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February 26, 2025

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February 26, 2025

MTU stops development of Water Enhanced Turbofan – focus on other technologies

Jan Gruber 26. February 2025 10:49

MTU Aero Engines, a leading manufacturer of aircraft engines, has decided to stop the development of its Water Enhanced Turbofan (WET). This was reported by the trade magazine "Flug Revue" in its latest issue. According to MTU CEO Lars Wagner, the engine in the planned design did not achieve the desired fuel savings despite using all available technologies. Development of the engine will therefore be stopped in order to concentrate on other technologies that promise more potential for increasing efficiency. The decision to stop the WET project comes at a time when other companies in the aviation industry are facing similar challenges. Airbus and ATR recently announced that they would either pause or postpone their own plans for more climate-friendly aviation technologies. MTU is responding to these developments by adapting its strategy and intending to focus more on the use of thermal energy in the future in order to optimize the thermal cycle in aircraft engines. The Water Enhanced Turbofan: An Ambitious Project The Water Enhanced Turbofan was a promising technology that aimed to increase the efficiency of aircraft engines by injecting hydrogen or water. The theory behind the technology was that the addition of water vapor could lower the combustion temperature and thus reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and the formation of contrails. These technologies are of particular interest in terms of reducing the environmental impact of aviation. However, despite all the technological approaches and innovations, the WET engine fell short of expectations, especially in terms of fuel savings. The weight and size of the engine, says Wagner,

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Deutsche Bahn improves mobile phone reception in trains through technical upgrades

Amely Mizzi 26. February 2025 10:31

Deutsche Bahn has completed a comprehensive technical upgrade that is intended to significantly improve mobile phone reception for train passengers in Germany. Since the timetable change on December 15, 2024, only railway vehicles with interference-resistant GSM-R terminals are allowed to travel on the rail network. This measure affects over 10.000 locomotives, multiple units and control cars that have been equipped with new radio technology. The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) funded the upgrade with 95 million euros. The trains' previous GSM-R radios used a frequency spectrum that is close to the 900 MHz band of public mobile communications. This led to interference and restrictions because mobile phone providers were unable to use their LTE 900 MHz infrastructure along the railway lines without restrictions. By replacing the old, interference-prone devices with new, interference-resistant modules, mobile network operators can now use the 900 MHz band without the previous restrictions. This enables better mobile phone coverage along the railway lines, with a capacity increase of up to 50 Mbit/s per cell and operator. Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing emphasised the importance of this development: "Thanks to the conversion to the interference-resistant GSM-R railway radio, mobile network operators can now include frequencies that could previously only be used to a limited extent." Markus Haas, CEO of Telefónica Deutschland (O2), spoke of a "breakthrough for improved mobile phone coverage of railways in Germany". The measure is intended to benefit millions of passengers and significantly increase network quality and surfing speeds during train journeys. In addition to the technical conversion of the radio devices, Deutsche Bahn is working on reducing the physical barriers to mobile phone signals in trains. Since materials such as metal and special window coatings shield mobile phone signals, more permeable windows are being used in new ICE trains. In existing trains, the coating of the windows with

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Wizz Air announces Vienna-Tuzla

Belinda Borg 26. February 2025 10:19

From February 26, 2025, Wizz Air will offer a new direct connection between Vienna and Tuzla, one of the largest cities in Bosnia. This route, which will be served exclusively by the airline, according to the operator. The first flight will take off on June 16, 2025, and travelers can already book their tickets now at an introductory price of 35,99 euros. The route will be operated four times a week - Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays - and offers both leisure and business travelers a flexible way to travel between the two cities. Tuzla is known for its fascinating history and natural features. The city, which derives its name from the Turkish word "tuz" for salt, has a centuries-old tradition of salt production. One of Tuzla's most famous landmarks are the Pannonian Lakes - artificially created salt lakes that are unique in Europe with their white pebble beach. These natural attractions, together with the picturesque Old Town and rich Austro-Hungarian architecture, make Tuzla an interesting destination for tourists. The new flight connection will not only make Tuzla more accessible to tourists from Austria, but will also provide residents of Bosnia and Herzegovina with easier access to Vienna, a city famous for its culture, art and history. The expansion of Wizz Air's flight network thus represents an important bridge between Central Europe and the Balkans, with the potential to strengthen both cultural exchange and economic ties between the two regions. "We are very pleased to announce the new connection between Vienna and Tuzla," said Anastasia Novak, Corporate

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Flydubai records record profit in 2024

