Amely Mizzi

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Amely Mizzi

Air Montenegro reports decline in profit despite passenger increase

The Montenegrin airline Air Montenegro reported a net profit of EUR 2024 for 540.000. This represents a significant decrease compared to the previous year, 2023, when the airline posted a profit of EUR 3,4 million. The company's revenue increased slightly by 0,8 percent to EUR 62,8 million. At the same time, Air Montenegro recorded a five percent increase in passengers in 2024, with 498.833, driven by an eight percent increase in the number of flights operated, to a total of 5.800. The average aircraft load factor was 69,2 percent, an increase of 1,2 percentage points compared to the previous year. Air Montenegro's Managing Director, Vukadin Stojanović, nevertheless expressed his optimism, emphasizing that the positive financial results in 2024 and a strong start to 2025 demonstrate that the airline is on a clear path of growth and development. The focus remains on expanding its offerings and improving Montenegro's connections to the region and key European destinations. Despite the lower profit, the increased passenger volume underscores Air Montenegro's growing importance for tourism and the country's economic development. The airline appears to have benefited from increased demand for air travel to Montenegro. The decline in net profit could be due to various factors, such as increased operating costs, investments in the fleet, or changing market conditions. It remains to be seen how Air Montenegro will develop in the coming years and whether the company can continue its growth path while increasing its profitability. The announced focus on

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Air Sierra Leone begins flights between Freetown and London Gatwick

The new private airline Air Sierra Leone has announced the launch date for its long-awaited direct flights between Freetown and London Gatwick, marking a significant step in the revitalization of aviation in the West African country. The first flight is scheduled for April 26 and 27, 2025, with regular commercial operations commencing on June 16, 2025. This service will mark the first direct air connection between Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom in several years. The new route will be operated three times a week using a brand-new 737-seat Boeing 8 MAX 189. Flights will depart London Gatwick at 23:00 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and arrive in Freetown at 05:00 AM the following day. Return flights will depart Freetown at 09:00 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and arrive in Gatwick at 15:00 PM. The flight time for the approximately 4.865-kilometer route is approximately seven hours. This announcement comes just three months after Air Sierra Leone successfully launched its three-times-weekly service between Freetown and Lagos, Nigeria, with an Embraer 145. To celebrate the launch of the new London Gatwick route, a joint press conference with the Sierra Leone Civil Aviation Authority and a gala dinner will be held on April 26. Tickets for the new service are already available through the airline's website, at its headquarters in Freetown, and through authorized travel agents. The resumption of a direct service to London, which is home to a significant community of Sierra Leoneans, is seen as an important step in improving the country's international connectivity.

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Transavia plans crew base at Brussels Airport

The Dutch low-cost airline Transavia, a subsidiary of the KLM Group, plans to establish a permanent base for its crew members at Brussels Airport, according to a recent statement by the Dutch Pilots' Union (VNV). Although Transavia has been operating several aircraft from Brussels since June 2022, its crews are currently still stationed at its Amsterdam or Eindhoven bases. Transavia cites persistently high operating costs, complex planning processes, and inefficient crew deployment at its Brussels base as reasons for the planned relocation. VNV quotes Transavia as saying that operations in Brussels are hampered by high costs and the limited availability of hotels for overnight crews, which is preventing further growth. Opening its own crew base is intended to address these problems. The pilots' union VNV described this step as "economically logical" but announced a careful review of the cost implications. Transavia has had mixed experiences with crew bases outside the Netherlands in the past. An earlier attempt to establish a base in Munich cost the airline several million euros. The decision to locate in Brussels appears to have been made in light of capacity restrictions and rising costs at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Furthermore, the Belgian aviation market is attractive to Transavia, also to better reach Dutch travelers from the southern parts of the country. Transavia hopes that the local crew base in Brussels will enable more efficient deployment planning and lower operating costs, which should enable further growth in the Belgian market. The VNV union expects that plans for the crew base will progress rapidly and that the base will be operational by

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Malta Airport starts the summer season with new routes

