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June 10, 2025

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June 10, 2025

Tariff agreement reached at Finnair

Stephen Steiner June 10, 2025 15:09

After months of negotiations, Finnair and its pilots' representatives reached a collective bargaining agreement on June 8, 2025. The agreement, which runs for three years, with the final year optional, now requires approval by the respective bodies of both parties. Negotiations between the airline and the pilots' association began last August and have therefore dragged on for an extended period. The conclusion of the talks is seen as an important step for future cooperation. Kaisa Aalto-Luoto, Chief People Officer of Finnair, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome. She emphasized the importance of pilots to the airline's more than XNUMX-year history and highlighted that the agreement provides a platform for jointly building the future. This agreement creates planning security for the coming years and is intended to lay a stable foundation for Finnair's flight operations.

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Iberia resumes flights to Ponta Delgada and Tirana

Stephen Steiner June 10, 2025 14:38

The Spanish airline Iberia resumed its seasonal direct flights to two summer destinations on Saturday: Ponta Delgada in the Azores and Tirana, the capital of Albania. These connections complement Iberia's existing summer offering, which includes other popular destinations such as Dubrovnik, Mykonos and Catania, and underline the airline's commitment to maintaining a diverse route network for the summer season. Iberia will operate three weekly flights between Madrid and Ponta Delgada between June and September, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. A total of more than 19.000 seats are available on this route. For Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores island of São Miguel, this will be the third consecutive summer that Iberia has offered direct flights from Madrid. The island is known for its nature, history and tranquil atmosphere, with opportunities for whale and dolphin watching and exploring lagoons and hot springs. Following last year's success, Iberia has also resumed direct flights to Tirana. With up to three weekly connections on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, over 18.000 seats will be offered during the summer season. Tirana, the colorful and energetic capital of Albania, has become an emerging European destination in recent years. Lake Ohrid, the Dajti cable car, and the Adriatic beaches are easily accessible from here, making Tirana an ideal base for exploring Albania's cultural and natural treasures. These routes are part of Iberia's ambition to connect Spain with new European destinations and promote both tourism and business travel.

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Ryanair criticizes night flight ban at Berlin Airport after further delay

Stephen Steiner June 10, 2025 14:01

Ryanair has once again sharply criticized the Berlin Aviation Authority (LuBB) and called for more flexible handling of the night flight ban at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The reason for this is the nighttime delay of flight FR144 from Berlin to Stansted on the evening of June 5th, whose takeoff was denied by air traffic control less than five minutes after the ban began. The delay was allegedly due to a minor technical problem beyond Ryanair's control. Despite these circumstances, the LuBB refused to allow even a slight extension of the night flight ban. This forced the aircraft to remain grounded overnight, causing significant and, from Ryanair's point of view, avoidable inconvenience to passengers. This is the second incident of this kind within a week, following on Sunday, June 2nd, flight FR1142 to Lisbon, which was delayed due to a disruptive passenger and was also denied takeoff. Marcel Pouchain Meyer, Head of Communications for Ryanair DACH, expressed his frustration with the rigidity of the LuBB, which he believes prioritizes inflexible rules over the needs of passengers. Ryanair calls on the LuBB to take a practical and sensible approach to minor delays, especially when they are due to unforeseeable events. The airline appeals to Carsten Diekmann to stop ignoring the problem and instead work with the relevant parties to find a solution to resolve the situation at Berlin Airport for the benefit of travelers.

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Belavia defies Western sanctions: Belarusian airline acquires A330 through opaque channels

