July 23

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July 23

Graz Airport: On course for growth in a saturated market

Graz Airport is at the beginning of an exciting phase in which the course is being set for future growth and sustainable development. Although the aviation market in Europe is largely saturated, Graz Airport is showing positive signs and is looking to the future with optimism. While the global aviation industry is growing slowly and expanding dynamically, especially in Asia, Europe is struggling with stable but limited growth rates. Wolfgang Grimus, Managing Director of Graz Airport, explained the airport's current developments, challenges and visions for the future in an interview with the Kronen Zeitung. Growth prospects and passenger numbers Despite a global decline in the rate of growth in the aviation industry due to the corona pandemic, there is reason for optimism at Graz Airport. With 733.146 passengers last year and freight volume of 19.379 tons, the airport is showing that it has a solid foundation on which to build. Grimus emphasizes that Graz Airport is continuing to grow and estimates that the one million passenger mark could possibly be reached by 2027. This optimism is supported by the ongoing demand for the existing flight connections to major transfer airports such as Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna and Zurich. These connections are essential for Graz Airport as they give passengers access to global networks and thus numerous international destinations. Desired destinations and non-stop routes Grimus is ambitious with regard to future developments. He names London, Paris and Barcelona as desired destinations for direct flights. These cities are not only culturally and economically important, but also important hubs in international air traffic. The introduction of such connections would not only increase the attractiveness of Graz Airport, but

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SunExpress expands service from Nuremberg for summer 2025

With a remarkable expansion of its flight program, SunExpress, the joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, is sending a strong signal for the 2025 summer season. From Nuremberg, the airline will drastically expand its offering and will then offer an unprecedented number of flights to popular destinations in Turkey. Particularly noteworthy is the more frequent connection to Antalya, which will make SunExpress the leading airline at Nuremberg Airport. This represents a significant step in expanding SunExpress' capacities and service offerings, which is intended to appeal to families as well as frequent travelers and vacationers. Expanded flight offerings to Antalya From summer 2025, SunExpress will connect Nuremberg with Antalya with up to four daily flights, making the airline the most frequently flying company on this route. The new flight program includes additional connections at family-friendly times, especially in the morning. This is intended to meet the needs of families who want to travel comfortably in high season. The additional flights, which depart on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:55, offer a flexible way for travellers to explore the Turkish Riviera. SunExpress is known for its excellent service, having recently been named “Best Leisure Airline in Europe” again by Skytrax. This recognition underlines the airline’s commitment to quality and customer service and is reflected in the expansion of the summer flight schedule. Expansion of connections to Izmir and Dalaman In addition to the increased connection to Antalya, SunExpress will also expand its flights to Izmir. The Turkish port city on the Aegean coast will be served up to seven times a week. Izmir is known for its relaxing beaches as well as

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Dash 8: de Havilland Canada prepares for the next era

After more than four decades as the benchmark for regional turboprop aircraft, the Dash 8 family is entering a pivotal chapter in its history. With over 46 million flight cycles in the world's harshest and most demanding environments, the Dash 8 has established itself as a synonym for reliability, robustness and efficiency. Recognizing continuous developments in aviation technology and evolving operator requirements, de Havilland Canada is preparing for the next phase of Dash 8 development. The newly constructed production facilities at de Havilland Field in Calgary, Alberta, mark the beginning of a new era in the Dash 8's history, shaped by a strategic roadmap and extensive customer feedback. Since its launch, the Dash 8 family has set the standards for regional turboprop aircraft. The versatility and resilience of this aircraft range have made it a preferred choice for airlines and operators in various parts of the world. The Dash 8 is known for its excellent performance in extreme climates, its economy and its ability to operate on short and unpaved runways. These characteristics have made the Dash 8 an indispensable tool for numerous applications, from everyday passenger transport to specialized missions such as air cargo transport, search and rescue and medical evacuations. de Havilland Canada and the future of the Dash 8 With the commissioning of the new production facilities at de Havilland Field, de Havilland Canada is well positioned to reposition the Dash 8 family for the decades to come. The company recently established a Product Strategy Council to understand the needs and expectations

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Austria and the Netherlands sign contract for Embraer C-390 Millennium

On July 22, 2024, a major contract was signed between the Netherlands and Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer at the Farnborough International Airshow, which has far-reaching implications for air transport capabilities in Europe. Under this agreement, the Netherlands is securing nine Embraer "C-390 Millennium" transport aircraft. For Austria, which will receive four C-390Ms through this contract, this step represents a significant step forward in the modernization of its air force. The signing marks a milestone in the cooperation between the two nations and the manufacturer and promises far-reaching benefits for the Austrian and Dutch aviation industries. The contract, which was signed at 14 p.m. GMT+1, not only covers the purchase of the transport aircraft, but also a comprehensive range of additional services. The total package includes logistical support, mission equipment, training for pilots and technicians, necessary infrastructure and spare parts. The budget for this comprehensive project amounts to around one billion euros. Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner expressed her confidence in the contract and emphasized the strategic importance of the new transport aircraft for the Austrian Armed Forces. "Today's contract signing is a milestone for the Austrian Defense Ministry. With these new transport aircraft, we will be at the cutting edge of technology and will be able to fully fulfill our mission for military and humanitarian operations," said Tanner. The first two aircraft are to be stationed in Austria in 2028, with full delivery by 2030 at the latest. Applications and advantages The Embraer C-390M is a versatile aircraft suitable for a wide range of missions. The applications include air transport for personnel and material, medical evacuations (MEDEVAC), and

