Français »
German "
Search
February 17, 2025

More articles from the category

February 17, 2025

Cruise industry in legal dispute over discounts: Travel agencies fear for sales agent status

Belinda Borg February 17, 2025 11:10

The conflict over refunds in the travel industry is coming to a head: The shipping company Aida Cruises has terminated the contracts of two travel agents because they passed on discounts to customers. The companies concerned have filed a lawsuit against this, as announced by the Association of Independent Travel Agents (VUSR). Aida Cruises confirmed that the company is "consistently against refunds" in order to ensure uniform prices across all sales channels. The dispute could have far-reaching consequences for the entire travel agency industry. According to VUSR chairwoman Marija Linnhoff, the travel agents' status as commercial agents is at stake. If Aida Cruises loses the legal dispute, the shipping company could introduce broker status for its sales partners. This would mean that travel agents would no longer sell trips with fixed commissions, but would have to buy at net prices and set their own margins. Linnhoff fears that other tour operators could follow this model, similar to what has already happened in the aviation industry. The topic is highly controversial in the industry. Many travel agencies complain that they are being put under pressure by competitors who offer discounts. Banks in particular have entered the market as new players. The Raiffeisenbank Regensburg-Wenzenbach, for example, offers customers of its credit cards a discount of up to seven percent on trips. The VUSR sees this as a distortion of competition that could threaten the existence of traditional travel agencies. The development remains a central topic of discussion in the industry.

Continue reading "

Easyjet loses appeal against fine in Italy

Stephen Steiner February 17, 2025 11:08

The airline Easyjet has lost its appeal against a fine of 2,8 million euros before the Regional Administrative Court of Lazio in Rome. The penalty was imposed in 2021 by the Italian competition authority L'Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) after Easyjet was found to have violated consumer protection laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. The court upheld the AGCM's decision and found that the airline had not properly protected the rights of passengers following flight cancellations in 2020. In particular, the issue was the lack of an option for affected passengers to opt for a cash refund or rebooking. Instead, Easyjet had mainly issued vouchers and hampered customers' refund requests by making contact difficult and causing delays. The competition authority had accused Easyjet, Ryanair and Volotea of ​​cancelling numerous flights during the lockdown in 2020 without sufficient excuse and of evading the obligation to provide refunds. The court ruled that an airline can only be exempted from the obligation to pay compensation if there are extraordinary circumstances that make a cancellation or delay unavoidable. In such cases, the airline must demonstrate that no reasonable measures could have been taken to prevent a cancellation. Easyjet responded to the decision by stating that the company had always acted in accordance with the applicable laws and that the decision was now being reviewed.

Continue reading "

Limited collector's items from former DHL freight plane

Amely Mizzi February 17, 2025 11:04

Aviationtag has unveiled the latest edition of its collaboration with DHL Express: a limited series of keychains made from the outer skin of the former Boeing 757-200F with the registration D-ALEW. The aircraft was built for British Airways in 1988 and converted into a cargo version by DHL Express in 2003. After being used in international air freight traffic, it was dismantled in Castellón, Spain, in 2019. The special edition now released includes 7.000 numbered Aviationtags, which bear the DHL logo for the first time. The collector's items contain engraved information about the aircraft model, the original registration and the edition size. The D-ALEW edition thus joins a series of products made from decommissioned aircraft. The first two editions of this collaboration - made from the DHL aircraft D-ALEH and D-ALEK - were quickly sold out. Aviationtag specializes in the processing of decommissioned aircraft parts and offers aviation enthusiasts around the world original pieces from the history of civil and military aviation. The collector's edition is available for 39,95 euros. The release marks the end of Aviationtag's DHL trilogy, which has already attracted a lot of attention from aviation fans and collectors. It remains to be seen whether further collaborations with airlines or logistics providers will follow in the future.

Continue reading "

