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July 2

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July 2

Family holidays in Tunisia: TUI records strong increase in guests and expands offer

Amely Mizzi July 2, 2024 11:00

Tunisia is enjoying great popularity as a family travel destination this summer. TUI reports a significant increase in guest numbers compared to last year. The extensive all-inclusive offer and the attractive price-performance ratio in particular are attracting many families to the coasts of the North African country. From July 10, TUI is also offering a new flight connection from Salzburg to Monastir and has expanded its hotel portfolio to include two new TUI Blue Hotels in Hammamet. The new TUI Blue Hotels, including the TUI Blue Manar with Aquapark and the TUI Blue Palm Beach Hammamet with panoramic views over the Gulf of Hammamet, offer families a variety of activities and relaxation options directly on the beach or in exotic gardens. In total, there are over 200 hotels to choose from, including the popular brands TUI Magic Life and Robinson. Tunisia not only impresses with its warm Mediterranean climate and over 300 days of sunshine per year, but also with its rich history and fascinating landscapes. From historical sites such as the Medina in Hammamet to adventure trips into the desert, the country offers a wide range of experiences for the whole family.

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110 years of Graz Airport: celebration and new logo

Jan Gruber July 2, 2024 10:06

On June 26, 1914, the first official flight took off from Thalerhof airfield, now known as Graz Airport. To mark its 110th anniversary, the airport celebrated with a festive event and an expert discussion on current opportunities, risks and innovation possibilities. At the same time, the airport presented itself with a new brand identity for the future. The celebrations attracted numerous representatives from politics, business, tourism and the media. Moderator Armin Assinger led the evening, while prominent speakers such as State Parliament President Manuela Khom and Mayor Elke Kahr highlighted the importance of the airport for the region. The airport's commitment to CO2 neutrality by 2030 was also particularly emphasized, supported by projects such as a large-scale photovoltaic system. The new brand identity as "Graz Airport" was officially presented, including a website relaunch and a modernized corporate design. This step is intended to position the airport as an international gateway to the world and overcome language barriers.

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Korean Air and CEVA Logistics expand partnership for sustainable flying

Amely Mizzi July 2, 2024 09:07

Korean Air is intensifying its Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) program through a new collaboration with CEVA Logistics, a global logistics company. The program, launched in September 2023, aims to engage customers and industry partners in sustainable initiatives. The agreement was signed on June 26, 2024, during the Air Cargo China Conference 2024 in Shanghai. CEVA Logistics will support Korean Air in using SAF in its air cargo operations, while the airline will share the reduced CO2 emissions from SAF use with CEVA Logistics. Both companies are committed to promoting the use of SAF and raising awareness of CO2 reduction in the logistics industry. “We are pleased to see the strong support for our SAF program from corporate and cargo customers,” said Jaedong Eum, Senior Vice President and Head of Cargo Business Division at Korean Air. “We will continue to build partnerships that enable our customers to actively contribute to decarbonization.” Olivier Boccara, Air & Ocean Leader APAC at CEVA Logistics, emphasized: “This collaboration is one of the most important short-term levers for CEVA to promote decarbonization. Together with partners such as Korean Air, we are developing new solutions to achieve a meaningful change in our industry.” Korean Air was the first Korean airline to introduce SAF on the Paris – Seoul Incheon route in February 2022 and signed a memorandum of understanding with Shell in September 2022 to acquire SAF at major airports in the Asia-Pacific region and the Middle East by 2031. The airline remains committed to sustainable aviation by partnering with customers, energy companies and stakeholders to

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KLM Cityhopper considers fleet optimization with Embraer E195-E2

