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Summer 2025: Ryanair announces clear-cutting in Germany

Jan Gruber 10 October 2024 14:21

On October 10, 2024, Irish low-cost airline Ryanair made the drastic decision to cut its German flight offering for summer 2025 by 12%, which corresponds to 1,8 million seats and 22 canceled routes. It even plans to withdraw from some airports entirely. This measure is a direct response to high government taxes, in particular the air traffic tax and security and air traffic control fees, which Ryanair sees as hindering the recovery and growth of the aviation industry in Germany. In particular, the closures in Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig and the drastic 60% reduction in offerings in Hamburg raise questions about the future of Germany as an aviation location. The impact on the country's mobility, tourism and economic connectivity could be significant. High costs as an obstacle Ryanair criticizes German government measures, which it believes are hindering a return to normality after the pandemic. With only 82% of 2019 traffic, Germany is the worst performing aviation market in Europe. In contrast, countries such as Sweden, Italy, Hungary and Poland have successfully implemented lower access costs, which has led to an increase in capacity and traffic. Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson stresses that the high government levies result in the highest airfares in Europe, which places a heavy burden on both German citizens and international visitors. "The decision to cease all operations in Dortmund, Dresden and Leipzig, as well as the massive reduction in service in Hamburg, is a clear message to the German government," Wilson explained. "The extremely high access costs have led to Germany missing out on the connection

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Investigations into Bonza Airlines: Money laundering and insolvency in the focus of the US authorities

Jan Gruber 10 October 2024 04:31

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into insolvent Australian airline Bonza, focusing on potential violations of US anti-money laundering laws. These legal actions shed light on the company's financial practices as well as the involvement of its backers, particularly Miami-based firm 777 Partners. The developments come at a time when Bonza, which only ceased flying in April 2024 after just 14 months of operation, is facing a complex insolvency. Background to the investigation The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) recently reported that the DOJ is specifically investigating whether funds from 777 Partners that were originally earmarked for the company's soccer teams went to Bonza instead. This transfer could violate anti-money laundering laws if it turns out that the funds were not used for their intended purpose. The DOJ's Southern District of New York office is leading the investigation, and the outcome of this review could have far-reaching consequences for all parties involved. 777 Partners had provided Bonza with around AUD 78 million (about USD 52,7 million) to finance the airline during the pre- and post-launch phases. However, the connection between the two companies has proved problematic, especially when 777 Partners' lessors demanded the return of their aircraft. This decision led to Bonza's closure in April 2024 after the airline had to rely on sporadic financing from 777 Partners. Bankruptcy and legal problems In addition to the DOJ investigation, Bonza is also being investigated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This investigation aims to

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Summer 2025: Skyalps takes over Klagenfurt-Hannover

Amely Mizzi 9 October 2024 13:33

With the announcement of a new non-stop connection between Hanover and Klagenfurt for the summer of 2025, Carinthia Airport is taking a significant step towards connecting to the German market. From May 2025, the South Tyrolean boutique airline Sky Alps will offer direct flights from Hanover to Klagenfurt twice a week. This success is of great importance not only for Klagenfurt Airport, but above all for Carinthian tourism, as northern Germany is one of the region's most important source markets. This new connection will make getting to Carinthia much easier, which is an attractive offer especially for tourists from northern Germany. Sky Alps as a partner Sky Alps, a young, up-and-coming airline based in Bolzano, was founded in 2021 and has quickly established itself as a boutique airline that places particular emphasis on service and comfort. With a fleet of ten DASH-8 Q-400 aircraft, each of which can carry 76 passengers, Sky Alps now serves over 20 European destinations. The airline has made a name for itself in particular through its premium onboard service, where food, drinks and baggage are included in all fares. This combination of high-quality services and a family atmosphere on board makes Sky Alps a strong partner for the tourist connection to Carinthia. UKS Touristik, the German tour operator that made this flight connection possible, is known for hand-picked package tours that depart from regional departure airports in Germany. In addition to popular travel destinations such as South Tyrol, Lake Garda and Elba, UKS is now expanding its portfolio to include Carinthia. The company offers high-quality travel packages with selected hotel partners and sees Carinthia as a promising expansion

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Easyjet as potential winner in the competition for slots in Milan-Linate

