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April 16, 2025

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April 16, 2025

Smooth Easter travel at Munich Airport

Stephen Steiner April 16, 2025 09:00

At the start of the Easter holidays, Munich Airport handled an unexpectedly high passenger volume without any significant disruptions. Between Friday and Sunday, around 395.000 passengers were processed, representing an increase of approximately 80.000 travelers compared to the previous year. This increase was further exacerbated by the simultaneous end of the world's largest construction machinery trade fair in Munich. Despite the high demand, there were no significant waiting times in the check-in areas or at the modernized security checkpoints in both terminals. Flight operations also ran smoothly, with very good punctuality figures. Around 2.900 takeoffs and landings were recorded on the first holiday weekend. Airlines have registered around 15.000 flights to 189 different destinations for the entire Easter holidays. Munich Airport expects a total of over two million passengers during the Easter travel period. European destinations such as Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey are particularly popular with travelers, with a total of around 4.300 flight movements to these destinations. Intercontinental connections are also experiencing high demand, with over 760 flights to 20 destinations in the United States and Canada. In Asia, Thailand and Vietnam remain popular destinations. A new connection to Windhoek, Namibia, with 14 flight movements, is being added. Munich Airport is thus well prepared for the increased travel traffic during the Easter holidays.

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Tuesday unpopular as a flight day – Avelo Airlines cancels flights on peak summer days

Belinda Borg April 16, 2025 08:39

In the aviation industry, demand for flights is subject to considerable fluctuations throughout the week, significantly influenced by passengers' travel motives. Tuesday is generally considered the weekday with the lowest load factors. Airlines are often forced to reduce their prices more than usual on this day in order to fill aircraft and thus optimize revenue, provided they do not reduce their flight capacity. This realization has led some airlines to strategically adjust their flight schedules. In particular, airlines with older aircraft that are owned by the airline or can be operated at very low lease rates but have higher fuel consumption and maintenance requirements tend to significantly reduce their flight capacity on less popular days. The American low-cost carriers Avelo Airlines and Allegiant Air are cited as examples of this approach. In contrast, airlines with more modern and fuel-efficient aircraft are forced to use them more intensively to offset higher fixed operating costs. Avelo Airlines now provides a particularly drastic example of the reaction to low demand on Tuesdays. According to flight schedule data submitted to analytics firm Cirium Diio, Avelo plans to operate no commercial flights on Tuesdays during the two peak summer months of July and August 2025. Although fewer flights typically operate on Tuesdays than on other weekdays, such a complete ban is highly unusual. In comparison, 2024 percent of all Avelo flights took place on Tuesdays in July and August 1,1, while this share was even higher in 2023 and 2022 (4,4 percent and 6,3 percent, respectively). Avelo

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RegioJet increases connections over the Easter holidays

Amely Mizzi April 16, 2025 08:07

The private Czech transport operator RegioJet is responding to the expected high travel demand over the upcoming Easter weekend by significantly increasing its train and bus capacity. This will primarily affect heavily used rail routes within the Czech Republic, particularly the connection between Prague and Ostrava, as well as international train lines to Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava, and Košice. Bus services will also be increased, with both domestic and cross-border connections to Berlin, Vienna, and Budapest. The company announced that around 2.000 additional seats have been created on the Prague – Ostrava – Košice, Prague – Brno – Vienna – Budapest, and Prague – Brno – Bratislava lines alone for the period from April 17 to 21. The night trains from Prague to Přemyšl in Poland will also be increased. Jakub Svoboda, Managing Director of RegioJet Rail Services, announced that capacity will be further increased operationally in the coming days as needed. RegioJet also expects high capacity utilization in bus services, especially on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday morning, and Easter Monday. Dita Tomešová, Director of Bus Services, explained that both domestic routes such as Brno – Prague or Prague – Karlovy Vary – Liberec, as well as international routes from Prague to Berlin, Budapest, and Vienna, will be intensified. Furthermore, the increased interest in connections on Wednesday afternoons due to the start of the school holidays will be monitored in order to provide additional capacity if necessary. RegioJet points out that only a few seats are available on many routes and expects trains and buses to be largely sold out. Travelers are therefore strongly advised to purchase their tickets early. The company also emphasizes the comfort of its journeys, with free Wi-Fi, newspapers and magazines, as well as

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Further delay in the entry into service of the Airbus A321XLR at Wizz Air

