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January 13, 2025

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January 13, 2025

Poland announces final location decision for Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK)

Amely Mizzi 13 January 2025 18:08

The Mazovian Voivodeship has now officially announced the long-awaited location decision for the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK), Poland's planned major airport and transport hub. This move represents a significant milestone for the infrastructure project, which ushers in the next phases of development. The CPK will be built as a modern transport hub between Warsaw and Łódź and will integrate air, rail and road transport in the future. The decision includes determining the location for the airport infrastructure, runways, terminal, border control and customs facilities. In addition, a rail system with a central hub and a road network with new access roads around the airport will be built. The CPK project is considered one of the largest infrastructure projects in Poland and is expected to revolutionise not only air transport but also optimise regional rail and road transport. The project has attracted great interest in Poland and beyond and is seen as an essential part of the country's future transport infrastructure. The CPK is intended to significantly expand the capacity of the Polish transport network and improve connections between different modes of transport.

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Possible merger between Azul and Abra: Negotiations gain momentum

Stephen Steiner 13 January 2025 11:06

Brazilian airlines Azul and Abra, the holding company of Gol and Avianca, are close to signing a letter of intent to negotiate a possible merger. According to Brazilian business magazine Valor Econômico, the letter is expected to be signed later this month and is expected to outline the organizational and financial structures of the potential merger, confirming the companies' shared interest in merging. One possible merger plan would see both the Azul and Gol brands continue under a single umbrella, similar to previous mergers in the Brazilian aviation industry. Another option could be the formation of a joint venture that uses existing codeshare agreements to drive integration of operations while the brands remain independent. Talks between the airlines have been ongoing for more than a year and could have a lasting impact on the competitive landscape of the Brazilian aviation industry. A decision on the merger is likely to be made in the coming months.

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Direct flights from Kassel-Calden to Sylt and Usedom from May 2025

Amely Mizzi 13 January 2025 10:36

From May 3, 2025, there will again be seasonal direct flights from Kassel-Calden Airport to the popular holiday destinations of Sylt and Usedom. The flights will operate every Saturday and can be booked as part of package tours or as flight-only tickets through the tour operator UKS Touristik. The flights will be operated by MHS Aviation with a Dornier 328, a regional aircraft that can accommodate up to 31 passengers. The flight time from Kassel-Calden to Sylt and Usedom is around one hour. These direct connections offer travelers a convenient way to reach the two popular island destinations without changing planes. The seasonal flights will be an attractive offer for travelers who want to travel to Sylt or Usedom in the summer months. The Kassel-Calden regional airport is thus strengthening its connections to popular German holiday destinations and offering another option for comfortable and fast travel to the holiday regions.

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Emergency slide evacuation at Atlanta airport after engine problem on Delta Jet

Jan Gruber 13 January 2025 09:05

An incident occurred at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Friday morning (January 10) in which a Delta Air Lines Boeing 757 had to be evacuated via emergency slides. The crew of flight DL2668 reported an engine problem during takeoff and immediately aborted takeoff. According to a Delta spokeswoman, there were 201 passengers and six crew members on board the aircraft, which has been in service for 21 years. Four people suffered minor injuries during the evacuation, one of whom had to be taken to hospital. Due to the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) imposed a ground stop at Atlanta Airport, which temporarily brought flight operations to a standstill. At the same time, severe winter weather also affected traffic. The aircraft with the registration N589NW was on its way to the runway when the pilots discovered the engine problem. The safety measures took effect immediately and all passengers were able to leave the aircraft quickly. An investigation into the incident has been launched, but details on the causes are not yet available.

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Pakistan International Airlines: Return to Europe marks a new start

Belinda Borg 13 January 2025 08:32

After a four-year hiatus, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has resumed its flight operations to Europe. The first flight since the lifting of the EU airspace ban was from Islamabad to Paris on January 10, 2025, marking an important milestone in the recent history of the state-owned airline. The Boeing 777-200ER used for the flight landed at Charles de Gaulle Airport as scheduled. This event symbolizes the successful completion of comprehensive reforms and the return of PIA to European airspace. In June 2020, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) banned PIA from operating in European airspace. The ban was prompted by significant safety concerns that arose after a devastating crash of a PIA Airbus A320 on May 22, 2020. The accident, which occurred in a busy residential area near Karachi, killed 97 of the 99 passengers, as well as one person on the ground. The investigation revealed serious deficiencies in the airline's operations, including breaches of safety regulations and pilot licensing irregularities. Return to European airspace After an intensive period of reforms and implementation of strict safety standards, PIA was able to allay the concerns of European regulators. On November 29, 2024, EASA granted approval to resume flights to the European Union. This decision once again opened up an important market for the airline, which is central to its international expansion. Ceremonial launch in Paris PIA's first flight to Paris was celebrated by the airline as a significant event. PIA employees welcomed the passengers at Islamabad International Airport

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Hawaiian Airlines integrates sports equipment into standard baggage

Jan Gruber 13 January 2025 08:06

Hawaiian Airlines now allows travelers to take sports equipment such as surfboards, bicycles and golf sets as standard baggage on all flights. The rule applies to connections within Hawaii as well as international flights to Asia, Oceania and the mainland USA. The airline is thus addressing the needs of active travelers, who traditionally make up a large proportion of passengers on the Hawaiian islands. At the same time, Hawaiian Airlines introduced the new customer program "Huakaʻi by Hawaiian", which is aimed specifically at residents of Hawaii. Members of the program benefit from advantages such as a free piece of baggage on inter-island flights, reduced airfares within Hawaii and exclusive monthly offers that cover the entire route network. By introducing these measures, Hawaiian Airlines is strengthening its customer loyalty and positioning itself as a service-oriented provider in intra-Hawaiian and international air traffic. The "Huakaʻi" program is seen as part of a strategy to intensify the connection between the airline and the local population.

