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February 20, 2025

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February 20, 2025

Cathay Group enters 2025 with record passenger numbers

Belinda Borg 20. February 2025 14:02

Cathay Group has started 2025 with record passenger numbers and an expansion of its route network. On January 25, Cathay Pacific and HK Express together carried over 110.000 passengers in a single day - a new high since the pandemic, reached during the Chinese New Year. In terms of route network, Cathay Pacific announced the resumption of flights to Rome from June 5. HK Express already started flights to Sendai on January 17 and plans to add Nha Trang and Ishigaki to the flight schedule from April 3. The group has set a goal of offering 2025 destinations worldwide in 100. Cathay Pacific recorded a 37 percent increase in passenger numbers compared to the previous year, with demand for premium cabins and student travel on long-haul routes particularly high. HK Express carried over 667.000 passengers, an increase of 46,1 percent. The airline has expanded its flights to Tokyo, Hiroshima, Chiang Mai and Bangkok. The Cathay Group also saw growth in its cargo business. Cathay Cargo increased cargo volumes by 13,7 percent year-on-year, driven by demand ahead of the Chinese New Year, the transport of perishable goods and high-value shipments. The airline also transported 70 competition horses for the Hong Kong International Horse Show. Given the network expansion and strong demand, the Cathay Group is on track to continue its growth in 2025.

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EU Commission urges Lufthansa to permanently commit to providing feeder services for Condor

Belinda Borg 20. February 2025 13:36

The dispute between Lufthansa and the holiday airline Condor is coming to a head. The EU Commission has focused on the market conditions between the two airlines and wants to force Lufthansa to permanently integrate Condor into the feeder system at Frankfurt Airport. This step is part of a more comprehensive antitrust review that is looking at the market power of the Lufthansa Group in North American traffic. But Lufthansa is opposing the measures from Brussels and sees the antitrust views as inadequate and unenforceable. Condor, the second largest holiday airline in Germany, was able to rely on the so-called "Special Pro-Rate Agreement" (SPA) in the past, a feeder agreement that enabled the airline to rebook passengers on Lufthansa flights to and from Frankfurt at set prices. For years, this was an essential basis for Condor to calculate its long-haul flights. The agreement between the two airlines was beneficial for both sides: Condor was able to operate its intercontinental connections with Lufthansa as a feeder, and Lufthansa benefited from additional business. But in recent years, the networks of the two airlines have increasingly overlapped, especially in the busy North American market. According to Condor, around 80 percent of its intercontinental flights to North America recently relied on passengers flying to or from Frankfurt via the Lufthansa network. As a result, the cooperation became increasingly unattractive for Lufthansa, and the airline tried to withdraw from the SPA agreements. From 2020, Lufthansa only wanted to offer interlining conditions at the usual IATA pricing models, without having to rely on the special feeder agreement. As part of these efforts, Lufthansa supporters were able to achieve legal successes

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Air France-KLM appoints Sven Pawelka as new Sales Director for Germany

Belinda Borg 20. February 2025 13:35

Air France-KLM has appointed Sven Pawelka as the new Sales Director for Germany. Pawelka will take up the position from March 1, the company announced. He succeeds unnamed predecessors. Pawelka has many years of experience in the aviation industry. Most recently, he worked as Head of Global Partnership Management and Sales Transformation at the Lufthansa Group. In this role, he was responsible for the development and implementation of global sales partnerships and the transformation of the sales department. He knows both the German and international markets. With the appointment of Pawelka, Air France-KLM wants to strengthen its position on the German market. Pawelka is to further expand the airline's sales activities in Germany and intensify cooperation with travel agencies and other sales partners. He is to consolidate and expand the group's market position in Germany. The appointment is part of a strategic realignment of the company. Air France-KLM wants to focus even more on the German market in the future. Pawelka will work closely with the group's management to develop and implement the sales strategy for Germany.

