Français »
German "
Search
February 12, 2025

More articles from the category

February 12, 2025

Embraer E190F E-Freighter receives full certification from EASA

Belinda Borg 12. February 2025 11:05

The Embraer E190F E-Freighter has now received full approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), following approvals from the US FAA and Brazil's ANAC in 2024. This important development enables the aircraft to be used in air cargo transport worldwide. First unveiled in 190, the E2022F E-Freighter is designed to modernize the air cargo industry. The aircraft replaces older models and meets the increased demands of the e-commerce industry and decentralized logistics. With over 40% higher volume capacity compared to similar turboprop aircraft, a range three times longer, and operating costs up to 30% lower than larger narrow-body aircraft, the E-Freighter represents an efficient solution for regional cargo transport. According to Martyn Holmes, Chief Commercial Officer of Embraer, the aircraft plays a crucial role in faster deliveries to regions away from major metropolises. This underlines Embraer’s commitment to serving the growing demand in the cargo market.

Continue reading "

Spirit Airlines rejects new merger offer from Frontier

Amely Mizzi 12. February 2025 10:54

Spirit Airlines has rejected the latest merger offer from Frontier Group, the parent company of Frontier Airlines. The airline stated that the offer was less beneficial to shareholders than its own ongoing restructuring plan. On February 11, 2025, Spirit Airlines released a statement detailing why it found the proposal inadequate. Frontier's offer included $400 million in subordinated debt for Spirit shareholders, as well as 19% of Frontier's equity. The offer was intended to replace Spirit Airlines' need for a previously announced $350 million capital raise and to provide for the elimination of a $35 million termination fee as part of the bankruptcy proceedings. However, Spirit Airlines noted that the offer did not address all previously identified risks and issues and that it was less beneficial to the company than the current restructuring plan. On February 7, 2025, Spirit Airlines made a counter offer that included a higher total value creation of $600 million in debt and $1,185 billion in equity for shareholders. This offer was intended to allow Spirit to forego the planned capital increase, but would require payment of the $35 million termination fee. However, Frontier rejected this counter offer on February 10, 2025, and stuck to its original proposal. Spirit Airlines will continue its restructuring, which is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2025. A court hearing to confirm the restructuring plan is scheduled for February 13, 2025. Almost all creditors have approved the plan, with only two objections remaining outstanding

Continue reading "

Heathrow records highest passenger volume in January

Stephen Steiner 12. February 2025 10:50

London Heathrow Airport recorded a record 2025 million passengers in January 6,3. This represents an increase of 5 percent compared to the previous year and continues the airport's positive development. It has now recorded the eleventh month in a row in which more than 200.000 passengers were handled daily. Demand was particularly strong for transatlantic air traffic, which saw an increase of 1,2 percent year-on-year with 8 million passengers. In addition to the increase in passenger volume, the cargo sector also played an important role. Heathrow processed 120.000 tonnes of freight, which was more than twice as much as all other British airports combined. The airport's excellent performance was also underlined by the airport being named "Best UK Airport" again for the fourth year in a row. Looking to the future, Heathrow plans to further expand its capacity. The airport recently unveiled the redesigned VIP terminal, The Windsor by Heathrow, and is preparing to submit formal expansion plans for a third runway by the summer. Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye highlighted the airport's role as a driver of trade and investment and commitment to continued growth.

Continue reading "

Tui prepares for possible warning strikes at Tuifly

Stephen Steiner 12. February 2025 10:45

The travel group Tui has prepared for possible warning strikes at its airline Tuifly in the cabin and on the ground. Tui boss Sebastian Ebel announced this at the company's annual general meeting in Hanover. While negotiations with the pilots are close to a solution, differences continue with the Verdi union, which represents around 1.300 employees in the cabin, on the ground and in technology. Verdi is demanding a pay rise and improvements in working conditions. A warning strike is no longer ruled out and could begin as early as February. Verdi is demanding a 17 percent increase in salaries for cabin employees, but at least 500 euros a month, for a term of twelve months. In addition, an earlier Corona agreement, which stipulated a wage cut until 2019, is to be withdrawn. For employees on the ground, the union is demanding an 8 percent pay rise and improvements in working hours and shift work. Tui is trying to find a solution, as the group is obliged as a package tour operator to either transport customers or offer alternative services. Tui boss Ebel stressed that the negotiations are a "tough struggle" to find an economically viable solution, with the difficult location conditions in Germany also playing a role. He stressed that the market is characterized by overcapacity, which affects Tuifly's future viability. Negotiations with cabin crew are to continue on Wednesday and Thursday. In contrast, negotiations with the pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit are in the home stretch. It is reported that Tuifly and Vereinigung Cockpit are within an agreement corridor.

