The rocket of civil aviation and its future in the skies of Europe is uncertain and is leaving a larger gap every day. Charter airlines such as Condor and Jet2 or national carriers such as Icelandair, but also Delta and United are the last airlines that are currently still actively holding on to the Boeing 757. There are plans for retirement, but airlines are having difficulty finding suitable replacements. As a result, dates for the "final flight" have been postponed several times - such as Icelandair with the 757-300 last October - and have not yet published a new date. The Boeing 757 began exploring European routes in 1983 with British Airways and Monarch, and very quickly became very popular with charter airlines and also with state carriers. Iberia, British Airways, Aer Lingus, Icelandair and Co. offered flights in business class, while Condor, LTU, Britannia and all European airlines distributed up to Y239 Pax in the -200 variant to holiday destinations on the Mediterranean. Even transatlantic routes are no problem for this model, as United Airlines is currently proving. Old reliable is a term that describes the 757 very well, but also a hard-working workhorse. Because without the outstanding performance of this machine, some airlines would never have been able to offer what they currently do. As can be seen with Icelandair, which connects Europe with North America via Reykjavik. For cost reasons and low demand, it was decided to stop production in Renton [USA] in 2004. When several airlines, such as United Airlines, were looking for a successor in 2015, they were advised to look at the Boeing 737MAX.

Sofia Airport is not currently known as a luxury airport. But that is exactly what it wants to be, because the team around airport manager Jesús Caballero Pinto has set itself the goal of becoming a so-called five-star airport. There is still a long way to go and those responsible will have to make a lot of effort. There are currently two terminals in operation in Sofia. T1 has been in operation since 1935 and set new standards for the time when it opened. It has been gradually expanded and is currently mainly used by low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air and Easyjet. Competitor Ryanair flies from Terminal 2. T1 is to be taken offline in the medium term and used for other purposes, for example as a VIP departure hall. The fact that T1 is a little out of date despite constant modernization is also shown by the fact that the structural separation of the arrival and departure zones, which was previously common in Eastern Europe, is still in place. There are even separate entrances for these. Terminal 2 to be renovated, T3 to be rebuilt Most airlines use Terminal 2 in Sofia. This was opened in its current form in 2006, but the ravages of time are now gnawing at this building complex. Of course, it is visually much more modern than the core of T1, but it is still a long way from being a five-star airport. This is set to change with the opening of the planned Terminal 3, as company boss Jesús Caballero Pinto announced at the Aviation Event that took place in Sofia last week that a comprehensive

Aircraft lessor TrueNoord, based in the Netherlands, has reached a significant milestone with the acquisition of seven ATR 72-600 aircraft from German asset management company GOAL. This transaction increases TrueNoord's fleet size to over 100 aircraft and adds three new European airlines to its customer portfolio. This underlines the company's ambition to become one of the leading leasing providers of regional aircraft worldwide. The seven new aircraft, including four units already leased to Air Serbia, two aircraft for Emerald Airlines and one for Olympic Air, mark an important step in TrueNoord's growth strategy. The ATR 72-600 is known for its efficiency and versatility, characteristics that make it particularly popular in regional traffic. Nigel Turner, Chairman of TrueNoord, highlights the importance of this acquisition: “Our goal is to actively support the regional aviation market. Thanks to the stability of our equity investors and the international banking community, we have established ourselves as a reliable partner in the industry.” Focus on long-term partnerships TrueNoord works closely with its lessees to optimize their operations. CEO Anne-Bart Tieleman explained that the company prioritizes expanding its fleet with modern technology. The focus is not only on turboprop aircraft such as the ATR 72, but also on larger regional jets and small narrowbody aircraft. This strategy is intended to offer TrueNoord customers more operational flexibility and reliability. Ahmed Ali, Sales Director at TrueNoord, praised the cooperation with GOAL, which led to a smooth transaction. GOAL itself sees this deal as an opportunity to maximize the value of its aviation investments while supporting the development of the

From the end of 2025, Frontier Airlines, the US ultra-low-cost carrier, will make a remarkable change in its aircraft offering: the airline will introduce first-class seats on its aircraft for the first time. This decision marks a bold step in a direction that could transform US airspace. With "The New Frontier" initiative, Frontier not only wants to strengthen its competitive position, but also meet the expectations of an increasingly demanding clientele. In recent years, Frontier Airlines has become known as a major player in the ultra-low-cost segment, a market notorious for its low ticket prices and minimalist service offerings. The introduction of first-class seats represents a clear contrast to this profile. While other major US airlines such as United Airlines and Alaska Airlines have more extensive first-class areas with four rows in the cabin on their wide-body aircraft, Frontier is limiting itself to a smaller and more exclusive solution: two rows of four seats per aircraft, for a total of eight first-class seats. The arrangement of these new seats follows a 2-2 layout, ensuring a high level of privacy and comfort for passengers. This measure could change the way passengers experience flights on the lower-cost airlines, especially on short to medium-haul routes. Passenger upgrades: An additional offer designed to build confidence But the new first-class seats are not the only changes announced by Frontier. With the expansion of its premium options, the airline is also introducing free seat upgrades for its elite members, an offer usually reserved for upscale services in the airline industry. Gold status members and above are eligible for upgrades to UpFront Plus seats,

