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January 29, 2025

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January 29, 2025

Lufthansa Group acquires ten percent stake in Air Baltic

Belinda Borg 29 January 2025 18:57

The Lufthansa Group has signed an agreement to acquire convertible shares corresponding to a ten percent stake in the Latvian airline Air Baltic. The purchase price is 14 million euros. In addition, the Lufthansa Group will receive a seat on the supervisory board of Air Baltic. The convertible shares will be converted into ordinary shares in the event of a potential IPO of Air Baltic. The level of participation will then be determined by the market price of the IPO, with the Lufthansa Group's share being at least five percent. This transaction builds on the existing wet lease agreement between the Lufthansa Group and Air Baltic and is intended to strengthen Air Baltic as a strategic partner of the Lufthansa Group. The expanded cooperation will enable the Lufthansa Group to expand its route network and open up new markets. In addition, further development of wet lease services in line with customer needs is planned. The transaction is scheduled to be completed in the second quarter of this year, subject to antitrust review. The wet lease agreement between the Lufthansa Group and Air Baltic was recently extended for a further three years. This agreement makes it possible to deploy up to 21 additional Airbus A220-300 aircraft in the summer and five aircraft of this type in the winter at various Lufthansa Group hubs. This enables the Lufthansa Group to respond more flexibly to seasonal demand. With Air Baltic's additional capacity, it will be possible to serve high-demand destinations in the route network more flexibly in the future. At the same time, the stability and quality of connections to intercontinental services will be improved at the Lufthansa Group hubs. Air Baltic is Latvia's largest airline, based in Riga.

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Cathay Pacific examines possible aircraft order: Airbus A350, Boeing 787 and 777X in the running

Belinda Borg 29 January 2025 12:29

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific is facing a potentially significant expansion of its fleet. The airline has asked both Airbus and Boeing for proposals for its next aircraft order, which includes the Airbus A350, the Boeing 787 family and possible additional Boeing 777X aircraft. This request for proposals (RFP) could set the course for Cathay Pacific's future and entail a significant investment in modernizing its long-haul fleet. According to a report by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, Cathay Pacific has given specific requests to Airbus and Boeing to submit proposals for new long-haul aircraft. The exact number of aircraft and the final composition of the order have not yet been determined, but the size of the order is expected to be expanded with additional options, which could make the deal even bigger. The airline already has 72 aircraft in its firm order book, including 57 widebody aircraft: 30 Airbus A330-900s, six Airbus A350Fs and 21 Boeing 777-9s. The Airbus A350 in particular has become increasingly important in recent years, and Cathay Pacific only confirmed in December 2023 the order for 20 additional Airbus A350Fs to join the fleet from 2027. This model range is known for its efficiency and range, making it a preferred choice for long-haul flights. Latest orders and investments for the future Cathay Pacific's latest order was announced in August 2024, when the airline secured 30 Airbus A330-900s, as well as 30 options for the same model.

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Investigation of an Incident involving United Airlines Boeing 787-8: Sudden Movements and Injuries on Board

Amely Mizzi 29 January 2025 12:26

On January 24, 2025, an incident occurred that once again shook up the aviation world. A United Airlines Boeing 787-8 aircraft flying from Lagos, Nigeria, to Washington DC had to turn around and land back in Lagos after sudden movements on board. The incident resulted in a total of 38 injuries, including several seriously injured passengers and crew members. The US National Safety Investigation Board (NTSB) has since launched an investigation into the incident, in which the aircraft abruptly lost altitude after an uncontrolled movement and crashed at an unusually fast vertical speed of 1.600 feet per minute. Flight UA613 had left Murtala Mohammed Airport in Lagos at 24:2025 local time on January 00, 19 and was en route to Washington Dulles International Airport. While flying over the airspace of Benin, Togo and Ghana, the aircraft reached an altitude of 36.000 feet (about 10.973 meters) when the pilots suddenly noticed a dramatic drop in altitude. Flight data from Flightradar24 shows that the aircraft was heading towards Liberia when it suddenly initiated an emergency turn and reversed direction. Around 30 minutes after turning towards Lagos, the crew sent the emergency code 7700, indicating a general emergency. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft landed back in Lagos at 03:22. Of the 245 passengers and 11 crew members on board, four passengers and two crew members were seriously injured, while 27 passengers and five crew members suffered minor injuries. Immediately after landing, the passengers and crew members were provided with ambulances and medical support. Technical

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London: Third runway for Heathrow approved