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Lumiwings starts flights from Foggia to Munich

Stephen Steiner 20. February 2025 13:05

The Greek charter airline Lumiwings will be offering a new connection between Foggia in southern Italy and Munich from the summer flight schedule. As “Aeroroutes” reports, the airline will serve the route twice a week from May 27th, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. An Embraer E190 will be used. The new flight connection is intended to offer both tourists and business travelers the opportunity to reach the Apulia region in southern Italy more easily. Foggia is an important starting point for trips to the Gargano Peninsula and other tourist destinations in Apulia. For Munich Airport, the introduction of the new connection means a further enrichment of the route network. The airport is an important hub in international air traffic and offers numerous connections to destinations all over the world. Lumiwings is a Greek charter airline based in Athens. The airline operates a fleet of Embraer E190 and Boeing 737 aircraft. In addition to charter flights, Lumiwings also offers scheduled flights to various destinations in Europe. The new connection between Foggia and Munich is a positive signal for Italian and German air traffic. It shows that demand for air travel remains high and that new connections can be successfully established even in smaller regions.

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WestJet launches flights from Halifax to Amsterdam and expands European network

Jan Gruber 20. February 2025 12:48

WestJet is returning to Amsterdam. After Canada's second-largest airline already served the Netherlands from Calgary with the Boeing 2021-2023 from 787 to 9, the connection will now be offered from Halifax with the 737 Max 8. This is the first time that the capital of Nova Scotia will have a non-stop connection to Amsterdam. The flights will help Canada and the USA offer over 100 daily narrow-body flights this summer. Speculation about WestJet flights to Manchester has so far remained unconfirmed. The first flight on the new route will depart from Canada on May 29, the last flight from Europe on October 23. During the peak summer months, the frequency will be increased to six weekly flights, which is considerable for a previously unserved transatlantic market. This higher frequency compared to WestJet's other European routes with the Max, outside of Toronto, is due to Halifax being the airline's only Amsterdam route and offering (albeit limited) onward connections via the Nova Scotia city. Frequencies to Amsterdam will be reduced to four or five weekly flights at less popular times. The reduction in flights is intended to improve load factors and yields while allowing the aircraft to be used elsewhere. This is intended to ensure the route's profitability and increase the likelihood of resuming service in 2026. The flight schedule for the new service is as follows (all times are local): Halifax to Amsterdam: WS70, 23:45-11:00+1 (6h 15m block time) Amsterdam to Halifax: WS71, 14:00-16:20 (7h 20m) This flight schedule will allow passengers to easily travel to/from Toronto,

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Ryanair again criticizes Berlin's night flight ban

Stephen Steiner 20. February 2025 12:39

The Irish airline Ryanair has called on Transport Minister Volker Wissing to take action against the strict night flight ban at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The reason for this is two incidents in mid-February in which flights were diverted to Hanover due to minor delays, causing considerable inconvenience for passengers. On February 17, 2025, flight FR1143 from Lisbon to Berlin was affected. Although the plane was due to reach BER shortly after midnight, German air traffic control refused to land due to the night flight ban, which applies from 00:00 to 05:00. As a result, the plane had to divert to Hanover and the passengers were transported to Berlin by bus. A similar incident occurred on February 18 with flight FR2419 from Tenerife South to Berlin. Here, too, a minimal delay led to the diversion to Hanover. Ryanair described these diversions as "completely unacceptable" and called for more flexibility from air traffic control and the airport to avoid such disruptions. The company called on passengers to contact Transport Minister Wissing directly to draw attention to the problem. However, the Federal Ministry of Transport pointed out that the regulations on the night flight ban are the responsibility of the federal states and therefore cannot be directly influenced by the federal government. Similar incidents have occurred in the past. At the beginning of January 2025, a Ryanair flight from Gran Canaria to Berlin had to be diverted to Hanover shortly before landing at BER because the plane would have arrived a few minutes after midnight and would have violated the night flight ban. These repeated events have sparked the discussion about the strictness of the

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Air India and Austrian Airlines expand codeshare agreement

Amely Mizzi 20. February 2025 12:06

Air India and Austrian Airlines have significantly expanded their existing codeshare agreement. As Aeroroutes reports, the expansion includes a total of 17 intra-European connections from Vienna. These include important German cities such as Berlin, Hamburg and Hanover. Codeshare agreements enable airlines to offer their customers a larger route network without having to operate all the flights themselves. Under such an agreement, passengers can book flights operated by another airline and still enjoy the benefits of their own airline, such as collecting miles or using lounges. For travelers, this means a larger selection of connections and more flexibility when planning their trip. The expanded partnership between Air India and Austrian Airlines offers passengers of both airlines improved connections within Europe. Air India customers who fly from India to Vienna, for example, can now conveniently travel on to numerous European destinations without having to change airports. The codeshare agreement also creates new opportunities for Austrian Airlines passengers who want to travel to India. The expansion of the codeshare agreement between Air India and Austrian Airlines is a sign of the growing importance of international air traffic and the increasing interconnection of airlines. Such partnerships enable airlines to optimize their route network and offer their customers an even better travel experience.

