Français »
German "
Search
April 15, 2025

More articles from the category

April 15, 2025

Korean Air reports revenue increase but profit decline in the first quarter of 2025

Stephen Steiner 15 April 2025 16:09

The South Korean airline Korean Air generated revenue of KRW 2025 trillion (approximately USD 3,9559 billion) in the first quarter of 2,7, an increase of three percent compared to the same quarter last year. This growth was driven by continued strong demand in both the passenger and cargo businesses, the company announced. Despite this revenue growth, Korean Air recorded a 19 percent decline in operating profit to KRW 350,9 billion (approximately USD 239,3 million). The airline cited higher operating costs as the main reason for the decline in profit. These resulted primarily from depreciation and maintenance of newly commissioned aircraft, as well as increased unit costs due to currency fluctuations. The acquisition of new aircraft, whose delivery had been delayed due to the pandemic, is part of a long-term strategy to increase capacity and improve service quality. Korean Air generated passenger revenue of KRW 2,4355 trillion in the first quarter, an increase of four percent year-on-year. Despite increased competition and economic uncertainty, high travel demand during the Korean New Year and the March holidays contributed significantly to this growth. The airline's cargo division increased its revenue by six percent to KRW 1,0540 trillion. Despite challenges such as US trade policy, demand remained stable in key sectors such as e-commerce and automotive parts. Korean Air expects continued positive passenger business in the second quarter, supported by the May holidays, particularly on routes to Southeast Asia, China, and Japan.

Continue reading "

Lufthansa Technik promotes direct sales of used aircraft parts

Amely Mizzi 15 April 2025 15:30

Lufthansa Technik is intensifying the direct sale of used but overhauled aircraft parts (Used Serviceable Material, USM) to airlines and operators. This step goes beyond the previous sale of surplus spare parts from its own inventory and aims to accelerate the availability of required components, shorten delivery times, and reduce costs for customers. The company, a global leader in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul, maintains one of the largest spare parts pools in the industry. Until now, Lufthansa Technik primarily sold surplus parts from its extensive inventory to third-party suppliers. The focus will now be on the direct sale of USM parts, which come not only from surplus stocks but also from aircraft disposal. Each of these components is thoroughly tested and certified before sale to ensure Lufthansa Technik's high safety and performance standards. The USM offering is available on relevant online platforms for the aviation industry. Georgios Ouzounidis, Head of Sales for the Americas at Lufthansa Technik, emphasized the advantages of direct sales for airlines and operators, who can now access certified spare parts more easily, quickly, and cost-effectively. A dedicated team at the US subsidiary Lufthansa Technik Component Services in Miami coordinates customer orders and ensures smooth processes. A warehouse in Fort Lauderdale ensures the rapid distribution of parts in America. Tulsa is also home to the operational center for USM, with a growing component workshop. Lufthansa Technik will present its USM solution for the first time at the MRO Americas 2025 trade fair in Atlanta and provide detailed information about the advantages of this new service.

Continue reading "

Ryanair flights can now be booked via Expedia

Amely Mizzi 15 April 2025 15:05

Irish airline Ryanair, which describes itself as Europe's number one airline, has announced a partnership with global travel technology company Expedia. Expedia customers can now book Ryanair's low-cost flights to over 230 destinations. This collaboration is intended to offer Expedia users greater choice and better value for money when traveling within Europe. A key benefit of this partnership is that Expedia customers can provide their correct contact and payment information directly to Ryanair when booking Ryanair flights. This gives them direct access to their "myRyanair" account and allows them to receive important flight information directly from the airline. The verification process, which is still necessary for customers of unauthorized online travel agencies, is thus no longer necessary. Ryanair has repeatedly warned against the practices of unauthorized booking platforms in the past. Dara Brady, Ryanair's Chief Marketing Officer, expressed her delight at the collaboration with Expedia, which ensures full price transparency and direct booking access for customers. Greg Schulze, Chief Commercial Officer of Expedia Group, emphasized that the partnership represents an important step in expanding travel options for its customers. The integration of Ryanair's extensive route network, including unique connections across Europe, offers customers in the US and Europe greater choice and added value to their travel plans.

