Français »
German "
Search
June 5

More articles from the category

June 5

Christophe Segaert new CEO of Charleroi Airport

Jan Gruber June 5, 2025 15:09

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) has appointed Christophe Segaert as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The airport's Supervisory Board made this decision unanimously during a meeting on June 2, 2025. At the same time, Thierry Hubert was appointed Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board, representing the airport's private shareholder. Gilles Samyn, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, expressed his confidence in the new leadership, emphasizing that Christophe Segaert will lead the implementation of the BSCA's strategic plan and master plan, for which a unified environmental and urban planning permit has been applied for. Samyn expressed confidence that the airport will continue to achieve balanced growth that is consistent with the living environment of local residents, Wallonia's decarbonization goals, improved working conditions for staff, and an enhanced passenger experience. Cécile Neven, the Walloon Minister responsible for regional airports, also welcomed the appointment. She pointed out that Charleroi Airport has made significant progress in recent years and now faces new challenges. Future development must follow a long-term vision that reconciles economic ambitions with social harmony, ecological transition, and respect for the surrounding communities. She looked forward to meeting with the new CEO soon to discuss these priorities.

Continue reading "

Brazil stops night mail flights after security concerns

Amely Mizzi June 5, 2025 14:30

The Brazilian aviation authority (ANAC) has temporarily banned all nighttime mail flights operated by the state-owned postal service Correios for safety reasons. This measure will officially take effect on June 4, 2025, but has already been partially implemented. The reason for this is an alleged violation of regulations governing the transport of lithium batteries, which is considered the likely cause of a fire on board a Boeing 737-400 F cargo plane in November 2023, which subsequently had to make an emergency landing. According to research by the news portal Aeroin, problematic cargo contents were inadequately declared or not recognized. ANAC accuses Correios of neglecting aviation safety and thereby potentially endangering human lives. In addition to safety concerns, outstanding payments from Correios to the airlines that operate these flights under wet lease are also said to have played a role in the partial early implementation of the flight ban. The supervisory authority's decision underscores the sensitivity surrounding the transport of dangerous goods, particularly lithium batteries, in aviation. Such batteries can cause fires if damaged or handled improperly. With this drastic measure, ANAC appears to want to ensure that transport regulations are strictly adhered to in the future to prevent similar incidents.

Continue reading "

Air Baltic expands flight offer to Albania

Stephen Steiner June 5, 2025 14:07

Latvian airline airBaltic is expanding its connections to Albania with new non-stop flights from Tallinn (Estonia) and Vilnius (Lithuania) to Tirana. This now directly connects all three Baltic capitals – Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius – with the Albanian capital. The inaugural flight from Tallinn to Tirana took place yesterday, June 2, 2025, and will operate twice weekly until September 30, 2025. The first flight from Vilnius to Tirana departed shortly after midnight today and will also operate twice weekly until the end of September. These new routes complement the non-stop connection between Riga and Tirana, which was introduced last year and also operates twice weekly. Mantas Vrubliauskas, VP Network Management at airBaltic, explained that demand for travel between the Baltics and Albania has increased since the launch of the Riga-Tirana connection. Albania has become a popular summer destination, prompting the airline to strengthen its presence with new connections from Tallinn and Vilnius. Air Baltic also offers numerous other non-stop connections from Tallinn and Vilnius to destinations in Europe and beyond during the summer season.

Continue reading "

Tourism industry calls on the Federal Government to set a decisive course for growth and global competitiveness

Jan Gruber June 5, 2025 13:44

At the 26th Tourism Summit in the heart of the German capital, the leaders of the German travel industry, represented by the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) and the German Travel Association (DRV), made a pressing appeal to the new federal government. Before a distinguished audience of around 350 participants from the worlds of business, politics, and the media, gathered at the renowned Hotel Adlon, BTW President Sören Hartmann and DRV General Manager Achim Wehrmann articulated their urgent expectations of the country's political leadership. Their demands centered on the creation of stable and reliable framework conditions, the reduction of crippling bureaucracy, and policies that strengthen confidence in Germany as a business location through reliability and clear communication. The tenor of the summit was that the travel industry now expects decisive action from the new government to unlock the industry's immense growth potential and sustainably secure its international competitiveness. BTW President Sören Hartmann opened the debate with a clear statement: "We are a growth market if the framework conditions are right." He underscored the immense importance of tourism for the German economy, which not only creates and secures jobs, but also makes a significant contribution to regional value creation. While Hartmann acknowledged the initial positive signals in the government's current coalition agreement, he also called for swift and consistent implementation of the measures envisaged therein in order to provide the urgently needed relief for companies in the sector. The triumvirate of demands: reducing bureaucracy, tax relief, and future-oriented mobility. The core demands of the tourism industry can be concentrated in three key areas. First, the reduction of the bureaucracy, which is perceived as oppressive and which particularly burdens small and medium-sized companies in the sector.

