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May 22

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May 22

Starlux introduces Amos maintenance system from Swiss-AS

Stephen Steiner 22 May 2025 15:04

The Taiwanese airline Starlux has signed a contract with Swiss Aviation Software (Swiss-AS) to implement its Amos maintenance system. According to Swiss-AS, Starlux plans to launch the system by the end of this summer and aims to complete the integration within six months. The airline's goal is to digitize its maintenance strategy by using Amos. Amos is a comprehensive software package for the management of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) in the aviation industry. It is used by numerous airlines and maintenance organizations worldwide to make maintenance processes more efficient and improve communication. Starlux hopes that by digitizing its maintenance processes with Amos, it will be able to plan and execute maintenance work more precisely. The implementation of Amos is intended to help Starlux effectively maintain its growing fleet and ensure the highest safety standards. The system enables structured management of maintenance plans, technical documents, and logistics processes. With this step, Starlux is opting for a modern and integrated solution for its technical management.

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Qatar Airways expands flight offerings between Doha and Moscow

Amely Mizzi 22 May 2025 14:37

The Gulf airline Qatar Airways plans to introduce a second daily flight between its hub in Doha (DOH) and Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) starting July 11, 2025. As reported by the Aero Routes portal, the additional connection will be operated under flight number QR365/366 with a Boeing 787-9. The airline is thus responding to the expected increased demand during the summer travel season and significantly increasing its offerings on this route. Qatar Airways' existing daily connection between Doha and Moscow-Sheremetyevo, which is operated with a Boeing 777-300 ER, will remain unchanged. The additional flight with another wide-body Boeing 787-9 aircraft will double the airline's daily capacity on this route. According to Aero Routes, the flight times for the new flight include an early departure from Doha at 04:05 a.m. and an arrival in Moscow at 09:35 a.m. The return flight from Moscow is scheduled for 11:05 a.m., arriving in Doha at 16:30 p.m. This expansion of flight services underscores Qatar Airways' interest in the connection between Qatar and Russia. While other Western airlines have reduced or suspended their flights to Russia since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Qatar Airways appears to continue to emphasize the importance of this connection. The additional frequency offers travelers greater flexibility and underscores Qatar Airways' position as a major international airline with a global route network.

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Court in Salamanca bans Ryanair hand luggage fees

Belinda Borg 22 May 2025 14:08

A court in Salamanca has ruled that low-cost airline Ryanair may not charge additional fees for carrying hand luggage. The court ordered the airline to reimburse a passenger approximately 147 euros for five flights between 2019 and 2024. The ruling is based on a previous decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) from 2014, according to which hand luggage is considered an essential part of air travel and therefore should not be priced separately. Ryanair argues that its fare structure allows the carriage of a small bag free of charge but charges for larger hand luggage. The Spanish consumer organization Facua supported the passenger's lawsuit. This ruling could have far-reaching consequences for the business model of low-cost airlines in Spain and possibly beyond, as it questions the practice of charging extra for standard cabin baggage. This is not the first time Ryanair has come under criticism in Spain for its baggage policies. Last year, Spanish authorities imposed heavy fines on several low-cost airlines, including Ryanair, for improper hand luggage fees. The airline announced at the time that it would take legal action against these fines. The current ruling in Salamanca could now further strengthen the position of consumer advocates.

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Increased border controls in Germany put a strain on coach traffic – Flixbus reacts