Malta International Airport celebrated the end of the winter season with the launch of three new flight routes, expanding its route network in time for the expected summer surge in travel. Scandinavian airline SAS Scandinavian Airlines resumed flights to Copenhagen, restoring connections between Malta and Denmark. Maltese airline Universal Air commenced operations to Debrecen, Hungary's second-largest city, and British low-cost carrier easyJet introduced a new service to London Southend, further strengthening its connections to the UK. In March 2025, Malta Airport welcomed a total of 725.134 passengers. Italy remained its most important market with a share of 19,6 percent, followed by the UK with 18,9 percent. Other significant markets included Poland, Germany, and Spain. Despite a significant increase in seat capacity by 17,2 percent to 851.608 seats, the seat load factor fell slightly to 85,1 percent, a decrease of 2,1 percent compared to the same month last year. This slight decline indicates overall high demand for travel to and from Malta, which has not yet been fully met by the capacity expansion. The new routes to Copenhagen, Debrecen, and London Southend are expected to further diversify the route network and make Malta attractive to a wider range of travelers. The resumption of SAS's service to Denmark strengthens the connection to Scandinavia, while the flights to Debrecen open up new tourism and business opportunities with Hungary. The additional service to London Southend complements the numerous existing connections to the UK and offers

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Frontier Airlines Airbus A321neo lands hard – parts break off and enter engine

On April 15, 2025, a dramatic incident occurred at San Juan Airport in Puerto Rico that nearly led to disaster for the crew and passengers of Frontier Airlines flight 3506 from Orlando to San Juan. The Airbus A321neo, a modern aircraft belonging to the US low-cost airline, landed hard on the runway during its first landing attempt, causing severe damage to the nose gear. Pieces of the landing gear broke off and entered the aircraft's left engine. Despite the frightening incident, the crew was able to successfully return the aircraft to the airport and land the plane safely. The incident is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities, although the exact cause of the hard landing and the associated damage is still unclear. The incident: What exactly happened at San Juan Airport? The Airbus A321neo, flight number 3506, was en route from Orlando to Puerto Rico on April 15, 2025. The flight initially proceeded without any unusual incidents, but when the aircraft landed at San Juan Airport at around 16 p.m. local time, an incident occurred that was extremely disturbing for the crew and passengers. According to reports, the aircraft hit the runway with unusually high force during its first attempt. The nose gear, which is crucial for cushioning the impact during a landing, apparently broke. One wheel of the nose gear broke off, and pieces of the damaged gear entered the left engine, a CFM LEAP-1A, which is responsible for the propulsion of the Airbus. As a result of the incident, the

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Vinci Airports records significant passenger growth in the first quarter of 2025

Airport operator Vinci Airports reported a total of 2025 million passengers for the first quarter of 73. This represents an increase of six percent compared to the same period last year, as the company announced. The main driver of this growth was the sharp rise in demand for air travel to Asia, particularly China. In January 2025, air traffic to and from China exceeded the level of the same month in the pre-coronavirus year of 2019 by 25 percent. The European airports in the Vinci network also contributed significantly to this positive development. The airports in Budapest, Porto, Faro, and Nantes in particular benefited from expanded flight offerings by the low-cost airlines EasyJet, Ryanair, and Wizz Air. Edinburgh and London Gatwick airports also recorded an increase in passenger traffic, especially on connections to Southern Europe. In the Latin American markets of Chile and Mexico, growth was primarily stimulated by capacity increases by low-cost airlines, according to Vinci Airports. This development indicates a continued recovery in international air traffic, with demand for intercontinental travel and the availability of low-cost airlines playing a particularly important role. Vinci Airports' figures reflect a global trend in which many airports are reporting increasing passenger numbers after the restrictions of recent years. The recovery of the Asian market, particularly traffic with China, is proving to be a key factor in the growth of many international airport operators.

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Pegasus Airlines launches non-stop flights from Dortmund to Antalya

The Turkish airline Pegasus Airlines has launched its first non-stop flight from Dortmund to Antalya, establishing a new flight connection between the Ruhr region and the Turkish Mediterranean coast. The low-cost carrier will provisionally serve the route until the end of the summer schedule and plans to offer up to six weekly flights. After the arrival of the first aircraft in Dortmund, the crew was greeted with a traditional baptism of water. After Istanbul, Antalya is the second destination in Turkey that Pegasus Airlines will serve from Dortmund. Guido Miletic, Head of Airport Services + Marketing & Sales at Dortmund Airport, emphasized the importance of this new connection both for holidaymakers and for the region's large Turkish community, which now has an additional option for reaching their homeland. Turkey has become an increasingly popular holiday destination in recent years and recorded a record year for tourism in 2024, with Germany among the most important countries of origin. The Turkish Riviera, with its center in Antalya, in particular, attracts many visitors. The city is known for its extensive sandy beaches, year-round mild climate, and numerous attractions, including the historic old town of Kaleiçi and Hadrian's Gate. Pegasus Airlines is a major Turkish low-cost airline with an extensive route network. In addition to direct flights to Istanbul and now Antalya, the airline offers numerous other connections to destinations in 53 countries, many of which can be reached from Dortmund. In the summer schedule, the Dortmund-Antalya route will also be served by the airline SunExpress with up to nine weekly flights, which underlines the importance of

