September 5, 2024

More articles from the category

September 5, 2024

Wizz Air to carry 6,2 million passengers in August 2024

In August 2024, Wizz Air carried 6,2 million passengers, an increase of 40.000 compared to the previous year. This happened despite a slight decrease in capacity of 0,4 percent due to maintenance work on Pratt & Whitney engines. The load factor of the flights increased from 94,1 to 95,4 percent. The airline emphasizes that the increased efficiency of the aircraft contributed to this result.

Continue reading "

New Zealand increases tourist fees almost threefold

From October 1, 2024, New Zealand will significantly increase the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL) for international tourists. The fee will rise from 35 New Zealand dollars (about 20 euros) to 100 New Zealand dollars (56 euros). This increase takes place as part of the electronic entry permit NZeTA, which must be applied for online before travel. German, Austrian and Swiss citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to three months, but the costs for longer-term visits will also be increased. Tourism Minister Matt Doocey explained that the increased fee was necessary to cover the pressure on local infrastructure and the costs of maintaining nature reserves. However, the tourism association TIA expressed concerns that the higher fees could affect New Zealand's competitiveness and lead to a decline in visitor numbers.

Continue reading "

DHL plane suffers tailstrike upon landing in Milan-Malpensa

A DHL Boeing 767F suffered a tailstrike during a landing at Milan Malpensa Airport on August 27, 2024. The tail of the aircraft touched down on runway 35R, causing significant damage to the fuselage. The incident is part of a series of similar events at the same airport, including a tailstrike of a Latam Boeing 777-300ER in July and another incident involving a Delta Boeing 767-400. DHL has already repaired a tailstrike on an A300 in Leipzig-Halle and responded with extended simulator training for its pilots.

Continue reading "

Renovation of Tempelhof Airport: An architectural heritage facing new challenges

Berlin-Tempelhof Airport, once called the "mother of all airports" and an important symbol of Berlin's history, is facing one of its greatest challenges: comprehensive renovation. The 1,2-kilometer-long roof of the former terminal building in particular is the focus of the work, which is crucial for the preservation and future use of this unique monument. The renovation of the roof and the concrete surfaces underneath, which has been in full swing since May 2024, represents a key step in saving the historic building. It becomes clear that the entire project represents not only a technical but also a historical responsibility. A photo report on Tempelhof Airport can be found at this link at Aviation.Direct. Tempelhof Airport has an eventful history. Opened in 1923, the airport underwent a radical transformation during the National Socialist era. The monumental building, which was intended to serve as a "world airport", was built between 1935 and 1941. Tempelhof played a central role during the Second World War and especially during the Berlin Airlift in 1948/49, when Western Allies used this airport to supply the blockaded city with essential goods. After the end of the Cold War, the airport gradually lost importance and was finally closed in 2008. Since then, the site has served as a public leisure area and event venue, among other things. But despite its new role for the people of Berlin, the building itself is in a precarious condition. The challenges of the renovation The current renovation of the roof is one of the most complex and expensive measures to save the Tempelhof airport building. The roof, which was built between 1935 and 1941, extends over a

Continue reading "

USA seizes plane belonging to Venezuelan President Maduro

US authorities have confiscated a plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro for violating American sanctions. The Dassault Falcon 900EX aircraft was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to Florida. According to the US Department of Justice, the plane was illegally purchased through a shell company for $13 million and smuggled out of the US. The Venezuelan government condemned the confiscation as "piracy" and criticized the American coercive measures. The US does not recognize Maduro as a legitimate president and considers his re-election to be rigged.

Continue reading "

Blocked Lufthansa slots in Zurich will remain unused for 2025

Since Lufthansa took over Swiss in 2005, the group has been offering competitors take-off and landing rights (slots) at Zurich Airport to facilitate market entry on certain intercontinental routes. Despite this offer, which the EU Commission imposed as a condition for the takeover, there has been little interest from other airlines for the summer of 2025. Routes to airports such as Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Johannesburg, Bangkok and Cairo are affected. The slot offer, which has existed for almost 20 years, therefore remains largely unused.

