Amely Mizzi

More articles from the category

Amely Mizzi

Hurtigruten und HX: Abschluss der Übernahmen und positive Buchungszahlen

Die Hurtigruten Group hat die im November 2024 angekündigten Übernahmen durch Investorenkonsortien erfolgreich abgeschlossen. Dieser Schritt markiert die endgültige Trennung von Hurtigruten und HX (Hurtigruten Expeditions) in eigenständige Unternehmen. Die Investoren, angeführt von Arini Capital Management, Cyrus Capital Partners und Tresidor Investment Management, stellen insgesamt über 500 Millionen Euro an neuem Kapital für beide Unternehmen bereit. HX plant, die Mittel für die Modernisierung der Expeditionsschiffe Fram und Spitsbergen im zweiten Quartal 2025 zu nutzen. Die Renovierungen umfassen Kabinen, Suiten, Wissenschaftszentren und Restaurants. Ziel ist es, die Flotte zu verbessern und das Angebot für die Gäste zu erweitern. Parallel dazu verzeichnet Hurtigruten eine steigende Nachfrage. Die Buchungen für 2025 liegen aktuell um 14 Prozent über denen des Vorjahreszeitraums, mit weiteren positiven Aussichten für 2026. HX meldet ebenfalls einen Anstieg der Vorausbuchungen für 2026 um mehr als 25 Prozent im Vergleich zum Vorjahr. Beide Unternehmen betonen, dass die Transaktionen keine Auswirkungen auf bestehende Buchungen, Geschäftsbedingungen, Geschäftspartner oder den täglichen Betrieb haben. Die neuen Investitionen sollen die langfristige Finanzierung sichern und das zukünftige Wachstum unterstützen.

Continue reading "

Charity concert “United for Ukraine” in Vienna on the third anniversary of the beginning of the war

Am 21. Februar 2025 findet in der Wiener Marx Halle das Solidaritätskonzert „United for Ukraine“ statt, das an den dritten Jahrestag des Kriegsbeginns in der Ukraine erinnert. Die Veranstaltung richtet sich vor allem an die rund 100.000 ukrainischen Flüchtlinge in Österreich und unterstützt Hilfsprojekte der Organisation „Nachbar in Not“ in der Ukraine. Auf der Bühne stehen sowohl österreichische als auch ukrainische Musiker, darunter Lemo, Esther Graf, Shumei, Zlata Ognevich und Tina Karol. Die Moderation übernehmen Lukas Schweighofer aus Österreich und Daryna Tregubova aus der Ukraine. Das Konzert wird vom ORF begleitet und in mehreren Programmen ausgestrahlt. Am 22. Februar zeigt ORF 1 Höhepunkte der Veranstaltung, am 23. Februar folgt eine weitere Übertragung auf ORF III. Auch der Wiener Stadtsender W24 berichtet über das Benefizkonzert. Neben musikalischen Darbietungen soll die Veranstaltung die Aufmerksamkeit auf die weiterhin andauernden Kriegsfolgen und die Notlage vieler Ukrainer lenken. Organisiert wird das Konzert von dem Verein „All for Ukraine – Hilfe für die Ukraine“ unter der Leitung von Dr. Cornelius Granig. Unterstützt wird die Initiative von der österreichischen Bundesregierung sowie zahlreichen Unternehmen und Organisationen, darunter Strabag, Wien Holding, der Flughafen Wien und die Industriellenvereinigung Niederösterreich. Der ORF hebt die Bedeutung der Veranstaltung hervor und setzt mit der Berichterstattung ein Zeichen der Solidarität mit der Ukraine.

Continue reading "

Militarization of space: Germany's industry calls for more commitment to military space travel

The militarization of space is advancing, while Germany and Europe have so far played only a minor role in this international arms race. Against the backdrop of growing global tensions and geopolitical rivalries, the German aerospace industry is calling for increased investment in military space technologies in order to secure national sovereignty and Europe's position in the international arena. Increased participation in the military sector of space is not only necessary to remain technologically competitive, but also to protect one's own interests in an increasingly contested geopolitical environment. Europe's lagging behind in space The German and European space industries are increasingly faced with the challenge that other nations, especially the USA, are investing heavily in the military sector of space. While the USA carried out more than half of the world's 220 rocket launches for military and civilian purposes last year, Europe was at the bottom of the list with just four rocket launches. China, Russia and India are also pursuing ambitious programs that will enable them to quickly catch up in the field of military and civil space technologies. Against this background, German industry is warning that neglecting military space policy could lead to a serious competitive disadvantage. Marie-Christine von Hahn, CEO of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI), stressed the urgency of this development. "If politicians miss this, our sovereignty and our position in the world will be at stake," Hahn explained at the Munich Security Conference. In her view, Germany and Europe are dependent on a "competitive infrastructure in space" in order not to fall behind. Particularly in the area of