Stricter lending: Hotels under pressure from new EU banking rules

Amely Mizzi February 17, 2025 11:00

At the beginning of 2025, the EU's stricter banking guidelines, known as "Basel IV", came into force. These new requirements particularly affect real estate financing, which is repaid from current income - including hotels. Banks are now required to deposit higher equity for loans to this sector, which can lead to stricter credit checks, higher interest rates and more difficult access to financing. Experts fear that this will particularly affect small and medium-sized hotel businesses. The stricter requirements could lead to banks becoming more hesitant to grant new loans for new hotel construction or modernization. In addition, financing costs are rising, which reduces the profitability of investments. Smaller, family-run hotels in particular, which have fewer financial reserves, could find themselves in an economically difficult situation. Large hotel chains, on the other hand, often have better opportunities to use alternative financing methods. Another problem is the delayed implementation of the new requirements by some banks. In some cases, credit institutions have not yet made any financing offers in accordance with the new regulations since the beginning of the year. This creates the risk that existing loan agreements will have to be subsequently adjusted, which could undermine hoteliers' trust in their financing partners. Experts advise hoteliers to adapt their financing strategy early on and consider alternative sources of capital such as institutional investors or investments. Optimized cost management is also becoming increasingly important. The analysis of revenue and cost structures and the use of key figures such as ProPOR ("Profit per Occupied Room") and ProPAR ("Profit per Available Room") could help to ensure profitability despite rising financing costs.

Continue reading "

Ryanair invites customers to the “Future Flyer” panel in Dublin

Jan Gruber February 17, 2025 10:58

Ryanair is planning to relaunch its Future Flyer customer panel, which will take place on 24 April at the company's offices in Dublin. Customers from across Europe will have the opportunity to discuss the airline's future developments directly with company management. The aim of the event is to gather ideas for improving the customer experience as Ryanair prepares to grow to 300 million passengers by 2034. Selected participants will be invited to Dublin and given the opportunity to present their ideas in person to Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson. The best entry will be rewarded with a 100 Euro gift voucher. In addition to participation in the panel, Ryanair will cover the cost of return flights, two nights' hotel accommodation and dinner on the day of the event. Interested customers can apply via the company's website until 28 February. Successful applicants will be notified by 12 March. Ryanair sees the event as part of a long-term strategy to optimise customer service and adapt to future challenges in air transport. With the "Future Flyer" panel, the airline is focusing on direct communication with its customers. Ryanair emphasizes that the feedback from participants will play a key role in further developing the quality of service in the coming years.

Continue reading "

Air traffic in Germany: Growth in 2024, but structural problems slow recovery

Amely Mizzi February 17, 2025 10:52

German airports recorded a passenger volume of 2024 million travelers in December 14,74, an increase of 8,7 percent compared to the same month last year. Nevertheless, the level remains below the pre-crisis year of 2019. While intercontinental air traffic has reached the level of 2019 for the first time, domestic German traffic continues to be weak. A total of 2024 million passengers were counted at German airports in 211,92, an increase of 7,5 percent compared to the previous year. The intra-European and intercontinental traffic segment in particular grew significantly. In contrast, domestic German air traffic remains far below expectations with a decline of 47,7 percent compared to 2019. The main reasons are service restrictions, high ticket prices and regulatory burdens. Cargo volumes declined slightly at the end of the year, with a total volume of 399.305 tons in December 2024, a decrease of 0,1 percent compared to the same month last year. Over the year as a whole, air freight increased by 1,8 percent compared to 2023, but is still slightly below the 2019 level. While unloadings are growing, loadings are declining. Experts believe that the weak development of air traffic in Germany is primarily due to structural problems. In a European comparison, the recovery of German airports is lagging behind the competition, as other countries are already back to or even above the pre-crisis level of 2019.

Continue reading "

British Airways reduces flight schedule due to engine problems

Stephen Steiner February 17, 2025 10:09

British Airways (BA) has again adjusted its flight schedules as ongoing supply shortages of the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines that power the airline's B787 fleet continue to ground aircraft. According to Neil Chernoff, BA's Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, the uncertain availability of the engines requires cautious planning, leading to the recent schedule changes. The airline operates a total of 41 Boeing 787s, including 12 B787-8s, 18 B787-9s and 11 B787-10s. Currently, seven of these aircraft are out of service, including four B787-8s, two B787-9s and one B787-10. The reason for the outages is a lack of available engines, and there is no firm commitment for replacement deliveries yet. BA is now planning for the 2025/26 winter season both with and without these aircraft, and is still trying to offer customers reliable travel options. Last year, BA had to cancel several flights or reduce frequencies. This particularly affected long-haul connections such as those to Kuala Lumpur, which were postponed due to delays in the delivery of engines and spare parts from Rolls-Royce. Other affected routes include San Diego, Houston and New Orleans, which are partially or fully served by the affected B787 aircraft. In addition, flights between London and Dallas/Fort Worth have been suspended for the summer of 2025. Chernoff explained that BA continues to plan carefully and react to possible aircraft returns from maintenance. If this is the case, the airline will use these aircraft to either resume interrupted connections or seize new growth opportunities. The airline stresses that ensuring reliable