Continue reading "

Ita Airways announces Linate-Rostock

Amely Mizzi 12. February 2025 10:40

Lufthansa subsidiary ITA Airways has published its summer flight schedule for 2025 and announced a new international connection. From November 7, 2025, the airline will start a direct connection between Rome Fiumicino and Mauritius. The Airbus A330neo will serve the route twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays from Rome and on Saturdays and Mondays from Mauritius. This new route complements the airline's growing offering, which includes more and more international and intercontinental destinations. In summer 2025, ITA Airways will fly to a total of 59 destinations, including 16 national and 27 international destinations as well as 16 intercontinental destinations. During peak season, 12 seasonal destinations will be offered, including popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean such as Greece, Spain and the Italian islands. These additional connections can be reached primarily from Rome Fiumicino and Milan Linate, including destinations such as Rhodes, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. In addition, a connection from Olbia to Turin and a new route from Milan-Linate to Rostock-Laage will be added during the summer months. The airline is thus committed to continuous expansion in order to offer its passengers a wide choice of destinations in Europe and beyond. With the introduction of the new connection to Mauritius and the additional seasonal destinations, ITA Airways will further strengthen its presence on the international market.

Continue reading "

European airports exceed 2019 passenger numbers

Belinda Borg 12. February 2025 10:36

In 2024, European airports welcomed more than 2,5 billion passengers for the first time since the pandemic, surpassing 2019 levels. According to ACI Europe's full annual report, passenger traffic increased by 7,4 percent year-on-year and was 1,8 percent above pre-coronavirus levels. This shows that the aviation industry is increasingly recovering, despite increased ticket prices and geopolitical uncertainties. The increase in traffic was predominantly driven by international travel, which increased by 8,8 percent compared to 2023, while domestic traffic grew by only 2,5 percent and remained 6,3 percent below 2019 figures. Particularly striking was the stronger increase in traffic in the first half of the year (+8,9%) compared to the second half (+6%), indicating fundamental changes in the aviation market, including a partial switch to rail transport and growing demand in emerging markets outside the EU. The largest increase was recorded by airports in Eastern Europe, such as Hungary and Poland, which benefited from higher passenger volumes, while regions such as Israel and Russia struggled with declines due to geopolitical factors. London Heathrow retained the title of Europe's busiest airport in 2024, followed by Istanbul and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Particularly noteworthy is the performance of airports in emerging markets such as Albania and Uzbekistan, which have been able to significantly increase their passenger numbers. For the coming years, ACI Europe expects further growth of 4 percent in 2025, despite uncertain geopolitical and economic conditions. In the face of these challenges, the aviation industry remains in a "multi-speed" market, with the

Continue reading "

WKO election 2025: Protect Our Winters calls for sustainable economic policy

Belinda Borg 12. February 2025 10:31

The Austrian climate protection organization Protect Our Winters is calling on entrepreneurs to participate in the upcoming election for the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO), which will take place from March 10 to 13, 2025 and by postal vote from February 7. The election of the new specialist group representatives and the economic parliament should be used as an opportunity to steer the Austrian economy towards a sustainable transformation. The organization criticizes the current leadership of the Chamber of Commerce, in particular its blocking attitude towards ambitious climate targets and the expansion of renewable energies. The influence of the WKO on Austrian economic policy should not be underestimated. In the past, the Chamber has repeatedly weakened or even blocked climate policy measures, as can be seen from a leaked negotiation paper. Protect Our Winters is therefore calling for change to enable a sustainable and competitive economy. "Austrian entrepreneurs need clear framework conditions to ensure investment security," explains Viktoria Auer, campaign manager at Protect Our Winters. The winter sports industry, which represents an important economic basis in (western) Austria, is particularly affected by climate change. Michael Schnineis, chairman of the Austrian Association of Sports Equipment Manufacturers and Sports Retailers, supports the call and stresses the importance of decisive climate protection. Dr. Robert Steiger, expert in sustainable tourism development, emphasizes that climate protection is in the interest of winter tourism in order to minimize the negative consequences of climate change. Protect Our Winters also welcomes the open discourse and commitment to more climate protection, as shown at the Green Event certified Ski World Championships in Saalbach.