Jan Gruber 26. February 2025 10:08

Dubai-based airline Flydubai has reported pre-tax profit of AED 2024 billion (USD 2,5 million) for fiscal year 674, up 16% year-on-year. Revenue increased 15% to AED 12,8 billion (USD 3,5 billion). This result marks the strongest financial performance in the company's 15-year history. In 2024, Flydubai carried 15,4 million passengers, up 11% compared to 2023. The airline expanded its route network to 131 destinations in 55 countries, including 97 underserved markets. Despite aircraft delivery challenges, the fleet was expanded to 88 Boeing 737s. The average fleet age is 5,3 years. Fuel operating costs accounted for 2024% of total costs in 28, compared to 32% last year, due to lower average fuel prices. Flydubai also recorded an 18% increase in business class demand and made investments in customer care and digital innovations. The airline signed new interline agreements with Batik Air, Condor and SriLankan Airlines, bringing the total number of interline partnerships to 36. In 2025, Flydubai plans to deliver 12 new Boeing 737 aircraft to further expand its fleet and expand its route network. Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith stressed the importance of innovation and transformation to meet the increasing travel demand and ensure the airline's competitiveness.

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Ground handling services at Frankfurt Airport: Wisag sues the state of Hesse

Jan Gruber 26. February 2025 09:46

Frankfurt Airport, one of the largest and busiest in Europe, is currently the focus of a legal dispute. Wisag, a major German company in the field of ground handling services, has for the first time publicly expressed doubts about the legality of the awarding of ground handling services at Frankfurt Airport. In an interview with the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung", the company's CFO, Angela Stuhr, explained that Wisag had decided to appeal against the state's award decision before the administrative court. The company, which has been operating at the airport for years, would like to continue to provide ground handling services such as loading aircraft, cleaning and many other tasks. These services play a central role in the smooth operation of an airport and include a wide range of activities that directly affect flight operations. The airport's decision to award these tasks to a competitor is now causing a legal dispute. The ground handling services segment affected is subject to licensing. In particular, loading and unloading and cleaning are not affected. The background to the award decision The Swiss company Swissport took over Wisag's license at Frankfurt Airport on February 1, 2025. Initially, however, Swissport was only responsible for part of the tasks and was to take over the entire range of ground handling services by November 1, 2025. Until then, Wisag will still support Fraport with its own staff, especially in handling long-haul flights. For Wisag, this fact is a clear indication that it will continue to play a role at the airport in the future, especially in handling the so-called "widebody" aircraft used on long-haul flights. The exact cause of the legal dispute

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Lufthansa Group expands NDC offering for Sabre travel agencies in the DACH region

Jan Gruber 26. February 2025 09:32

Good news for travel agencies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: From now on, they can book the fares of the Lufthansa Group, including the holiday airline Discover Airlines, using the NDC data standard. This enables seamless search, booking and management of Lufthansa Group flights via the Sabre travel marketplace. The IT service provider Sabre has integrated the Lufthansa Group's NDC offering into its systems. Travel agencies that work with Sabre and have activated the Lufthansa Group's NDC offering can now access the flights of Lufthansa, Discover Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Swiss and Air Dolomiti. The content is available via the Offer and Order APIs, the booking solutions Sabre Red 360 and Sabre Red Launchpad as well as various online booking tools such as SAP Concur, Get There, Zeno by Serko and Atriis. This expansion of the Lufthansa Group's NDC offering represents an important step for the travel industry. Travel agencies will thus have easier and more efficient access to the Lufthansa Group's fares and can thus offer their customers a wider range of flight options.

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Lindt expands its range with Dubai Style Chocolate in Austria

Stephen Steiner 26. February 2025 09:04

Following the great success of the handmade Lindt Dubai Chocolate, Lindt & Sprüngli is now bringing the new Lindt Dubai Style Chocolate to the Austrian market. From the end of February 2025, both bars and pralines will be available in all Lindt shops; availability from selected retail partners is also planned for the near future. The new recipe is characterized by a high pistachio content of 45% in the creamy filling, complemented by pistachio and almond brittle. Crispy Kadayif, fine dough threads with origins in Levantine and Arabic cuisine, gives the chocolate a special texture. The bars (145 grams) are offered at a recommended retail price of 9,99 euros. In addition to the bars, Lindt is presenting the Dubai Style Chocolate in praline form. Each pack contains nine pralines (107 grams) with a shell made of the finest Lindt milk chocolate and a filling with a high pistachio-kadayif content. The chocolates are hand-packed in paper cases and presented in high-quality gold-colored packaging. The recommended retail price is 15,99 euros. The bars are produced in Germany, while the chocolates are made in Austria. Both variants contain cocoa mass, pistachio paste and kadayif from non-EU countries. With the introduction of Lindt Dubai Style Chocolade, the company is responding to the high demand and expanding its range to include this popular flavor.

