October 22th

More articles from the category

October 22th

Finnair expands summer 2025 schedule with new connections to the USA, Japan and China

Finnair plans to significantly expand its flight connections to the USA, Japan and China in summer 2025. The focus is particularly on the US destinations Chicago, Dallas, Seattle and Los Angeles. Chicago will be served daily in summer, while Dallas will be served up to 11 times a week, which means five additional flights compared to last year. Seattle and Los Angeles will each receive two additional weekly connections. In Asia, Finnair will also increase its capacity to Japan and China. Osaka, which is hosting Expo 2025, will be served daily, and Nagoya will receive an additional flight per week. There will be four weekly flights to Shanghai in summer 2025. Finnair will thus offer improved connections to both the USA and Asia and leverage partnerships with American Airlines and Alaska Airlines for expanded reach in North and South America and on the US West Coast.

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Bird strikes in aviation: A constant risk for aircraft and passengers

Bird strikes are one of the greatest dangers to aircraft during the initial phase of flight or during landing. These incidents can not only cause structural damage to the aircraft, but also compromise passenger safety. The most recent incident occurred on October 20, 2024, when an Alaska Airlines flight from Portland to Orlando had to be interrupted due to a bird strike. Fortunately, no one was injured and the passengers were able to be transported to their destination on another aircraft. The Incident: Alaska Airlines Flight AS300 On October 20, 2024, an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-Max-9 took off from Portland International Airport (PDX) at 07:52 a.m. for its scheduled five-hour trip to Orlando (MCO). However, just about 30 minutes after takeoff, when the aircraft had reached an altitude of 8.000 feet, the crew reported a bird strike and decided to return to the departure airport. This incident is not only an example of the dangers that aircraft face, but also shows how well prepared pilots are for such emergencies. Alaska Airlines made it clear in a statement that its pilots are trained for such situations and that the plane landed safely and without problems back to Portland. "Out of an abundance of caution, an emergency was declared," the airline said. The aircraft in question, which was only delivered to Alaska in May 2023, was taken out of service for inspection. This is clear evidence of how seriously airlines take safety and how important it is to identify potential risks early on.

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Emergency exercise at Salzburg Airport: Simulation of a complex operation

On October 18, 2024, Salzburg Airport conducted a large-scale emergency exercise. The focus was on a simulated emergency in which a charter aircraft had to abort takeoff, which led to a landing gear fire. A small plane and a helicopter were also involved in the scenario. The aim of the exercise was to test and optimize the cooperation between various emergency services and internal departments of the airport. Those involved included the airport fire brigade, the Salzburg professional fire brigade, the Red Cross, the police and other specialist departments of the airport, such as ground handling and the crisis management team. The exercise included rescue, extinguishing and recovery work as well as the care of those affected. The scenario was accompanied by detailed briefings and comprehensive documentation. Findings from the exercise will be incorporated into the optimization of the airport's emergency plans.

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Tunisair plans expansion: flights to the USA and China from 2028 – A bold undertaking?

Tunisian airline Tunisair has announced ambitious plans to begin flights to the United States in 2028. This decision was announced by Saber Al-Dhawadi, the airline's director of safety management, in an interview with African Manager. The new routes are part of a broader network expansion that also includes flights to China. But these ambitious plans raise questions, particularly about economic viability and the political background that could influence the airline's decisions. In his interview, Al-Dhawadi outlined an ambitious strategy that will span the coming years. In addition to plans for flights to the US, new routes to China are also in the pipeline. These measures are intended not only to expand the airline's flight schedule but also to "support the economic diplomacy of the Tunisian state." Al-Dhawadi stresses that airlines play a key role in attracting foreign investment and promoting the national economy. However, this reasoning seems questionable given the limited number of passengers and demand so far. According to booking data for 2023, the number of passengers flying to New York and Washington is very low. In 2023, Tunisair recorded only 18.000 passengers to New York and 13.000 to Washington. By comparison, the current connection to Montréal in Canada, which attracts a larger Tunisian diaspora, counted around 97.000 passengers. These figures shed a critical light on the profitability of the new planned routes to the USA. Although a direct flight could certainly increase interest, it remains questionable whether this will be enough to fill the planes and meet the airline's financial goals. Fleet expansion

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Boeing secures new order from Emirates SkyCargo: Five additional 777 freighters

On October 21, 2024, Boeing announced the confirmation of a new order from Emirates SkyCargo for five Boeing 777 freighters. This move follows an initial order placed by the cargo division of the renowned Dubai-based airline earlier this year. With this investment, Emirates SkyCargo not only aims to expand its fleet, but also sends a strong signal about the growing demand for air cargo in global trade. Emirates SkyCargo's new order comes in a dynamic market environment characterized by increasing demand for cargo capacity. Dubai's economic agenda, which aims to double foreign trade and position the city as a global trade center, has further fueled the growth of the air cargo industry in recent years. "Demand for our world-class products and services is growing exponentially," said Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO and Chairman of Emirates. The new order will enable Emirates SkyCargo to meet this demand and is a key step in its long-term strategic growth plan. The current agreement covers the delivery of the new freighters between 2025 and 2026. These orders are part of Emirates SkyCargo’s ongoing commitment to increase its own capacity. According to Boeing’s updated orders and deliveries report in September 2024, the order for 11 new Boeing 777Fs from an undisclosed customer had already raised some speculation in the industry. Now it appears that Emirates was responsible for part of this announcement. Stephanie Pope, President and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said: “We are honored that

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Austrian Alpine Club aims to build emission-neutral huts by 2033

The Austrian Alpine Association has set itself ambitious goals to minimize the ecological footprint of its managed huts. By 2033, at least 50 percent of the 225 Alpine Association huts are to be operated in a largely emission-neutral manner and meet the strict criteria of the "Alpine Associations' Environmental Quality Seal". At the annual general meeting in Steyr, three huts have already been awarded the Environmental Quality Seal: the Sonnschien Hut in Styria, the Tilisuna Hut in Vorarlberg and the Obernberg Youth and Seminar House in Tyrol. This award honors sustainable operating practices that promote energy-efficient and climate-friendly management. In addition, from 2024, the Austrian Alpine Association will support its hut tenants with financial resources to implement climate-friendly operating models and resource-saving measures.

