November 10, 2024

More articles from the category

November 10, 2024

Strong quarterly profit at IAG: The British Airways owner's recipe for success

The International Airlines Group (IAG), which includes well-known airlines such as British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus, reported a sharp increase in quarterly profit in the third quarter of 2024. Operating profit rose 15 percent year-on-year, significantly exceeding analysts' expectations. These positive results underline the strong demand in air transport, particularly on the important transatlantic routes, and cast an optimistic view of the future development of the aviation industry. Successful balance sheet thanks to high demand and efficient cost control In the third quarter, IAG achieved an operating profit of two billion euros, which was above the consensus forecast of 1,78 billion euros. These figures reflect the strong demand experienced by all airlines within the IAG Group, particularly on the transatlantic routes, which are traditionally among the most lucrative. The routes between London and the USA in particular were heavily utilized, leading to a four percent increase in capacity on these North Atlantic routes. The group was also able to expand its offering on the South Atlantic routes. IAG CEO Luis Gallego stressed that demand remains high in all of the company's key markets, particularly on the transatlantic and intra-European routes. For the full year, IAG expects an operating profit of around €3,7 billion, which represents an increase on the previous year, when profit was €3,5 billion. Another positive aspect was the significant growth in the cargo area. Revenue from the freight business increased compared to the same period last year and contributed significantly to the overall result. In combination with higher ticket prices, lower fuel costs and a strong focus on efficiency

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American Airlines: New passenger removal policies following complaints of discriminatory behavior

The airline American Airlines recently revised its internal policies governing when flight attendants can ask passengers to leave the aircraft. These changes come against the backdrop of a rise in complaints against airlines concerning discriminatory behavior. Reports of conflicts between flight attendants and passengers have increased, particularly after the pandemic, highlighting the need for stronger policies. The new policy is intended to ensure that such incidents are handled carefully and only under clearly defined conditions, with safety concerns being the top priority. The development of the policies In recent years, reports of aggressive incidents between passengers and cabin crew have increased. Many of these incidents in which passengers had to leave the aircraft were critically scrutinized by the public. It often seemed as if such escalations could have been defused by different handling. American Airlines responded to these concerns by revising its internal regulations. The airline has now made it clear that passengers may only be asked to leave the aircraft if there is an actual safety problem. This means that if a non-safety-related problem occurs, flight attendants should try to de-escalate the situation so that the passenger does not have to be removed. Only if such a problem is raised by a customer should the cabin crew respond. Another important point is that the captain continues to have the final say if the situation escalates and a final decision has to be made. The Phoenix passenger incident The need for these adjustments was particularly evident in an incident in January 2024. At that time, eight

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Frankfurt Airport focuses on cargo growth

Frankfurt Airport is not only the largest air hub in Germany, but also one of the most important cargo handling points in Europe. While passenger traffic has not yet returned to pre-crisis levels due to various challenges, the cargo sector remains a stable growth factor for the airport. At a time when demand for cargo capacity is increasing, operator Fraport is focusing on long-term expansion and investments to secure its leading position in the European cargo market. Although passenger traffic at airports around the world is still struggling with the consequences of the pandemic and other geopolitical challenges, cargo traffic in Frankfurt is a positive exception. According to the latest information from airport operator Fraport, cargo traffic handled in 2024 will be around seven percent above the previous year's level. This represents an important aspect of business development, especially against the backdrop of difficult market conditions in the passenger business. Frankfurt remains the leading European cargo hub, and airport operator Fraport expects throughput of between 2024 and 2,1 million tons in 2,2. This is just below the record level of 2,3 million tons achieved in 2021 - a time marked by the Corona crisis and the associated special booms in freight traffic. Despite the overall economic uncertainties, Frankfurt Airport is therefore robust and well positioned. Long-term growth targets: 3 million tons as a medium-term target Fraport is committed to further growth in the freight sector and has clear goals for the future. In the long term, the airport is aiming for an annual throughput of 3 million tons. This is an ambitious figure that shows the enormous potential of the

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Air Astana: The first 12-year C-check in Kazakhstan

