October 16th

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October 16th

European Union imposes sanctions on Iranian airlines

The European Union on Monday imposed new sanctions on three major Iranian airlines accused of being involved in supplying weapons to Russia. This comes against the backdrop of ongoing support that Iran is providing to Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine. The airlines concerned, including Iran Air, Saha Airlines and Mahan Air, face not only a ban on flying in European airspace but also severe financial sanctions. Serious allegations against Iranian airlines According to the EU, these airlines have repeatedly supplied Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies to Russia, which were used in the Ukraine war. The sanctions include both a travel ban on the companies and the freezing of their assets within the European Union. This is part of a comprehensive EU response to the military support that Iran has been providing to Russia since the beginning of the war. The EU had already issued a statement in September 2023 condemning the delivery of Iranian ballistic missiles to Russia, calling it a "direct threat to European security." The latest sanctions are a continuation of this policy, which aims to prevent military cooperation between Iran and Russia. "These designations are targeted and aim to prevent certain Iranian policies and activities," the EU's official statement said. Iranian aviation in the EU's sights Among the sanctioned airlines, Iran Air stands out as the only one of the three airlines that currently still operates flights to

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Vienna Central Cemetery celebrates 150th anniversary with culture and short film

Vienna's Central Cemetery, one of the largest and most important cemeteries in the world, will celebrate its 1th anniversary on November 2024, 150. Since its opening in 1874, the cemetery has not only seen a large number of burials, but has also acquired remarkable cultural and historical significance. As part of the celebrations, Vienna Tourist Board is presenting the short film "Vienna: the last place you want to be.", which humorously portrays the city as the most livable and at the same time the most worth dying in the world. With over three million burials, the Central Cemetery is the second largest cemetery in the world and offers numerous honorary graves of famous people such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Hedy Lamarr. Special events such as readings, cabaret performances and a Halloween festival will take place until the end of October. The Central Cemetery itself also offers unique insights into burial culture and is a place of biodiversity with numerous animal and plant species. The short film will be promoted in several countries, including Germany and the USA, via social media and streaming platforms from October 14, 2024 and is intended to showcase Vienna's cultural treasures.

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Flight delays and cancellations: No relief for travelers even in autumn

The autumn holidays have begun in many federal states, and for air travelers, the hoped-for relaxation during the holidays could quickly turn into a test of patience. As in the chaotic summer months, when numerous flights were delayed or even canceled, experts expect a significant number of disruptions in air traffic in the autumn. A recent analysis by the travel tech company AirHelp shows that in October 2023, almost 29 percent of passengers across Europe were affected by delays or cancellations - an increase compared to the previous year. Travelers in Portugal, the Netherlands and Germany in particular should prepare for problems. Increasing number of affected passengers The numbers speak for themselves: In October 2022, around 22,3 million passengers across Europe were affected by flight disruptions, corresponding to a share of 28,7 percent. In October 2023, the number rose to 26,5 million passengers, a slight increase to 28,9 percent. These data make it clear that air traffic in Europe continues to suffer from significant problems even after the recovery from the corona pandemic. The reasons for this are manifold: staff shortages, technical problems and weather-related complications repeatedly cause delays and flight cancellations. Portugal in particular, which was already the leader in delays last year, ranks first with a share of 39,1 percent of affected passengers in October 2023. In the Netherlands, 37,7 percent of passengers were affected by flight problems, followed by Serbia with 33 percent. Great Britain and Germany also fared poorly: In Great Britain, 32,6 percent of passengers were affected by delays, while in Germany 32,1 percent of passengers suffered from the disruptions. Glimmer of hope: fewer

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Nussyy brings organic lentil curry to ÖBB night trains

The Nussyy brand is expanding its range to include a sustainable dish on ÖBB night trains: the vegan organic lentil curry, which is now available, contains no added sugar, flavor enhancers, colorings or preservatives. The curry combines coconut, a mild spiciness and vegetables to create a healthy meal for travelers. The collaboration with the international catering company Newrest, which is responsible for the food on the night trains, makes it possible to enjoy Nussyy products on the go. Founder Carina Rahimi-Pirngruber emphasizes that this makes healthy eating accessible to a wider audience.