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Wizz Air to soon receive first A321XLR

Amely Mizzi 13 January 2025 07:39

The launch of the Airbus A321XLR, a new narrow-body long-range aircraft, marks a significant step in the aviation industry. With its enormous range and optimized operating costs, the aircraft is attracting the interest of numerous airlines around the world. While some operators such as Iberia and Aer Lingus have already received their first aircraft, the first delivery to low-cost carrier Wizz Air is imminent. However, there are still technical and regulatory hurdles to overcome. Christian Scherer, CEO of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, announced on January 9, 2025 that Wizz Air will soon receive the first Airbus A321XLR powered by Pratt & Whitney engines. This follows a series of successful deliveries to other airlines, including Iberia and Aer Lingus, which equipped their aircraft with CFM International Leap-1A engines. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US FAA have already approved the Airbus A321XLR with these engines. However, the variant with Pratt & Whitney engines is still awaiting full regulatory approval. Technological features and benefits The Airbus A321XLR offers a range of up to 7.500 kilometers, 15% more than its predecessor, the A321LR. This allows airlines to operate longer routes without wide-body aircraft, reducing costs and increasing flexibility. The aircraft is particularly interesting for low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air, as it stands out for its lower fuel consumption per seat compared to older models from competitors. These advantages make the A321XLR a preferred model for operations on new transcontinental routes. Certification challenges Despite the promising technology, full certification of the version with Pratt & Whitney engines is still pending.

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Jeju Air-Boeing 737: Missing black box data complicates investigation

Belinda Borg 13 January 2025 06:30

The crash of a Boeing 737-800 belonging to the South Korean airline Jeju Air on December 29, 2024 at Muan International Airport has caused consternation around the world. Of the 181 people on board, only two survived. A full clarification of the cause of the accident is made considerably more difficult by the failure of the black box recordings, the South Korean authorities announced. The examination of the flight recorders revealed that both the flight data recorder (FDR) and the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) only recorded data up to four minutes before impact. The aircraft crashed at 09:03 a.m., but the last recorded information ended at 08:59 a.m. The loss of this crucial data is directing the focus of the investigation to alternative sources of information such as air traffic control recordings, video surveillance footage and the analysis of wreckage at the scene of the accident. Suspected causes: technical failure or external influences? The South Korean authorities are examining several possible scenarios. Sim Jai-dong, a former investigator for the South Korean Ministry of Transport, explained that the sudden failure of the black box could indicate a complete loss of power in the aircraft. This assumption suggests serious technical problems, possibly caused by a short circuit or a sudden interruption in the power supply. In addition, they are investigating whether external influences could have played a role. A bird strike, which is particularly dangerous during the approach to landing, could have caused an engine failure. Another possible starting point is a possible failure of the landing gear. During the emergency landing, the aircraft came to a stop on its belly, which could indicate problems with the landing gear hydraulics or a mechanical defect. Inadequate maintenance of the runway is also being investigated. International support for

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Delta Air Lines reports strong international business and optimistic outlook for 2024

Jan Gruber 13 January 2025 06:01

US airline Delta Air Lines has closed the 2024 fiscal year with a significant increase in profits, driven by higher demand on international routes and business travel. Sales rose 6 percent year-on-year to $61,6 billion. Despite an increase in operating profit of 9 percent to just under $6 billion, net profit fell 25 percent to $3,5 billion. This was the result of special effects from the previous year, when Delta benefited from financial investments. Management is optimistic for the current year: Sales in the first quarter of 2025 are expected to increase by 7 to 9 percent, and earnings per share are estimated at 70 cents to $1. Analysts had previously expected only 76 cents, which led to a pre-market price increase of Delta shares of more than 7 percent. The full-year target is for earnings of more than $7,35 per share, an increase of more than 10 percent compared to 2024, if special effects such as a cyberattack in September are excluded. CEO Ed Bastian emphasized the continued high demand for air travel, especially in the international segment, as an important growth driver.

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US sanctions against Venezuelan transport minister and Conviasa CEO

Amely Mizzi 13 January 2025 05:36

Amid growing tensions between the United States and the Venezuelan government, on January 10, 2025, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Ramón Celestino Velásquez Araguayán, Venezuelan Minister of Transportation and CEO of the state-owned airline Conviasa. This measure is part of a broader U.S. strategy to pressure the regime of Nicolás Maduro, which continues to be internationally criticized as authoritarian and repressive. The sanctions against Velásquez and seven other senior Venezuelan officials were announced on the same day that Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for another term as president. The U.S. State Department called the move illegitimate, saying that Maduro had clearly lost the 2024 presidential election. The United States and several international partners view these sanctions as a necessary measure to combat the repression and political control of the Maduro government. “Since last year’s election, Maduro and his allies have continued their repressive measures in Venezuela,” said Bradley T. Smith, acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Crimes. The sanctions prohibit financial institutions and individuals from doing business with the individuals concerned and could have far-reaching consequences for the institutions concerned and their international business relationships. Impact on Conviasa and air transport The airline Conviasa, of which Velásquez is CEO, was already the target of US sanctions before his appointment. The company has been on the US Treasury Department’s sanctions list since 2020. The United States government accuses Conviasa of being used by the Maduro government to promote pro-regime activities and maintain diplomatic ties with countries such as Iran, Cuba and North Korea. The latest sanctions make economic and operational

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