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March 10, 2025

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March 10, 2025

Securitas secures contract for security checks at BER for another seven years

Jan Gruber March 10, 2025 14:05

The security company Securitas will continue to be responsible for passenger and baggage screening at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) for the next seven years. As part of a Europe-wide tender, Securitas was able to secure the long-term contract, as the company announced. Accordingly, around 1.800 Securitas employees will continue to work in both terminals of the airport to ensure the safety of passengers. The contract includes both personal screening and baggage screening and ensures that security standards at BER are maintained. Securitas has been responsible for these tasks since the airport opened and has now once again prevailed against other providers. BER Airport therefore remains an important location for the company, which plays a leading role in the security industry.

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Air France-KLM shows interest in TAP Air Portugal: SAS as a role model?

Amely Mizzi March 10, 2025 13:37

The aviation industry is facing a potential realignment that could have far-reaching effects on the European market. Air France-KLM, which brings together major European airlines, is considering a takeover of the Portuguese airline TAP Air Portugal. Ben Smith, CEO of the company, said in a press conference that the group is interested in transferring its recently successful takeover strategy of the Scandinavian airline SAS to TAP, provided the political and economic conditions allow it. Air France-KLM has established itself as a major player in the European market with a minority stake in SAS, one of the largest airlines in Scandinavia. In 2024, the group was able to acquire a 19,9% ​​stake in SAS, with an exclusive path to a majority stake. Ben Smith describes this takeover as a model that offers the group a low-risk opportunity to intervene in the consolidation of the aviation market. Unlike other companies that move through takeovers or mergers without state support, Air France-KLM sees its own structure, which includes a strong connection to the French and Dutch governments, as a key advantage. This is particularly important in view of the often perceived restrictive competition policy of the European Commission, which regularly reviews mergers and acquisitions in the industry. In his press conference, Smith also expressed his regret at the European Commission's continuous interference in such processes, which he believes weakens European airlines against their global competitors. This could, Smith continued, affect the competitiveness of European airlines in the long term if sufficient flexibility for mergers and partnerships is not granted. TAP Air Portugal as a strategic goal The

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Flight attendant admits sexual exploitation of a child

Jan Gruber March 10, 2025 13:30

A former American Airlines flight attendant has pleaded guilty to attempted sexual exploitation of a 14-year-old girl. He secretly filmed the girl during a flight from Charlotte to Boston in September 2023. The crime occurred after the flight attendant lured the girl to the toilet at the front of the plane under a pretext. The 37-year-old man from North Carolina confessed in court to hiding an iPhone in the toilet to film the girl. After the device was discovered and the girl secured evidence, the flight attendant was immediately fired after American Airlines became aware of the incident. He now faces prison sentences of up to 30 years for attempted sexual exploitation and up to 20 years for possession of child pornography. The law firm Lewis & Llewellyn, which represents the victim, expressed satisfaction with the confession. The final sentence will be determined on June 17. In addition to prison sentences, the convicted person faces fines and possible claims for damages.

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Extinction Rebellion activists arrested at protest in Amsterdam

Jan Gruber March 10, 2025 13:06

On Saturday, dozens of climate activists from the group Extinction Rebellion (XR) were arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. The activists were protesting against the airline KLM's "Flying Blue" program, which allows travelers to collect points by flying and redeem them for benefits such as discounts or upgrades. Although XR had received permission to demonstrate in the Jan Dellaertplein area in front of the departure hall, the activists illegally entered departure hall 2, which led to the arrests. A total of 38 people were arrested by the Koninklijke Marechaussee (Royal Dutch Military Police) and transported to an unknown location. KLM rejected the activists' behavior as inadmissible. KLM Chief Operating Officer Maarten Stienen emphasized the right to protest, but made it clear that exceeding the established limits would not be tolerated. "This must stop. We expect the public prosecutor to take appropriate action against those responsible for the disruption," said Stienen. Extinction Rebellion criticizes the "Flying Blue" program because, in their view, it rewards the use of air travel and thus contributes to the climate crisis. The activists argue that frequent flying would push global warming beyond the 2 degrees Celsius mark. KLM responded that the company is investing billions in the development of clean and efficient technologies to make air travel more environmentally friendly in the future.

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ANA All Nippon Airways is named “Airline of the Year 2025”

Belinda Borg March 10, 2025 12:34

ANA All Nippon Airways, Japan's largest airline, has been named "Airline of the Year 51" at Air Transport World's (ATW) 2025st Airline Industry Achievement Awards. This is the fourth time the Japanese airline has received this prestigious title, having previously won it in 2007, 2013 and 2018. With this renewed honor, ANA solidifies its position as one of the world's leading airlines, making it the Asian airline to have received this award most times. The annual ATW Airline Industry Achievement Awards are among the highest honors in the aviation industry, recognizing companies and individuals for outstanding achievements in areas such as innovation, safety and customer service. The "Airline of the Year Award" represents the highest recognition, honoring airlines that stand out for their exceptional operational excellence and customer experience. ANA convinced the jury not only with an excellent safety record, but also with a constant development of the customer experience and a continuous expansion of the global route network, including new connections to Milan, Stockholm and Istanbul since the end of 2024. Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of ANA, was delighted with the award and emphasized that it reflects the daily efforts of the entire company, especially in the areas of hospitality and customer safety. The pursuit of excellence and the continuous improvement of service offerings should continue to exceed customer expectations in the future and contribute to further establishing itself as a leading airline. With the continuous expansion of the route network and a clear focus on improving the travel experience, ANA is pursuing a future-oriented strategy to meet the demands of the aviation market.

