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February 13, 2025

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February 13, 2025

ATR misses delivery target: Turboprop manufacturer struggles with bottlenecks in the supply chain

Belinda Borg February 13, 2025 10:27

The French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR has clearly missed its self-imposed target of delivering 2024 turboprop aircraft in 40. Instead, the manufacturer was only able to deliver 35 aircraft - one aircraft less than in the previous year. These figures reflect the ongoing challenges that ATR is currently facing in its production. In addition to production delays, which have been affecting the company for some time, ATR, like its group partner Airbus, is struggling with bottlenecks in the supply chain. These difficulties have clearly pushed the ambitious delivery target into the background. Turboprop aircraft, which are mainly used in regional aviation, have been an important part of ATR's portfolio for years. Demand for these aircraft remains stable, especially in rural and less busy regions, where smaller aircraft offer the only way to be regularly connected to larger cities. The 35 deliveries in 2024 nevertheless represent a decrease compared to the 36 aircraft delivered in 2023. The reason for this dip in production output is not lower demand, but rather the logistical problems plaguing ATR and other aircraft manufacturers. Similar to Airbus, which repeatedly experiences bottlenecks in the supply of components, ATR is struggling to obtain the necessary parts and materials for its turboprop aircraft on time. These challenges are not new: In recent years, aircraft manufacturers have repeatedly reported delays and difficulties in global supply chains, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing problems in the semiconductor and electronics industries, which are responsible for the production of

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L'Envol des Pionniers celebrates the history of Air France in Toulouse

Jan Gruber February 13, 2025 10:24

From today, visitors to L'Envol des Pionniers, a museum in Toulouse, can take an extraordinary journey through the history of Air France. In a space dedicated to the history of French aviation, a special exhibition will be presented that traces the airline's journey from its early days in 1933 to the modern developments of the present day. This exhibition, which will run for two years, invites visitors to engage with over 170 original objects from the company's history and experience the airline's evolution. From iconic models to legendary couture uniforms, the exhibition offers an in-depth look at the travel experience that Air France has created over the years. Known for its central role in the narrative of French aviation history, L'Envol des Pionniers takes the opportunity to highlight the close relationship between Toulouse and Air France. Considered the birthplace of Aéropostale and closely linked to early civil aviation, the city was also a major site for the airline's maintenance and operations for decades. The exhibition highlights this connection and allows visitors to discover the history of aviation and the development of Air France from the perspective of one of the company's historic maintenance centers. The exhibition itself is divided into four thematic sections, providing a clear overview of the airline's different eras and developments. The first section, "Enter the legend", takes visitors back to the origins of Air France and

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January 2025: Frankfurt with 3,9 million passengers

Belinda Borg February 13, 2025 10:23

In January 2025, Frankfurt Airport recorded a decline in passenger numbers compared to the same month last year. With a total of 3,9 million travelers at the international airport, which is considered one of the most important hubs in Europe, the number fell by 3,1 percent. The decline was mainly due to cuts in flight offerings by the Lufthansa Group. While this airline reduced its capacity, a large number of other airlines increased their flights. This fact was also reflected in the overall development of the Fraport portfolio, which, despite the negative figures in Frankfurt, also recorded positive developments at other airports. Passenger numbers at the various airports actively managed by the German company Fraport were mixed overall in January 2025. The development in Frankfurt, the company's largest and most important airport, shows that changes in air traffic continue to have a major impact on the overall picture. The number of passengers fell by more than 100.000 travelers compared to January 2024, which was mainly due to the Lufthansa Group's restraint and capacity adjustments. Such behavior is not unusual and reflects the uncertain economic conditions that continue to force many airlines to adjust their flight schedules. At the same time, Frankfurt Airport remains relatively stable in terms of total movements. The number of aircraft movements was 30.938 take-offs and landings, representing a slight decrease of only 0,4 percent compared to January 2024. This shows that the airport still has a high level of activity overall, even if the number of passengers does not show the same increase. In the international aviation markets,

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Continued growth at Vienna Airport: Passenger numbers increase by 2025 percent in January 3,4