Jan Gruber 9 October 2024 04:31

In recent months, the aviation industry in Europe has experienced significant upheaval. Against a backdrop of mergers, acquisitions and regulatory requirements, the major airlines have developed new strategies to compete. In particular, the British low-cost airline Easyjet has won the race for the coveted slots at Milan Linate Airport. While Lufthansa and ITA Airways are under pressure to reorganise their flight connections from Italy, Easyjet is seen as the preferred competitor to offer low-cost and attractive alternatives. These developments could have far-reaching effects on travellers and the aviation landscape in Europe. Competition for slots at Milan Linate The EU Commission has asked Lufthansa and ITA Airways to present competition solutions covering both short- and long-haul flights from Italy by 4 November. This is part of the conditions imposed by the Commission as part of the approval of the cooperation between the two airlines. Specifically, Lufthansa and ITA must give up 30 daily slots to ensure that the connection to important hubs in Germany, such as Frankfurt and Munich, can continue to be served. According to the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera, Easyjet appears to be favored as the most suitable competitor for these slots in Linate. This assessment is based on the belief that Easyjet can provide significant competition on short-haul routes. The British airline plans to increase its presence in Milan and station up to six aircraft at this location. This would significantly adapt its strategy for Italy, especially after the decision to withdraw aircraft and staff from Venice. Challenges for Easyjet Although the

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Warm winter destinations and new trends in the 2024/25 winter flight schedule

Jan Gruber 8 October 2024 04:30

With the start of the winter flight schedule in November 2024, Ruefa, one of Austria's leading tour operators, is fulfilling the wish of many Austrians to escape the cold season. This winter, warm travel destinations that guarantee sun and relaxation are once again particularly popular - be it on the paradisiacal beaches of the Maldives, the Canary Islands or the exotic Dominican Republic. This winter, Ruefa is offering a diverse range of long-haul and medium-haul destinations, including not only classic favorites, but also new, up-and-coming destinations. Winter time means long-haul travel time While many Europeans prefer the Mediterranean coasts in summer, winter traditionally remains the peak season for long-haul travel. The Christmas holidays in particular offer the perfect opportunity to escape the cold and travel to distant countries that promise warmth and relaxation. According to Birgit Wallner, Managing Director of Ruefa, the Maldives and Thailand are once again very popular this season: “We continue to see strong demand for the Maldives and Thailand. Both destinations are at the top of the long-haul travel rankings." Thailand attracts visitors with its diverse holiday options, from the vibrant metropolises such as Bangkok to the beautiful beaches of Phuket and the quieter regions such as Khao Lak and Koh Samui. Mauritius, another classic winter travel destination, is also very popular. With the expansion of flight connections to Bangkok and the Maldives, travelers are offered more flexibility, which further increases the attractiveness of these destinations. New trends in long-haul travel In addition to the traditional long-haul travel destinations, new trends are also emerging. Tanzania, with the Zanzibar archipelago in particular, is becoming increasingly popular with travelers.

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In the test: Air Astana's ambitious business class

Jan Gruber 7 October 2024 04:30

Air Astana currently flies from Astana to destinations in Europe, including Frankfurt am Main and London Heathrow. The Boeing 767-300ER is mostly used for long-haul flights. The carrier's flagship is the business class, which is examined in detail in this article. The Kazakh airline Air Astana currently only flies to Frankfurt am Main in the DA-CH destination. It currently connects the German metropolis with the capital Astana, and an Almaty connection will soon be added. On board the fleet, the carrier offers two traditional classes of transport - business and economy. This article deals with the C product on the Airbus A320 and Boeing 767 aircraft types. Air Astana currently has three Boeing 767-300ERs, which are registered in Ireland under the registrations EI-KEA, EI-KEB and EI-KEC. These are a "discontinued model" because the carrier will replace them with brand new Boeing 787s in the next few years. The cabins are in excellent condition, so passengers will not notice that these widebodies will be leaving the fleet in the foreseeable future. In the A320: Business class seats instead of "free middle seat" In contrast to many European airlines, Air Astana also offers real business class seats on its A320 fleet. This has not been standard in Europe for a long time, because many airlines believe that it is sufficient to use normal eco seats and, if available, leave the seat next to or in the middle free. However, this does not offer passengers significantly more comfort. Air Astana uses real C-seats on the Airbus A320 aircraft, although these are in direct comparison with those

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In the test: In the Air Astana Economy in the A321 through Kazakhstan

