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January 21, 2025

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January 21, 2025

Alltours expands long-distance travel program with new destinations in Mexico

Belinda Borg 21 January 2025 15:01

The Germans' desire to travel remains unbroken, and the tour operator Alltours is also responding to this demand: Starting this winter, the company is expanding its long-distance travel program to include package tours to Los Cabos, one of the most famous holiday destinations in Mexico. The region in the south of the Baja California peninsula fascinates with its unique mix of desert landscapes, high mountains and wild coasts, making it a real paradise for travelers looking for relaxation, adventure and nature experiences. The wide range of water sports, coupled with the opportunity to experience whale and dolphin watching, makes Los Cabos an increasingly popular destination for active travelers. Los Cabos consists of the two main towns of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo, which offer an interesting mix of urban life and traditional Mexican culture. Cabo San Lucas, known for its lively atmosphere and turbulent nightlife, particularly attracts young travelers and partygoers. In contrast, San José del Cabo, with its picturesque streets, many art galleries and a quieter atmosphere, is more suitable for travelers who want to discover the cultural facets of Mexico. The region is also a hotspot for water sports such as surfing, diving and snorkeling, and an ideal starting point for spectacular whale watching. The annual migrations of gray whales are particularly impressive, as they set off from the cold waters of Alaska to the warm bays of Baja California. In the past, Los Cabos was mainly known among travelers who docked on cruise ships. Today, however, the destination has established itself as a serious alternative to classic Caribbean destinations. Los Cabos International Airport

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Austrian aviation on the rise: passenger numbers and freight volumes reach record levels

Jan Gruber 21 January 2025 14:57

In 2024, the Austrian aviation industry experienced strong growth, which was mainly characterized by the increase in passenger numbers and air freight volumes. In total, around 35,5 million passengers were counted at Austria's six commercial airports, an increase of 7 percent compared to the previous year. Air freight also recorded a remarkable increase of 17,7 percent to a total of 374.607 tons. This not only underlines the high importance of airports for the domestic economy, but also their role as important international hubs for air traffic. The aviation industry in Austria has proven to be one of the few economic sectors to achieve significant growth in recent years. With a turnover of 8,2 billion euros, the industry contributed around 1,75 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and secured more than 83.000 jobs - both directly and indirectly. These successes are largely due to Austria's commercial airports, which not only serve as important tourist and economic hubs, but also play a key role in the global logistics chain. Julian Jäger, President of the Austrian Airports Association (AÖV) and CEO of Flughafen Wien AG, stressed in a statement that the Austrian aviation industry is dependent on further growth. He called for clear political signals and growth-promoting framework conditions, such as the abolition or at least a repurposing of the air travel tax. This would enable airports to maintain their competitiveness and continue to participate in the global recovery. Strong passenger growth and different regional developments Austrian airports recorded a total of 35.507.018 passengers in 2024, which is

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Tui Airways flight collides with catering vehicle in Aberdeen

Jan Gruber 21 January 2025 11:01

A Tui Airways Boeing 737-800 aircraft collided with a catering vehicle on the tarmac at Aberdeen International Airport on Friday 19 January after landing from Tenerife (flight BY1519). The incident occurred at around 14:00 and resulted in visible damage to one of the aircraft's wings. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Passengers reported a strong jolt during the incident and one passenger noticed a crack in the wing. Due to the accident, the flight was delayed by 30 minutes as the aircraft remained on the tarmac and no further information was received from the cockpit. The flight was originally only scheduled to make a short stopover in Aberdeen before returning to Tenerife. However, the scheduled departure time, one hour after landing, had to be postponed and the aircraft could not take off until the following morning after all safety checks had been completed.

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Ryanair flight FR2001 delayed due to conflict with passenger

Jan Gruber 21 January 2025 10:02

On Friday, Ryanair flight FR2001 from Lanzarote to Santiago de Compostela was delayed by 40 minutes after a passenger, who claimed to be a UN diplomat, refused to show his boarding pass and follow an instruction from the crew. The passenger requested a seat in a preferred row but refused to change his originally assigned seat when the crew requested it. The situation escalated when the passenger continued to refuse to leave the aircraft. The captain then gave the order to remove the passenger from the aircraft. Airport security and the Guardia Civil were called in to forcibly remove the passenger. The incident, which was filmed by fellow passengers, caused discomfort on board and led to a delay in departure. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to safety regulations during a flight. "The crew of this flight from Lanzarote to Santiago (17 January) requested police assistance prior to departure after a passenger exhibited disruptive behaviour on board. This passenger was removed from the aircraft before the flight continued to Santiago. Ryanair is committed to ensuring that all passengers and crew can travel in a safe and respectful environment, without unnecessary disruption from a small number of disruptive passengers. Ryanair has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards passenger misbehaviour and will continue to take firm action against improper behaviour by passengers on aircraft - in the interests of the vast majority of passengers who do not disrupt flights. This is a matter for the local police," the airline concerned said in a statement.

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Volotea closes base at Athens Airport

Stephen Steiner 21 January 2025 09:03

Spanish low-cost airline Volotea has announced the closure of its base at Athens Airport, after six years of operation. This decision will result in the loss of 80 direct and 450 indirect jobs. Despite the closure of the hub, Volotea will continue to maintain all connections to and from Greece. Greek competitor Sky Express has already reacted and issued an open invitation to Volotea's laid-off staff. The local airline is offering employment opportunities to the affected employees. Sky Express stressed that expanding the company and strengthening its position in the Greek market remains a priority. Volotea's decision comes at a time when the Greek aviation market continues to change. However, Athens Airport remains a significant hub for international air connections and local competitors are taking the opportunity to expand their influence.

