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March 19, 2025

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March 19, 2025

Rhaetian Railway will offer the Bernina Wine Express again in 2025

Belinda Borg March 19, 2025 10:41

The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) will once again operate the popular Bernina Wine Express in 2025. From Tuesday to Friday, between May 20 and October 24, travelers can enjoy a combination of a train ride across the Alps and exclusive wine experiences in the Italian Valtellina. The journey combines the panoramic route of the Bernina Express with a guided tour of the historic "La Gatta" winery near Tirano. The journey begins in the morning in St. Moritz on the Bernina Express (BEX 971) and continues along the UNESCO World Heritage route to Tirano. There, participants can visit the "La Gatta" winery, housed in a former 16th-century monastery. After a tour of the vineyards and the historic wine cellar, an aperitif and lunch with typical red wines of the region follow. In the afternoon, the return journey to St. Moritz takes place on the Bernina Express (BEX 976). If this is fully booked, passengers can alternatively travel by regional train to Tirano. The panoramic route is considered one of the most spectacular railway lines in Europe, crossing viaducts, through spiral tunnels, and past glaciers. The Bernina Wine Express combines Alpine scenery with regional wine culture and is aimed at lovers of sophisticated culinary experiences. The Rhaetian Railway thus continues its tradition of offering special themed tours that combine tourism and culinary delights.

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Canada examines alternatives to the F-35 fighter jet – reassessment of defense strategy

Belinda Borg March 19, 2025 10:37

Canada is currently considering reconsidering its decision to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin. This development follows diplomatic tensions between Canada and the United States during President Donald Trump's second term in office. Defence Minister Bill Blair announced on March 14, 2025, that his department is actively seeking alternatives that could potentially be assembled in Canada. In 2022, Canada decided to purchase 88 F-35 fighter jets for approximately 19 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 14,15 billion Swiss francs) to replace its aging F/A-18 aircraft. This decision followed a selection process that defeated European competitors such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Dassault Rafale. The decision in favour of the F-35 was seen at the time as a sign of increased solidarity with allies NORAD (North American Air Defence) and NATO. The current consideration of alternatives to the F-35 could have significant implications for the modernization plans of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The Minister of Defence emphasized that the possibility of assembling these aircraft in Canada was particularly attractive because it could benefit the domestic industry. Sweden's defence company Saab had previously promised that, if awarded the contract, its JAS 39 Gripen model would be assembled and maintained in Canada. Although Canada has already made a down payment for the first 16 F-35A aircraft, Blair's statement suggests that the RCAF may not proceed with the full procurement of 88 aircraft as originally planned. This could result in Canada maintaining a mixed fleet combining F-35s with an alternative aircraft. Canada's reassessment follows a pattern of skepticism among allies regarding

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Summer flight schedule 2025: Diversity and growth at Stuttgart Airport

Jan Gruber March 19, 2025 10:10

With the change to daylight saving time on March 30, 2025, the new summer flight schedule will come into effect at Stuttgart Airport. 36 airlines will serve 115 destinations in 37 countries. The most popular travel destinations remain Turkey, Spain, and Greece. A total of over 50.000 flights are planned, representing an increase of five percent over the previous year. Eurowings remains the largest airline at the airport with 77 destinations. New to the schedule are Malta and Mostar. Italian cities such as Milan, Naples, and Rome will also be served. SunExpress is expanding its offering with new connections to Bursa, Ordu-Giresun, and Balikesir-Edremit. TUIfly offers flights to Hurghada, Djerba, and the Cape Verde Islands. Condor flies to Heraklion, Corfu, and Kos, among others. Wizz Air serves destinations in Eastern Europe, including Budapest, Bucharest, and Tirana. New to the flight schedule are Electra Airways with flights to Burgas and Varna, and Fly One with a connection to Chisinau. Important transfer hubs such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt and London provide worldwide connections.

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Aegean appoints Mondial Airline Services as cargo sales agent in Germany

