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April 17, 2025

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April 17, 2025

Slovenia is not planning to have its own airline for the time being

Stephen Steiner 17 April 2025 15:01

Slovenian Infrastructure Minister Alenka Bratušek has assessed the likelihood of establishing a new state-owned airline as low, although she has not ruled out the idea entirely. She emphasized that the previous strategy of subsidizing air connections to improve the country's connectivity has been successful. Bratušek acknowledged that establishing a new airline would be a complex undertaking, especially compared to managing subsidy tenders. Restructuring the former airline Adria Airways along the lines of Alitalia/ITA Airways might have been easier, the minister said. During the election campaign, Bratušek promised to establish a new airline, but this received little support from her coalition partners. Both the Slovenian Prime Minister and the Finance Minister, a former head of Adria Airways, publicly expressed their opposition. The minister emphasized that the situation in the country's air transport sector has improved significantly. For example, the number of passengers at Ljubljana Airport rose from just over 970.000 in 2022 to almost 1,44 million last year, an increase of 50 percent. The number of destinations served from Ljubljana also increased from 19 to 26, with five of these routes secured through a subsidy program launched in 2023. Of the ten targeted connections, six were successfully established. The Ministry of Infrastructure plans to revise its subsidy program for airlines following the expected adoption of a new Slovenian aviation law before the end of this year. However, Ljubljana Airport recently recorded declining passenger numbers for the fifth month in a row. In March, 94.532 travelers were handled, two percent fewer than in the same period last year. Flight movements also fell by

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Air Montenegro reports decline in profit despite passenger increase

Amely Mizzi 17 April 2025 14:33

The Montenegrin airline Air Montenegro reported a net profit of EUR 2024 for 540.000. This represents a significant decrease compared to the previous year, 2023, when the airline posted a profit of EUR 3,4 million. The company's revenue increased slightly by 0,8 percent to EUR 62,8 million. At the same time, Air Montenegro recorded a five percent increase in passengers in 2024, with 498.833, driven by an eight percent increase in the number of flights operated, to a total of 5.800. The average aircraft load factor was 69,2 percent, an increase of 1,2 percentage points compared to the previous year. Air Montenegro's Managing Director, Vukadin Stojanović, nevertheless expressed his optimism, emphasizing that the positive financial results in 2024 and a strong start to 2025 demonstrate that the airline is on a clear path of growth and development. The focus remains on expanding its offerings and improving Montenegro's connections to the region and key European destinations. Despite the lower profit, the increased passenger volume underscores Air Montenegro's growing importance for tourism and the country's economic development. The airline appears to have benefited from increased demand for air travel to Montenegro. The decline in net profit could be due to various factors, such as increased operating costs, investments in the fleet, or changing market conditions. It remains to be seen how Air Montenegro will develop in the coming years and whether the company can continue its growth path while increasing its profitability. The announced focus on

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Air Sierra Leone begins flights between Freetown and London Gatwick

Amely Mizzi 17 April 2025 14:03

The new private airline Air Sierra Leone has announced the launch date for its long-awaited direct flights between Freetown and London Gatwick, marking a significant step in the revitalization of aviation in the West African country. The first flight is scheduled for April 26 and 27, 2025, with regular commercial operations commencing on June 16, 2025. This service will mark the first direct air connection between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom in several years. The new route will be operated three times a week using a brand-new 737-seat Boeing 8 MAX 189. Flights will depart London Gatwick at 23:00 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and arrive in Freetown at 05:00 AM the following day. Return flights will depart Freetown at 09:00 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and arrive in Gatwick at 15:00 PM. The flight time for the approximately 4.865-kilometer route is approximately seven hours. This announcement comes just three months after Air Sierra Leone successfully launched its three-times-weekly service between Freetown and Lagos, Nigeria, with an Embraer 145. To celebrate the launch of the new London Gatwick route, a joint press conference with the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority and a gala dinner will be held on April 26. Tickets for the new service are already available through the airline's website, at its headquarters in Freetown, and through authorized travel agents. The resumption of a direct service to London, which is home to a significant community of Sierra Leoneans, is seen as an important step in improving the country's international connectivity.