Stephen Steiner April 16, 2025 07:32

The planned introduction of the Airbus A321XLR into the fleet of the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is being delayed further. After previously eagerly awaiting when the airline's British subsidiary (Wizz Air UK) would take delivery of the first of its ordered long-haul jets, the company has now announced that the type's Entry Into Service (EIS) has been postponed again. This affects the airline's first aircraft, which is equipped with Pratt & Whitney PW1100G engines and is scheduled to fly under the British Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). Wizz Air explained the renewed delay to the specialist portal ch-aviation, citing problems in the delivery process. Wizz Air has yet to make a statement to other media outlets. Wizz Air's CEO, József Váradi, originally announced in September of last year that the first two routes on which the A321XLR would be deployed would connect London Gatwick (LGW) with Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Saudi Arabia, and Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) with Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). The first flight on the London Gatwick to Jeddah route was originally planned for March 31, 2025, with the actual debut flight of the A321XLR scheduled to follow on April 14. Although Wizz Air has not yet welcomed the A321XLR into its fleet, records from the flight data service Flightradar24 indicate that one of its Airbus A321neo aircraft (registration G-WUNA) completed the maiden flight on the aforementioned route from London Gatwick to Jeddah on March 31. This flight with the registration W95605 took off at 16:25 local time and covered the 4.714

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Pegasus Airlines starts flights from Graz to Antalya

Amely Mizzi April 16, 2025 07:08

Graz Airport is expanding its range of direct flights to Antalya, Turkey. Effective immediately, the Turkish airline Pegasus Airlines will offer up to four weekly connections to the popular holiday destination. This brings the total number of weekly direct flights from Graz to Antalya to eight, as SunExpress already serves this route. The commencement of Pegasus Airlines' flight operations was announced on April 14, 2025. The increased number of flight connections between Graz and Antalya will allow travelers to plan their vacations more flexibly. Wolfgang Grimus, Managing Director of Graz Airport, expressed his positive opinion of the new partnership with Pegasus Airlines. He emphasized that the high frequency of flights will allow passengers to plan their travel times more individually and benefit from the offers of both airlines. Pegasus Airlines is a major Turkish airline and is considered the leading low-cost carrier and the second-largest airline in the country. In addition to charter flights, Pegasus offers an extensive scheduled network with connections to numerous destinations within Turkey as well as to 150 destinations in 53 countries across Europe, Asia, and Africa. The new connection from Graz to Antalya operates on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. SunExpress will continue to offer its flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

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Increasing number of unaccompanied children at Swiss airports

Amely Mizzi April 16, 2025 06:38

Transporting unaccompanied minors poses a particular challenge for airlines and airports worldwide. To ensure their safety and care during their journey, special regulations exist to ensure that these young travelers receive the necessary support at every stage of their flight. In Switzerland, a clear trend now appears to be gaining momentum: the number of children flying unaccompanied by adults is increasing at the country's major airports. Swissport, which provides passenger services at various Swiss airports, has observed a notable increase in the number of unaccompanied minors. Geneva and Zurich airports each handled more than 12.000 such young travelers last year. At EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, the number was lower, but still constant, at 900 unaccompanied minors in 2024. Swissport attributes this increase to changing travel trends in the modern aviation industry. Particularly in internationally oriented cities such as Zurich, Basel, and Geneva, which have a diverse, global workforce, an increasing number of children are flying alone to visit family members who live far away. As a passenger service provider, Swissport is responsible for the care of unaccompanied minors from check-in to boarding. There, the children are then handed over to the cabin crew of the respective airline, who assume supervision during the flight. According to Swissport, the peak travel periods for unaccompanied minors are traditionally the Christmas and summer holidays, which are generally times of increased travel. These figures illustrate the magnitude of this task for Swissport at Switzerland's largest airports. At Zurich Airport, the eighteenth busiest airport,

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Basel Airport sets the tone for the Eurovision Song Contest

Belinda Borg April 16, 2025 06:09

EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is clearly positioning itself as a partner of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025, which will take place in Basel in May. Since Monday, April 14, a large poster bearing the well-known slogan "Ne partez pas sans moi" – a reference to Céline Dion's winning song for Switzerland at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest – has been displayed on the airport's control tower. This campaign is part of a broader partnership between the airport and the music competition. As a national partner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, EuroAirport emphasizes its regional ties and its role as an important hub. The slogan is intended to symbolize the unifying power of music across generations and countries, while also underscoring the airport's function as a gateway to the world and a guarantee of accessibility to the trinational region. With over 100 destinations in Europe and beyond, EuroAirport serves as an important infrastructure for travel to the host city of Basel. During the Eurovision Song Contest week from May 10 to 17, 2025, EuroAirport will also have its own stand in the Eurovision Village. There, visitors can participate in competitions and learn more about the airport. Various installations will also bring the Eurovision atmosphere to life directly at the airport. A karaoke competition is also planned in collaboration with Radio Energy at the Basel Exhibition Center. With these initiatives, EuroAirport aims to increase anticipation for the major music event in the region and emphasize its role as a cosmopolitan transport hub.