Alaska Airlines, one of the most important airlines in the USA, recently faced a massive IT crisis. On "Cyber ​​Monday", December 2, 2024, a technical problem led to significant operational disruptions that affected passengers and the flight schedule alike. The incident occurred during a sensitive period, immediately after the Thanksgiving weekend, which is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Alaska Airlines had launched a sales campaign on the occasion of "Cyber ​​Monday" that received an overwhelming response. However, the exceptionally high demand that came with it overwhelmed the airline's IT infrastructure. Already on the morning of December 2, the Alaska Airlines website began to stop functioning. Customers reported difficulties accessing the booking page as well as using the mobile app and contact centers. The technological glitch not only led to booking restrictions, but also affected regular flight operations. Outgoing flights from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) hub were particularly affected. For a short time, the airline shut down all operations in Seattle to prevent overloading of the aircraft and further safety risks. Reaction of the airline Alaska Airlines responded quickly with a public apology and ensured that affected customers were continuously informed via social media and the company website. "We sincerely apologize to our guests who have been affected and are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible," it said in a statement. The airline advised travelers to check the status of their flights regularly and offered easy rebooking or cancellation options. Although operations were stabilized within a few hours,

After a four-year suspension, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has lifted the flight ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). This marks a turning point for the ailing airline, which has faced not only financial challenges in recent years but also a loss of confidence in the safety and competence of its operational structure. The ban was imposed in June 2020 after an investigation into the crash of a PIA aircraft on a domestic flight PK8303 in Karachi revealed serious safety lapses at the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA). The crash claimed 97 of 99 lives on board, as well as one additional death on the ground. The investigation uncovered glaring deficiencies, including faulty flight licenses of a large number of pilots, which made headlines around the world. These revelations led to a crisis of confidence among both international aviation regulators and passengers. Financial impact and operational losses The suspension of PIA flights to Europe had devastating economic consequences for the company. According to information, the ban resulted in an annual loss of around 144 million US dollars in revenue. These losses exacerbated the airline's already existing debt burden, which has been suffering from structural and operational problems for years. Attempts to privatise the airline failed due to a lack of confidence from investors, who only made offers far below the expected value. Reintegration into the European market The EASA's decision to lift the ban is based on the comprehensive reforms that have been implemented within the Pakistani aviation industry in recent years. Among other things, the government introduced the PCAA Act, which provides for a clear separation between the authority's regulatory and service-provision tasks.

South African airline Airlink, known for its regional connections and economic stability, is facing a historic transformation. After more than three decades at the helm of the company, Rodger Foster, co-founder and long-time CEO, will step down in March 2025. De Villiers Engelbrecht, the current Chief Financial Officer, will take over the leadership of the airline from April 1, 2025. Foster, who has led the company since its founding in 1992, has led Airlink through several turbulent phases, including the deregulation of the South African aviation industry, the separation from South African Airways (SAA) and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, Airlink developed from a small airline with few regional flights to one of the leading providers in the African region. Today, Airlink serves 50 destinations in 15 countries with a fleet of 67 Embraer regional aircraft and transported over four million passengers in the 2024 financial year. The succession by Engelbrecht, who has worked at Airlink for over two decades, is generally seen as a sign of continuity. Foster himself will remain with the airline as a non-executive director. Engelbrecht is considered the architect of the airline's financial stability and strategic reorientation in difficult times. His role during the restructuring following SAA's insolvency and in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis was particularly notable. His expertise was strengthened by Qatar Airways' recent entry into the company. The Doha-based airline acquired a 2024 percent stake in Airlink in August 25, one of the most significant foreign investments in a South African airline. With this investment, Airlink is not only strengthening its financial base, but also expanding its

The Lufthansa subsidiary Brussels Airlines is launching a number of new routes in the 2025 summer flight schedule. The focus is, not surprisingly, also on popular holiday destinations. A highlight of the expansion is the introduction of a new flight route to Madeira. From April 2025, Funchal, the capital of the Portuguese island, will become part of the Brussels Airlines route network. This seasonal connection, which will be operated weekly with an Airbus A320, strengthens the airline's presence in Portugal. Madeira, known for its picturesque nature and challenging runway, offers travelers a unique experience. In addition to Madeira, the airline is also planning to increase frequencies to Faro and Porto. With these additions, Brussels Airlines will serve a total of four destinations in Portugal. This is part of a broader approach to expand its offering on the Iberian Peninsula, which is also evident in the extension of the connection to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands into next year. Growth in Spain and beyond Brussels Airlines will fly to eleven destinations in Spain in summer 2025, including popular cities such as Málaga, Valencia, Madrid and Barcelona, ​​where additional capacity is planned. Other destinations in Europe, including Vilnius in Lithuania and several Greek islands such as Lesbos and Samos, will also benefit from increased frequencies. The expansion also includes a year-round connection to Birmingham in the UK, which was previously only available seasonally. A growing fleet The expansion will be supported by a larger fleet. Brussels Airlines plans to put its eleventh long-haul aircraft, an Airbus A330-300, into service, making it the largest long-haul fleet in the airline's history. A total of 2025 aircraft will be in service in summer 50