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Aeroitalia temporarily suspends flights to Romania – focus on the Italian domestic market

As part of a growth strategy, the Italian airline Aeroitalia has announced that it will temporarily suspend its connections to Romania from November 2024. This measure comes after an expansion in the Italian domestic market, in particular in the two important regions of Sardinia and Sicily, where the company has seen a 60% increase in its presence. With this strategic decision, Aeroitalia aims to use its resources more efficiently and meet the growing demand in the domestic market. The connections affected, which are now temporarily suspended, include flights from Rome Fiumicino (FCO) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP), to Bacau (BCM), as well as the routes from Bergamo Orio al Serio (BGY) to Bacau and from Cuneo Levaldigi (CUF) to Bacau. This change in flight schedules is part of a broader strategy aimed at further expanding and optimising domestic routes within Italy. Aeroitalia, founded in 2021, has made a name for itself in a short time. The airline is benefiting from a strongly growing travel market in Italy, which has been reflected in increasing demand for domestic flights in recent years. This demand is not only driven by tourism, but also by increased mobility among the Italian population, who are increasingly opting for flights within the country. This is also confirmed by current data from the Italian National Statistics Institute (ISTAT), which show an increase in passenger numbers on domestic routes. Only temporary suspension of Romania flights planned The decision to discontinue connections to Romania is seen by industry experts as a logical consequence. "The airline must ensure that it can adapt to market conditions. The

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Temporary change to check-in for Swiss passengers in Zurich

At Zurich Airport, passengers in Economy and Premium Economy Class of Swiss International Air Lines (Swiss) must prepare for a temporary change from October 29, 2024. Due to construction work to renew the baggage conveyor belts, check-in for these passengers will probably only be carried out at Check-in 2025, near the train station, until March 3. Business and First Class passengers and special customer groups, including status customers and people with reduced mobility, can continue to use Check-in 1. The construction work at Zurich Airport also affects other airlines in the Lufthansa Group, including Edelweiss. Regular operations at Check-in 2025 are scheduled to resume from the end of March 1.

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Demonstrations against mass tourism on the Canary Islands

Last Sunday, thousands of people gathered in the Canary Islands to protest against mass tourism. Under the slogan "The Canary Islands have a limit," participants demonstrated in popular tourist areas such as Maspalomas in Gran Canaria, Playa de las Américas in Tenerife and the only water park in Fuerteventura. These demonstrations are not only an expression of dissatisfaction with the effects of mass tourism, but also a call for a much-needed change in the region's tourism development. The protests were organized by various environmental groups, in particular Ben Magec - Ecologists in Action. Participants waved Canary Islands flags and called for a limit on the number of tourists and a strict crackdown on the increasing number of holiday rentals, with slogans such as "The Canaries are not for sale" and "Enough is enough." Eugenio Reyes Naranjo, a spokesman for the environmental group, stressed that the tourism sector not only contributes to economic prosperity, but also generates poverty, unemployment and misery on the islands. According to local authorities' estimates, around 6.500 people took part in the protests in Tenerife, 5.000 in Gran Canaria and more than 1.500 in Lanzarote. The protesters marched through busy streets and finally gathered on the beach, where they loudly voiced their demands. In doing so, they attracted a noticeable amount of attention while tourists relaxed on sun loungers and watched the scene. Tourism as a double-edged sword Mass tourism has made the Canary Islands, which are characterized by their unique beaches, volcanic landscapes and year-round good weather, a popular destination. In 2023, around

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Autumn and winter excursions: Seasonal highlights from Billa Reisen

Billa Reisen also offers a varied program of day and weekend trips in autumn and winter. The focus is on culinary experiences such as the Martini goose dinner, but also nostalgic train trips and Advent trips. These include boat trips with the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth to Dürnstein or Bratislava, where guests can enjoy not only a rich buffet but also city tours. Other offers include an Advent trip to Steyr and a musical boat trip with the MS Admiral Tegetthoff. Winter sports enthusiasts will get their money's worth at the Schlanitzenalm in the new Aldiana Club. One of the highlights is the Martini goose dinner on the MS Kaiserin Elisabeth, which travels two different routes in November. Guests can choose between a trip to Bratislava or to picturesque Dürnstein. In addition to culinary delights, participants can also look forward to a city tour. A nostalgic Advent train trip to Steyr also starts in November, during which the famous Christkindl post office is visited. A boat trip on the MS Admiral Tegetthoff, accompanied by "RAT Pack" classics, also offers a special experience, while winter sports enthusiasts can enjoy a winter weekend at the Aldiana Club on the Schlanitzenalm in Carinthia. With this varied program, Billa Reisen appeals to a broad audience that wants to combine relaxation, culinary delights and cultural experiences.

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