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Spirit Airlines: $300 million credit facility to secure business operations

Jan Gruber 21 January 2025 08:37

US airline Spirit Airlines has secured a $11 million revolving credit facility following its Chapter 300 bankruptcy proceedings. This measure is intended to ensure the financial stability of the company and ensure the continuity of its business operations. The move marks another milestone in the ongoing restructuring of the airline, which is on its way out of bankruptcy. On January 14, 2025, Spirit Airlines signed a commitment letter for a senior secured revolving credit facility, which was committed by certain debtors who already worked with the airline before the bankruptcy. The facility consists of a credit line of $275 million and an additional credit line of $25 million. However, these funds will not be available until Spirit Airlines officially closes the bankruptcy proceedings and meets certain contractual conditions. According to filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the funds will be used primarily for working capital and other corporate purposes. The credit facility has a variable interest rate based on the adjusted Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) plus 3,25% or an alternative base rate plus 2,25%. Assets as collateral To secure the credit facility, Spirit Airlines has pledged significant assets. These include slots at New York-LaGuardia and Washington-National airports, at least 14 aircraft engines as well as spare parts, flight simulators, ground equipment and real estate assets. Particularly noteworthy is the sale of 23 Airbus A320ceo and A321ceo aircraft to asset manager GA Telesis in 2024. The sale generated 519 million US dollars, of which 225 million went into the airline's liquidity reserves. Spirit Airlines, which is in

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Lufthansa takes over 41 percent of ITA Airways

Stephen Steiner 21 January 2025 08:00

Lufthansa has completed the purchase of a 41 percent stake in the Italian airline ITA Airways for 325 million euros. ITA Airways is the state-owned successor company to Alitalia. The acquisition became possible after approval by the European Commission in November 2024 and is intended to strengthen Lufthansa's position in southern Europe. ITA Airways will thus become the fifth network airline within the Lufthansa Group and is intended to further expand its market dominance in Europe. According to Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr, passengers will benefit from improved offers and optimized connections as early as the 2025 summer flight schedule. The Italian government, represented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance, remains the majority owner of the airline with a 59 percent stake. The takeover is considered a strategically important step for Lufthansa to expand its presence in southern Europe and access to one of the region's most important aviation markets.

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Spirit Airlines: job cuts and restructuring to reduce costs

Belinda Borg 21 January 2025 07:36

The US low-cost airline Spirit Airlines has filed for bankruptcy and initiated Chapter 11 proceedings in the bankruptcy court in the Southern District of New York. This measure is accompanied by a comprehensive restructuring, which includes the elimination of 200 jobs. The aim is to restore the airline's financial stability and significantly reduce costs. In an official statement, a spokesperson for Spirit Airlines explained that the job cuts were a reaction to the airline's current fleet size and flight volume. This was necessary in order to optimize the organization. The 200 jobs affected are spread across several departments and affect different hierarchical levels. The job cuts are part of a broader cost-cutting program that should enable annual savings of up to 80 million dollars. The airline had previously eliminated pilot positions and implemented operational efficiency improvements. According to Spirit Airlines, however, the current job cuts should be viewed independently of the bankruptcy proceedings. Financial restructuring and creditor support Spirit Airlines' creditors have supported a restructuring agreement that could be crucial for the airline's future. As part of the agreement, creditors will receive an equity investment of $350 million. In addition, a so-called debtor-in-possession financing (DIP financing) will provide a further $300 million to ensure the ongoing operations of the airline during the bankruptcy proceedings. These funds are intended to enable Spirit Airlines to continue its business operations without interruption. Customers have been informed that all existing bookings, tickets, credits and loyalty points will remain valid and can be used. The wages of the remaining employees will also not be reduced, according to the company.

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Record year for Charleroi: Over 10 million passengers

Belinda Borg 21 January 2025 07:05

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) exceeded the 2024 million passenger mark for the first time in its history in 10. With a total of 10,5 million travelers, the airport recorded an increase of 12 percent compared to the 9,4 million passengers in 2023. Charleroi thus consolidates its position as Belgium's second largest airport. Six airlines contributed significantly to this success: Ryanair, Wizzair, Pegasus Airlines, Air Corsica, Volotea and Air Arabia. The airport remains a major hub for regional and international air connections and plays a central role in Belgian air traffic. Charleroi Airport is currently in an approval process to extend its 20-year-old environmental license, which expires in summer 2025. A public hearing will begin at the end of January before the Walloon government makes a final decision.

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Sylt Air under new management: Padaviation takes over

Stephen Steiner 21 January 2025 06:07

The traditional Sylt airline Sylt Air has new owners as of January 1, 2025: The charter airline Padaviation from Paderborn has taken over the company. As Padaviation boss Christiane Wittland confirmed, the name Sylt Air will remain. In future, flights will be operated under the name "Sylt Air operated by PAD Aviation". With the takeover, Padaviation wants to expand its offering on the German and European market. The existing flight connections to the North Sea island of Sylt will remain, supplemented by additional European destinations that will be served by the Padaviation fleet in the future. Sylt Air has previously specialized in flights to and from Sylt, especially charter flights and seasonal connections. The expansion of the offer promises better connections between the island and European air traffic. The "Sylter Rundschau" was the first to report on the takeover.

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