September 6, 2024

More articles from the category

September 6, 2024

Holiday deficiencies: AK gives tips on enforcing travel rights

An analysis of 252 travel complaints by the Chamber of Labor (AK) shows that many travelers were faced with problems such as canceled flights, inadequate accommodation or flight delays in the summer of 2024. The AK advises affected vacationers to consistently assert their claims upon their return and not to be fobbed off with vouchers. Claims for package tours should be directed directly to the tour operator, while passenger rights should be claimed from the respective airline. Documenting deficiencies on site and booking directly with the provider can avoid future problems.

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AK: Ryanair, Wizz Air and AUA top the list of complaints

An analysis of 252 travel complaints, carried out by the Association for Consumer Information (VKI) on behalf of the Chamber of Labor (AK), shows that the summer of 2024 was problematic for many travelers. Almost half of the complaints (46%) concerned air travel, in particular canceled and delayed flights and problems with luggage. A further 24% of the complaints were directed against the accommodations, with frequent complaints about hygiene, vermin and broken inventory. Differences between the online presentation and the actual accommodation were particularly frequently criticized, with Booking.com being particularly negative. The analysis also found that almost half of the vacationers could not distinguish between package tours and individual services, and many were unaware of the risk of insolvency with individual services. Among the airlines, Ryanair, Wizz Air and AUA topped the list of complaints, while among the tour operators, FTI and TUI were the most criticized.

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Flynas starts between Berlin and Jeddah

The Saudi low-cost airline Flynas is now offering a direct flight connection between Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and the Saudi port city of Jeddah. This new route marks the first direct connection between the capital region and Saudi Arabia. The flights will be operated three times a week - Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays - with an Airbus A320neo. The flight time is around six hours. BER welcomes the new connection as an important step towards strengthening international connectivity. Jeddah, a major commercial center and tourist destination on the Red Sea, can now be reached directly from Berlin. At the same time, the capital region will become more attractive for travelers from Saudi Arabia. Flynas, the second largest airline in Saudi Arabia and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East, is thus expanding further into the European market. The airline has been awarded several times as the best low-cost airline in the Middle East and flies to over 70 destinations worldwide. BER is the first German destination in Flynas' route network.

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Airbus A350: Cathay Pacific and the global response to fuel hose problems

A recent incident is causing great concern in the aviation industry: a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 experienced an in-flight engine shutdown, resulting in an immediate return to Hong Kong airport. The in-depth investigation has now revealed a serious problem with the fuel lines of the Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engine. The situation has not only affected Cathay Pacific, but has also alarmed other A350 operators worldwide. The incident: An alarming problem The incident occurred during the climb of a Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-1000 on flight CX 383 from Hong Kong to Zurich. The flight had to turn back after the right Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engine failed during the climb. Shortly after landing, the source of the fault was identified: a defect in the fuel lines in the engine. This led Cathay Pacific to order a comprehensive inspection of its entire A350 fleet. The result was alarming: at least 15 of the fleet's 48 A350 aircraft were found to require repairs. Global reactions and uncertainties The incident has attracted worldwide attention and caused unrest among operators of the Airbus A350 fleet. The Lufthansa Group has confirmed that it is in close contact with Airbus and Rolls-Royce to assess any potential impact on its fleet. Singapore Airlines and Japan Airlines have also taken action by announcing a "precautionary inspection" of their A350-900 fleet. Meanwhile, Rolls-Royce and Cathay Pacific are remaining tight-lipped about the exact causes of the problem. The public has so far heard little about the specific defects found in the fuel hoses. However, industry insiders report that flexible fuel hoses have been inspected for deformation, bulging

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Alltours and 1LIVE launch exclusive singles trip to Croatia

On October 7, 2024, the 1LIVE Loveplane will take off to bring 140 singles to the Croatian island of Brač. Organized by Alltours and the radio station 1LIVE, the destination of the trip is the 4-star hotel Waterman Kaktus Resort. There, participants can expect a week full of sun, beach and pool parties. The campaign is aimed at adventurous singles who have the potential to fall in love. The Loveplane will be flown from Paderborn to Split by an Airbus A320 of the airline Leav Aviation. The trip is organized by Alltours, which will also take care of the transfers and on-site support. Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport is taking part in the campaign and will ensure a good atmosphere with a gate party before departure. Interested singles can now register to take part on the 1LIVE website. Starting September 23, 2024, a single will be featured on the radio program every day, and listeners will have the chance to win one of the coveted seats on the plane in a speed dating event. In addition, Alltours is giving away two additional seats to followers of its TikTok channel.