Amely Mizzi February 13, 2025 10:20

Vienna Airport recorded a 2025 percent increase in passenger traffic in January 3,4 compared to the same month last year, underlining the continued recovery and growth of air traffic in the region. In the first month of 2025, a total of 1.890.102 passengers used Vienna Airport, an increase of 3,4 percent compared to January 2024. The number of local passengers rose by 6,1 percent to 1.542.649, while the number of transfer passengers fell by 7,2 percent to 340.378. Flight movements increased by 4,0 percent to 15.778 takeoffs and landings. Cargo volumes also increased by 3,1 percent to 21.541 tons. The development in the individual destinations shows a differentiated picture: Passenger traffic to Western Europe rose slightly by 0,5 percent to 636.267 travelers. 135.798 passengers traveled to Eastern Europe, an increase of 3,2 percent. There were more significant increases in connections to North America with 27.864 passengers (+11,4%) and to Africa with 26.803 passengers (+21,9%). 67.422 travelers (+1,6%) flew to the Middle East, while the Far East recorded a significant increase of 53.016 percent with 38,3 passengers. Vienna Airport's investments also developed positively: Malta Airport welcomed a total of 2025 passengers in January 507.574, an increase of 9,0 percent. At Kosice Airport, passenger volume rose by 21,9 percent to 38.675 travelers. These figures underline the ongoing recovery of air traffic after the pandemic-related slumps of recent years. As early as 2024, Vienna Airport was able to set a new record with 31,72 million passengers, which even exceeded the

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Warning strikes could disrupt public transport ahead of the federal election

Stephen Steiner February 13, 2025 10:07

In Germany, there are signs of an expansion of warning strikes in the public sector. Before the upcoming federal election, local public transport and air traffic could be massively disrupted. Christine Behle, deputy chairwoman of the Verdi union, announced that the union is calling on employers to make a swift offer in the wage dispute with federal and municipal employees. If this offer is not made, further strike action before the election cannot be ruled out. There had already been isolated strikes at the beginning of the week, mainly affecting commuters and local public transport. The wage dispute affects around 2,5 million public sector employees, including bus drivers, educators, nurses and garbage collectors. Verdi is demanding a wage increase of 8 percent or at least 350 euros a month, as well as three additional days off for employees. The aim is to improve working conditions and enable more flexibility. At the same time, ongoing dissatisfaction at the grassroots level is making people very willing to strike. As early as 2023, employees had temporarily paralyzed public transport, including trains and flights, through extensive strikes. For the second round of negotiations on February 17 and 18 in Potsdam, the unions are hoping for a binding offer from the employers. If this does not happen, the strikes could become more intense. The Verdi union and the civil service union dbb are also campaigning for a reform of the debt brake and financial relief for local authorities. At the same time, they report a slight loss of members, which was partially offset by numerous new members.

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Project AEM Speedport: Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport relies on autonomous aircraft control

Stephen Steiner February 13, 2025 09:05

At Paderborn/Lippstadt Airport, the AEM Speedport project, supported by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV), is being pushed forward. The aim of the project is to move aircraft autonomously and without engine power from the parking position to the runway gate and back after landing. This is to be achieved through an interactive control center that monitors and controls all flight movements using sensors and AI-supported processes. The AEM Speedport project is part of a larger vision to make airport operations more efficient and future-proof through automation. According to Stefan Schnorr, State Secretary at the BMDV, AI and autonomous processes are crucial to ensuring smooth flight operations and keeping the aviation location competitive in view of the shortage of skilled workers. The automated processes could not only increase efficiency, but also contribute to greater sustainability in airport operations. Since the funding was approved in autumn 2024, significant progress has already been made at the airport. Test locations on the ramp, at the virtual tower and in the hangar have been determined. In addition, a tow vehicle is being prepared for autonomous operation, while the expansion of the virtual tower is progressing. Talks are already underway with airlines and manufacturers to procure a suitable aircraft demonstrator for the planned tests.