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Takeover of Air Belgium failed: future of the airline more uncertain than ever

Jan Gruber March 10, 2025 12:31

The Belgian airline Air Belgium is facing its final end. The long-awaited takeover by the Anglo-Dutch consortium Erwan has failed after the Commercial Court in Nivelles declared the ongoing acquisition process invalid on Thursday evening. The airline now has a final deadline of March 27 to find a new investor. If this is not successful, the company faces complete liquidation. In recent months, Air Belgium had held intensive talks with Erwan, a consortium that wanted to take over the company and continue it under the new name "Air One Belgium" with a focus on cargo flights. Originally there were high hopes that the takeover could save the financially troubled company and offer the 197 remaining employees a future perspective. But the process dragged on. There were repeated delays because Erwan could not provide convincing financial and legal guarantees. Finally, the Commercial Court in Nivelles decided to stop the takeover process, which meant that the negotiations were finally doomed to failure. Crisis at Air Belgium: An airline fighting for survival Air Belgium's financial situation has been strained for years. The airline was founded in 2016 with great ambitions and began operations in 2018. Its business model was originally based on long-haul flights from Brussels to Asia and overseas destinations. But demand fell short of expectations and the airline had to contend with strong competition from established providers. Air Belgium subsequently tried various business models, including wet-lease services for other airlines and cargo flights. But even these strategies could not solve the economic problems permanently. In September

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FACC AG as top finalist at the JEC Composites Innovation Awards 2025

Amely Mizzi March 10, 2025 12:09

FACC AG was presented as one of the top three finalists of the prestigious JEC Composites Innovation Awards on March 4, 2025 at the JEC World in Paris. The award recognizes outstanding technological innovations in the field of composite materials, and FACC impressed with an innovative airfoil for aircraft turbines made from thermoplastic composite materials. This new material promises a significant weight reduction while maintaining the same rigidity and offers great potential for the next generation of aircraft. The development of the airfoil is the result of several years of research in which FACC AG, in collaboration with the Competence Center CHASE GmbH and other partners, used new manufacturing technologies such as thermoplastic injection molding and forming techniques. The components produced in this way are characterized by high efficiency and a fast production rate, making them ideal for use in aircraft engines. The project is a further step in the further development of lightweight materials for aviation, which can not only increase efficiency but also help reduce operating costs. The use of thermoplastic composites in the aviation industry has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and weight of aircraft. As part of its ongoing research in this field, FACC has also participated in international projects. This includes the COMPASS project, which is researching the recycling of thermoplastic materials into high-quality second-life components. These developments contribute to achieving efficiency and production goals and enable the aviation industry to remain innovative and competitive. The nomination for the JEC Composites Innovation Award once again demonstrates the advanced research and development at FACC AG. The

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Air Astana enters 2025 with new routes and expanded service

Belinda Borg March 10, 2025 11:49

The Kazakh airline Air Astana is continuing to expand its route network and service. From June 2025, Frankfurt will be expanded to include a third non-stop destination in Kazakhstan: Almaty, the country's largest city. This means that Air Astana will fly eleven times a week from Frankfurt to Kazakhstan. In addition, new international connections within Asia, such as Guangzhou, Nha Trang, Da Nang and Mumbai, will be added to the route network. Air Astana is continuously investing in the modernization and expansion of its fleet. By 2028, the fleet is expected to grow to 80 aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners. With an average age of five years, the Air Astana Group's fleet is one of the youngest in the world.

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Emergency landing in Manchester: Virgin Atlantic flight from London to New York has to turn back

Stephen Steiner March 10, 2025 11:36

A scheduled flight operated by the British airline Virgin Atlantic on the busy route between London Heathrow and New York John F. Kennedy had to turn around on March 6, 2025 due to technical problems. The Airbus A350-1000, which had already been in the air for several hours, turned around over the Atlantic and finally landed safely in Manchester. The exact cause of the incident has not yet been officially confirmed, but initial suspicions point to a problem with the hydraulic system. The affected flight, VS3, had taken off from London Heathrow on the morning of March 6 as scheduled at 08:55 a.m. After a flight time of several hours and an already advanced route towards North America, the aircraft suddenly turned around. According to data from Flightradar24, the aircraft made a significant U-turn and headed back to the United Kingdom. The aircraft finally landed in Manchester at around 17:00 p.m. local time. When it touched down, the landing gear doors were open, which could indicate a possible defect in the hydraulic system. As the pilots sent the emergency code 7700 during the flight, Manchester Airport prepared for a possible emergency situation. Rescue and emergency vehicles were on standby to be able to react quickly in an emergency. Technical background and initial statements Virgin Atlantic confirmed the incident in an official statement shortly after the safe landing. A spokesman for the airline stressed that the safety of passengers and crew was the top priority. For this reason, the decision was made to return the flight to Great Britain. The stranded passengers were provided with hotel accommodation in Manchester and Virgin Atlantic organized alternative connections.

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Discover Airlines starts long-haul flights from Munich

Amely Mizzi March 10, 2025 11:01

The Lufthansa subsidiary Discover Airlines has launched its first long-haul connection from Munich. The first flight to Orlando took off on March 5, with the airline officially inaugurating its new long-haul base at Munich Airport. The connection to the US leisure metropolis will initially be served three times a week with an Airbus A330. Orlando is one of the most popular travel destinations in the USA, particularly due to its numerous theme parks. Flights will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the end of April, and then on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from May. By adding Orlando, Discover Airlines is further expanding its offering and strengthening tourist connections between Germany and North America. In addition to Orlando, the airline will add two more intercontinental routes from Munich to its program in the 2025 summer flight schedule: Windhoek in Namibia and Calgary in Canada. The Discover fleet currently comprises eight aircraft, which serve a total of 32 holiday destinations with 80 weekly departures on short, medium and long-haul routes. The expansion is part of the Lufthansa Group's strategy to further expand the tourism segment within the Group.

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