Continue reading "

Germany extends border controls by six months

The federal government has decided to extend controls at all German external borders for a further six months. According to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the measure, which would otherwise have expired in mid-March, is intended to help prevent unauthorized entries and curb irregular migration. The decision has already been notified to the European Commission, as such controls are only permitted in exceptional cases in the Schengen area. According to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, around 80.000 unauthorized entries have been detected since border controls were expanded last year. In addition, around 1.900 people smugglers were arrested and around 47.000 people were turned away due to missing visas or forged documents. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser emphasized that the measures also serve to combat people smuggling and organized crime. Germany had extended the controls on the border with Austria, which had already been in place since 2015, to Poland, the Czech Republic and Switzerland in autumn 2023. This was followed in September by controls on the borders with Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The federal government sees the measure as a necessary means of ensuring internal security, while critics fear a restriction of freedom of movement in the Schengen area.

Continue reading "

IATA advocates for relaxation of aviation regulations in the USA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently began calling on the US government to reconsider and change existing aviation regulations. In a letter to US Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, IATA expressed its concern about the regulations introduced by the administrations of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden. In the IATA's view, these went far beyond what was necessary and reasonable to protect passengers. The aviation industry's lobby group is now calling for a return to a market economy that is not restricted by extensive government regulations. In its letter, IATA stated that the administrations of the last two US presidents had engaged in "unfounded regulatory overreach". It refers to the Airline Deregulation Act (ADA) of 1978, which largely deregulated American air travel, thus promoting competition and innovation. While the administration of President Donald Trump, in the view of IATA, has strongly advocated a return to these free market principles, the Biden administration, supported by a variety of measures, has increasingly regulated the aviation sector. IATA criticizes that the decisions on passenger rights legislation in particular have placed an excessive burden on the airline industry and restricted competition. A key concern of IATA is the finding that many of the regulations issued under the last two administrations have not taken into account the real needs of the aviation industry. The aim of these regulations to help passengers is often associated with high costs and unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that impair the efficiency of airlines. Call for changes to passenger rights and fee regulations A central point of IATA's demands relates to the so-called "junk fees" (flat fees) that

Continue reading "

Warning strike at Hamburg Airport: Disruptions to air traffic expected

On Thursday, there will be a warning strike at Hamburg Airport that could significantly disrupt air traffic. The union ver.di has called on employees of Hamburg Airport GmbH and its subsidiaries to stop working. The background to the strike is ongoing collective bargaining negotiations in which the union is demanding higher wages and better working conditions. The airport management has announced that it will keep the impact on travelers as minimal as possible. Nevertheless, passengers must expect delays, flight cancellations and longer waiting times. Passengers are advised to find out about the status of their flight in advance, arrive at the airport early and reduce their luggage to the bare essentials. Check-in the evening before is still possible on Wednesday evening, but not on Thursday. In recent months, several German airports have already seen work stoppages, some of which have massively disrupted air traffic. In Hamburg, too, warning strikes have led to numerous flight cancellations in the past. How long the strike will last and whether further industrial action will follow remains to be seen.