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Passenger tricks security checks at Vienna Airport – A frightening security gap

Belinda Borg 26. February 2025 08:29

An incident at Vienna Airport recently caused a stir when an Afghan passenger, whose identity was not made public, managed to board a plane to China without authorization and without valid papers. The man managed to get into the security process through a combination of clever deception and a security gap. It was only when he was in the air that the flight crew noticed that the passenger had sneaked onto the flight to Shenzhen without a ticket and without papers. The authorities and Vienna Airport have confirmed the incident and assert that it was an exception that cannot be repeated in the future. The course of the incident According to official information from Vienna Airport, the passenger went through the security checks properly. This means that he was subjected to a thorough check for dangerous or prohibited items. The airport confirmed that this step of the security process was successful and that the man did not pose an immediate danger to the other passengers. The man's hand luggage was also checked, which meant that he had no opportunity to smuggle any damaged or illegal items into the aircraft area. The problem arose at passport control, however, where the man cleverly sneaked in behind a group of travelers and used their legitimate border crossing as a cover. In this way, the man managed to get past the border control officials undetected. During boarding, the actual boarding of the plane, he managed another trick. After bypassing the ticket control system, he managed to hide in the plane in an inconspicuous way - he took a seat in the on-board toilet. First

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Renovation of Runway 2 at Helsinki Airport affects air traffic

Stephen Steiner 26. February 2025 08:01

From 14 April to 31 August 2025, Helsinki Airport's runway 2 (15/33) will be closed due to planned renovation works. This measure is part of regular lifecycle management and is essential for the smooth operation of air traffic. During the renovation, the southern end of the runway and the taxiways will be renovated and the approach lighting will be renewed. In addition, the drainage system over 2,4 kilometres and the electrical infrastructure over a length of 30 kilometres will be modernised. The total cost of the works amounts to almost EUR 30 million, of which EUR 18,5 million will be for the measures carried out in 2025. During the closure of runway 2, the airport's other two runways will be available to airlines. However, certain wind conditions, especially strong southeasterly and northwesterly winds, may result in adjustments to the flight schedule. Passengers are asked to check the status of their flight in advance. The change in use of the runways may also lead to changes in aircraft noise pollution in surrounding areas such as Kerava, Tuusula and Järvenpää. Preparatory work for the renovation began in 2024 and continued in early 2025 without significantly affecting ongoing flight operations. After completion of the main work at the end of August 2025, further finishing work is planned for a few weeks in the adjacent areas of the runway, which may lead to temporary restrictions during the day. The modernization of runway 2 is essential to ensure safe and punctual flight operations at Helsinki Airport in the future.

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Wizz Air could establish joint venture in Uzbekistan

Jan Gruber 26. February 2025 07:39

Low-cost airline Wizz Air may be on the verge of a strategic expansion in Central Asia, particularly in Uzbekistan. In a recent meeting between Uzbek Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov and Wizz Air CEO József Váradi, the establishment of a joint venture as well as the launch of new air routes between Uzbekistan and Europe were discussed. A key topic of discussion was also the possibility of establishing an air base in Uzbekistan. The talks could lead to a turning point in the company's history, as Wizz Air has so far had only a limited presence in Central Asia. On February 20, 2025, the Uzbek Ministry of Transport issued a press release detailing the meeting between Makhkamov and Váradi. The statement said that in addition to the already existing routes, "transit flights" through Uzbekistan were also discussed, indicating a possible use of the country as a stopover for connections between Europe and Central Asia. The meeting has opened the door for potential expansion in an emerging market. One of the concrete ideas discussed during the meeting was the establishment of a new connection between Tashkent International Airport and Budapest, Hungary, possibly starting as early as the end of 2025. This route could provide a significant strategic advantage for Wizz Air, as the connection between Central Asia and Europe is becoming increasingly important. Wizz Air's current presence in Central Asia Currently, Wizz Air has access to the Central Asian market mainly through its subsidiary Wizz Air Abu Dhabi. This subsidiary already flies regularly from Abu Dhabi International to Tashkent and Samarkand, two important

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