Continue reading "

Ryanair plans possible entry into the package holiday market

Ryanair, Europe's leading low-cost airline, is considering a major expansion of its business model: entering the package holiday market. This potential strategy, hinted at by Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary, could fundamentally change the European travel industry. The move to combine flight and accommodation packages could further cement Ryanair's already dominant position on the continent and significantly increase competition in the package holiday market. Since its founding in 1984, Ryanair has made a name for itself as a pioneer in the low-cost flight segment, flying over 100 million passengers annually to destinations across Europe. This success has made the company one of the largest and most profitable airlines in the world. Now CEO Michael O'Leary, known for his unconventional approaches and pithy statements, seems to be setting his sights on a new business area: package holidays. In an interview with British newspaper *The Telegraph*, O'Leary raised the possibility that Ryanair could create its own holiday division. He noted that entering the package holiday market could be a logical extension of the existing business model as it offers an opportunity to generate higher returns while providing customers with added value. "I wouldn't rule out setting up a holiday division. The holiday product is probably a sensible way to generate higher prices and returns and package it into a package," O'Leary explained. Market dynamics and competitive landscape The European package holiday market has been an important part of the travel industry for decades. Traditionally, large tour operators such as TUI and Thomas Cook (until the latter's bankruptcy in 2019) have dominated the market, but in recent years

Continue reading "

Traffic concept for Airpower24: traffic jams expected, expanded public transport services in focus

On September 6 and 7, 2024, Airpower24 will take place in Zeltweg, a major event that will attract up to 300.000 visitors. To cope with the expected crowds, the traffic concept has been revised, with a focus on expanding public transport services. In addition to shuttle trains and special bus routes, train connections will be more frequent. For motorists, there are detailed instructions and limited road use to minimize congestion. Despite these measures, the ÖAMTC warns of unavoidable traffic disruptions, especially on the B317, which is partially closed after storm damage.

Continue reading "

An extraordinary rescue mission: Airbus Beluga to “free” damaged British Airways A350

London Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world, is currently experiencing a special mission: an Airbus BelugaXL, one of the most unusual and largest cargo aircraft in the world, is expected to rescue a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 that has been stuck for months. This remarkable event not only underlines the complex logistics of modern air transport, but also the importance of special aircraft such as the BelugaXL in the aviation industry. The story began in April 2024, when a British Airways Airbus A350-1000 with the registration G-XWBC was involved in a collision with a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at London Heathrow Airport. The incident occurred when the Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner, which was being pushed back, touched the British Airways aircraft parked at the gate with its left wingtip. The right horizontal tail of the A350 was significantly damaged. While the Virgin Atlantic Dreamliner, registered G-VDIA, was put back into service in June 2024 after some repairs, British Airways' A350-1000 has remained parked at Heathrow Airport since then, awaiting major repairs. The severity of the damage and the logistics required to carry out such a repair have meant that the aircraft has been idle for months now. For British Airways, one of Europe's leading airlines, this is not only an operational problem, but also an economic one. Losing an aircraft of this size and capacity from regular service means significant financial losses. The solution: Airbus BelugaXL The rescue mission for the stranded A350 will be carried out by an Airbus BelugaXL. This special cargo aircraft, which

Continue reading "

Air Explore: A small Slovakian aviation company aims for the USA

With the recent approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Air Explore, a Slovakia-based wet-lease specialist, has reached a significant milestone. The company was granted permission to operate commercial flights to and from the United States, as well as within the United States. This decision not only marks a critical step in Air Explore's expansion strategy, but also a significant step forward for its parent company, Avia Solutions Group (ASG), the world's largest provider of Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance (ACMI) services. The approval of the Foreign Air Carrier Permit (FACP) came just one year after ASG acquired Air Explore in June 2023 and came at a critical moment for the airline. As part of the Avia Solutions Group, which is headquartered in Dublin, Air Explore is now able to serve the increasing demand for air transport services in the United States. This represents a significant expansion of its previous area of ​​operations, which was primarily focused on Europe. “This is a fantastic moment for Air Explore,” said Martin Stulajter, CEO of Air Explore, commenting on the new development. He stressed that the support from ASG has not only provided the airline with valuable know-how, but also access to the best practices in the industry. The permission to now also operate in the US is direct proof of the benefits that come from this cooperation. Wet-Lease: An Emerging Business Model Since its founding in 2010, Air Explore has established itself as a leading provider of wet-lease flights. In this model, an airline provides another operator with

Continue reading "