Continue reading "

Smartwings plans further round-the-world charter flights

Belinda Borg June 5, 2025 13:38

The Czech airline Smartwings is planning another series of charter flights for March and April 2026, enabling a circumnavigation of the world. The aircraft will be operated by a Boeing 737 Max 8, which, according to data provider OAG, will have 64 business class and 24 economy class seats. The route chosen by Smartwings will depart from Prague and span several continents. The flight schedule calls for the aircraft to depart from Prague, first flying to Santa Maria in the Azores, followed by Bridgetown in Barbados. The flight will then continue to Manaus in Brazil and Calama in Chile before reaching Santiago de Chile. From there, the flight will continue to Easter Island and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands. The next stops will be Sydney in Australia, Koror in Palau, and Taipei-Taoyuan in Taiwan. The return flight to Prague will travel via Chittagong in Bangladesh and Bahrain. Such round-the-world flights are enjoying a certain popularity among travelers who want to experience many different parts of the world in a short period of time. The routes are often carefully curated to offer an interesting mix of nature, culture, and urban centers. Smartwings has operated similar special flights in the past. The Boeing 737 Max 8 is a short- and medium-haul aircraft that is being adapted for this special charter configuration.

Continue reading "

Cunard publishes schedule for 2027/28 with focus on Europe and transatlantic

Amely Mizzi June 5, 2025 13:00

The long-established British shipping company Cunard has presented its travel program for the period from May 2027 to January 2028. The new offering comprises almost 200 routes to 32 countries and once again includes numerous departures from German ports. Bookings for the new cruises are available from June 11, with members of the loyalty program enjoying a right of first refusal. A highlight of the program is the continued transatlantic crossing of the Queen Mary 2 between Hamburg and New York, after the ship is scheduled to undergo modernization work in early 2027. Cunard also plans a call for the Queen Mary 4 in Boston for American Independence Day on July 2027, 2. Norway and the North Cape also remain important destinations for the flagship. In August 2027, the Queen Victoria will embark from Kiel on a Baltic Sea cruise to major cities, ending in Hamburg. From Southampton, the Queen Victoria also offers voyages to Scandinavia, Iceland, and the Mediterranean. The Queen Elizabeth will return to Europe in 2027 and will call at 22 ports in the Mediterranean, including Sicily and Istanbul, from May to October. The newest member of the fleet, the Queen Anne, will also sail from Southampton to destinations in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Early bookers booking by the end of September will receive discounts of up to XNUMX percent.

Continue reading "

Change of course at Playa de Palma: A 300 million euro plan aims to lead Mallorca's famous party mile into a sustainable future

Stephen Steiner June 5, 2025 12:43

Playa de Palma, a name that for decades has been synonymous with carefree beach holidays and a vibrant nightlife on the popular holiday island of Mallorca, is facing a fundamental metamorphosis. The city council of Palma de Mallorca has launched an ambitious and far-reaching "Plan Global de Actuación en Platja de Palma." This comprehensive development program envisages investments of around 300 million euros over the next ten years to fundamentally modernize the tourist infrastructure, significantly improve the quality of life for the local population, and put Playa de Palma on a long-term sustainable footing. In total, this master plan comprises no fewer than 35 individual projects, which, taken as a whole, are intended to decisively shape the image, quality, and future viability of this iconic beach mile. A detailed map has been created to make the complexity and spatial distribution of these extensive measures transparent for all involved. This visual aid illustrates the exact locations of the 35 planned projects and enables residents, visitors and all stakeholders to understand precisely where the concrete improvements will be implemented and how they will fit into the existing urban and natural environment of Playa de Palma. A prestigious project with broad support: The redesign of an icon The Mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, recently presented the ambitious "Plan Global de Actuación en Platja de Palma" at a public event in the centrally located Plaza de las Maravillas. On this occasion, he emphasized that this comprehensive master plan will be developed in close and continuous collaboration.