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United Airlines flight makes emergency landing after suspected rabbit strike

Stephen Steiner 17 April 2025 13:31

A United Airlines flight from Denver to Edmonton was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Denver on Sunday after experiencing engine failure shortly after takeoff. According to eyewitness reports and video footage, flames were seen emanating from the right engine of the Boeing 737-800, flight number UA2325, which was carrying 159 passengers. A collision with a rabbit during takeoff is suspected to be the possible cause. Passengers reported a loud bang and strong vibrations immediately after takeoff. A video from the cabin showed repeated flames and misfiring from the damaged engine, causing panic among the passengers. An eyewitness on the ground described his fear that the plane was about to crash. However, the pilots reacted calmly, turned around, and landed the plane safely in Denver about 75 minutes later. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. United Airlines arranged a replacement aircraft for the stranded passengers to continue their journey to Edmonton. The incident raises questions about the safety measures in place at airports to prevent collisions with wildlife. Although airports employ various wildlife deterrent measures, such as fencing, acoustic and visual deterrents, and the removal of attractants, such incidents cannot always be completely ruled out. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is expected to launch an investigation into the incident to determine the exact cause of the engine failure and make possible recommendations for future preventative measures. Incidents involving wildlife collisions, particularly birds, are not uncommon in aviation; however, collisions with larger mammals such as rabbits are less common and can cause significant damage to aircraft.

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Transavia plans crew base at Brussels Airport

Amely Mizzi 17 April 2025 13:02

The Dutch low-cost airline Transavia, a subsidiary of the KLM Group, plans to establish a permanent base for its crew members at Brussels Airport, according to a recent statement by the Dutch Pilots' Union (VNV). Although Transavia has been operating several aircraft from Brussels since June 2022, its crews are currently still stationed at its Amsterdam or Eindhoven bases. Transavia cites persistently high operating costs, complex planning processes, and inefficient crew deployment at its Brussels base as reasons for the planned relocation. VNV quotes Transavia as saying that operations in Brussels are hampered by high costs and the limited availability of hotels for overnight crews, which is preventing further growth. Opening its own crew base is intended to address these problems. The pilots' union VNV described this step as "economically logical" but announced a careful review of the cost implications. Transavia has had mixed experiences with crew bases outside the Netherlands in the past. An earlier attempt to establish a base in Munich cost the airline several million euros. The decision to locate in Brussels appears to have been made in light of capacity restrictions and rising costs at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Furthermore, the Belgian aviation market is attractive to Transavia, also to better reach Dutch travelers from the southern parts of the country. Transavia hopes that the local crew base in Brussels will enable more efficient deployment planning and lower operating costs, which should enable further growth in the Belgian market. The VNV union expects that plans for the crew base will progress rapidly and that the base will be operational by

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Malta Airport starts the summer season with new routes

Amely Mizzi 17 April 2025 12:39

Malta International Airport celebrated the end of the winter season with the launch of three new flight routes, expanding its route network in time for the expected summer surge in travel. Scandinavian airline SAS Scandinavian Airlines resumed flights to Copenhagen, restoring connections between Malta and Denmark. Maltese airline Universal Air commenced operations to Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, and British low-cost carrier easyJet introduced a new service to London Southend, further strengthening its connections to the UK. In March 2025, Malta Airport welcomed a total of 725.134 passengers. Italy remained its most important market with a share of 19,6 percent, followed by the UK with 18,9 percent. Other significant markets included Poland, Germany, and Spain. Despite a significant increase in seat capacity by 17,2 percent to 851.608 seats, the seat load factor fell slightly to 85,1 percent, a decrease of 2,1 percent compared to the same month last year. This slight decline indicates overall high demand for travel to and from Malta, which has not yet been fully met by the capacity expansion. The new routes to Copenhagen, Debrecen, and London Southend are expected to further diversify the route network and make Malta attractive to a wider range of travelers. The resumption of SAS's service to Denmark strengthens the connection to Scandinavia, while the flights to Debrecen open up new tourism and business opportunities with Hungary. The additional service to London Southend complements the numerous existing connections to the UK and offers

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Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo lands hard – parts break off and enter engine

Amely Mizzi 17 April 2025 12:31

On April 15, 2025, a dramatic incident occurred at San Juan Airport in Puerto Rico that nearly led to disaster for the crew and passengers of Frontier Airlines flight 3506 from Orlando to San Juan. The Airbus A321neo, a modern aircraft belonging to the US low-cost airline, landed hard on the runway during its first landing attempt, causing severe damage to the nose gear. Pieces of the landing gear broke off and entered the aircraft's left engine. Despite the frightening incident, the crew was able to successfully return the aircraft to the airport and land the plane safely. The incident is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities, although the exact cause of the hard landing and the associated damage is still unclear. The incident: What exactly happened at San Juan Airport? The Airbus A321neo, flight number 3506, was en route from Orlando to Puerto Rico on April 15, 2025. The flight initially proceeded without any unusual incidents, but when the aircraft landed at San Juan Airport at around 16 p.m. local time, an incident occurred that was extremely disturbing for the crew and passengers. According to reports, the aircraft hit the runway with unusually high force during its first attempt. The nose gear, which is crucial for cushioning the impact during a landing, apparently broke. One wheel of the nose gear broke off, and pieces of the damaged gear entered the left engine, a CFM LEAP-1A, which is responsible for the propulsion of the Airbus. As a result of the incident, the