Jan Gruber March 19, 2025 09:44

The Greek airline Aegean has appointed Mondial Airline Services GmbH, a subsidiary of the Global GSA Group, as General Sales Agent (GSA) for its cargo operations in Germany. The agreement, which came into effect on February 19, 2025, covers the distribution of cargo capacity on 80 weekly flights from Germany to Greece and other international destinations. Aegean connects several German cities with Athens (ATH) and Thessaloniki (SKG) daily. In addition, over 80 other international destinations are available, including key destinations such as Yerevan (EVN), Larnaca (LCA), Tbilisi (TBS), Tel Aviv (TLV), Malta (MLA), and Tirana (TIA). Cargo capacity includes general cargo, spare parts, and machine components important for various industries. During the summer months, the number of flights is expected to increase to over 3.500 to meet growing demand. Mondial Airline Services GmbH will assume responsibility for the sales and optimization of Aegean's cargo capacities in Germany. The company relies on the digital tools and global network of the Global GSA Group to simplify booking processes and maximize capacity utilization. Real-time data analytics are intended to increase transparency and improve the efficiency of cargo handling. Zafer Aggunduz, Chief Commercial Officer of the Global GSA Group, sees great potential for both partners in the collaboration. Ismail Durmaz, Chairman of the Global GSA Group, emphasized the strategic importance of the agreement and the growth opportunities offered by the high number of flights during the summer months. For Aegean, the partnership strengthens its position in the German market and improves accessibility to important economic regions.

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Australian airlines oppose mandatory compensation

Jan Gruber March 19, 2025 09:32

Australia's leading airlines, including Qantas and Virgin Australia, oppose the introduction of a mandatory compensation scheme for passengers in the event of flight delays and cancellations. In a recent parliamentary hearing, representatives from both companies expressed concerns that such measures would not improve service quality and could instead lead to higher ticket prices, as the additional costs would be passed on to passengers. On March 17, 2025, a parliamentary hearing was held on the so-called 'Pay on Delay' Bill, proposed by the opposition Liberal-National Coalition. The bill's main sponsor is Senator Bridget McKenzie of the National Party. The aim of the bill is to strengthen consumer protection and restore customer confidence by requiring airlines to pay compensation to passengers in the event of flight delays or cancellations. Currently, there are no legal obligations in Australia for airlines to compensate passengers in such cases. Position of the airlines Markus Svensson, Chief Executive Officer of Qantas Domestic, expressed concern at the hearing that a mandatory compensation scheme could lead to higher ticket prices, as airlines would pass the additional costs on to consumers. He cited experiences in Europe, where similar schemes had led to price increases. Svensson emphasized that Qantas did not support the introduction of a compensation-based scheme. Stephen Beckett, General Manager of Government and Industry Affairs at Virgin Australia, supported this view. He argued that no improvement in service quality had been observed in markets with mandatory compensation schemes. Beckett emphasized that Virgin Australia had already made significant investments in customer service and complaint handling. Although he supported the proposed legislation

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Agreement in legal dispute over Vienna long-distance bus terminal

Belinda Borg March 19, 2025 09:03

After a lengthy legal dispute, WH Fernbus-Terminal Projektentwicklung GmbH and Donau Busterminal Realisierungs GmbH have reached a court settlement. The agreement, reached through mediation, paves the way for the rapid implementation of the new international long-distance bus terminal in Vienna. The details of the settlement remain confidential. The construction of Vienna's central long-distance bus terminal is a top priority for the City of Vienna and Wien Holding. The terminal is intended to represent the third pillar of long-distance passenger transport alongside Vienna Airport and Vienna Central Station. The operating company BGR Busterminal GmbH, consisting of the companies Blaguss, Gschwindl, and Dr. Richard, will assume operation of the terminal. Both parties express their gratitude for the constructive approach that led to the settlement. The agreement creates legal certainty and allows the companies to refocus on their development activities. The project companies of Dr. Ariel Muzicant, Dr. Markus Teufel, and their partners will continue to implement urban development and real estate projects in Vienna.

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Montenegro Airlines' last Fokker 100 aircraft: A sale with an unexpected outcome

Stephen Steiner March 19, 2025 08:36

After almost three years of silence at Podgorica Airport, the last remaining Montenegro Airlines aircraft has found a buyer. The Montenegrin airline's former Fokker 100 was put up for sale as part of Montenegro Airlines' insolvency proceedings. The sale was handled by the airline's insolvency administrator, who publicly offered the aircraft last month. In a surprising twist, the aircraft was sold for €57.000—well above the original starting price of €23.900. The buyer is a US businessman of Montenegrin descent. The sale is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. The aircraft, which had been idle at Podgorica Airport since Montenegro Airlines' insolvency in December 2020, has since lost its significance. After the airline ceased operations in 2020, all Fokker 100 fleet units were parked and gutted over time. The aircraft were left without engines and essential components, making their use as functional aircraft impossible. However, the buyer, whose identity has not yet been fully disclosed, plans to use parts of the aircraft for an unusual purpose. The sale of the Fokker 100 The sale of the aircraft marks the final chapter in the history of Montenegro Airlines, which, after years of economic difficulties and repeated loss-making operations, finally went bankrupt. Montenegro Airlines had played the role of national carrier for the small Balkan country for decades, but the consequences of management errors, financial problems, and the general decline in air traffic in the region led to its demise. The aircraft, which has now been sold,