Continue reading "

Air New Zealand suspends Auckland-Seoul route due to capacity constraints

Air New Zealand has announced that it will temporarily suspend its flight from Auckland to Seoul-Incheon due to capacity issues. The limited flight availability is due to engine shortages and delays in the interior of the Boeing 787-9. The first of the affected aircraft, which flew to Singapore in October 2024 for cabin refurbishment, did not return after Christmas as planned. The delay has an impact on the entire fleet renewal schedule, resulting in the aircraft's return being pushed back from mid-February to mid-2025. In addition to the engine difficulties, Air New Zealand also cites maintenance capacity issues, delivery delays from manufacturers, supply chain bottlenecks and a shortage of labor as other challenges. The airline plans to have its entire Boeing 787-9 fleet converted by the end of 2026, but delays in the aircraft's return from Singapore could change the planned timeframes. In addition, several aircraft, including A321-200NX and B787-9, are currently out of service, further limiting capacity. To maintain operations, Air New Zealand has made adjustments to its network, including swapping aircraft on certain routes and reducing frequencies. The airline has also leased three Boeing 777-300ERs from Cathay Pacific to offset the impact of the aircraft outages. Despite the bottlenecks, CEO Greg Foran remained optimistic, stressing the reliability of the B777 aircraft, which are currently in full service.

Continue reading "

Wizz Air launches new routes from Hahn Airport

The airline Wizz Air is expanding its offering at Hahn Airport and will be offering new flight connections to the Romanian capital Bucharest from August 1, 2025. Flights between Hahn and Bucharest will operate three times a week – Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In addition, Wizz Air will start a connection to Sibiu in Romania from August 2, 2025. These flights will be offered on Tuesdays and Saturdays. With this expansion, the airline is strengthening its presence at the German Hahn Airport and offering passengers new travel destinations in Southeast Europe. In addition, Wizz Air will again serve the Hahn – Varna route from April 14, 2025. Hahn Airport is currently also connected to other destinations, including Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Kutaisi (Georgia) and the capitals Tirana (Albania), Skopje (North Macedonia) and Sofia (Bulgaria). Wizz Air is responding to the increasing demand for air travel to the eastern and southern European region. The airline emphasizes that the new connections offer attractive options for both business and leisure travelers.

Continue reading "

Tui equips aircraft fleet with Wi-Fi

The travel group Tui is currently equipping a large part of its aircraft fleet with a modern WiFi system that will enable passengers to use a wide range of digital services during the flight. Since January 2025, 37 aircraft have already been equipped with the satellite-based Iridium Certus system. By summer 2025, a total of around 65 Tui Airline aircraft, including the German Tuifly fleet, are expected to have WiFi on board. The system enables passengers to follow the flight route on a map and stream paid films, series and podcasts, among other things. In the future, new services such as sending WhatsApp messages via the on-board network and the option to book excursions and activities in the travel country on board are also to be added. The WiFi system will be installed in various aircraft types, including the Boeing 737 MAX 8, which all new aircraft from Tui Airline will receive. In total, Tui Airline currently operates around 110 short- and medium-haul aircraft and around 20 long-haul aircraft. The system uses a nine-centimeter antenna that is said to have little impact on kerosene consumption and offers sufficient bandwidth for basic Internet services. With this innovation, Tui Airline joins the growing number of airlines that offer WiFi on board. However, the company is a latecomer in Germany, as airlines such as Lufthansa, Eurowings and Condor already offer a comparable service. Many airlines now offer paid WiFi, although prices and terms of use vary depending on the airline. Even when WiFi is in use, the device's flight mode remains active to avoid disruption to air traffic and high roaming charges.

Continue reading "

Portugal launches new attempt to privatize TAP Air Portugal

Portugal is once again pushing for the sale of its state-owned airline TAP Air Portugal. The government has once again put the company on display and wants to privatize it completely. But these plans are meeting with resistance, especially from the opposition. The terms of the sale are currently being disputed, and a compromise is emerging that could represent a partial success for both sides. Strong competition among potential buyers, including major European corporations, is making the process even more complex. According to Portuguese Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz, the government's goal is to sell 100 percent of TAP. In a hearing before a parliamentary committee, he stated that this was the government's official position. But the opposition parties, including the PS (Socialist Party) and Chega, are against full privatization and are calling for partial privatization. The latter want to reduce the state's stake, but not give it up completely. However, due to the lack of its own majority in parliament, the government is dependent on a compromise to push through the privatization of TAP. According to media reports, the sale plan could ultimately result in a sale of 49 percent of the shares to private investors. This solution would allow the government to retain most of the control, while private investors can play an important role. The minister made it clear that the main aim was to ensure that TAP no longer remained in state hands. The government wanted to avoid a "zigzag course", i.e. a situation in which the airline repeatedly switches between state and private control. A crucial point for both parties is to ensure air traffic to and from

Continue reading "