October 26th

More articles from the category

October 26th

South African Airways considers selling Heathrow slots to stabilize its finances

South African Airways (SAA) is considering selling valuable landing rights at international airports such as London Heathrow to overcome financial difficulties. These considerations were revealed during a briefing to Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) on October 22. The possible sale follows the failed equity deal with the Takatso consortium, which was to have offered SAA a capital injection of R3 billion (about €157 million). Transport Minister Barbara Creecy stressed that while SAA has been able to pay off debt, it still needs new investments to secure operational needs and growth. SAA Chairman Derek Hanekom outlined the operational adjustments required following the failed Takatso deal and reported that SAA is currently looking for a small loan to top up cash reserves. The airline has unencumbered assets worth R5 billion (€262 million) that could serve as collateral for a loan. While SAA leases some slots to Qatar Airways, it remains unclear whether it plans to resume its flights to Heathrow. Aviation economist Joachim Vermooten raised the possibility of considering other airports as well. Despite the challenges, SAA management remains optimistic and plans to increase the fleet from 16 to 21 aircraft.

Continue reading "

Airport balance in Austria: Linz and Klagenfurt record declines

While most Austrian airports have recently seen growth, Linz and Klagenfurt airports have seen sharp declines in passenger numbers. Vienna Schwechat Airport is consolidating its position as the country's largest airport and is responsible for a large part of the passenger growth. In the first nine months of the year, it recorded 24,12 million travelers, an increase of 7,2 percent over the previous year. Vienna therefore remains a central hub for international flights and benefits from its strong connections to European and intercontinental flight routes. The number of flight movements at Vienna Schwechat also rose by 5,9 percent to 167.476 takeoffs and landings. This is a sign of the high demand and the continuous expansion of flight offerings at Vienna Airport. Salzburg and Graz benefit from rising demand Salzburg Airport also recorded an increase in passenger numbers by 10,2 percent to 1,42 million, making it the second largest airport in Austria. With its proximity to popular tourist destinations such as the Salzburg Alps, Salzburg has a strong international influx, especially during the summer and winter seasons. Graz, the fourth largest airport, recorded an impressive growth of 17 percent, bringing the total to 643.197 travelers. Both airports benefited from their regional market and also attracted domestic travelers who took advantage of the increasing flight connections. Difficult situation for Linz and Klagenfurt: Passenger decline despite market upturn Linz Airport, on the other hand, had to contend with a difficult balance sheet. With 148.555 passengers handled by the end of September 2024, it recorded a decline of 22,6 percent, meaning around one in five passengers were lost compared to the previous year. This is a sobering development

Continue reading "

Unexpected fellow traveler: Rat causes excitement on Spirit Airlines flight

Passengers on a Spirit Airlines domestic flight from Dallas to Los Angeles experienced an unexpected and unusual encounter when a large rat scurried around in an overhead light on the plane. The incident was captured on video by a fellow passenger and shows the rodent in an area normally filled with electrical wires. In the video, a passenger can be heard commenting on the sight, saying, "That's a super rat!" It remains unclear how the rat got on the plane or how long it had been on board. Spirit Airlines has not yet released any official information about the incident.

Continue reading "