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Etihad Airways connects Abu Dhabi with the Russian Black Sea coast

Amely Mizzi 20. February 2025 11:47

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has announced the launch of direct flights from Abu Dhabi to Sochi. The Russian Black Sea city, often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Caucasus’, will be served three times a week from Abu Dhabi from 29 May 2025. The new service is designed to provide tourists and business travellers with easier access to the Krasnodar Krai region, known for its beaches, mountain scenery and its role as host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics. The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft, which feature a two-class configuration with eight Business Class and 150 Economy Class seats. The service is already available for booking and is designed to provide passengers with convenient access to the Russian Riviera, particularly during the summer months. Etihad stresses that the new route underlines the airline’s commitment to offering exceptional travel experiences and expanding access to new, exciting markets. The announcement of the flights to Sochi is part of a series of expansion plans announced by Etihad in recent months. Sochi is the fourteenth new destination that the airline will add to its route network in 2024. Etihad will also launch flights to other global cities such as Atlanta, Hanoi, Hong Kong and Taipei, as well as the European capitals of Prague and Warsaw. In North Africa, Etihad will fly to Algiers, Tunis and Al Alamein from 2025. In addition, Etihad will strengthen its network in South East Asia with new connections to popular holiday destinations such as Chiang Mai and Krabi in Thailand, Medan on the island of Sumatra and the cultural city of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. These flights complement the existing

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Air Albania expands route network from Tirana

Amely Mizzi 20. February 2025 11:36

Air Albania, the national airline of Albania, has expanded its route network from Tirana. As "Aeroroutes" reports, the airline is now offering three weekly flights to Geneva and from February 20, two weekly flights to Vienna. An Airbus A320 will be used on both routes. The expansion of the route network is part of Air Albania's growth strategy. The airline wants to expand its range of international connections and open up new markets. The new flights to Geneva and Vienna are intended to offer both business travelers and tourists the opportunity to reach the two cities quickly and conveniently. The inclusion of Geneva and Vienna in Air Albania's flight schedule is an important step for the airline. Both cities are important hubs in European air traffic and offer good connections to other destinations. This will significantly improve the connection to the international route network for travelers from Albania. Air Albania was founded in 2018 and is a partnership between the Albanian and Turkish governments. The airline is based in Tirana and operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft. Air Albania offers both scheduled and charter flights. The new connections to Geneva and Vienna are a positive signal for Albanian air traffic. They show that Air Albania is on a growth path and is establishing itself as an important player in regional air traffic.

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New menu at “JOMA”: Figlmüller Group focuses on culinary diversity

Belinda Borg 20. February 2025 11:06

The Viennese restaurant "JOMA" on Hohen Markt presents a new menu that combines classic flavors with modern accents. Operated by the Figlmüller Group, the restaurant is committed to a creative development of its culinary offering. Guests can look forward to a varied selection of dishes that combine both traditional ingredients and international influences. The new creations include the "JOMA Triple Chicken Truffle Sandwich" with truffle corn chicken, bacon and fried egg, as well as a braised sweet potato with yogurt and chickpea crust and hibiscus pomegranate salsa. Fish lovers will also get their money's worth: the grilled salmon fillet is served with oyster mushrooms and sweet and sour sauce, while the grilled shrimp in a herb and citrus broth is served with Öfferl bread. For vegetarians, the restaurant offers an avocado and papaya salad with bulgur salad and mint. In addition to the fixed menu, the "JOMA" surprises with a special menu that changes every six weeks. It includes dishes such as tuna tartare with chili mayo and crispy avocado, winter cod on red lentil dal or the plant-based steak with smashed sweet potato and wild broccoli. The sweet finale is a sticky toffee cake with dates, cinnamon and pecans. The Figlmüller Group, which has shaped the Viennese gastronomy scene since 1905, also operates other well-known restaurants in addition to the "JOMA" such as the "Figls", the "Lugeck" and the famous "Figlmüller" restaurants. With the revised concept in the "JOMA", the company is continuing its expansion course and offering guests a modern culinary experience in a central location.

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