On December 11, 2024, Easyjet announced a significant expansion of its European operations. The British low-cost airline will launch new routes and additional frequencies from Milan's Linate Airport (LIN) from March 30, 2025. This expansion is the result of a strategic agreement in which Easyjet will act as the designated taker of ITA Airways' slots. In addition to a significant expansion of its route network to the UK and other European destinations, Easyjet will also set up two new bases in Italy. This expansion could not only further strengthen Easyjet's position in Europe, but also intensify competition on the routes concerned. Milan's Linate Airport, the metropolis's second international airport after Malpensa, has become an increasingly important hub for low-cost airlines in recent years. Following the European Commission's decision to transfer new slots to Easyjet, the airline will now launch two new connections to the United Kingdom. From 30 March 2025, Easyjet will fly directly from Linate to Edinburgh and Manchester, strengthening connectivity between the Italian economic centre and key UK cities. It is particularly noteworthy that no airline has served Edinburgh or Manchester from Linate since the end of the pandemic in 2022, demonstrating the potential that Easyjet sees in reviving these routes. However, the expansion is not limited to the UK. Easyjet will also offer a second daily flight to London Gatwick (LGW), improving connections between Milan and one of Europe's largest metropolises. These new flights are part of a broader strategy by

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has published a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Boeing 757-200 models. The measure is a response to crack growth analyses that showed that existing inspection programs are inadequate to detect structural weaknesses in the upper frames of the aircraft in a timely manner. The affected aircraft are passenger, cargo and combi models of this type, which are operated worldwide by airlines such as Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, FedEx and European Air Transport Leipzig. Background to the new directive The FAA's decision is based on investigations that showed that certain sections of the upper frame connections are prone to cracks. If left uncorrected, this damage could endanger the structural integrity of the aircraft and increase the risk of failure of essential aircraft parts. Specifically, it concerns the areas that serve as connection points between the S-13 and S-14 stringers. Cracks in these sections could also interact with damage to the fuselage skin, further compromising overall stability. The FAA estimates that the measure affects 456 aircraft worldwide. Operators must now carry out regular General Visual Inspections (GVI) and recurring inspections. Depending on the aircraft's flight cycles, an inspection is required every 3.000 or 6.000 cycles, with the more complex variant taking up to 267 hours of work. Operator reactions The announcement met with mixed reactions from several airlines. Boeing supported the measure without reservation, while operators such as FedEx and United Airlines called for adjustments to the requirements. FedEx argued that its aircraft, which were modified by VT Mobile Aerospace Engineering (VT MAE), required more specific intervals. However, the FAA rejected this suggestion due to a lack of sufficient data. United Airlines

Indian airline Air India, which operates under the Tata Group umbrella, continues its transformation and expansion at an impressive pace. With the recently announced order of 100 additional aircraft from Airbus, the airline is significantly expanding its fleet. This is part of a comprehensive modernization program that aims to make the airline a global leader in air transport. With the order of 10 wide-body A350 aircraft and 90 narrow-body A320 family aircraft, Air India is underlining its expansion strategy. This addition brings the airline's total order book with Airbus to 344 aircraft, including the 40 A350s and 210 A320 family aircraft ordered in 2023. The decision to operate the modern A350 for the first time in India signals Air India's focus on efficiency, passenger comfort and cutting-edge technologies. Focus on technology and partnership A key component of the collaboration between Air India and Airbus is the Flight Hour Services (FHS-C) contract. This service ensures the availability of spare parts and optimized maintenance processes. Particularly noteworthy is the establishment of a local warehouse in Delhi and access to the global Airbus spare parts pools. This not only offers cost savings, but also guarantees the highest reliability for the fleet. Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, emphasized the importance of this partnership: "With this continued collaboration, we are supporting Air India's vision of transforming the national airline into a global pioneer." Growth in the Indian aviation market The Indian aviation market is growing incessantly. Factors such as increasing globalization of the young population, improved infrastructure and the growing middle class are driving demand. Natarajan Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons, emphasized,

A federal judge in the United States has brought about a decisive turn in the legal dispute surrounding aircraft manufacturer Boeing. By rejecting a proposed settlement that would have protected Boeing from criminal prosecution, the company is once again in the spotlight. The case concerns the fatal crashes of two 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 2019. Both disasters sparked global debates about flight safety, corporate ethics and government regulation. The accidents involving Lion Air Flight 610 in October 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 in March 2019 claimed a total of 346 lives. Investigations found that a faulty flight control system known as MCAS (Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System) was responsible for both crashes. The mechanism, which was supposed to automatically lower the aircraft's nose to ensure stability, activated repeatedly due to faulty sensor values, overwhelming the pilots. The crashes not only caused difficulties for the airlines and Boeing involved, but also for the US aviation authority FAA, which was responsible for certifying the aircraft type. As a result of the tragedies, the entire 737 MAX fleet was grounded worldwide for almost two years, causing Boeing billions in financial losses and massive damage to the company's reputation. A questionable settlement In January 2024, a preliminary agreement between Boeing and the US Department of Justice was announced. The agreement stipulated that Boeing would plead guilty to criminal conspiracy and pay a fine. In addition, the company committed to investing $455 million in improving its safety and compliance programs and reporting to an independent corporate monitor. Judge Reed O'Connor, who is in charge of the case

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