Jan Gruber 29 January 2025 12:23

In a major political decision, the British government, led by new Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, has given the green light to the development of a third runway at London Heathrow Airport. This decision, announced on January 29, 2024, has met with fierce opposition from environmental organizations, but represents an important building block in the government's economic growth goals. The discussion about expanding the airport has been dragging on for years and has been postponed several times, but the government now considers the need for another runway for Heathrow to be more urgent than ever. In her speech in Oxford, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves stressed that economic growth is the British government's top priority. "Economic growth is the government's most important mission," she said, presenting the planned project as a central pillar of the economic agenda. The expansion of Heathrow Airport with a third runway is intended not only to significantly expand the airport's capacity, but also to create jobs and promote long-term economic growth in the United Kingdom. Reeves explained that the decision-making process on the third runway had been repeatedly postponed and eventually abandoned in recent years. However, the case is now clearer and the benefits of a new project must now be pushed forward. "The case for a new runway is stronger than ever," she said. The proposal envisages the new runway being built to the north-west of the existing airport, which will result in an increase in capacity and the creation of new infrastructure.

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Fire on board an Air Busan Airbus A321 – 175 people safely evacuated

Jan Gruber 29 January 2025 12:21

On January 28, 2025, a dramatic incident occurred at Busan Gimhae International Airport (PUS), when an Airbus A321 operated by South Korean airline Air Busan caught fire shortly before takeoff to Hong Kong. The fire broke out at the tail of the aircraft, leading to a quick and successful evacuation attempt for the 168 passengers and seven crew members. Despite the rapid response of the fire brigade and the rapid evacuation, three people were injured, but their lives were not in danger. The incident occurred at around 22:30 p.m. local time, when the aircraft was already preparing to take off. Initial reports from South Korea, confirmed by the Yonhap news agency, stated that the fire broke out near the tail of the Airbus A321-232, registration HL7763. The aircraft was not yet in the air at the time, and the fire started immediately before takeoff. The passengers and crew members were able to leave the aircraft using the emergency slides, which were activated by the cabin crew. A total of 175 people were able to get to safety. However, three of them suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and were immediately given medical treatment on site. The Busan Fire Department, which arrived at the scene within minutes, was able to quickly extinguish the fire. According to the fire department, the fire was under control when the rescue workers arrived and there were no further signs of the flames spreading to other parts of the aircraft. Images taken by eyewitnesses and rescue workers and shared on social media

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Ryanair struggles with Boeing delivery delays and lowers passenger forecasts for 2026

Amely Mizzi 29 January 2025 12:16

Irish low-cost airline Ryanair announced in January 2025 that it had reduced its passenger forecast for fiscal year 2026 by 4 million to 206 million passengers. A key reason for this adjustment is repeated delivery delays by Boeing, which are significantly impacting fleet expansion. Despite these challenges, Ryanair was able to report a significant increase in profits in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, driven by stabilised demand and successful resolution of internal disputes. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 (Q3 FY25), Ryanair reported profit after tax of €149 million, a significant improvement year-on-year (2024: €15 million). Revenue increased by 10% to €2,96 billion, putting Ryanair in a stable position for the remaining months of the year. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary explained that the strong performance in the third quarter was mainly due to the resolution of a dispute with online travel agents (OTAs) in late 2023. During this period, the business was negatively affected due to the conflicts with the OTAs. With this dispute resolved, Ryanair has now been able to return to a "normal" business performance. The 8% increase in operating costs to €2,93 billion was largely offset by the higher number of passengers of 44,9 million, an increase of 9% year-on-year. Ryanair pointed out in the fourth quarter that ticket prices were stabilising, indicating continued strong demand. Boeing delivery delays as a drag on growth Despite the positive trend in passenger numbers, the biggest problem for Ryanair remains the

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Uzbekistan Airways changes flight routes to Europe

Belinda Borg 29 January 2025 12:00

Since January 20, 2025, Uzbekistan Airways has avoided the airspace over Russia and Belarus on its flights to Europe. Instead, the flight routes now run over Azerbaijan and Turkey. According to the airline, this measure is part of an optimization of flight routes and is intended to increase safety. The decision was made on the recommendation of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), as many passengers on flights to Europe are European citizens. The new routes were chosen to minimize potential risks and make air traffic safer. The airline emphasizes that the change is not only due to safety concerns, but also represents an improvement in the efficiency of flight planning. Passengers traveling on Uzbekistan Airways flights to Europe can now be sure that their routes are designed in accordance with the latest safety guidelines. The European Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, has repeatedly pointed out in the past that the airspace over Russia and Belarus could be unsafe due to political tensions and the geopolitical situation. Uzbekistan Airways is now responding to these recommendations in order to continue serving the European market and to meet safety standards. By switching to the new flight routes, Uzbekistan Airways is setting an example of its responsibility towards international safety guidelines and the interests of passengers. This change affects not only direct flights from Uzbekistan, but also all connections to Europe.