Continue reading "

Cocaine worth 116.000 euros found in British Airways Boeing

Stephen Steiner 15 April 2025 14:37

A mechanic discovered a significant quantity of cocaine on board a British Airways Boeing 777-200ER at London Gatwick Airport. The drug package, hidden behind a panel in the aircraft's lavatory, has an estimated street value of around 100.000 British pounds (approximately 116.000 euros). British police were immediately informed and seized the cocaine, which is said to be of high purity. This discovery comes just days after investigators in Cancún, Mexico, also discovered drugs on board a British Airways Boeing 777 shortly before departure for London. These two incidents, occurring within a short period of time, raise questions about security measures and potential vulnerabilities in aircraft security. It is currently unclear whether the two drug finds are related or whether they were isolated incidents. British authorities have launched an investigation to determine the origin of the cocaine at Gatwick Airport and to examine how the drugs came to be on board the aircraft. Airlines and airports around the world face the challenge of preventing the smuggling of illegal substances and continually reviewing and improving their security measures. The latest discovery in London underscores the need for increased vigilance and enhanced controls in air traffic.

Continue reading "

Helicopter crash in New York leads to shutdown and debate

Belinda Borg 15 April 2025 14:02

Following the fatal helicopter crash in the Hudson River in New York, the operating company "New York Helicopter Tours" has ceased operations with immediate effect. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this decision on Platform X and also announced a comprehensive review of the company's licensing and safety records. Six people died in the crash last Thursday, including three children and three adults, including a manager from Siemens Mobility and his family. The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Video footage shows that the helicopter was hovering upside down in the air before the crash. The company itself has not yet commented on the FAA's orders. Prominent US politician Chuck Schumer had previously called for the company to cease all flights during the ongoing investigation. The crash has sparked renewed debate about the safety of helicopter tours in New York. Senator Schumer criticized the safety record of the tour companies, accusing them of putting profit above human safety. According to media reports, "New York Helicopter Tours" has been involved in safety incidents before. The sightseeing flights over Manhattan are popular with tourists, but also controversial. Approximately 30.000 flights take place annually, and in recent decades, around three dozen people have died in helicopter accidents in New York.

Continue reading "

Insider financial information: Play receives fine

Amely Mizzi 15 April 2025 13:39

Icelandic airline Play has been fined ISK 15,8 million (approximately USD 123.900) after violating European regulations regarding the timely disclosure of insider financial information. The fine, imposed by the Financial Supervisory Authority (FME) of the Central Bank of Iceland, concludes a settlement in which the low-cost airline accepted a finding that it had violated European disclosure requirements. This highlights the importance of transparent and timely communication of financial data, especially for publicly traded companies, and the responsibility that airlines and other companies have to their investors and the public at large. The Incident and the Delay in Disclosure The underlying issue revolves around whether the company's draft preliminary financial figures for the third quarter of 2022, presented at a board meeting on October 27, 2022, were considered inside information and whether their disclosure on November 3, 2022, was too late. Play argued that the forecast figures were based only on general expectations and should not be considered price-sensitive. The airline argued that the preliminary financial figures represented a rough estimate and not concrete, reliable information. The Icelandic Financial Supervisory Authority disagreed with this argument and decided to impose a penalty. According to the authority, the financial data presented should have already been classified as inside information at that time because it had a relevant economic impact on the valuation of the company's shares. Such a practice contradicts EU regulations requiring companies to disclose price-sensitive information promptly and completely.

Continue reading "

Airbus dismantles former Lufthansa A380 to obtain spare parts

Amely Mizzi 15 April 2025 13:36

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is dismantling two of its A380s, which previously belonged to the Lufthansa fleet. The affected aircraft, with the registration numbers D-AIME and D-AIMF, were in service with the German airline from 2011 to 2020. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Lufthansa temporarily grounded its entire A380 fleet and later returned only eight of the 14 aircraft to service. The remaining six, including those now scheduled for dismantling, were sold to Airbus. Airbus will now use the two wide-body aircraft as a source of spare parts. As announced, VAS Aero Services will be responsible for dismantling the two former Lufthansa aircraft as well as another retired A380 belonging to Malaysia Airlines (registration number 9M-MNC), which also comes from the Airbus fleet. The dismantling is intended to enable the recovery of reusable components that can be used for the maintenance and repair of other A380s still in operation. VAS Aero Services already has experience in dismantling the Airbus A380 and claims to have already dismantled ten of these wide-body aircraft. Given the unexpectedly strong revival of A380 operations at some airlines and ongoing delivery delays for new long-haul aircraft, used spare parts are becoming increasingly important for maintaining the flight operations of older aircraft. The dismantled aircraft will thus help extend the service life of other A380s.

