May 13

More articles from the category

May 13

New flight connections expected for Ljubljana to Tirana and Las Palmas

Ljubljana Airport could receive new flight connections to Tirana in Albania and Las Palmas on Gran Canaria in the near future. This follows a recent tender for airline subsidies aimed at improving Slovenia's international connectivity, reports the portal Ex-Yu-Aviation.com. Although there is no official confirmation yet, there is speculation that Wizz Air could serve the Tirana route and Air Baltic the Las Palmas route. Both routes were briefly listed on the two airlines' official websites in recent weeks. The Slovenian Ministry of Infrastructure announced that a final decision on the eligibility of the two airlines is expected in early June. Both airlines have been asked to provide additional details and revise their proposals accordingly. Flights between Ljubljana and Tirana were last operated in September 2019 by the former Slovenian airline Adria Airways. This route relied heavily on connecting traffic via Ljubljana to and from Western Europe. Flights between Ljubljana and Las Palmas have been offered primarily as charter services in recent years. Air Baltic already operates a seasonal winter base in Gran Canaria and offers scheduled flights to various European destinations from there. The airline already receives government subsidies for its Riga-Ljubljana route, which began in April last year.

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Kuehne+Nagel expands air freight business at Liège Airport

Logistics group Kuehne+Nagel is expanding its air freight activities at Liège Airport (LGG), strengthening the airport's position as a major global cargo hub. Kuehne+Nagel is supported by Atlas Air Worldwide, a key partner in the air freight sector. The expansion will involve the use of fuel-efficient Boeing 747-8F freighters, including the specially branded "Inspire," for long-haul and heavy-lift transport. Kuehne+Nagel, already established at Liège Airport, will further expand its express, charter, and temperature-controlled services, using digital tracking platforms to optimize shipment tracking. Michael Steen, CEO of Atlas Air Worldwide, expressed his delight at Kuehne+Nagel's growing presence in Liège and emphasized that this decision underscores the airport's role as an important hub in the European logistics network. The expansion underlines Kuehne+Nagel's confidence in Liège Airport's 24/7 infrastructure and is in line with the company's global growth strategy in the logistics sector.

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Renewed closure of the Westbahn line Vienna – St. Pölten for repair work after storms

The "new" Western Railway line between Vienna and St. Pölten has been closed again for 12 days since Monday, May 5, until June 25. This is due to repair work and the dismantling of temporary structures that became necessary after the severe weather in September 2024. The section affected includes the Atzenbrugger and Lainzer Tunnels, as well as Tullnerfeld station. During the closure, all train traffic will be diverted to the "old" Western Railway line through the Vienna Woods, which will increase travel times to the west and back by approximately 30 minutes. Extensive work in tunnels and at Tullnerfeld station: The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) reopened the line through the Tullnerfeld region on December 15, 2024, after a three-month closure. This was made possible by using material from Austria-wide spare parts depots and temporary solutions. These temporary structures, particularly in the heavily damaged Atzenbrugg Tunnel, are now being dismantled and replaced with new components. Mobile flood protection elements are also being installed and tested for functionality. In the eroded area near the Perschling, the substructure and superstructure of the western line are being renewed. The severely damaged Tullnerfeld station is also being made flood-proof by, for example, raising the level of pipes and distribution boards for the building services. The closure is also being used to extend the platforms at Tullnerfeld station. In the Lainzer Tunnel, which was affected by the once-in-a-century flood on the Wien River, work is being carried out that cannot be carried out during ongoing operations. This includes sealing cable penetrations and replacing safety systems. Power supply elements, such as distribution boxes, are being relocated to higher positions along the walls.

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Lufthansa Cityline launches new connection from Frankfurt to Bydgoszcz

Lufthansa subsidiary Lufthansa Cityline has established a new direct flight connection between Frankfurt am Main and the Polish city of Bydgoszcz (Bromberg). The airline announced this via the social network LinkedIn. The new route will now be served five times a week with Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft. The launch of this new connection expands Lufthansa's route network from Frankfurt and offers travelers another direct connection to Poland. Bydgoszcz is the eighth-largest city in Poland and an important center in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The new flight connection is likely to be of interest to both business travelers and tourists visiting the region. Lufthansa Cityline will operate Bombardier CRJ900 aircraft on the route, which are known for their efficiency on regional routes. The five weekly flights offer good connections between the important hub of Frankfurt and Bydgoszcz. The exact flight times and booking options are available on the Lufthansa website. With this new connection, Lufthansa further strengthens its presence in Poland.

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Amadeus achieves profit increase in the first quarter of 2025

Travel booking technology provider Amadeus reported adjusted net profit of €364 million for the first quarter of its current fiscal year. This represents an increase of twelve percent compared to the same period last year. The result is almost exactly in line with analysts' expectations, which, according to data from LSEG, had forecast an average net profit of €365 million. The company, which plays a central role in the global travel ecosystem, was thus able to achieve solid profit growth despite ongoing economic uncertainty. Amadeus operates one of the largest databases for flight bookings and offers technology solutions for airlines, hotels, and other players in the travel industry. The positive performance in the first quarter indicates continued robust demand in the travel sector, from which Amadeus is benefiting. Although no further details on the factors that enabled this profit increase were included in the brief release, the result suggests that Amadeus' business strategy continues to be successful in a dynamically evolving market environment. Analysts will now closely monitor further developments and the outlook for the full year.