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Lufthansa Aviation Training launches Airbus A350 Simulator at Zurich Airport

Belinda Borg 29 January 2025 11:57

Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) today put a state-of-the-art Full Flight Simulator (FFS) for the Airbus A350 and the latest cabin training devices into operation at Zurich Airport. With this investment, LAT is expanding its training offering and providing its customers, including Swiss and Edelweiss, with the latest technology for training pilots and crew. The new facilities offer an efficient way to optimize training on the Airbus A350 while minimizing travel effort and costs. The CAE 7000XR Airbus A350 Simulator meets the highest certification standards and enables realistic training under almost all flight conditions. The innovative technology enables pilots to complete their training almost entirely in the simulator, reducing the need for real aircraft. This ensures efficient use of resources and helps reduce training costs. The simulator offers, among other things, the opportunity for Cross Crew Qualification (CCQ) and retraining on the Airbus A350, which makes the transition easier for pilots from other Airbus models. The new training equipment at Zurich-Kloten Airport will not only be used by Swiss and Edelweiss, but will also be available to other LAT customers. This measure follows the successful delivery and installation of the simulator in October 2024. The project was implemented in close cooperation between LAT, Swiss and Edelweiss to prepare for the launch of the Airbus A350 in 2025. The modern training methods, such as Evidence-Based Training (EBT), support safety-critical decision-making processes and thus offer an important addition to standard training. In addition to the introduction of the new simulator, the gradual fleet modernization at Swiss and Edelweiss will take place in 2025.

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Eurowings starts Hamburg-Tel Aviv

Belinda Borg 29 January 2025 11:55

From February 1, 2025, the Lufthansa Group will resume its flights to Tel Aviv. The subsidiary Eurowings is also participating in the resumption of air traffic and will be offering a new direct connection from Hamburg to Tel Aviv from February 3, 2025. The flights will be offered twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. The airlines are thus expanding their offering and enabling travelers to get from Germany to Israel quickly and conveniently. Eurowings, known for its low airfares, is launching the connection from Hamburg to Tel Aviv with an attractive offer. One-way tickets are available from just 119,99 euros in the basic fare. The Lufthansa Group is thus responding to the increasing demand for connections to the Middle East and strengthening its presence in this important market. The Lufthansa Group had previously temporarily suspended its flights to Tel Aviv due to security concerns. In addition to Eurowings, the parent company Lufthansa as well as Swiss and Austrian Airlines are also offering regular flights to Tel Aviv again. The resumption of flight connections will take place once the security situation has calmed down and is intended to benefit both tourist and business travelers. The airlines ensure that all safety precautions are observed in accordance with current international standards. The flight market to Israel, especially to Tel Aviv, remains an important part of the international aviation industry. Tel Aviv is not only a major tourist destination, but also a center for business travel and international conferences. With the resumption of connections, the Lufthansa Group is responding to the growing demand and contributing to increasing travel connections to the region.

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Romantic travel destinations for Valentine's Day: These cities offer unforgettable experiences

Belinda Borg 29 January 2025 11:25

Valentine's Day is an opportunity to celebrate togetherness and experience special moments. Travel provider Tui has put together ten European cities that are particularly suitable for a romantic trip. Based on the reviews of Tui Musement guests, these destinations offer unique experiences that couples can share - from panoramic views to exclusive activities to historical sights. Turin tops the list of romantic cities. The Piedmontese capital not only offers a breathtaking view from the Mole Antonelliana, but also a fairytale visit to the residences of the Savoy royal family. In Berlin, couples can spend an unforgettable time on a boat trip on the Spree or at a painting workshop in the dark. In the Dutch capital Amsterdam, there is the opportunity to design an engagement ring in the oldest diamond factory in the world or enjoy a canal cruise. For art lovers, Milan is an ideal destination with the "Pinacoteca di Brera" and the world-famous painting "The Kiss" by Francesco Hayez. Rome, Barcelona and Paris also offer numerous opportunities for romantic experiences - be it a boat trip in the Villa Borghese park or a patisserie workshop in Paris. For couples looking for adventure, Reykjavik and Venice are also worthwhile destinations that lure with their special atmosphere and extraordinary experiences. With these ten European cities, couples can spend Valentine's Day in a particularly unforgettable way and enjoy unique experiences in a romantic atmosphere.

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