Continue reading "

Air Baltic expands supervisory board and prepares for IPO

Jan Gruber 12. February 2025 10:17

On 11 February 2025, air Baltic's Annual General Meeting was held, where Andrejs Martinovs and Lars Mydland were elected as new members of the Supervisory Board. Martinovs will lead the interim Supervisory Board as Chairman, while Mydland will serve as Vice-Chairman. The meeting also decided to complete the ongoing process of reducing the company's share capital. Transport Minister Kaspars Briškens, who is Air Baltic's largest shareholder, stressed the importance of the new Supervisory Board members, who bring extensive experience in aviation and finance. The aim of the new management team is to initiate a period of growth for the national airline and prepare the company for a possible IPO. Minister Briškens stated that Air Baltic creates significant economic value for Latvia and the entire Baltic region. Andrejs Martinovs brings more than 27 years of experience in financial and investment management. The experienced finance professional will support Air Baltic's strategic priorities with regard to the IPO and strengthening the partnership with the Lufthansa Group. Lars Mydland, a proven expert in the aviation industry, will focus on operational efficiency and strategic planning. Both are confident that their expertise can pave the way for a successful future for the airline.

Continue reading "

Marabu Airlines receives Phase I certification in SARPcheck safety audit

Jan Gruber 12. February 2025 10:14

Marabu Airlines has successfully completed the first phase of the international SARPcheck safety audit and has been included in the global SARPcheck register. The certification underlines the Estonian airline's commitment to the highest international safety standards in air transport. The audit was carried out by a team of four experienced aviation experts from the global SARPcheck auditing company AEROTHRIVE GmbH. The SARPcheck program enables airlines to verify compliance with the international standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and continuously improve their safety protocols. In this context, AEROTHRIVE CEO Patrick Lutz emphasized that registration as a SARPcheck Phase I operator not only reinforces an airline's safety standards, but also enables commercial advantages such as rapid participation in codeshare and wet lease agreements. Marabu Airlines was founded in 2022 and specializes in holiday flights. Based in Tallinn, the airline mainly serves popular holiday destinations in Europe and is aimed primarily at German travelers. The airline works closely with established airlines to provide passengers with reliable service and efficient travel experiences. The SARPcheck initiative aims to increase safety standards in international air traffic while speeding up airlines' business processes. SARPcheck ensures that the checked airlines regularly comply with ICAO safety standards and offers a pragmatic and cost-effective way to make air traffic safer.

Continue reading "

Southwest Airlines: Boeing 737-700 has to return to Sacramento shortly after takeoff

Amely Mizzi 12. February 2025 10:09

A Southwest Airlines flight from Sacramento to Denver had to return to the departure airport shortly after takeoff on February 8, 2025. The Boeing 737-700 with flight number 2301 reported a possible engine problem, which is why the crew decided to abort the flight. The plane landed safely and the passengers were transferred to a replacement aircraft. The incident occurred just 32 minutes after takeoff. According to flight data from FlightAware, the plane took off from runway 08L at Sacramento International Airport at 52:35 a.m. local time. While climbing to an altitude of 4000 feet, the crew reported irregularities. Just one minute after reaching this altitude, the pilots decided to turn around and return to Sacramento. According to the news portal The Aviation Herald, the crew informed air traffic controllers of a possible engine malfunction, which is why the plane had to return to the departure airport immediately. The landing took place at 09:24 local time, just 32 minutes after takeoff. Tense mood among the passengers Several passengers reported disturbing experiences during the flight. Christine Buff, a traveler who was on her way to Raleigh in North Carolina, described her impressions to the news channel KCRA 3. "I smelled something strange, it wasn't like fresh air, but more like burning cables," said Buff. She also described a loud noise during the takeoff process: "When we took off, it suddenly became very loud. There was a dull bang." Some passengers reported seeing what appeared to be flames on the engine. Shortly afterwards, the pilot informed the passengers that the flight was aborted and would return to Sacramento for technical

Continue reading "

Navigation

Visit us on

Facebook f X-twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Telegram rss Threads, Google Hm-mail-open Wordpress
login logo

Aviation.Direct is published with love in and