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Traveling with mental illness: Important information and rights for airline passengers

For many people, traveling by plane is a natural part of their lives and a regular part of their lives. However, for people with mental illnesses, the thought of sitting in a cramped aircraft, being exposed to loud noise, and facing the challenges of an unpredictable itinerary can be a significant stressor. In such cases, air travel presents not only a physical but also a mental challenge. However, even people with mental illnesses can generally travel by plane if they are well prepared and know how to make their journey safe and comfortable. This article examines in detail what precautions airline passengers with mental illnesses should take, what rights they have, and what support they can expect from airlines. Medical certificates and the Fit-to-Fly certificate Before embarking on a flight, passengers with mental illnesses should consult their general practitioner or psychiatrist. This not only serves to assess their physical health but also to determine whether their mental state makes the flight safe. Airlines often require a so-called "Fit-to-Fly Certificate." This certificate confirms that the passenger is able to undertake the journey without any health risks to themselves or others. Important: Many airlines require the medical certificate on their own form, which is either available for download from their website or can be sent upon request by customer service. This is important to note, as it frequently happens that passengers are denied boarding if they do not use the airline's own form.

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Price comparisons are worthwhile – Deutsche Bahn is often more expensive than European competitors

In 2024, around 133,4 million passengers used Deutsche Bahn's long-distance services. At the same time, ticket prices are continuously rising, prompting many travelers to look for cheaper alternatives. A recent study shows that international railway companies often offer significantly lower prices for the same routes. A careful comparison of ticket prices can therefore result in significant savings. The study highlights that prices for international rail travel can vary greatly depending on the provider from which the tickets are purchased. For example, a round-trip ticket from Munich to Zagreb via Deutsche Bahn costs €184,98, while Austrian Federal Railways charges only €92,70 for the same route – a saving of over 47 percent. Similar price advantages can be found for travel to Italy, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovenia. For example, tickets to Warsaw via PKP Intercity are around 39 percent cheaper than with Deutsche Bahn. For destinations such as Prague or Ljubljana, comparing prices with the national railway companies of the destination country can also lead to significant savings. Anyone traveling to Italy over the Easter holidays should also pay attention to the local providers: With Trenitalia, a trip costs around €165,89, while Deutsche Bahn charges €371,69 for the same route – a difference of over 44 percent. Deutsche Bahn is not always more expensive. However, there are also routes where Deutsche Bahn is competitively priced or even cheaper. A trip from Berlin to Paris with Deutsche Bahn costs €139,99, while the French train company charges €233 for the same connection – a saving of almost 50 percent.

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Embraer honors FACC for outstanding collaboration

The Austrian aerospace supplier FACC has been honored by the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer with the 2025 Supplier Award in the category "Outstanding Collaboration." This honor took place as part of Embraer's Danish Supplier Conference and recognizes the long-standing and successful partnership between the two companies. Embraer is one of FACC's most important customers, and the cooperation between FACC and Embraer has existed for over two decades. In 2024, FACC was also appointed to the Supplier Advisory Council of Embraer, the world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer. The latest award was presented to FACC CEO Robert Machtlinger by Roberto Chaves, Embraer's Executive Vice-President of Global Procurement and Supply Chain, during the annual supplier conference in São Paulo. Machtlinger expressed his pride and gratitude for this recognition and emphasized FACC's commitment to quality and excellence in the future collaboration. The partnership between Embraer and FACC covers a wide range of activities. FACC manufactures aircraft cabins for Embraer's business jets as well as various components such as spoilers and ailerons for its passenger aircraft. Furthermore, FACC is a strategic partner of Eve Air Mobility, an Embraer subsidiary in the field of advanced air mobility, and develops and produces key components for its eVTOL aircraft.

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