Continue reading "

Emirates SkyCargo expands cargo connections in Europe

Jan Gruber June 5, 2025 12:34

Emirates SkyCargo is expanding its cargo flight offerings to and from Europe to further strengthen global trade. The Dubai-based airline's cargo division plans to introduce additional charter flights and route adjustments from the third quarter of 2025 to intensify trade between European hubs and key destinations in its global network. Specifically, Emirates SkyCargo will offer two additional weekly charter cargo flights between Milan and Southeast China via Dubai. These flights will primarily transport fashion items, pharmaceutical products, and general cargo from the Milan region. Furthermore, the existing weekly cargo flight between Dubai World Central (DWC), Maastricht Aachen (MST), and Zaragoza (ZAZ) will now include an additional stop in Beirut (BEY) before returning to Dubai. This expansion aims to improve connectivity to the Levant region. Maastricht and Zaragoza play a significant role in European freight traffic, particularly for pharmaceuticals, general cargo, and fashion and apparel items, which can now be transported more directly to Beirut. Badr Abbas, a senior manager at Emirates SkyCargo, emphasized the scale and flexibility of the global network, as well as the importance of the new Boeing 777 freighters in meeting demand. Emirates SkyCargo serves more European destinations than any other region within its global network and transported an average of 6.900 tonnes of cargo per week from Europe during the last financial year, including pharmaceuticals, perishables, valuables, and automotive parts.

Continue reading "

Osnabrück resident receives generous compensation for wrong hotel and “lost holiday enjoyment”

Belinda Borg June 5, 2025 11:46

A legal dispute before the Osnabrück District Court has now resulted in a ruling that strengthens the rights of vacationers and underscores the obligations of tour operators with regard to transparent information. A man from the city of peace had meticulously booked a trip to a five-star hotel explicitly designated as "adults only" in order to spend an undisturbed vacation with his wife. The reality, however, was different: Instead of the hoped-for child-free zone, the couple was to be accommodated in a four-star family hotel. The disappointed traveler sued for damages for the "lost vacation enjoyment" – and the court has now awarded him 1.000 euros. The trip was booked through a local travel agency in Osnabrück. The plaintiff attached particular importance to the selection of the hotel. It was to be a five-star hotel that advertised itself as "adults only" and also offered "all-inclusive" services. These criteria promised the couple a relaxing vacation in an atmosphere that met their expectations. The booking confirmation initially seemed to fulfill all expectations. The unpleasant surprise with the travel documents: Rebooking to a family hotel. However, their anticipation of the trip suffered a severe setback when the couple received the detailed travel documents a few weeks later. To their great annoyance, they discovered that the tour operator wanted to accommodate them in a completely different hotel. This new accommodation not only had a lower four-star category, but according to the District Court's findings, was also explicitly designated as a family hotel. For the plaintiff, this represented a massive deviation from the originally agreed and desired conditions. The idea of

Continue reading "

Vienna Rum Festival celebrates tenth anniversary with record edition

Jan Gruber June 5, 2025 11:33

The Vienna Rum Festival will celebrate its tenth anniversary in 2025 and will present itself in its largest form yet with an expanded concept on September 19 and 20, 2025, at the Ottakringer Brewery. Under the motto "More rum, more experience, more festival," visitors can expect an unprecedented variety of exhibitors and offerings on three levels of the brewery. For the anniversary, both international and national producers, established brands, and new names in the rum world will be represented. A special highlight will be the new Signature Bar, where bartenders will create exclusive rum cocktails. Live Cuban music will accompany the festival. For the first time, the Vienna Rum Festival will also present tequila and mezcal in a dedicated area, thus expanding the range of spirits on offer. Another innovation is the first-ever European R(h)um Award in Vienna, directly within the framework of the festival, where a jury of experts will select Europe's best rum live. There will also be an auction of rare rums. For those interested in delving deeper into the subject, guided "rum walks" will be offered to selected stalls, where tastings and expert discussions will be offered.

Continue reading "