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March 7, 2025

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March 7, 2025

Koralmbahn does not stop at Graz Airport: ÖBB's decision causes disappointment in Styria

Jan Gruber March 7, 2025 06:37

From autumn 2025, the planned Koralmbahn will efficiently boost traffic between Graz and Klagenfurt and connect numerous cities with each other. But one crucial question remains unanswered: Will the train also stop at Graz Airport? After years of political wrangling over this stop, the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) have now finally made it clear that high-level long-distance traffic will not stop at the airport station. This decision not only represents a rejection of the controversial project, but also causes disappointment among many Styrian politicians and airport representatives who had hoped for a direct connection to the airport. The discussion about a separate train station at Graz Airport has been going on for years. There have been repeated initiatives from various political sides pointing to the need for better connections between the airport and the national rail network. Recently in particular, the new Styrian Transport Minister Claudia Holzer (FPÖ) has nurtured hopes that the airport could be subsequently included in the Koralmbahn network. In recent months, Holzer has repeatedly spoken out in favour of building a separate stop at the airport, thereby maintaining political interest in the project. But the ÖBB has now responded to the repeated demand with a clear rejection. The Federal Railways' answer was clear: "In future, high-level long-distance traffic will serve the Graz and Klagenfurt hubs every hour on the hour. The number of intermediate stops is therefore strictly limited. For Graz Airport, this means that no train could currently stop at a new stop to be built," it said in a statement.

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Ryanair records significant passenger growth in February 2025

Stephen Steiner March 7, 2025 06:07

The Irish low-cost airline Ryanair carried a total of 2025 million passengers in February 12,6. This represents an increase of 14 percent compared to the same month last year, when 11,1 million passengers were counted. The airline operated 71.360 flights in the reporting month, achieving a load factor of 92 percent. The significant increase in passenger numbers reflects Ryanair's continued growth, which is primarily driven by the expansion of its route network and an aggressive pricing policy. Connections within Europe and routes to popular holiday destinations in particular have contributed to the positive development. Ryanair is also benefiting from stable demand for low-cost air travel and a largely normalized aviation industry after the pandemic-related restrictions of recent years. With over 170 million passengers carried last year, Ryanair is one of the largest airlines in Europe. The airline operates an extensive fleet of over 500 Boeing 737 aircraft and plans to further expand its capacity in the coming years. In particular, the delivery of new, fuel-efficient machines is intended to increase the company's efficiency and profitability in the long term.

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Sarawak puts Air Borneo on course: A new era of aviation for the Malaysian state

Stephen Steiner March 7, 2025 05:39

Sarawak, one of Malaysia's states, is on the verge of a major change in its aviation landscape. The state government plans to make regional airline MASwings fully operational under the new name Air Borneo by the end of March 2026. This decision was made in early 2025 when the Sarawak government acquired MASwings from Malaysia Aviation Group. The relaunch of MASwings as Air Borneo is a significant step that not only aims to improve regional air connectivity but also further drive the state's economic and infrastructural growth. According to Sarawak's Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin, intensive preparations for the launch of Air Borneo are already underway. This includes not only regulatory approvals, but also the operational readiness of the airline, recruitment of staff and a comprehensive rebranding. Much of the work is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, when Air Borneo Holdings, the Sarawak government's holding company, is expected to have met all regulatory and financial requirements. "Our aim is to ensure that Air Borneo functions as a sustainable regional airline. The authority is working to obtain all necessary approvals, including from the Malaysian Aviation Authority and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and to conclude the necessary contracts," said Minister Lee. "We believe that Air Borneo will play a significant role in improving Sarawak's air connectivity." The focus is not only on improving regional connections within Malaysia, but also on expanding the international flight network. The aim is to establish Air Borneo as an international airline with connections to popular international hubs such as

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Loganair opens new base in Southampton – expansion of regional aviation

Belinda Borg March 7, 2025 05:08

British regional airline Loganair will open a new base at Southampton Airport in October 2025. This is the airline's tenth base and marks a strategic step to strengthen regional air connections in the south of the United Kingdom. This expansion will introduce new routes, increase seat capacity and create jobs for pilots, cabin crew and engineers. Specifically, Loganair is planning two new routes: a connection from Southampton to Manchester and from Manchester to Exeter. In addition, capacity on the existing Southampton-Edinburgh route will be expanded by changing the aircraft model used from 49 to 72 seats. The connection to Manchester Airport will benefit travelers from better transfer options to international flights, particularly through cooperation with airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Aer Lingus. According to Loganair CEO Luke Farajallah, the choice of Southampton as a location is a logical step for the company, which wants to expand its presence in the region in the long term. Kam Jandu, Managing Director of AGS Airports, which operates Southampton Airport, also emphasized the economic importance of this investment. In addition to improved regional connections, the region expects positive impulses for the labor market and the local economy. With the expansion in Southampton, Loganair's basic network will in future include ten locations, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and the Isle of Man. The airline, which has established itself as a leading provider of regional flight connections, is strengthening its position in British air traffic with this step.

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Air France-KLM: Solid annual result despite challenges

Jan Gruber March 7, 2025 04:35

The Air France-KLM Group has published its financial figures for 2024, exceeding expectations. Despite a challenging year with rising costs and operational difficulties, the Group was able to present solid annual results. The fourth quarter was particularly positive, with an operating profit of 396 million euros, almost twice as high as originally forecast. For the full year 2024, the Air France-KLM Group recorded a 4,8% increase in revenue to 31,5 billion euros. Operating profit amounted to 1,6 billion euros, corresponding to an operating margin of 5,1%. This positive development was largely achieved by increased passenger demand and effective cost-saving measures. Nevertheless, the Group's net debt rose to 7,4 billion euros, mainly due to investments in fleet renewal and extended leasing contracts due to delivery delays for new aircraft. Challenges at KLM While the group's overall balance sheet was positive, the Dutch subsidiary KLM struggled with specific challenges. Despite revenue growth of 5,4%, operating profit fell by EUR 234 million, resulting in an operating margin of just 3,3%. This was due to rising costs for equipment, personnel and airport fees. KLM CEO Marjan Rintel expressed concern about limited flight capacity and rising costs, which could affect the ability to invest in new aircraft. Cost-cutting measures at KLM To meet these challenges, KLM announced a comprehensive savings program in October 2024 that aims to improve operating profit by EUR 450 million. Planned measures include increasing productivity, simplifying the organizational structure, cutting costs and

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Danger of glare from solar panels: restrictions at Schiphol Airport

Amely Mizzi March 7, 2025 04:01

At Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, pilots are experiencing significant visibility problems caused by glare from a nearby solar park. After numerous complaints, the aviation industry has decided to temporarily close the Polderbaan runway for two hours in the morning. This applies between 10:00 and 12:00 on sunny days to ensure safe landings. The problem is caused by the "De Groene Energie Corridor" solar park, which is located between the Rotterpolderplein motorway junction and the town of Zwanenburg. The plant is located under the approach route to Polderbaan and reflects strong light into the pilots' cockpits when the sun is shining directly. This leads to impaired visibility and makes safe landing more difficult. Representatives of the aviation industry, organized in the "Integral Safety Management System" (ISMS), are therefore calling for long-term measures from the municipality and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure. The Haarlemmermeer municipality has called on the operator of the solar plant, the Energy Solutions Group, to take immediate countermeasures. The company has promised to examine short-term solutions and to develop a permanent measure in parallel. The temporary closure of the Polderbaan will initially remain in place until 23 March, but could be lifted if a practical solution is found before then. The restriction leads to greater use of other runways, which leads to increased noise pollution in adjacent areas.

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