Continue reading "

New lifts for the Schladming 4-mountain ski area from the 2025/26 winter season

Belinda Borg February 17, 2025 09:05

From the 2025/26 winter season, the connection between Hauser Kaibling and Planai will be further improved by two modern cable cars. The Schladming 4-mountain ski area, which is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts, is receiving a significant upgrade. On the Hauser Kaibling, the existing "Senderbahn" will be replaced by a 10-seater gondola, while on the Planai, the 8-seater "Mitterhausalm I" chairlift will replace the old 4-seater "Sonneck" chairlift. Construction work is scheduled to begin in spring 2025 and be completed in time for the start of the 2025/26 season. The new 10-seater "Senderbahn Hauser Kaibling" gondola will provide a faster and more comfortable connection between the Planai and the Hauser Kaibling. Winter sports enthusiasts can get from the Planai directly to the Sender plateau in just five minutes. With a capacity of 2.400 people per hour and a speed of 6 m/s, an efficient connection is guaranteed. The increased comfort provided by the ergonomic cabin shape and ski storage will be a significant advantage, especially for families. Winter sports enthusiasts can also expect an improvement on the Planai. The new 8-seater chairlift "Mitterhausalm I" replaces the old "Sonneckbahn". It enables a faster and more comfortable ride with a capacity of 3.000 people per hour and a travel time of just three minutes. Equipped with heated seats and covers, it offers a high level of comfort even on cold days. With the improvement of the connections between Hauser Kaibling and Planai, the Schladming 4-mountain ski area will be upgraded and made even more attractive for visitors. The project is a significant step towards the further development of tourism in the region and is seen by those responsible as an investment in the future of winter sports and tourism in Schladming-Dachstein.

Continue reading "

Austria receives first C-390 Millennium transport aircraft – Embraer begins assembly

Amely Mizzi February 17, 2025 08:33

The Austrian Air Force is about to undergo a major modernization: Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has begun final assembly of the first C-390 Millennium multi-purpose aircraft for Austria. This marks an important milestone in the partnership between the Republic of Austria and Embraer and underlines the growing international interest in this modern military transport aircraft. The C-390 Millennium, a military transport aircraft of the latest generation, is characterized by its high level of flexibility and performance. With a payload capacity of up to 26 tons and a maximum speed of 870 km/h (470 knots), the aircraft offers a wide range of possible uses for military and civil operations. These include the transport of troops and material, medical evacuations, firefighting and aerial refueling missions. The Austrian Air Force decided to purchase the C-390 after a comprehensive evaluation. The aircraft's high level of operational readiness was particularly convincing. Since its entry into service in 2019, the C-390 fleet has completed over 16.300 flight hours worldwide and achieved an impressive operational capability of 93 percent. Austria joins a growing list of international operators By ordering the C-390, Austria is following the example of other European countries that rely on this modern transport aircraft. In addition to Brazil, which developed the model as the launch customer, Portugal, Hungary and the Netherlands have also integrated the C-390 into their air forces or ordered it. Austria's decision to purchase the C-390 was made against the background of the need for a modern and efficient transport solution. The aircraft replaces outdated air transport capacities and enables faster and more flexible deployment planning. Significance for Austria's defense strategy The acquisition of the C-390 is in line with the Austrian government's long-term plans to

Continue reading "

Easyjet expands flight offer from Berlin – return of the connection to Liverpool

Belinda Borg February 17, 2025 08:07

The airline Easyjet is further expanding its route network at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and is resuming the connection to Liverpool. From now on, the city in the north-west of England will be served twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. These flight days are attractive for both business travelers and tourists. Easyjet first started the route from Berlin-Schönefeld to Liverpool in April 2004. With the start of the summer flight schedule at the end of March, Easyjet is also expanding its offering to popular holiday destinations. The connection to Crete (Chania and Heraklion) will be expanded, with daily flights from March 30th. The route to Corfu will also begin on March 30th with two weekly connections and will be increased to up to six flights per week by autumn. Rhodes will be served three times a week from April, with a fourth weekly connection being added in the summer months of July and August. Easyjet will also continue its flights to Cairo and Lyon, which will each be offered twice a week. Agadir will also remain on the flight schedule until the end of May. In total, the airline offers more than 50 destinations from BER in the summer, including important European cities such as London, Paris, Milan, Zurich and Geneva. In addition, package holidays to popular holiday destinations such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura can be booked through the Easyjet holidays brand.

Continue reading "