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Avia Solutions Group: New service location opened in Manila

Belinda Borg February 13, 2025 08:38

Avia Solutions Group (ASG), the world's leading provider of ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) services, has opened its new Global Services Center in the Philippines. With this strategic move, the Dublin-based company is further expanding its presence in Southeast Asia. The new facility in Manila will not only provide technical and operational support for the group's own airlines as well as maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, but will also handle core corporate functions such as IT, payroll and finance. The choice of the Philippines as the location for the new center is no coincidence. The region is forecast to be one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. An analysis by Boeing assumes that air traffic in Southeast Asia will grow by eight percent annually over the next twenty years. ASG sees great opportunities here and plans in the long term to obtain its own air operator license (Air Operator Certificate, AOC) in the Philippines. Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group, emphasizes that the decision to choose the Philippines was primarily due to the highly qualified labor market and the favorable geographical location. With the expansion, the company wants to increase its operational efficiency and open up new markets. Change of management and new career opportunities At the helm of the new service center is Fernando Bernardo Beluan, an experienced industry expert with over 15 years of international experience. He will manage the business activities and build the Philippine team. Beluan emphasizes the importance of the new facility for the local economy and points to the numerous jobs that will be created in the areas of technology, IT and finance. "The opening of this service center underlines the trust

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Swiss flight LX288 returns to Zurich early due to technical problems

Amely Mizzi February 13, 2025 08:00

A Swiss flight from Zurich to Johannesburg had to turn around on February 11 due to a technical fault with one of the weather radars. The Airbus A340-300, which was already over southern Chad in Central Africa, had been en route for more than five hours at the time. The crew decided to return to Zurich because thunderstorms were expected along the rest of the flight route and safe flight control could not be guaranteed. According to a Swiss spokesperson, the technical irregularity was the reason for the crew's decision. Due to the ongoing weather hazards along the planned route, turning back was considered safer. A refueling stop will be made on the return flight to enable a safe landing in Zurich. The Lufthansa Group's operations center is coordinating further action in close cooperation with the crew. The incident shows once again how important technical safety and forward-looking decisions by the crew are for the safety of passengers and the aircraft. The Airbus A340-300, which landed in Zurich with a delay after turning around, is around 22 years old and a common model on long-haul flights.

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Hotel hygiene under the microscope: How clean is your room really?

Jan Gruber February 13, 2025 07:36

With Valentine's Day approaching, demand for romantic hotel stays is soaring. According to recent data, searches for "Valentine's Hotel Packages" increased by 300 percent last month, while overall bookings increased by 42 percent compared to last year. But as tempting as the thought of a luxurious hotel bed or a relaxing bath may be, cleanliness remains an often underestimated topic. New research shows that hotel rooms can be far more unhygienic than you would expect. In fact, more bacteria have been found on many surfaces than in the average home, an airplane or even a school. High-traffic areas such as bed covers, remote controls and bathrooms are particularly affected. Experts therefore advise certain precautions to avoid unpleasant surprises. Invisible dangers: The five dirtiest places in hotel rooms 1. Bedspreads and decorative pillows: The often overlooked germ carriers While bed sheets are washed after each guest change, the same does not apply to decorative elements such as bedspreads, decorative pillows and throws. These textiles can be left unattended for weeks or even months, providing an ideal environment for dust, dander and bacteria. Former hotel employees report that large blankets and throws in many hotels are only cleaned if they have visible stains or unpleasant odors. Guests can protect themselves by removing such textiles from the bed before going to sleep or covering them with their own travel towel. 2. Remote controls and telephones: A breeding ground for germs The remote control is one of the most frequently touched objects in a hotel room - and also one of the most unhygienic surfaces. Studies have shown that

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Passenger rights in focus: New episode of #ON AIR – the Aviation Podcast

Belinda Borg February 13, 2025 07:31

The latest episode of the podcast #ON AIR - the Aviation Podcast with Peter Malanik covers an important topic for frequent flyers and those interested in aviation: European passenger rights. Dr. Peter Malanik, Managing Director of Aviation Industry Austria, speaks with Viennese lawyer Dr. Martin Klemm, an expert in aviation law, about the European Air Passenger Rights Regulation and its impact on airlines and passengers. The Air Passenger Rights Regulation, which has been repeatedly amended since 1991, regulates, among other things, compensation for delays, cancellations and overbookings. In the podcast episode, Dr. Klemm gives a comprehensive overview of the development of the regulation and the associated challenges for airlines, especially in cases of unforeseeable events such as bad weather or other circumstances that are outside the control of the airlines. The effects on flexible tickets and intermodal travel as well as the international comparison of passenger rights are also addressed. The discussion also revolves around the need for reform of the current regulation and the question of whether an adjustment of the Air Passenger Rights Regulation is necessary in view of the changing framework conditions in air transport. The episode offers a balanced view of a topic that is often controversially discussed in public and provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by both airlines and passengers.

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