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February 11, 2025

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February 11, 2025

Air Serbia plans further growth in 2025

Jan Gruber 11. February 2025 12:57

Serbian airline Air Serbia is also focusing on growth in 2025 and plans to increase its passenger numbers by around 6% compared to the previous year. This would result in the airline carrying more than 4,7 million passengers next year. Air Serbia's General Manager for Commercial Affairs and Strategy, Boško Rupić, told public broadcaster RTS that the airline will not only expand its fleet and route network, but also wants to increase frequencies on existing connections during the summer season. "We expect growth similar to that in 2024 compared to 2023," Rupić continued. In 2024, Air Serbia had already carried 4,44 million passengers, an increase of 6% over the previous year. The airline is also focusing on strategically expanding its offerings in 2025 to further promote growth and meet the needs of its customers. New destinations and increased frequencies in summer 2025 For the summer months of 2025, Air Serbia plans to introduce new flight connections from Belgrade to Florence, Alghero and Mykonos. The airline originally also intended to start flights to Ibiza, but has not yet been able to secure suitable slots for this route. At the same time, the company will increase frequencies on existing connections to popular destinations such as Athens, Vienna, Barcelona, ​​Brussels, Larnaca, Madrid, Pula, Stuttgart and Valencia compared to last year. However, it should be noted that these plans are subject to change as the airline continues to adapt its route networks to market conditions. It is particularly noteworthy that Air Serbia will be extending the frequency of flights announced in September

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Arctic Pro Cruises: A new name for an expanded offering in the Arctic

Jan Gruber 11. February 2025 12:42

The tour operator Iceland Pro Cruises has renamed itself Arctic Pro Cruises and with this name change is sending a clear signal for the expansion of its portfolio. From the 2025 Arctic season, the company will not only offer its tried and tested Iceland cruises, but also new trips to other Arctic regions, including Greenland. By renaming, Arctic Pro Cruises is taking into account the fact that the company's offering is now much more diverse than before. This step is a reaction to the shipping company's successful restart, which was initiated after the Scylla shipping company sold the chartered expedition ship "Seaventure" in September 2024. With the new name, Arctic Pro Cruises wants to draw its customers' attention in particular to the expanded range of trips, which now also includes joiner and group trips to new destinations. In combination with the traditional Iceland trips, trips to other Arctic areas are now also offered. In the coming years, travelers will not only be able to experience the breathtaking landscape of Iceland, but also explore the untouched nature of Spitsbergen and Greenland. Particularly noteworthy is the expansion of the travel portfolio through new partnerships, such as the collaboration with Oceanwide Expeditions and Plantours. Expedition cruises with a special focus on the Arctic Arctic Pro Cruises currently offers four ships for its expedition cruises: the Oceanwide expedition trio "Hondius" (170 passengers), "Ortelius" and "Plancius" (108 passengers each) and the Plantours ship "Hamburg" with space for 400 guests. All ships specialize in expedition cruises and offer an intensive experience of nature, giving passengers a very special perspective on the Arctic regions. The cruises last up to 18 days.

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United Airlines is focusing on expanding its flights to Palma de Mallorca

Belinda Borg 11. February 2025 12:33

The travel plans of many Europeans and increasingly also of US holidaymakers for the coming summer are once again focused on the popular island destinations in the Mediterranean, especially Palma de Mallorca. The Spanish island has recovered quickly after the pandemic-related slumps and recorded a record increase in passenger numbers in 2024. United Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the USA, is also banking on the increased interest in Mallorca and is extending its seasonal direct flights between New York and Palma. The flights are intended not only to further strengthen the island as a holiday destination, but also to intensify the ties of US travelers to European destinations. Since 2022, United Airlines has been offering seasonal nonstop flights from New York (Newark) to Palma, with the connection being particularly popular in the summer months. Palma de Mallorca, the capital of the island of the same name, has developed into a hotspot for international tourists in recent years. According to official statistics, Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI) recorded more than 2024 million passengers in 33, an increase of around 12% compared to the pre-pandemic level of 2019. The demand for direct flights from the USA, especially from the east coast, is a clear indicator of the growing interest in this Mediterranean destination. United Airlines is responding to this development with the decision to expand its seasonal connection. From May to October 2025, the airline will offer additional flights in addition to the current three times a week frequency and extend the season by one month. This represents an increase in capacity of 50% compared to the previous year. Successful connection and potential extensions The Newark-Palma flight route was added to the