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Flight cancellations and catering crisis: Delta and American Airlines under pressure

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) recently experienced a surprise and massive disruption to air traffic. At least 200 flights were affected by a lack of food on board last Saturday. The cause: an unannounced inspection of the airport's food facilities, which found significant deficiencies. Delta Air Lines, which operates the largest proportion of flights at DTW, was particularly affected, but American Airlines flights were also affected. It is assumed that the inspection was carried out by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Causes and consequences The inspection of the catering facilities, which apparently "failed", is directly related to an incident in July this year, when several passengers on a Delta flight from Detroit to Amsterdam became ill due to spoiled food. The flight's crew discovered at the time that some of the meals in the main cabin were contaminated with black mold, after which the flight was diverted to New York. This scare led to increased attention to food safety among caterers at DTW. On Saturday, food was suspended for flights departing Detroit after Delta issued a statement saying that "a safety issue was discovered during an inspection at a DTW kitchen." Delta immediately stopped producing hot food at the affected facility and shifted supply to the flights to other catering partners. There were no hot meals on the affected flights and in some cases no drinks either, passengers reported on social media. Passenger reactions The reactions of the affected passengers ranged from displeasure to concern. Bill

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Cooperation between Digicust and dbh: Automation of customs clearance through AI

The AI ​​start-up Digicust and dbh Logistics IT AG are intensifying their cooperation to enable companies to process customs more efficiently and automatically. By integrating Digicust's AI solutions into dbh's Advantage Customs customs software, complex processes such as document processing and tariff classification are automated. The partnership offers companies advantages such as reduced error rates, accelerated customs processes and tailor-made solutions thanks to no-code automation. According to dbh division manager Martin De Vries, the combination of proven software with innovative AI will significantly increase efficiency. Boris Parmakovic, CEO of Digicust, emphasizes the future-proof solutions of the cooperation.

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Declining air traffic in Germany: An industry under pressure

German air traffic is facing massive challenges. While other European countries have largely recovered from the aftermath of the corona pandemic, Germany is lagging far behind. Airlines such as Ryanair, Eurowings and now Condor are reducing their flights from Hamburg and other airports. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr is also warning of further cuts, as the industry is suffering from significant cost increases and no longer wants to shoulder these. The discussion about government-imposed taxes and new environmental regulations has come to a head in recent months, and German air traffic could be further weakened in the future. A downward trend in German air traffic German airlines have been sounding the alarm for months: high taxes and fees, rising costs due to new regulations and the increase in ticket prices are putting a strain on the industry. According to the Federal Association of the German Aviation Industry (BDL), 2024 million seats will be offered to and from Germany between September 2025 and February 115,7 - an increase of 5 percent compared to the previous year, but still 13 percent less than before the pandemic. A comparison with other European countries illustrates the misery: while the offer in Germany is only 87 percent of the pre-crisis level, the rest of Europe is already at 106 percent. Medium-sized airports such as Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Cologne and Berlin are particularly affected. These airports offer significantly fewer flights than before the pandemic, and Hamburg, which had been doing comparatively well up to now, is now also being hit by flight cuts. The cuts in flight schedules show that the crisis in German skies is far from over. The burden of state taxes At the heart of the airlines' complaints are

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ADV criticizes high government-related costs in German air traffic

The airport association ADV warns of the economic consequences of high government-related costs in German air traffic. In an analysis, the association found that German airports and airlines have to pay significantly higher taxes and fees than their European neighbors. This endangers competitiveness and leads to locational disadvantages. According to ADV General Manager Ralph Beisel, the cost burden in Germany for short, medium and long-haul flights is up to 309% higher than in neighboring European countries. Beisel calls on politicians to review the fees and take measures to ease the burden on the industry in order to secure jobs and economic stability.

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