Air Astana has achieved a significant milestone in Kazakhstani aviation technology: the airline has successfully completed Kazakhstan's first 12-year C-check. This complex maintenance process, required for aircraft every twelve years, took place on an Airbus A321 and was carried out at the airline's own MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) facilities at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) in the Kazakhstani capital. This step underlines Air Astana's increasing technological competence and sends a strong signal to the aviation industry in the region. What is a 12-year C-check? The 12-year C-check represents one of the highest and most thorough levels of aircraft maintenance. During this comprehensive procedure, every single part of the aircraft is subjected to a detailed examination. The aircraft is systematically disassembled, all major components are checked, tested and, if necessary, replaced. A special focus is placed on the engines, which are removed from their mounts and carefully inspected. This process ends with a flight test, where the aircraft is tested under real-world conditions to ensure that all systems and functions are working properly. C-checks are crucial to an aircraft's airworthiness and guarantee that it can continue to be operated safely. A gradual development Air Astana's approval to perform the 12-year C-check did not come overnight. It is the result of a lengthy process in which the airline continuously expanded its internal maintenance capabilities. Back in 2019, Air Astana received approval to carry out 1C checks, a simpler maintenance level. 2C checks followed two years later, and finally approval for the more demanding 2023-year C-checks in 6. With the

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Omio report “NowNext 2024”: New trends and the future of travel

The travel industry is constantly changing, and with rapid developments in technology, society and consumer behavior, it is crucial to pay attention to the trends that will shape travel habits of the future. Global travel booking platform Omio has now published its first annual report "NowNext", which provides a comprehensive overview of the trends and factors that will determine travel in 2024 and beyond. In collaboration with the renowned research institute Ripple Effect, a comprehensive survey of travelers from Europe and the USA was conducted. The results of the report show exciting developments and changing needs of travelers that will influence booking decisions in the coming years. Rise in city breaks and solo travelers One notable trend highlighted in the "NowNext 2024" report is the renaissance of city breaks. In recent years, remote destinations have experienced greater popularity, but now travelers are increasingly returning to classic big cities. Around 60 percent of travelers surveyed said they want to visit big cities in 2025. Cultural capitals such as Paris, London and Rome are particularly popular. Interestingly, it is not only classic sightseeing that draws travellers to cities, but also the desire for culinary experiences, cultural events such as concerts and sporting events. City breaks are therefore experiencing a remarkable revival and are seen as one of the most popular types of travel in the coming years. Another notable trend concerns the increasing number of solo travellers, especially men. Solo travel has so far been popular mainly among women, but the report shows that more and more men also feel the desire to travel alone.

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Air Astana CFO: “Cost structure 30 percent lower than that of Turkish Airlines”

Air Astana started out as a new privately owned airline with two aircraft in 2002. In the meantime, the company has expanded to 57 jets, which are distributed as follows: 34 aircraft are operated under the Air Astana brand and 23 by the subsidiary Fly Arystan, which is in the low-cost segment. The latter company was initially a pure sales brand, as all aircraft were operated by Air Astana. That changed this year, as Fly Arystan now has its own certificates, so that the former brand has become a fully-fledged airline. Full-service carriers and low-cost airlines in the group of companies According to Ibrahim Canliel, CFO of the Air Astana Group, there is a good reason for this, as he believes that full-service carriers and low-cost airlines must be thought out and managed completely differently. The two airlines work closely together, but not everywhere. Air Astana is positioned as a classic network airline that aims to score points with its extensive service. Fly Arystan, on the other hand, is a point-to-point airline where the included services are reduced to the essentials and many services are subject to an additional charge. Overlaps and thus internal competition are rare. Air Astana concentrates on the hubs Almaty and Astana, which, according to Canliel, are positioned roughly evenly. The distribution of capacity would be about 50:50 percent, sometimes a little more or less here, sometimes there. Fly Arystan also has aircraft stationed at other Kazakh airports. Due to the size of the country, the low-cost brand is also trying to get involved in the domestic business. There are also some international point-to-point routes. Ibrahim is happy

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