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Boeing and Royal Jordanian strengthen partnership

Belinda Borg 11. February 2025 12:26

At the MRO Middle East Conference on February 10, 2025, Boeing and Royal Jordanian signed several significant service agreements to support the maintenance and efficiency of the Jordanian airline's 787 Dreamliner fleet. The agreements include component exchange programs, improvements to on-board internet connectivity, and entry into the Landing Gear Exchange Program, which is specifically geared towards maintaining the aircraft's flaps and landing gear. These new partnerships are intended to not only enable Royal Jordanian to perform maintenance faster and more efficiently, but also to further improve the passenger experience through optimized on-board technologies. Expansion of component and repair services A key component of the new agreements is the extension and expansion of Royal Jordanian's Boeing 787-9 Component Services Program. This program guarantees the airline fast and easy access to spare parts necessary for the maintenance of its Dreamliner fleet. Boeing describes the initiative as a comprehensive exchange and repair solution that increases efficiency in the management of high-cost, quickly replaceable components. "This comprehensive rotables exchange and repair program helps improve efficiency in the management of high-cost and line-replaceable units (LRUs)," Boeing said in a press release. This agreement helps optimize Royal Jordanian's operations while minimizing aircraft downtime. Landing Gear Exchange Program: Reducing maintenance costs Another important innovation is the introduction of Boeing's Landing Gear Exchange Program, which offers Royal Jordanian a simplified solution for servicing and replacing landing gear. This agreement is designed to help reduce maintenance and inventory management costs and

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Croatia Airlines expands flight operations: New routes from Zagreb from summer 2025

Stephen Steiner 11. February 2025 12:09

Croatia Airlines, the national airline of Croatia, plans to significantly expand its operations at Zagreb Airport (ZAG) in summer 2025. By launching five new flight routes, the airline not only aims to strengthen its presence in Europe, but also to fly to cities that were previously canceled due to the global health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. The new destinations include direct flights from Zagreb to Prague, Bucharest, Madrid, Milan and Hamburg. The planned routes reflect Croatia Airlines' strategy to focus on key European destinations in order to consolidate its position on the international aviation market. Insights into the new routes From 2 June 2025, Croatia Airlines will launch the first two new routes to Milan (MXP) and Prague (PRG). Both routes will be served three times a week. From July 2025, three more connections will follow to Hamburg (HAM), Bucharest (OTP) and Madrid (MAD). The first flight to Hamburg will start on July 1, 2025, while the flight to Madrid will start a day later, on July 3. All five new connections will be operated with the Airbus A220-300, a modern aircraft with a capacity of 149 passengers in a single cabin class. Interestingly, some of these destinations are routes that Croatia Airlines already served before the pandemic. For example, until 2019, the airline had flown to Prague, Milan and Bucharest, among others, before the Corona pandemic brought the company's flight schedules to a standstill. The flight to Hamburg is a first for the airline, as the route was last served in 2012 and has not been in the airline's schedule since then.

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Passenger jumps out of plane before takeoff in Paris-Orly

Belinda Borg 11. February 2025 11:44

An unusual incident occurred at Paris-Orly Airport on February 7, 2025. A passenger opened an emergency exit on board an Airbus A320neo of the Spanish airline Iberia and jumped onto the tarmac. Security forces quickly intervened and arrested the man. According to initial reports, the passenger had already behaved suspiciously at the gate, but was still allowed to board. While taxiing to the runway, he became aggressive towards the cabin crew in the rear of the cabin and suddenly opened the emergency exit. Iberia confirmed the incident, as a result of which the flight to Madrid was canceled. The exact background to the act is still unclear. The authorities have launched an investigation to clarify the man's motives and check for possible security gaps. The remaining passengers were rebooked.

