and sees diversity and equality as an important contribution to the world of work. Girls' Day is an initiative aimed at attracting young women to careers traditionally dominated by men. The event at Dortmund Airport offered the schoolgirls a rare opportunity to gain experience in an exciting and challenging work environment. The airport plans to continue such events.

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Ryanair expects 150 Boeing 737 Max 10s by 2033

Amely Mizzi April 7, 2025 05:39

The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair continues to pursue ambitious growth plans and plans to massively expand its fleet by up to 300 Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft. Despite the current uncertainties regarding the certification and delivery of this model, the company remains committed to its strategy. The introduction of the new aircraft is seen as a key component of its long-term strategy to increase passenger numbers and reduce costs. In spring 2023, Ryanair signed a comprehensive contract with Boeing. This includes a firm order for 150 Boeing 737 Max 10 aircraft, with an option for a further 150 aircraft. Delivery of the first aircraft is planned from 2027 onwards, with phased deliveries through to 2033. The agreement is considered one of the largest in Ryanair's corporate history. With a capacity of up to 230 seats, the Max 10 offers significantly more passenger space than its predecessor models, which should have a positive impact on operating costs per seat and the profitability of busy routes. Delivery delays and alternative arrangements. However, the planned deliveries are subject to pending certification by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This was originally scheduled for 2024. If certification is not granted by the end of 2025, Boeing has promised to provide the airline with an equivalent number of Boeing 737 Max 8 200s as compensation. This flexibility ensures Ryanair the necessary flexibility during a phase in which the need for additional aircraft – particularly in the run-up to the summer season – increases significantly. Ryanair already expects a shortfall of around 2025 aircraft for the 30 peak travel season. Production problems at Boeing.

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