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FAA orders replacement of lavatory latches on Boeing 737 NG and MAX

Stephen Steiner April 16, 2025 05:38

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a mandatory replacement of the hinged door locks on numerous Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) and 737 MAX aircraft. This step comes after incidents in which passengers were trapped in aircraft lavatories due to defective locks. A particularly high-profile case occurred in 2024 on a flight operated by the Indian airline SpiceJet, in which a passenger was trapped in the lavatory for almost the entire hour-long flight. In a recently published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the FAA justifies its initiative with a specific incident in which a passenger was unable to exit a lavatory because a broken latch prevented the door from opening. Flight attendants were unable to unlock the door, necessitating an unscheduled landing of the aircraft. The FAA determined that the latch failed during normal operation, and the door could only be opened with the assistance of a ground mechanic. The FAA identified the cause of the latch failure as fatigue of the plastic structure of the flap door latch. This fatigue was primarily due to excessive stress associated with production waste from drilling holes for inserts into the plastic structure. The agency warns that a failure of the lavatory latch in a critical emergency, such as severe turbulence, a medical emergency, or a necessary evacuation, could impede access to a trapped passenger and make their egress difficult. This poses the risk of serious injury to the affected person. The order of the

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Shareholders of Flughafen Zürich AG approve all proposals and receive a special dividend

Stephen Steiner April 16, 2025 05:03

At the recent Annual General Meeting of Flughafen Zürich AG, shareholders approved all proposed resolutions. This includes the distribution of an ordinary dividend of CHF 4.30 per share and an additional special dividend of CHF 1.40. The resolution was passed in light of the company's encouraging annual profit of CHF 327 million in the 2024 financial year. This positive development was achieved in both air traffic and the commercial sector. Another key item on the agenda was the election of Beat Schwab to the Board of Directors as a representative of the Canton of Zurich. He will take up his position on May 1 and succeeds Vincent Albers, who was thanked for his many years of service. Schwab was also elected to the Nomination & Compensation Committee. Current Board members Claudia Pletscher, Corine Mauch, Guglielmo Brentel, Stephan Gemkow, and Chairman Josef Felder were confirmed for another term of office. The representatives delegated by the Canton of Zurich, including the Director of Economic Affairs, Carmen Walker Späh, and Beatrix Frey-Eigenmann, are not elected by the General Meeting. The meeting also marked the 25th anniversary of Flughafen Zürich AG since its privatization in 1999. Chairman of the Board of Directors, Josef Felder, emphasized the significance of this step and highlighted the airport's successful development as an example of a successful public-private partnership. It was also highlighted that Zurich Airport had been named Europe's best airport for the 21st time, which is also considered a success of the privatization. In view of the planned distribution of the special dividend, which will draw on the capital contribution reserves, the Board of Directors has established a new dividend policy for the coming years.

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Unusual incident: Penguin causes helicopter crash in South Africa

Amely Mizzi April 16, 2025 04:30

An incident that may initially seem bizarre raises serious questions about compliance with safety regulations in civil aviation. On January 19, 2025, a Robinson R44 Raven II (registration ZS-RJC) crashed near Bird Island, a remote island off the coast of South Africa's Eastern Cape province. According to a report by the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA), the cause was an unsecured cardboard box containing a live penguin. The helicopter had flown to Bird Island with a specialist on board to conduct an aerial survey. After completing the mission, the specialist requested that a penguin captured on the island be taken back to the mainland. The bird was placed in a simple cardboard box held on the passenger's lap. During takeoff at an altitude of approximately 15 meters, the box slipped and fell onto the cyclic pitch control lever, a key control for the helicopter's attitude. The result: an uncontrolled roll to the right, which the pilot was unable to compensate for. The helicopter began to descend and hit the island. The helicopter was severely damaged, but remarkably, the pilot, the passenger, and the penguin remained uninjured. Inadequate risk assessment by the pilot The SACAA accident report, published on April 5, 2025, clearly attributes partial blame to the pilot. A proper risk assessment was not carried out, particularly with regard to the transport of a live animal in unsuitable packaging within the cabin. The authority clarified that it is against regulations to place loose objects in the control area.

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