Stephen Steiner

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Stephen Steiner

Mauritius attracts with impressive national parks and natural treasures

Mauritius, the green island in the Indian Ocean, is a paradise for nature lovers and adventurers. The island's national parks, such as the Black River Gorges National Park and the Bras d'Eau National Park, are characterized by their exceptional beauty and biodiversity. These protected areas are home to many rare animal and plant species found nowhere else in the world. The crown jewel of Mauritian natural landscape, the Black River Gorges National Park covers two percent of the island and offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities with over 50 kilometers of hiking trails. Mauritius' highest point, the Black River Peak, offers spectacular views and makes the park a popular destination for hikers. In the northeast of Mauritius lies the Bras d'Eau National Park, which impresses not only with its natural beauty but also with its historical heritage. Here, visitors will find ancient ruins and an impressive variety of bird species, including the Mauritius falcon and the Mauritian paradise flycatcher. The hiking trails lead through lush forests and offer many opportunities for bird watching. The Islets National Park covers eight of the 49 islands surrounding Mauritius, including Île d'Ambre. These islands are known for their dense mangrove forests and diverse vegetation, which are home to rare wildlife such as endemic butterflies and the Mauritius White-eye. Efforts to preserve and restore these habitats contribute significantly to conservation in Mauritius. Mauritius' national parks not only offer stunning landscapes, but are also important protected areas for flora and fauna. Visitors can book guided tours and birdwatching walks with biologists to experience the island's natural treasures up close.

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Air Canada picks up Toronto-Brussels

Air Canada has inaugurated its new seasonal nonstop service between Brussels Airport and its global hub at Toronto Pearson Airport, operating up to four times per week. The new route complements Air Canada's existing nonstop flights from Brussels to Montreal. Air Canada offers the most flights between Canada and Belgium and is the only airline to connect the two countries year-round, with up to 11 weekly nonstop flights from Brussels to Toronto and Montreal during the summer peak. The new service between Brussels and Toronto will be operated using the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner and offers a choice of three classes: Economy, Premium Economy and Air Canada Signature Class, which offers customers superior comfort and convenience in an exclusive cabin with spacious lie-flat seats, personalized service, fine cuisine, additional baggage and access to preferred airport services. All flights are scheduled to optimize connections to Air Canada's extensive North American route network. Seats are bookable through aircanada.com, the Air Canada app, Air Canada's contact centers and travel agents. “We are delighted to launch our new nonstop service between Brussels and Toronto,” said Steven De Bisschop, Regional Manager of Air Canada in Belgium. “Our customers in Belgium will benefit from direct access to one of North America’s most vibrant cities, Toronto, and the wider Ontario region, as well as even greater travel choice with up to 11 weekly nonstop flights connecting Brussels to Canada. Customers can also benefit from Air Canada’s extensive route network from its hubs in Toronto and Montreal, providing convenient onward connections to destinations across

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Spain: IAG establishes new ground handling agent

South Europe Ground Services (SOEGS) is the name of the new company (already registered in the Madrid Commercial Registry) that will provide ramp handling services for Iberia, Iberia Express, Vueling and Level at all Spanish airports, as well as passenger handling services for British Airways, Air Nostrum and Aer Lingus. In addition, it will be able to serve third-party companies at the airports for which Iberia Airport Services has been licensed in the recent Aena tender. This company, 100% owned by IAG and majority owned by Iberia, is the result of the agreement reached on February 2 between Iberia and the unions to ensure a sustainable and competitive future for the handling business and its workers. The new company will be operationally autonomous and will integrate the employees of Iberia's current airport management, who will maintain the terms of the Iberia agreement and retain all their rights. Miguel Ángel Gimeno, currently Director of Ground Operations at Vueling, will be the new CEO of South Europe Ground Services (SOEGS). Gimeno has extensive experience in airport management. He holds a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Zaragoza and an MBA from IESE Business School. Over the last 17 years, he has spent most of his career at Vueling, where, in addition to the position of Director of Ground Operations, he has held the positions of Director of OCC and Director of Crew and Inflight Services. For the CEO of SOEGS, “taking on the leadership of this new company within the IAG Group is a real challenge. I am

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Small plane suffers accident at Dortmund Airport

At around noon on April 3, 2024, an accident involving a small aircraft occurred at Dortmund Airport. The aircraft had problems taking off and came to a stop in an open area after the end of the runway. The two people on board were able to leave the aircraft with minor injuries. The runway had to be closed for around an hour. The BFU has already begun its investigation. A Ryanair aircraft was affected by the closure. The aircraft landed around 15 minutes late and did not have to be diverted.