Belinda Borg 22 May 2025 13:49

Since May 7, 2025, the German Federal Police have been conducting increased checks at the country's borders in order to implement the more restrictive migration policy announced by the government. This measure particularly affects coach services, as, according to the police, these are frequently used by people seeking to enter Germany illegally. Flixbus CEO André Schwämmlein commented on the impact on his company and its passengers. In view of the more frequent checks of coaches, Flixbus says it is striving to minimize the negative consequences for travelers. André Schwämmlein explained to BuzzFeed News Germany that the company already includes sufficient time in its timetables for possible delays caused by police checks. In general, the timetables already include a certain buffer to account for delays. In addition, Flixbus relies on consistent checks of identification documents when boarding buses on international routes. According to Schwämmlein, all passengers must present a valid ID document in order to travel. This measure is intended to ensure more efficient and smoother police checks on long-distance buses. Demand for closer cooperation with the authorities. A spokesperson for Flixbus pointed out, however, that the thorough verification of documents is the sole responsibility of the authorities under EU law. In this context, the company would welcome closer cooperation with the relevant government agencies. This could, for example, be achieved through the presence of officers not only at the borders, but also at the stops of international bus routes, similar to what is already common practice at airports and some train stations. The increased border controls and their impact on coach traffic and

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Airbus sees sales opportunities for A220 in growing Malaysian aviation market

Jan Gruber 22 May 2025 13:34

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus believes it has a good chance of selling its A220 model to Malaysian airlines. According to Anand Stanley, Airbus's regional director for Southeast Asia, the company sees considerable potential demand in Malaysia, Asia's third-largest aviation market after China and India. Although he was unable to provide a concrete timeline, Stanley told the Bernama news agency that he hopes to soon see the A220 in service in Malaysia. Malaysia is home to AirAsia, a major Airbus customer that already operates a large number of the European manufacturer's aircraft. Malaysia Airlines also relies on Airbus aircraft in its long-haul fleet. However, Malaysia Airlines recently announced an order for 60 additional Boeing 737 Maxes for its medium-haul fleet. Despite this latest order from its competitor, Airbus estimates the sales potential for its aircraft in Malaysia at around 400 additional aircraft. The A220 model, which is particularly suitable for regional connections, is seen as playing a key role in Airbus' future expansion in this important Asian market.

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Tui launches new offer for individual tours via travel agencies

Amely Mizzi 22 May 2025 13:00

The travel group Tui has introduced "Tui Tours," a new product for tours that travel agencies can use to create tailor-made travel suggestions for their customers. As the company announced, Tui Tours offers ready-made itineraries but allows travel agencies to flexibly adapt individual components, such as flights, to travelers' wishes. With this step, Tui aims to strengthen the sale of customized tours. The new "Tui Tours" platform is intended to make it easier for travel agents to create personalized tours for their customers. The technology for this comes from the Swiss company Nezasa. Travel agencies receive a commission for bookings made through Tui Tours. The new platform is already available in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France and is now to be rolled out in Germany and Austria. Tui hopes that the new offering will strengthen its position in the area of ​​flexible and customizable tours, a growing segment of the travel market.

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CLIA predicts record year for cruises in 2025

Amely Mizzi 22 May 2025 12:40

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) expects the highest number of cruise guests worldwide for 2025. According to the current "State of the Cruise Industry Report," a new record of 37,7 million passengers is forecast. This represents an increase of almost nine percent compared to the previous year, when 34,6 million people took a cruise, corresponding to an increase of 9,3 percent compared to 2023. CLIA attributes this positive development primarily to the use of larger ships by the shipping companies. This increased capacity makes it possible to accommodate more passengers and thus increase the overall number. In addition, the association points to the successful development of new target groups, which further increases the attractiveness of cruises. Georg Ehrmann, Managing Director of CLIA Germany, emphasized that the industry is increasingly succeeding in addressing new customer segments. Most cruise guests continue to come from North America, where around 2024 million passengers were recorded in 20,5. Europe follows in second place with 8,4 million travelers. The most popular cruise destination remains the Caribbean with approximately 15 million guests, followed by the Mediterranean with 5,8 million passengers. Other European regions recorded around three million cruise participants. CLIA represents approximately 60 cruise lines worldwide, including major operators such as AIDA Cruises, TUI Cruises, and MSC Cruises. However, the market analysis also incorporates data from non-members. For Germany, the ports of Hamburg, Kiel, Rostock-Warnemünde, and Bremerhaven are important cruise destinations and will benefit from the expected growth. Forecasts indicate that the cruise industry will further consolidate its position in the global tourism market.