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Wizz Air plans to fly with Airbus A321XLR from Milan

Low-cost airline Wizz Air is preparing for a significant step in the aviation industry. From June 2025, the airline will be among the first operators of the Airbus A321XLR, an extended version of the popular A321neo known for its impressive range and efficiency. The first use of the new aircraft will include a daily connection between Milan-Malpensa and Abu Dhabi. With this decision, Wizz Air is setting an example of innovative use of the extended range of the A321XLR and is breaking new ground in the design of its route network. The Airbus A321XLR, equipped with the modern CFM LEAP-1A engine technology, offers a range of up to 8.700 kilometers. This capacity represents a significant advance over the standard A321neo version. Compared to many competitors who use the range of the A321XLR for transatlantic flights, Wizz Air has decided to tap into this potential for new market segments. Wizz Air CEO Jozsef Varadi said at the announcement in Milan that the A321XLR is the most efficient aircraft in its class. "We already fly several ultra-low-cost routes of five to six hours, the XLR will extend our excellent price-performance ratio to flights of seven to eight hours," said Varadi. This underlines the airline's strategic approach, which differs from the practice of other airlines that use the aircraft for transatlantic connections. New routes and competition From June 2, 2025, Wizz Air's A321XLR will be used on the Milan-Malpensa - Abu Dhabi route. This route represents direct competition to Etihad Airways' Boeing 787-9, which is already active on this route.

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Lack of sleep and safety risks: Need for reform after incident at Terminal Control Unit Cairns

On September 3, 2024, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released a critical safety report calling for an urgent reassessment of working hours and fatigue management systems for air traffic controllers in Australia. The report highlights an alarming incident in which a Brisbane air traffic controller was found asleep at his desk during a night shift at the Terminal Control Unit (TCU) in Cairns. This incident raises serious questions about safety and working conditions in Australian air traffic management and forces far-reaching reforms. The incident occurred on December 8, 2022, when an approach controller at the TCU in Cairns was scheduled for a scheduled night shift from 22:00 p.m. to 06:00 a.m. local time. At around 05:15 a.m. the following day, a colleague found the air traffic controller sleeping between two chairs and covered with a blanket. The colleague woke the sleeping controller, checked for traffic in the airspace or warnings on the display, and then handed control over to the next controller. Causes and safety deficiencies The ATSB report notes that the controller had worked his seventh night shift in nine days and, at the end of the shift block, had completed a total of ten night shifts in twelve days. The reduction in rest periods resulted in a significant lack of sleep, which was identified as a major cause of the incident. According to the report, several factors contributed to this condition, including the consecutive night shifts, the time of day and a very low workload. A key shortcoming was inadequate fatigue management. The Fatigue Assessment and Control Tool (FACT) used by Airservices Australia was able to identify situations that

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Air Baltic launches new connection from Hamburg to Tallinn

The Latvian airline Air Baltic is further expanding its services from Hamburg Airport. From May 2, 2025, an Airbus A220-300 will connect the Hanseatic city with the Estonian capital Tallinn twice a week. This makes Air Baltic the only airline to offer a direct flight connection between the two cities. "We are very pleased about this new route, which connects all three Baltic states directly with Hamburg," says Gesa Zaremba, Head of Airline and Traffic Development at Hamburg Airport. Thomas Ramdahl, Senior Vice President Network Management at Air Baltic, emphasizes the importance of Germany as an important market for the airline. Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, attracts with a mixture of medieval charm and modern flair. The well-preserved old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to historical sights, the city also offers a lively start-up scene and a diverse range of gastronomic options.

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Swiss presents new menus from the canton of Aargau on long-haul flights

Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss) is now offering its guests on long-haul flights from Switzerland menus from the canton of Aargau. Over the next three months, the dishes in First and Business Class will be prepared by star chef Manuel Steigmeier, head chef at the "FAHR" restaurant in Künten. Regional specialties, including the famous Aargau "Rüeblikuchen", will also be served in Premium Economy Class. The "FAHR", awarded a Michelin star and 17 GaultMillau points, is known for its modern cooking with regional ingredients. The dishes offered on the flights reflect the culinary diversity of the canton of Aargau. The collaboration is part of the "Swiss Taste of Switzerland" catering concept, which has been taking passengers on a culinary journey through Switzerland for 21 years. The menus will be served on board by gategourmet, a subsidiary of gategroup. The menus in First Class include braised veal cheeks and char tartare. In Business Class, beef stroganoff and salmon trout are on the menu. Premium Economy Class offers three-course meals, including the popular Aargau “carrot cake”.

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Emirates expands drinks menu in the onboard lounge with exclusive spirits

Emirates airline has expanded its offering in the onboard lounge of its A380 jets. First Class and Business Class passengers can now enjoy high-quality spirits such as Stoli Elit 18 Vodka from Latvia, The Botanist Hebridean Strength Gin from Scotland and the seven-year-old Eminente Reserva rum from Cuba. Glenmorangie Signet Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Scotland is also now available to First Class passengers. Grey Goose Vodka from France and Glenmorangie 10 Years Original Single Malt Scotch Whisky are offered in Business Class. Emirates has invested over 70 million euros in spirits and beers over the last ten years to offer passengers a selection of a total of 40 premium spirits and beers. In 2023, the most popular drink on board First Class was Chivas Royal Salute 21 year old whisky from Scotland, while passengers in Business Class preferred Chivas Regal 18 year old whisky. Emirates also offers 140 different wines, champagnes and dessert wines as well as a selection of cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages on flights to 96 destinations.

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