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GetJet: next subsidiary at the start?

The Lithuanian charter specialist GetJet Airlines only launched a subsidiary in Malta, Airhub Airlines, in the summer of 2020. Now another company has been founded in Latvia. Or not? Not much is known about the new company in Latvia. On February 25, 2021, SIA "GetJet Airlines Latvia" was entered into the Latvian company register. In the meantime, the International Civil Aviation Organization ICAO has also assigned a corresponding code for the Latvian GetJet: DML GetJet has not yet responded to a request from Aviation.direct, but we do know a little more about the Latvian GetJet. This company is not, as one might assume, a new company. Previously, the name Diamond Sky LV was used and thus belonged to the Estonian Diamond Sky. The Estonian company mainly operates with smaller business jets, turboprops and some helicopters in the VIP segment. Under the brand Ruhnu Saare Lennutransport, a Britten-Norman Islander is also operated on scheduled flights from Pärnu to the islands of Ruhnu and Kuressaare. Now it seems as if Diamond Sky has sold its Latvian subsidiary to the charter and ACMI specialist GetJet Airlines. But our research tells a different story here too. The Estonian investment company KK Diamond Group OU is still registered as the owner. Ken Koort and Karl Koort (owners of KK Diamond) are also the same people as those registered for the Estonian Diamond Sky. There is much to suggest that GetJet Airlines Latvia will also enter the charter and ACMI market after the AOC is granted. But as long as neither Riga nor Vilnius

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Avanti Air fleets three DHC Dash 8-400s

The German ACMI and charter specialist Avanti Air will say goodbye to operating jets. In the future, the company will operate three DHC Dash 8-400s. The first aircraft is to be taken over this week. Managing Director Stefan Kissinger confirmed to Aviation Direct that Avanti Air will be in the air with three Dash 8-400s in the future. The first aircraft will bear the registration D-AASH and is to be repainted before its first commercial use. Avanti Air will also give the cabin an upgrade. The commercial "Dash maiden flight" is scheduled to take place in January 2022. The manager did not want to comment further on the origin of the aircraft. Avanti Air was successfully in the air with the ATR42/72 turboprop models for years. The fleet later switched to Fokker 100s. The regional jets, which are now showing their age, have since left the fleet. In the very near future, the airline will once again be a pure turboprop operator, this time with the DHC Dash 8-400 model.

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Avanti Air: In the middle of the floodplain

The German charter and ACMI specialist Avanti Air will soon be getting rid of its last Fokker 100 and replacing it with a more modern aircraft model. A fleet change is nothing new for Avanti Air, as one of the two managing partners recently told Aviation.direct. 27 years ago, Avanti Air (now known externally as avantiair) was founded by the two pilots Markus Baumann and Stefan Kissinger. Since then, the airline from Siegerland Airport has undergone a number of changes, but the two founders are still on board as a constant. It started with a Piaggio P.180 Avanti (hence the company name), with various small business jets and turboprops to follow in the next few years. Two years after the company was founded, the first regional aircraft was acquired in the form of a Beech 1900C, which was soon supplemented by a Beech 1900D. Both aircraft sometimes flew crew shuttles for Britannia Airways. From 2001, the airline began operating scheduled flights for various providers. In 2002, the first ATR42-300 was also used, followed three years later by a larger ATR72-200. Well-known airlines such as Air Berlin, Bangkok Air, Darwin Airline, Intersky and Meridiana also relied on Avanti Air's services. First larger jet aircraft From 2015, the turboprop fleet was completely replaced by the Fokker 100. Avanti Air sometimes had up to three of these XNUMX-seaters in operation. After having already sold two aircraft, the airline is now looking at replacing the last aircraft from the former Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker. The aircraft, registered as D-AOLG, is due to be delivered to Avanti in just under a week.