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ANA orders seven used de Havilland Dash-8-400

All Nippon Airways (ANA) has reached an agreement with De Havilland Aircraft to purchase seven additional used DHC-8-Q400 aircraft. The aircraft will be converted to the Japanese airline's specifications and are scheduled for delivery in 2025. Details of the aircraft's current operators have not been disclosed. ANA, which currently has a fleet of twenty-three DHC-8-Q400 aircraft, operates them through its regional subsidiary ANA Wings. The addition to the fleet is intended to improve the efficiency and reliability of the existing aircraft. The new aircraft will help expand regional capacity. Executive Vice President Hidekazu Yoshida stressed that the expansion of the DHC-8-Q400 fleet underscores ANA's commitment to reliable and economical aircraft.

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UPS Airlines acquires Mexican express carrier Estafeta Carga Aérea

UPS Airlines has announced the acquisition of Mexican express carrier Estafeta Carga Aérea. This transaction builds on the 2020 commercial agreement and is part of UPS's "Better and Bolder" strategy. The acquisition, financial details of which were not disclosed, is expected to close by the end of the year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval. Estafeta Carga Aérea, which currently has six aircraft in its fleet - two Boeing 737-400(F) and four Boeing 737-400(SF) - will be integrated into UPS's existing infrastructure. Jens P. Grimm, President and CEO of Estafeta, sees the acquisition as an opportunity to accelerate growth and strengthen the global connections of the Mexican economy. This acquisition is expected to help UPS expand global express service and better serve growing markets in Mexico.

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VietJetAir orders 20 Airbus A330-900s at Farnborough Airshow

VietJetAir announced an order for twenty Airbus A2024-330Ns at the Farnborough Airshow 900. These new aircraft will complement the Vietnamese low-cost airline's growing long-haul network and replace the existing fleet of A330-300s. With the order, VietJetAir is relying on a modern fleet for its international and regional operations. In addition to the A330-900Ns, the company has already ordered 307 other aircraft, including 87 Airbus A321-200Ns, 20 A321-200NY(XLR), as well as 100 Boeing 737-8s and 100 Boeing 737-8-200s. Currently, VietJetAir operates a fleet of 85 aircraft, consisting of 17 A320-200, 36 A321-200, 11 A321-200N, 14 A321-200NX and 7 A330-300. Its subsidiary Thai VietJetAir has a fleet of 18 aircraft, including 12 A320-200 and 6 A321-200.

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Abra Group plans to take over Wamos Air for 130 million euros

The British holding company Abra Group has filed a notice of its planned takeover of charter specialist Wamos Air with the Spanish Securities Commission (CNMC). With this notification on July 11, 2024, the CNMC has initiated the first phase of its investigation. The decision on the takeover, which involves an investment of 130 million euros, is expected to be made within a month. Abra, owner of the airlines Avianca and GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, could expect an extended review of the takeover by the CNMC if necessary, which could take up to four months. Approval of the purchase would also accelerate the repayment of Wamos Air's Covid-19 loan. Wamos Air currently operates a fleet of twelve aircraft, including five Airbus A330-200s and seven Airbus A330-300s.

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Japan Airlines plans to order ten more Boeing B787-9s

Japan Airlines intends to order ten additional Boeing B787-9 aircraft, with options for a further ten aircraft. This announcement was made during the Farnborough Airshow 2024. Once the order is completed, the airline's Boeing fleet will include ten B787-9s and twenty-one B737 Max-8s. JAL already operates an extensive widebody fleet consisting of three A350-1000s, fifteen A350-900s, twenty-five B767-300ERs, thirteen B777-300ERs, twenty-three B787-8s and twenty-two B787-9s. In addition, ten A350-1000s and three A350-900s are on order from Airbus. This expansion is expected to further strengthen capacity and flexibility across the airline's global network.

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Widerøe buys two used Dash 8-400

Norwegian airline Widerøe announced the purchase of two used Dash 2024-8 aircraft from De Havilland Aircraft of Canada at the 400 Farnborough Airshow. The transaction was handled through Widerøe Asset AS. Details of the origin and delivery dates of the aircraft were not disclosed. De Havilland has not produced any new Dash 2021-8s since June 400. The last aircraft in this series was manufactured for TAAG Angola Airlines. With the purchase, Widerøe's fleet increases to a total of ten Dash 8-400s. In addition, the airline operates two Dash 8-300s, three Dash 8-200s and twenty-three Dash 8-100s. Widerøe uses three Embraer E190-E2s for its jet connections.

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