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Wizz Air launches non-stop service between Hamburg and Kutaisi

Belinda Borg 17 April 2025 12:00

The low-cost airline Wizz Air has launched a new non-stop connection between Kutaisi in Georgia and Hamburg. As announced by Hamburg Airport, the route will be operated twice a week, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This expands Wizz Air's offerings from Hamburg and offers travelers from northern Germany a new way to directly reach Georgia's third-largest city and the surrounding Caucasus region. The flights from Hamburg to Kutaisi depart at 18:25 p.m. and take around four hours. Kutaisi, nestled between urban flair and the natural beauty of the Caucasus, is considered an attractive destination for culture and nature lovers. The city offers historical sights such as the Bagrati Cathedral and the Gelati Monastery, as well as modern gastronomic offerings. Kutaisi is also a good starting point for excursions into the mountainous surroundings and regions such as Svaneti and Racha. Wizz Air had previously offered the connection between Hamburg and Kutaisi, but has since suspended it. The resumption of the route on April 15, 2025, was welcomed by Hamburg Airport. Tickets for the new connection can be booked from €39,99 on the Wizz Air website, via the mobile app, or at travel agencies. In addition to Kutaisi, Wizz Air is planning another new direct connection from Hamburg: From August 2025, there will be three weekly flights to Sibiu in Romania. The new direct connection between Hamburg and Kutaisi underlines the growing importance of Hamburg Airport as a location for low-cost carriers and the increasing demand for direct flights to destinations in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus. It facilitates travel between Germany and Georgia and offers both tourists and

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Vinci Airports records significant passenger growth in the first quarter of 2025

Amely Mizzi 17 April 2025 11:31

Airport operator Vinci Airports reported a total of 2025 million passengers for the first quarter of 73. This represents an increase of six percent compared to the same period last year, as the company announced. The main driver of this growth was the sharp rise in demand for air travel to Asia, particularly China. In January 2025, air traffic to and from China exceeded the level of the same month in the pre-coronavirus year of 2019 by 25 percent. The European airports in the Vinci network also contributed significantly to this positive development. The airports in Budapest, Porto, Faro, and Nantes in particular benefited from expanded flight offerings by the low-cost airlines EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. Edinburgh and London Gatwick airports also recorded an increase in passenger traffic, especially on connections to Southern Europe. In the Latin American markets of Chile and Mexico, growth was primarily stimulated by capacity increases by low-cost airlines, according to Vinci Airports. This development indicates a continued recovery in international air traffic, with demand for intercontinental travel and the availability of low-cost airlines playing a particularly important role. Vinci Airports' figures reflect a global trend in which many airports are reporting increasing passenger numbers after the restrictions of recent years. The recovery of the Asian market, particularly traffic with China, is proving to be a key factor in the growth of many international airport operators.

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FTI bankruptcy: Austrian travel agencies massively annoyed by DRSF

Stephen Steiner 17 April 2025 11:30

The bankruptcy of FTI, one of Europe's largest tour operators, triggered an avalanche of problems for travel agencies and customers almost a year ago. Ten months after the company's insolvency, many travel agencies have still not received compensation. The actions of the German Travel Insurance Fund (DRSF), which serves to insure package tours, continue to cause anger and incomprehension within the industry. Despite the provision of numerous documents and intensive communication with the fund, many applications are progressing slowly or not at all. In this tense situation, an investigation is now underway to determine whether the DRSF's actions violate European directives and whether a complaint to the EU Commission is necessary. But what are the exact reasons behind this conflict, and what impact does it have on the travel industry and its customers? Hesitant Compensation: One Year After the FTI Bankruptcy FTI's bankruptcy in the summer of 2024, which affected hundreds of thousands of travelers worldwide, represented a difficult and stressful time for many travel agencies and their customers. In particular, the Austrian travel agencies that brokered FTI tours had to deal with a multitude of bureaucratic hurdles after the insolvency in order to settle the resulting damages. In theory, the DRSF, which serves as a safety net for package travelers, should cover the resulting damages and payments that have not yet been reimbursed for the tours that have been arranged. But the reality is different. The chairman of the Association of Travel Agencies in the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Gregor Kadanka, expressed his frustration in a press release about the lengthy and inadequate handling of the DRSF. "Although the Austrian travel agencies had already

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