Jan Gruber July 2, 2024 08:35

KLM Cityhopper, a subsidiary of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, is planning a possible expansion and densification of its fleet with new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft. Maarten Koopmans, CEO of the company, has announced in an interview with Aviation Week that they are in talks with Embraer to accelerate the delivery of the new aircraft. Currently, KLM Cityhopper expects the delivery of four E195-E2 aircraft later this year and another three in 2025. This comes as part of its existing order of 25 E195-E2 options, which the company has earmarked for future growth and to renew its fleet. An additional challenge is the densification of seat capacity, especially to meet the restrictions at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. The Dutch government has earmarked a reduction in flight movements per year from 500.000 to 460.000 to comply with noise regulations. In this context, KLM Cityhopper is considering increasing the number of seats on its E195-E2s from the current 132 to 136. This could help to optimize the number of flights per year, although local airlines have expressed concerns. "We have 132 seats in the E2 and are considering increasing this to 136 seats. At the same time, we want to ensure that the comfort of our business class passengers remains at a high level," explained Koopmans. The discussions with Embraer about accelerating deliveries and seat densification reflect KLM Cityhopper's ambition to increase its operational efficiency while meeting regulatory requirements. The airline stresses that the current challenges with Pratt & Whitney engines are present, but not as severe as with other aircraft types. The

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Fuel prices at the start of the holidays: Drivers in Austria pay more

Amely Mizzi July 2, 2024 08:03

With the start of the summer holidays, the annual ritual of fuel price increases in Austria has been repeated. This is emphasized by Martin Heissenberger, regional director of the ARBÖ Burgenland, who criticizes the fact that petrol and diesel have become more expensive just in time for the start of the holidays. Drivers pay significantly more at motorway petrol stations in particular: at a motorway service station in the Eisenstadt district on the A 3, a liter of diesel and Eurosuper each costs 2,149 euros, while just five kilometers away at a petrol station on the B 16, a liter of diesel costs 1,579 euros and Eurosuper 1,589 euros. This was the result of a price comparison by the ARBÖ on July 28, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. Heissenberger vehemently criticizes the price difference: filling up a 50-liter tank results in a surcharge of up to 28,50 euros. He describes this as a rip-off and advises only driving to motorway petrol stations in an emergency. According to the ARBÖ, you should find out about cheap refueling options along the route before driving in order to avoid unnecessary expenses. The ARBÖ homepage lists the best petrol stations to help you save money on your holiday.

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Industrial action at WestJet: Hundreds of flight cancellations affect Canadian travellers

Jan Gruber July 2, 2024 07:39

An ongoing dispute between WestJet Airlines and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) has resulted in massive flight cancellations affecting more than 49.000 passengers in Canada. Although AMFA withdrew its strike last week and negotiations resumed, further disruptions to operations could not be prevented. Begun late on June 28, 2024, the walkout by WestJet's aircraft mechanics forced massive cancellations over the Canada Day weekend. WestJet was forced to cancel a total of 407 flights to ensure the stability of remaining flight operations. The airline drastically reduced its operating fleet and warned of possible further disruptions through July 2, 2024. Diederik Pen, President of WestJet Airlines, strongly condemned the union actions, highlighting the impact on the travel plans of thousands of Canadians over the long weekend. He appealed to the Ministry of Labour and the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to intervene immediately to minimize further inconvenience to passengers. The AMFA, representing around 670 WestJet aircraft mechanics, had originally announced the strike for June 20, but withdrew it after both sides agreed to return to negotiations. Nevertheless, the effects of the labour dispute remained felt, as WestJet was only able to operate on a limited basis. The Minister of Labour and the CIRB are faced with the challenge of finding a quick solution to restore the suspended flight operations and stabilise passengers' travel plans. WestJet itself stressed that despite the adversity, its teams are working hard to ensure safe operations.

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Wizz Air and other airlines are struggling with delays and cancellations

Amely Mizzi July 2, 2024 07:06

European airports and airlines are currently experiencing significant disruption caused by a combination of weather events and problems managing slots at airports. This has resulted in massive delays and flight cancellations, severely impacting the operations of Wizz Air and other European airlines. On 26 June 2024 alone, there were around 450.000 minutes of delay in European airspace, of which 360.000 minutes were weather-related, with significant delays exceeding 3 hours. Wizz Air recorded over 30.000 additional minutes of delay in the last four weeks compared to last year, reflecting this exceptional situation. The airline apologizes to affected passengers for the inconvenience, but stresses that these issues are beyond its control. Wizz Air recommends affected passengers to book directly through its website or app to be informed of any current schedule changes in a timely manner. Travellers who booked through online travel agents should check flight status and make changes via these platforms if necessary. Wizz Air and other airlines are working closely with air traffic control authorities, including Eurocontrol, to discuss and implement measures to minimise disruption. Passengers can request reimbursement for additional expenses via the official Wizz Air website in case they have to arrange their own accommodation due to limited hotel capacity.