Amely Mizzi June 10, 2025 13:49

Belarus' national airline Belavia has managed to acquire three Airbus A330-200 aircraft through opaque channels, despite extensive Western sanctions prohibiting the sale of aircraft and aircraft components to Belarus. These large, wide-body aircraft, previously operated by Emirates and approximately 20 years old, reached Minsk via a complex chain of intermediaries and legal gray areas. The acquisition of these aircraft represents a textbook example of sanctions evasion and underscores the challenges Western states face in enforcing such restrictions. The A330s are expected to play a key role in Belavia's resumption of long-haul services to Russia and China, as the airline's existing fleet has been drastically reduced due to sanctions. The covert acquisition: A chain of intermediaries The three Airbus A330-200 aircraft in question have been in a legal gray area since their sale by Emirates. They were sold about five years ago as part of the insolvency of the Turkish airline Onur Air. The central actor in this complex transaction appears to be the Jordanian-Syrian businessman Tarek Abdel Hamid Al Ajami, who, as Aero Telegraph reports, has a reputation for indirectly enabling sanctioned airlines to acquire aircraft through opaque legal means. To legitimize, or at least conceal, the transfer of these wide-body aircraft to Belarus, Al Ajami founded the airline Magic Air, which is theoretically based in Gambia. Gambia is not a signatory to Western sanctions against countries close to Russia and is not subject to any obligation to adhere to the aviation restrictions of the European Union and the United States. Despite its

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Berlin Brandenburg Airport records passenger growth in May 2025

Jan Gruber June 10, 2025 13:33

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) recorded an increase in passengers in May 2025. According to preliminary figures from the traffic report, almost 2,32 million people traveled through the airport, an increase of around 90.000 passengers compared to the previous month of April. However, compared to May of the previous year, there was a decrease of around 51.000 passengers. The busiest day in May was Sunday, May 4, 2025, with 86.760 passengers. The weekend of the DFB Cup final, from May 23 to 25, in particular, saw increased traffic, with around 237.000 passengers using BER. This underscores the airport's role in major events in the region. Last month, a total of 17.513 aircraft takeoffs and landings were recorded at BER. In April 2025, the number was 16.291. Furthermore, more than 4.336 tons of cargo were handled in May, indicating constant activity in the freight transport sector.

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Vienna Lounge at Vienna Airport named best lounge in Europe

Belinda Borg June 10, 2025 13:05

The Vienna Lounge at Vienna Airport has once again been honored for its outstanding service quality. On June 5, 2025, it received the prestigious Priority Pass Excellence Award as "Lounge of the Year - Europe Winner." This award, based on over 781.000 member reviews, confirms the Vienna Lounge as the best lounge in the Priority Pass European network. The awards ceremony took place in the lounge itself, in the presence of representatives from Collinson, the operator of Priority Pass, as well as partners such as the DoN group and the Leopold Museum. The celebrations featured Austrian delicacies, exclusive cocktails, and live music. Julian Jäger, CEO of Flughafen Wien AG, was particularly pleased with the award, as it came directly from guests and underscores the airport's commitment to combining international comfort with Viennese style. The Vienna Lounge offers an elegant ambience with Viennese design elements and panoramic views of the apron across approximately 2.500 square meters. Comprehensive services include shower facilities, relaxation rooms, and a conference area. The culinary concept is managed by the DoN group, Austria's largest privately owned catering company. A special feature is the cooperation with the Leopold Museum, which decorates the lounge with high-quality art prints by important local artists such as Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt, bringing visitors closer to the atmosphere of Vienna around 1900.

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Future of Silver Airways uncertain: Regional airline cannot find a buyer

Belinda Borg June 10, 2025 12:40

The regional airline Silver Airways, headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, failed to find a buyer at a recent bankruptcy auction, despite the company's "extensive marketing efforts" and contact with dozens of potential buyers. This news comes about six months after it filed for voluntary protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code with the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. The goal was to restructure debts while continuing operations and preserving the company's value. Now the company is threatened with dissolution, as a bankruptcy trustee assesses the prospects for a successful restructuring as slim and recommends liquidation. The failed auction and the financial distress Silver Airways filed for Chapter 30 bankruptcy protection on December 2024, 11, burdened with debts of between $100 million and $500 million. A U.S. Bankruptcy Judge ordered the company's auction last week. However, the auction was canceled due to a lack of legitimate bids, according to a report by "The Street." This is a clear sign of the market's skepticism about the airline's financial viability. During the bankruptcy proceedings, Silver Airways was able to maintain operations thanks to a $5,7 million loan from Argentum, a subsidiary of Wexford Capital. This amount served as a so-called "stalking horse bid"—that is, it was the base offer that other potential buyers had to exceed to acquire the airline. Since no higher offers were received, the court will now consider whether to approve the sale of the airline's assets to Argentum for the price of $5,7 million.