Jan Gruber 5 October 2024 19:02

In Europe, the included in-flight service in economy class on short-haul flights has been and is being cut back more and more. But what is the situation in Kazakhstan with Air Astana? This report takes a closer look at economy class on a domestic flight that was operated with an Airbus A321. Unfortunately, some Europeans still have certain reservations about airlines that are based in the successor states of the Soviet Union. In some people's minds, outdated aircraft from the Soviet era, not always friendly staff and occasionally indefinable catering have become firmly entrenched. This is definitely no longer the case for most providers, as there have been major improvements or the free market has separated the wheat from the chaff. Many former "problem airlines" no longer exist at all. Air Astana's predecessor did not exactly have the best reputation. As a new company, they wanted to do everything better and set themselves the ambitious goal of being an attractive full-service carrier with only western aircraft. But will they succeed? In economy class on a domestic flight? Domestic flight in economy class from Almaty to Astana The test flight took us from Almaty, the economic center of Kazakhstan, to the capital Astana. An Airbus A321 was used, which was equipped with short-haul business class seats in the front area of ​​the cabin. In economy, industry-standard state-of-the-art seats were installed. In contrast to many European providers, however, these have an "eye-catcher": Air Astana has equipped the "wooden class" with an in-flight entertainment system that has individual screens. This is something you will look for in vain on short-haul flights with competitors such as Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and Co., because when

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Disruptions at German Air Traffic Control: Chaos in German Airspace

Amely Mizzi 4 October 2024 13:12

A technical fault at the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) led to significant problems across German airspace on Friday. The disruptions, which affected various airlines and passengers, were caused by the loss of flight plan data and weather data. Although the systems were put back into operation at around 10.25:70 a.m., the effects on air traffic remained noticeable. This raises questions about the stability of the air traffic infrastructure and the possible consequences for passengers and airlines. The disruption at the DFS, which is based in Langen near Frankfurt, meant that the data necessary for the safe operation of air traffic was not available. Flight plan data and weather information are essential for planning and carrying out flights. Air traffic control stated that the problems had now been resolved, but that the lost data would have to be updated. The aviation industry is particularly vulnerable to such disruptions, as even minor technical problems can have far-reaching consequences. The disruptions were described in detail on the website of the airport operator Fraport, which operates Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt. According to Fraport, there were "significant delays in operations and flight cancellations" due to the technical glitch. Around XNUMX flights were cancelled, causing inconvenience and potentially high costs for many travelers. Reactions from the airlines Lufthansa, as the largest German airline, confirmed that there were isolated flight cancellations and delays, but that long-haul flights were not affected. Lufthansa recommended that its passengers regularly check the flight status on its website to stay informed of any changes. This is a common practice in the

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Air India must save money: Employees should share hotel rooms

Jan Gruber 4 October 2024 04:31

Amid the impending merger of Air India and Vistara, the long-established Indian airline is planning a measure that is causing a stir within the industry and among cabin crew: From December 1, 2024, selected members of the cabin crew will be required to share hotel rooms during stopovers. This decision is part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce operating costs and harmonize company policies with the recently acquired airline Vistara. The merger, which will be completed in the coming months, presents Air India with numerous challenges, particularly in dealing with staff. Many flight attendants are concerned about this change, which is seen as a cut in their working conditions. The cost-cutting strategy in detail Until now, Air India's cabin crew have been entitled to single rooms in hotels during their stopovers. This is set to change from December by forcing staff to share accommodation - a practice that is already common practice at Vistara, Air India's sister airline. However, the new guidelines do not affect all staff: only cabin managers and cabin executives are exempt from the regulation and are still allowed to use single rooms. While sharing hotel rooms represents a significant cost saving for Air India, the airline is planning to increase the overnight allowance for international flights in return. This allowance currently ranges between 75 and 125 US dollars, depending on the location. With the new regulation, it is expected to rise to 85 to 135 US dollars. In addition, the meal plans for domestic flights will be adjusted: in future, cabin crew will receive all meals during working hours, not just breakfast. This should at least partially offset the effects of the new room policy.

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Lufthansa Group increases seat reservation fees significantly

Jan Gruber 3 October 2024 17:25

The Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa itself as well as airlines such as Eurowings Discover, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss and Air Dolomiti, raised the prices for seat reservations again at the beginning of October 2024. The group is thus continuing a trend that has already been observed in recent years: the price of additional services is rising continuously. Passengers in economy and premium economy classes are particularly affected by the new price adjustments, but travelers in business class also have to dig deeper into their pockets for special seat options. New pricing models: Greater differentiation by seat type The most important innovation in the current round of pricing is the greater differentiation by seat category. In addition to the well-known standard seats, there are now specific price adjustments for seats in the first row and for seats with more legroom. These categories, which are particularly popular with frequent flyers or on long-haul flights, now come with some significant price increases. According to the Lufthansa Group, the price for standard seats on European flights (Zone 1) has been maintained and is still at least 14 euros. For long-haul flights (Zone 5), however, the cost has increased from 39 to 45 euros. Anyone who opts for a seat with more comfort, such as in the first row or with extra legroom, has to pay significantly more. In the highest price zone, the fee for such a seat in Economy Class can be up to 115 euros. Significant price increases in Premium Economy and Business Class The increases affect not only Economy Class, but also Premium Economy and Business Class. The

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