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Violation of investigation guidelines: Boeing and the NTSB in conflict

Amely Mizzi July 2, 2024 06:33

Boeing is in the headlines again, this time for violating the National Transport Safety Board (NTSB)'s investigation guidelines. During a media briefing, a senior Boeing executive disclosed nonpublic information about the Alaska Airlines MAX 9 accident, which led to a sharp rebuke from the NTSB. On June 27, 2024, the NTSB publicly criticized Boeing for sharing unauthorized information during the briefing two days earlier. This was a clear violation of an agreement that prohibits Boeing from disclosing details involved in ongoing investigations. "Boeing offered opinions and analysis on factors it believed to be relevant to the accident," the NTSB said in its official statement. As a result, the NTSB withdrew Boeing's access to further investigation information regarding the 737-9 accident. Timothy LeBaron, director of the NTSB's Office of Aviation Safety, then sent a critical letter to Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun. LeBaron complained that the Boeing executive's statements during the briefing released unauthorized information and made unfounded speculations about the causes of the January 5, 2024, door stop incident. He stressed that some of this information was inaccurate or unknown to the NTSB. According to Reuters reports, the violation was committed by Elizabeth Lund, the Boeing Commercial Airplane Unit's senior vice president of quality. Lund had told journalists that a lack of documentation led to important door stop screws not being reinstalled during production of the 737-9. This ultimately led to the accident in which the door burst during flight. Boeing later issued a public statement.

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Stefan Pratsch wins the Falstaff Grüner Veltliner Grand Prix 2024

Amely Mizzi July 2, 2024 06:03

Stefan Pratsch from Hohenruppersdorf in the Weinviertel secures victory at this year's Falstaff Grüner Veltliner Grand Prix 2024 (Classic). His Grüner Veltliner Matznerhügel convinced the jury with its classic character, peppery notes and fine minerality. The Wine by S.Pratsch winery, known for its organic wine production, is located in a picturesque hilly landscape that offers ideal conditions for growing the grape variety. The award-winning wine, which also offers delicate aromas of mango and tropical fruits, is not only suitable for Austrian cuisine, but also perfect for summer moments of enjoyment. Pratsch, who has been farming organically for over 30 years, is delighted with the success of his masterpiece, which is now being made available to international and Austrian wine lovers. The Grüner Veltliner Matznerhügel, whose production is heavily focused on export (~90%), is currently also available in Austria. Those interested can order it online at www.pratsch.at/shop or taste it directly on site in the newly opened Vi[no]trine at the winery. In addition to the winning wine, the winery offers a wide range of wines and regional specialties.

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Tips and recommendations for handling medication while travelling

Jan Gruber July 2, 2024 05:30

In 2023, Austrian holidaymakers made a total of around 27 million trips, with the summer months being the peak travel times. With the start of the travel season, Alexander Herzog, Secretary General of Pharmig (Association of the Austrian Pharmaceutical Industry), is making an urgent appeal to travellers to be particularly responsible when handling medication while on holiday. "It is important to have a travel first aid kit with you to save time in the event of illness and to ensure rapid medical care. People who take medication regularly in particular should be appropriately equipped for longer stays. Nevertheless, medications are sensitive products and it is therefore crucial to handle them carefully, especially under the conditions of a trip. This includes correct storage on holiday and environmentally friendly disposal when they are no longer needed," explains Herzog. Especially when travelling to warmer regions, it is important not only to protect your skin from the sun, but also the medication you are carrying. Many active ingredients in medications are sensitive to heat and light, which can affect their effectiveness without any external changes being visible. Medications should therefore be protected from light and moisture and stored as cool as possible. Special bags or boxes with ice packs are ideal for transport. In addition, travelers should read the package insert carefully to get all the important information. For air travelers, Herzog recommends carrying medication in hand luggage to avoid problems if the main luggage arrives late. "It is important to observe the regulations for liquids. A medical certificate in German and English can help to minimize any delays at the security check," adds

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