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Ryanair expects ticket prices to rise in summer 2025

Jan Gruber 22 May 2025 12:31

The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair expects ticket prices to rise by around five to six percent for the coming summer of 2025. The company announced this forecast after airfares fell by seven percent last year. Ryanair cited a dispute with online travel agencies as the reason for last year's price drop, which had a negative impact on booking numbers. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary expressed confidence about demand in the current 2025/26 financial year, pointing out that Ryanair had already recorded a 15 percent price increase at Easter. Despite a 2024 percent decline in net profit to €25 billion in the 16/1,6 financial year due to lower ticket prices and delays in Boeing deliveries, the airline expects a strong summer travel season this year. For the full year 2025/26, Ryanair forecasts it will carry around 206 million passengers, compared to 200 million in the previous financial year. Chief Financial Officer Neil Sorahan expressed optimism that the decline in ticket prices from the previous year could be largely recouped, which should lead to reasonable growth in net profit. The company's stock reached a record high following the announcement of these estimates.

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EU decides to gradually introduce a new electronic entry system

Stephen Steiner 22 May 2025 12:05

The European Union aims to improve controls on the entry and exit of non-EU citizens into and from the Schengen Area with a new electronic system. Representatives of the European Parliament and the member states agreed in Brussels on a gradual launch of the so-called Entry/Exit System (EES). This system will automatically record which third-country nationals enter or leave an EU member state, including biometric data such as fingerprints and facial images. The EES aims to combat irregular migration more effectively and make identity fraud more difficult. The database will provide real-time information on travel data and the residence status of third-country nationals and indicate whether individuals are staying in the Schengen Area longer than permitted. The system is to be introduced over a six-month transitional period. During the first two months, member states can optionally use the system without biometric data. From the third month onwards, at least 35 percent of border crossings are to be processed via the EES, and the full transition is to take place after six months at the latest. Until then, passports will continue to be stamped manually. The responsible EU Commissioner, Magnus Brunner, emphasized the importance of the EES in closing existing security gaps. A concrete start date for the new system has not yet been set and requires a separate decision from the EU Commission after the agreement has been formally confirmed by the Council and Parliament. The system is expected to be fully operational in October 2025.

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Hahnair launches “Distriply” – New tools to simplify NDC bookings for travel agencies

Stephen Steiner 22 May 2025 11:47

Hahnair, the Dreieich-based airline distribution specialist, has introduced a new product line called "Distriply by Hahnair," designed to make it easier for travel agencies to book flight products based on the NDC (New Distribution Capability) data standard. The company announced that this initiative will open up new distribution channels for both airlines and travel agencies and complement Hahnair's existing global distribution system (GDS)-based solutions. "Distriply One" has now been launched as the first application. According to Hahnair, "Distriply" aims to provide all travel advisors with easy access to extensive NDC content, regardless of whether the travel agency is accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) or not. The company promotes a plug-and-play concept with intuitive processes that aims to offer powerful solutions for travel agencies of all sizes. A particular focus is on the efficient and seamless handling of processes such as booking changes, flight schedule deviations, and cancellations. Kirsten Rehmann, CEO of Hahnair, promoted the new tools by pointing out that "Distriply stands for low-threshold access to advanced NDC technologies, designed with the knowledge gained from more than 25 years of industry experience." She emphasized that Hahnair understands the challenges and processes faced by travel agencies and addresses them with the highest standards of performance and service. Rachel Pascall will lead the new "Distriply" brand, a role she will assume in addition to her position as Vice President of New Distribution at Hahnair. First public appearance in Salt Lake City The new "Distriply" brand will make its first public appearance today, May 20, at the Asta Travel Advisor Conference in Salt Lake City.

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