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80 years of TAP Air Portugal: Review, innovations and outlook

Stephen Steiner March 19, 2025 08:06

The Portuguese airline TAP Air Portugal will celebrate its 2025th anniversary in 80. Since its founding on March 14, 1945, by Humberto Delgado, the airline has grown from a small airline with two aircraft to one of Portugal's largest export companies. In 2024, TAP carried more than 16 million passengers and, with a fleet of 99 aircraft, is now one of Europe's most important airlines. For summer 2025, TAP plans to operate more than 1.250 weekly flights to 84 cities worldwide. These include 10 destinations in North America, 14 in South America, 12 in Africa, 6 in Portugal, and 42 in other European countries. The latest expansions to the route network include connections such as Lisbon–Los Angeles, Porto–Boston, and Terceira–San Francisco. The route to Porto Alegre in Brazil will also be reinstated. To mark the anniversary, TAP presented a new image video at the BTL tourism trade fair in Lisbon, presenting the airline as a symbol of Portuguese identity. Another highlight is the publication of the book "Voar É Preciso" (in English: "Flying is a Necessity"), which documents the airline's history with over 700 photographs. The book examines the development of the TAP fleet and its strategic importance for the expansion of the flight network. As part of the anniversary celebrations, TAP is also continuing the relaunch of the "Local Stars" program, in which six top Portuguese chefs create exclusive menus for Business Class on long-haul flights. In addition, the "Miles&Go" loyalty program has been expanded to include the new category "Status For Life." Customers who have collected more than two or three million miles receive a lifetime

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Difficult landing in stormy weather: Delta flight 4814 at La Guardia causes a stir

Amely Mizzi March 19, 2025 07:39

Last Sunday, as severe storms battered the US East Coast, a critical situation arose at New York's La Guardia Airport. An Endeavor Airlines CRJ-900, operating on behalf of Delta Air Lines, encountered significant difficulties landing on runway 22. The incident, which briefly caused a wing to touch down, was quickly recognized by the crew, who aborted the landing and attempted a new approach. Despite this delicate phase, the aircraft eventually landed safely on the runway. This incident not only raised questions about the safety situation at the airport but also brought the general problem of air traffic in extreme weather conditions into sharp focus. In the days that followed, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned of further stormy weather along the US Atlantic coast, necessitating increased attention to air traffic and the associated risks. Storms on the US East Coast: A Challenge for Aviation The US East Coast is currently experiencing a series of severe storms that are disrupting daily life and air traffic. In connection with the incident at La Guardia, the FAA warned of the difficulties posed by the extreme weather for pilots. Storms, strong winds, and unpredictable weather patterns make it difficult for aircraft to navigate and land. Airports along the Atlantic coast are particularly affected, where the effects of stormy weather can endanger the safety of air traffic. The FAA stated in its warning that these weather conditions will continue to pose a challenge for pilots and airlines in the coming days.

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Ryanair: Germany remains Europe's weakest aviation market

Jan Gruber March 19, 2025 07:08

According to Ryanair, Germany remains the slowest-growing aviation market in Europe. According to the traffic update for February 18, published on March 2025, 2025, passenger traffic in Germany is only 84 percent of pre-COVID-2025 levels. The airline sees high access costs, including government taxes, air traffic control, and airport charges, as the main cause. Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg airports are particularly affected, where Ryanair has already made capacity cuts for the 110 summer schedule. Compared to other European countries, Germany is lagging significantly behind. While countries such as Poland (107 percent), Ireland (106 percent), and Hungary (2019 percent) have already exceeded their 84 traffic figures, Germany remains at the bottom with 15,53 percent. Ryanair emphasizes that no air traffic tax is levied in these countries, whereas in Germany, €1.600 per passenger is due. The airline also criticizes the bureaucratic hurdles and restrictions, particularly the night flight ban at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), which has led to over XNUMX flight disruptions since the beginning of the year. Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, is calling on the German government to abolish the high taxes and fees in order to improve the competitiveness of German airports. According to Wilson, current policies are preventing sustainable growth in air traffic and are putting Germany at a disadvantage compared to other EU countries that have taken targeted measures to promote air traffic. Despite the declining trend in Germany, Ryanair is continuing to expand in other European countries. There, reduced fees and the waiver of air traffic taxes have significantly increased passenger numbers. Wilson emphasized that without political change, Germany will continue to lose its position as an attractive aviation location.

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