Continue reading "

Discover Airlines expands flight offerings – new routes in summer and winter 2025

Stephen Steiner 15 April 2025 13:34

By expanding its route network, Discover Airlines, a leisure airline within the Lufthansa Group, is responding to the growing demand for flexible travel options. In both summer and winter 2025, vacationers can expect a significantly wider selection of destinations – from Scandinavian cities with fresh air and tranquil nature to sunny destinations in North Africa and Southern Europe. For the first time, the Finnish city of Oulu will be served regularly, and destinations such as Marrakesh, Hurghada, and Dubrovnik will also be served in winter, which were previously limited to the summer months. Of particular note is the inclusion of the Finnish city of Oulu in the summer flight schedule for the first time. From June to the end of September 2025, Discover Airlines will connect Frankfurt with the northern Finnish metropolis twice a week – on Mondays and Fridays. This route complements the existing connection to Kittilä, a city in Finnish Lapland. Oulu, located on the Gulf of Bothnia, is one of Finland's largest cities and boasts a stunning location in the heart of a region rich in forests, lakes, and coastal landscapes. Average summer temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius offer ideal conditions for travelers who prefer mild climates. In addition to its natural surroundings, Oulu offers a diverse range of cultural offerings, and thanks to its excellent infrastructure, it is a suitable starting point for excursions into the surrounding regions of Lapland. Nordics on trend: Scandinavia as a year-round destination. With Oulu, Discover Airlines is not only introducing a new destination, but is also expanding its commitment to Scandinavia. The so-called "Nordics" flight schedule includes Kittilä, Reykjavík (Iceland), Evenes, and Bodø (both Norway). Starting in winter 2025, Alta will complement the offering – a place that

Continue reading "

Uncertain future for Silver Airways: Insolvency administrator recommends liquidation

Amely Mizzi 15 April 2025 13:26

The Florida-based airline Silver Airways is facing potential collapse. A recent report by the court-appointed insolvency administrator suggests that continuing operations is unlikely to be realistic. The historic airline, which has dominated regional air traffic in Florida and the Caribbean with turboprop aircraft since the late 1980s, is struggling with serious financial and operational problems. On April 11, 2025, the trustee responsible for the insolvency proceedings submitted a detailed report to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. In it, he concluded that Silver Airways' financial situation no longer provides a basis for successful restructuring. The report makes a clear recommendation to liquidate the company. Silver Airways filed for Chapter 30 bankruptcy protection on December 2024, 11. The goal of this procedure was to conduct an orderly financial restructuring while maintaining ongoing operations. Publicly, management had repeatedly emphasized that the restructuring plan was "on track." However, the trustee clearly contradicts these statements. The revenue forecasts on which Silver Airways relies are "inconsistent with operational reality," the report states. Since the beginning of the insolvency proceedings, the fleet has been drastically reduced. According to data from the industry portal ch-aviation, the active fleet consisted of just six aircraft in April 2025: two ATR 42-600s and four ATR 72-600s. A further five aircraft—three ATR 42-600s and two ATR 72-600s—were reported as inactive. A particularly drastic setback occurred when the lessor, TrueNoord, filed a lawsuit for a multi-million-dollar sum and rescinded several leased aircraft.

Continue reading "

Involuntary stopover: Delta passengers spend night in plane on tarmac in Alabama

Belinda Borg 15 April 2025 13:23

An extraordinary incident at Montgomery Regional Airport raises questions about emergency planning in international air travel. On the evening of April 10, 2025, nearly 300 passengers on two Delta Air Lines flights from Mexico experienced an unexpected and unpleasant turn of events. Due to severe weather, the planes were unable to complete their scheduled landing at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta and were instead diverted to Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM) in Alabama. However, this airport does not have customs clearance facilities for international flights, which meant that the passengers had to spend the night in the aircraft on the tarmac. The affected flights, DL 1828 from Los Cabos and DL 599 from Mexico City, landed in Montgomery between 21:22 p.m. and 21:30 p.m. local time. Because the airport does not have the necessary U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities, regular immigration processing was not possible. A nearby airport with CBP facilities, such as Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, was also closed due to weather conditions. Passengers spent the night in the aircraft until special CBP officers arrived the next morning to facilitate immigration clearance. It was not until around noon on April 11 that the travelers were allowed to disembark and continue their journey. Delta Air Lines apologized for the inconvenience and announced that it would fully refund all affected passengers. A company spokesperson stated that the company had not met its standards of customer service in this situation and would take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. This incident raises questions about emergency planning and infrastructure in international air travel. In particular, the question of

Continue reading "

Navigation

Visit us on

Facebook f X-twitter Instagram LinkedIn Youtube Telegram rss Threads Google Hm-mail-open Wordpress
login logo

Aviation.Direct is published with love in and