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Silver Airways: Next US regional airline enters the cargo sector

A few weeks ago it was announced that Air Wisconsin would be operating its first cargo flights with a Bombardier CRJ200 (PF). Now Silver Airways from Florida is also entering this segment - with a strong partner at its side. Gulfstream International Airlines was founded in October 1988 by Eastern Air Lines Captain Thomas L. Cooper. From December 1, 1990, the airline mainly flew as an air taxi with Cessna 402s and later with Beech C99s between Miami and Cap-Haïtien (Haiti). However, due to the political climate in Haiti, Gulfstream soon decided to fly to destinations in the Bahamas. With the signing of a codeshare agreement with United Airlines in 1994, Gulfstream International Airlines applied to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, US Civil Aviation Authority) for a Part 121 license to be allowed to operate larger aircraft in the future, initially Shorts 360s. With the acquisition of Paradise Island Air, Gulfstream International Airlines also acquired four DeHavilland Canada DHC-7s. Soon after, the fleet was expanded to include the two models Beech 1900 and Embraer 120. Further partnerships were also entered into with Trans World Airways (as TWConnection) and later Continental Airlines (as Continental Connection). On November 4, 2010, Gulfstream International Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In March of that year, the company and all of its assets were sold to Victory Park Capital. In October 2011, the company purchased six used Saab 340B+s for Gulfstream. These aircraft were to fly in addition to the 21 Beech 1900Ds. However, Victory Park Capital completely reorganized the airline. Since December 15, 2011, the airline has been flying under the

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Air Ocean Airlines: Ukrainian start-up airline wants to take off with domestic aircraft

A new Ukrainian airline was founded over a year ago, on August 27, 2020. Only now are a few details about Air Ocean Airlines becoming known. No, Air Ocean Airlines will probably not fly over the oceans so much, but will offer mostly regional services. As the online edition of the Ukrainian logistics and infrastructure magazine MINTRANS reports, Air Ocean wants to purchase aircraft from the domestic manufacturer Antonov. The three used Antonov An-148s manufactured in Russia are to join Air Ocean via the Russian leasing company Ilyushin Finance Co (IFC). Until now, all of the aircraft were in operation with the Siberian Angara Airlines and had the registration numbers RA-61709, RA-61710 and RA-61713. However, this airline parted with its only jet aircraft in the summer of 19 as a result of the Covid-2020 crisis and difficulties in obtaining spare parts. Angara Airlines currently only flies with Antonov An-24, Antonov An-26 freighters and Mil Mi-8 helicopters from its base in Irkutsk, Siberia. The livery of two aircraft has already been neutralized and Ukrainian registrations have been added. However, the registration numbers UR-CTC and UR-CTF have not yet been entered in the official register. Due to the low capacity (75 seats) and the lack of EASA and FAA certification, Air Ocean is only allowed to fly domestically. Another area of ​​operation would be wet leasing operations in some African countries. However, the managing director of Air Ocean, Nikolay Melnichuk, is still keeping a low profile regarding his airline's plans.

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Congo Airways: first Embraer arrived

The state airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo took delivery of its first Embraer yesterday. But this is not one of the aircraft ordered from Embraer. Congo Airways is the national airline of the Democratic Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Kinshasa. It was only founded in 2014 and began flight operations on October 9, 2015 with a first former Alitalia Airbus A320-200 from Kinshasa-Ndjili. A second A320 was added to the fleet in the same month. In April 2016, two DeHavilland Canada DHC-8-400s were taken over from Air Niugini. The fleet has not changed since then. In December 2019, two Embraer 175s were ordered from the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer and two further options were secured. These two jets are to replace the two Canadian turboprops. But just under six months later, Congo Airways changed the order. The Congolese airline signed a contract for two Embraer 190-E2s (plus two options). Another six months later, Congo Airways converted the options into commitments for the Embraer 195-E2. Embraer now has two E190-E2s and two E195-E2s on its books. And now, yesterday, September 15, 2021, a first Embraer in Congo Airways colors was delivered to Kinshasa. But this is not one of the four orders. A contract was signed with Kenya Airways for a two-year wet lease of two Embraer 190s. The second aircraft is also due to arrive in Kinshasa today. Both aircraft started their careers with Air Astana ten years ago and were handed over to Kenya Airways in the summer of 2019.

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