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Delta plans to convert its transpacific route network to Airbus A350-900

According to a report, Delta Air Lines plans to operate its entire continental transpacific route network exclusively with its fleet of Airbus A350-900 wide-body aircraft. While a large portion of Delta's transpacific network is already operated with A350s, some routes are currently served with Airbus A330neos and will now also be converted to the more modern aircraft type. According to Ishrion Aviation, the last remaining route between Seattle and Shanghai, which is currently served with A330neos, is scheduled to convert to the Airbus A28-2026 starting March 350, 900. This would complete the complete conversion of Delta's transpacific network to the A350 fleet. Although the airline has not officially disclosed the reasons for this change, the larger passenger capacity and longer range of the A350 compared to the A330neo are likely to be key factors. Delta Air Lines' extensive transpacific route network Delta Air Lines' transpacific route network is already extensive, offering numerous nonstop direct flights to the Asia-Pacific region. These flights depart from major hubs such as Los Angeles (LAX), Atlanta (ATL), and Seattle (SEA) and serve destinations in China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia, among others. The report states that all of these routes will be served with the Airbus A350 in the future, although this is already the case for some routes. Aviation analysis firm Cirium also confirms that the last transpacific route still served with the Airbus A330neo—the connection between Seattle Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)—will be converted to the Airbus A2026 by the end of March 350.

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DHL sees itself as a winner in Trump's tariff policy

According to its CEO, Tobias Meyer, the logistics group DHL could benefit from the current customs policies of former US President Donald Trump. According to Meyer, the tariffs threatened by Trump in the trade conflict between the US and China, some of which have already been implemented, are leading to a restructuring of global supply chains, which could bring additional business to the Bonn-based company. In an interview with the "Süddeutsche Zeitung," Meyer explained that companies are adapting their supply chains to avoid the effects of the tariffs. This is leading to an increase in transport volumes, from which DHL, as a logistics service provider, could benefit. Furthermore, DHL's market share on the trade route between China and the US is relatively small compared to other routes. A shift in trade volume to other routes would therefore be positive for DHL. Meyer also pointed out that Deutsche Post, DHL's parent company, is benefiting from the increasing customs bureaucracy. The increased number of customs clearance processes means more work for service providers like DHL, who bill for these services. Trump's customs policy could therefore lead to a business upswing for DHL both through the restructuring of supply chains and through the increase in customs clearance services.

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Hunnu Air begins scheduled service with Embraer E195-E2 to China

Mongolian airline Hunnu Air has commenced scheduled flight operations with its new Embraer E195-E2 aircraft, establishing the first E2 connection to mainland China. The maiden flight from Ulaanbaatar to Beijing Daxing Airport marks a significant step in strengthening air links between Mongolia and China. Hunnu Air's Embraer E195-E2 fleet, delivered in April, will expand its route network in Asia, including connections to Japan, Vietnam, India, and South Korea. The aircraft feature a 136-seat, two-class configuration and offer increased comfort by eliminating middle seats. Hunnu Air considers the E2 to be central to its regional growth. For aircraft manufacturer Embraer, this maiden flight also represents a significant milestone, underscoring the company's commitment to the Mongolian aviation sector. The Embraer E195-E2 is considered a modern and efficient aircraft, well-suited for regional routes. The establishment of this connection could also have positive effects on tourism and economic relations between Mongolia and China.

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Qatar donates Boeing 747-8 to Trump administration as interim Air Force One

The royal family of Qatar plans to donate a Boeing 747-8 VIP, a so-called "flying palace," to the Trump administration. The approximately $400 million aircraft will serve as President Trump's interim Air Force One until his second term ends. Afterward, it will be transferred to the Trump Presidential Library Foundation. The approximately 13-year-old aircraft was previously configured as a VVIP aircraft and was inspected by Trump in West Palm Beach. It will be donated to the U.S. Air Force and modified by L3Harris to meet the president's security and communications standards. This donation is unprecedented, as no foreign government has ever before donated such a high-value aircraft for use by the U.S. president. Legal opinions from the Department of Justice and the White House conclude that the agreement does not violate the Constitution or anti-bribery laws because the aircraft is technically being donated to the government and not to Trump personally. Nevertheless, the donation raises significant ethical questions, particularly given the immense value of the aircraft and the fact that President Trump intends to use it after leaving office. The agreement also reflects growing frustration over delays in Boeing's Air Force One replacement program. The current VC-25As, based on the Boeing 747-200, have been in service since 1990, and the replacement aircraft are not scheduled for delivery until 2029.

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SkyWest Airlines increases share buyback program by $250 million

The Board of Directors of SkyWest Airlines has approved a $250 million increase to its share repurchase program. This brings the remaining authorized total amount for share repurchases to approximately $272 million. This move signals management's confidence in the company's financial strength and could potentially support the share price. In a statement to financial markets, SkyWest Airlines stated that the repurchases may be conducted through various means, including open market transactions, privately negotiated deals, or other methods consistent with federal securities laws. The decision as to which method is used in each case is at the discretion of management. This latest increase in the program comes in addition to a previous authorization from May 2023, which also included a volume of $250 million. Of this amount, $228 million had already been used or committed for share repurchases. Following the repurchase of approximately $12 million in shares in April 2025, $22 million remained from this prior authorization. The newly increased share repurchase program has no fixed expiration date. The timing, amount, and price of the repurchases are entirely at the discretion of SkyWest Airlines' management. The company reserves the right to initiate or interrupt the repurchases at any time without prior notice. This flexibility allows SkyWest to respond appropriately to market conditions and the company's financial situation. Background and Potential Impact Share repurchase programs are often used by companies to increase value for shareholders. By reducing the number of outstanding shares, earnings per share can increase, which can have a positive impact on the share price.

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