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Air traffic in Germany under pressure – fewer connections, higher costs

Belinda Borg 11. February 2025 11:40

Air traffic in Germany continues to lag behind pre-crisis levels. According to the German Aviation Association (BDL), flight connections in 2024 have fallen by 17 percent compared to 2019. While air traffic has recovered in many other countries, Germany is struggling with high production costs that make competition difficult. This has noticeable consequences for business travel, tourism and freight transport. Michael Hoppe, Chairman of the airline association BARIG, warns of the economic consequences of this development. He points out that the lower number of passenger flights also puts a strain on the export and import of goods, as many goods are transported in the cargo hold of passenger aircraft. Companies that rely on fast and direct international connections are particularly affected. Hoppe calls on politicians to make Germany more competitive as a location by reducing taxes. This includes abolishing the air traffic tax and reducing the costs of aviation security, infrastructure and air traffic control. Without political countermeasures, Germany risks continuing to lose importance in international air traffic.

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Air France and SNCF celebrate 30 years of cooperation – New rewards for rail customers

Amely Mizzi 11. February 2025 11:39

Air France and the French railway company SNCF Voyageurs will celebrate the 2025th anniversary of their collaboration in 30. As part of this, the partners are expanding their offering and allowing members of the Flying Blue frequent flyer program to redeem miles collected for travel vouchers for the TGV INOUI network. The vouchers, worth between 25 and 100 euros, can be used for train tickets, which is intended to promote greater integration of rail and air travel. Since the launch of the "Train + Flight" offer, customers have increasingly used combined rail and air travel. The service now includes 41 routes between French cities and Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly airports. In recent years, the route network has been expanded considerably - in 2022 there were 28 connections. Connections from Lyon, Lille and Strasbourg with onward flights to North America and the Caribbean are particularly popular. Air France and SNCF Voyageurs emphasize the benefits of the cooperation for travelers, including a unified booking and guaranteed connections in the event of delays. Since 2019, over 600.000 bookings have been registered for "train + flight". The companies want to further deepen their cooperation and are currently examining further measures to improve the service.

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Lufthansa expands offer for new Allegris cabin

Stephen Steiner 11. February 2025 11:36

Lufthansa is expanding the introduction of its new "Allegris" cabin equipment to other long-haul routes. From March 30, 2025, the new seats will be used on flights from Munich to San Diego and New York-Newark (from mid-April), and from August also to Charlotte. The existing connection to Bengaluru will also remain in the program. In addition, the new First Class suites are available on flights to San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego, Shanghai and Bengaluru. The new equipment includes various seating options in Business Class, including the "Privacy Seat" by the window, the "Extra Long Bed" with a 2,20 meter lying surface and the "Business Class Suite" with increased privacy through sliding doors. These seats can be reserved for an additional charge, while the standard Business Class seat remains free of charge. In First Class, seat reservations also remain at no additional cost, while the particularly spacious "Suite Plus" can be booked for exclusive use for a fee. There are currently nine Airbus A350-900s in service with Allegris cabins, six of which have the new First Class. According to Lufthansa, the new equipment is very popular and has recorded satisfaction ratings of over 90 percent in Business Class. The Allegris cabin has also received international design awards, including for innovative seat functions such as individually adjustable seat heating and cooling.

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Greece: Ferries are getting more expensive – price increase of up to 15 percent expected

Amely Mizzi 11. February 2025 11:35

From May 1, 2025, ferry ticket prices in Greece will rise by 12 to 15 percent. This was announced by the Passenger Shipping Association (SEEN). The main reason for the increase is new European Union regulations requiring the use of low-sulfur fuels. According to SEEN President Dionysis Theodoratos, these fuels are up to 40 percent more expensive than conventional alternatives. Popular routes to the Cyclades, Crete, the Dodecanese and the northern Aegean islands are particularly affected. Ferries traveling between Greece and Italy are also subject to a CO₂ tax, which could lead to further price increases. The association is therefore calling for government measures to curb costs for passengers, including subsidies for fuel or subsidies for employers' social security contributions, similar to those in Italy. The Greek ferry industry has invested over a billion euros in new ships over the past ten years to modernize operations. Nevertheless, uncertainty about future fuel solutions remains high. In addition to low-sulphur fuels, alternatives such as methanol and biofuels are also being discussed. SEEN warns that the rising operating costs could not only affect travellers in the long term, but also the competitiveness of ferry companies.

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