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Memmingen: Wizz Air launches new flight connection to Brasov

Amely Mizzi June 10, 2025 12:32

Memmingen Airport is expanding its Eastern European connections with another destination: Starting October 26, 2025, Wizz Air will offer twice-weekly flights to the Romanian city of Brasov, formerly Kronstadt. This strengthens Memmingen's position as an important hub between southern Germany and Romania. The inaugural flight to Brasov, a city with around 250.000 inhabitants and Transylvania's economically strongest metropolis, will depart on Sunday, October 26, with a Wizz Air Airbus A321. Brasov, once a center of the Transylvanian Saxons, was founded in the early 13th century by the Teutonic Knights under the name Corona. The city's striking landmark is the Protestant Black Church, built in 1477. The new flight connection is not only interesting for travelers exploring the historic region of Transylvania, but is also important for the local economy, as numerous companies have offices in the region. Brasov is the eighth destination in Romania served from Memmingen Airport. This addition to the flight schedule is intended to improve travel options for both leisure and business travelers. Tickets for the new route are already available.

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Lower Austria presents first outdoor mountain escape game on the Gemeindealpe

Amely Mizzi June 10, 2025 12:01

Lower Austria is expanding its leisure offerings with "The Secret of the Gemeindealpe," the region's first outdoor mountain escape game. Starting July 5, visitors to the Gemeindealpe Mitterbach can solve puzzles, find clues, and enjoy an Alpine panorama overlooking Lake Erlauf from the mid-station to the summit. This new offering is intended to increase the attractiveness of the Gemeindealpe as a tourist destination. The game revolves around the mysterious disappearance of a figure named Felix, who leaves behind cryptic clues that point to the recordings of a UFO fanatic, Uncle Meinrad. Players, equipped with a backpack full of supplies and a cell phone, start the escape trail at the mid-station after a chairlift ride from the Mitterbach valley station. Along a nearly three-kilometer route, they must decipher puzzles and discover clues to uncover the mystery of the Gemeindealpe. The outdoor adventure is designed for groups of two to a maximum of eight people and lasts approximately five hours. State Councilor Udo Landbauer announced that the play options will be expanded to a total of three escape trails with varying levels of difficulty by 2027, allowing guests to explore the mountain and nature in a playful way. NÖVOG Managing Directors Wolfgang Schroll and Michael Hasenöhrl emphasized that the Gemeindealpe Mitterbach, with its hiking trails, mountain carts, and crawler course, already offers a comprehensive experience for all age groups.

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Brussels proposes a step backward in passenger rights: EU Council votes for longer waiting times for compensation

Jan Gruber June 10, 2025 11:45

On Thursday evening, the Council of the European Union voted in favor of an amendment to the Air Passenger Rights Regulation (EC 261), which could have far-reaching consequences for millions of travelers. In the future, airlines will only be obliged to pay compensation for delays of four or six hours. Previously, this rule applied from three hours. This planned change would result in 60 percent fewer passengers being entitled to compensation for delays, drastically reducing the protection of air passengers across Europe. The reform, which will now be discussed in the next step before the European Parliament, has met with sharp criticism from consumer advocates and air passenger rights experts. Tomasz Pawliszyn, CEO of AirHelp, describes the decision as a "devastating setback for consumer rights" and warns of serious negative consequences for travelers. Changes in favor of airlines: Longer waiting times and reduced compensation amounts The main change to Regulation EC 261 concerns the threshold above which passengers are entitled to compensation. While a delay of three hours was previously sufficient, in the future it will be four hours for short- and medium-haul flights and six hours for long-haul flights. The only justification given by the EU Commission for this drastic step is the claim that airlines would tend to cancel flights with delays of three hours or more rather than organize alternative flights, since they would already have to pay the compensation. This argument is rejected by experts such as Tomasz Pawliszyn as "completely baseless." He argues that no airline would cancel flights solely because of possible compensation payments. On the contrary: A cancellation causes the airline additional high costs, for example for customer care and

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