Français »
German "
Search
July 7, 2025

More articles from the category

July 7, 2025

Etihad Airways increases flight frequencies to Zurich to 16 weekly flights

Stephen Steiner July 7, 2025 15:01

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is once again expanding its offering in Switzerland and will introduce additional flight frequencies on the route between Zurich and Abu Dhabi from November this year. The airline is increasing the number of weekly connections from the current 13 to a total of 16. This expansion of the route network underscores the growing importance of the Swiss market for Etihad and the continued strategy of better connecting the Abu Dhabi hub with key European cities. Etihad Airways has already gradually expanded its flight offerings in Zurich in the past. From an original seven weekly flights, the frequency was initially increased to ten and later to 13 connections. The additional frequencies now announced will further increase capacity on this important route. Specifically, from November, Etihad Airways will offer a third daily flight on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. This additional flight has the flight number EY139/140 and departs from Zurich at 15:15 p.m., arriving in Abu Dhabi at 0:20 a.m. local time the following day. This expansion brings Etihad Airways' weekly seat capacity on the Zurich-Abu Dhabi route to a total of 3561. Boeing 787 and Airbus A321LR aircraft will be used for flights between the two cities. The Boeing 787, known for its efficiency and long-haul capability, forms the backbone of the fleet on many of Etihad's international routes. The Airbus A321LR, a long-haul version of the popular A321, allows the airline to operate flexibly on routes with lower demand or to complement existing services. The expansion of connections between Zurich

Continue reading "

Air Arabia will connect Sharjah and Munich from December 2025

Stephen Steiner July 7, 2025 14:38

Air Arabia, one of the largest low-cost airlines in the Middle East, has announced the launch of a new flight service between Sharjah and Munich. Starting December 15, 2025, the route will be served daily with an Airbus A320neo aircraft. For Munich Airport, this further strengthens its role in traffic to and from the Gulf States, while Munich will be the first German destination to be served directly by Air Arabia from Sharjah. Sharjah, the capital of the emirate of the same name, is located about a half-hour drive from Dubai and is known as the cultural capital of the United Arab Emirates. The new direct connection provides travelers from southern Germany with direct access to this region and its attractions. Furthermore, Air Arabia offers a variety of other connections to destinations in the Middle East and Asia via Sharjah, increasing the attractiveness of the new connection for long-haul travelers. Oliver Dersch, Senior Vice President Aviation at Munich Airport GmbH, welcomed the announcement and emphasized the expanded travel options for Munich Airport passengers. Founded in 2003, Air Arabia has established itself as a major player in the low-cost airline segment in the Arab world, serving an extensive network of destinations. The decision to include Munich as its first German direct destination underscores the growing importance of the location as an international air transport hub. Flights are already available for booking.

Continue reading "

Swiss-A220 makes unscheduled landing in Friedrichshafen after error messages and smoke formation

Jan Gruber July 7, 2025 14:35

A flight operated by Swiss airline Swiss, en route from Belgrade to Zurich, made an unscheduled landing at Friedrichshafen Airport today, July 7, 2025. During the flight, the Airbus A220-300 encountered error messages in the cockpit and slightly visible smoke in the rear of the cabin. The crew acted according to the prescribed safety protocols and decided to land immediately at the nearest suitable airport. The landing was uneventful, and neither passengers nor crew members were injured. The incident is now being investigated by Swiss and the relevant authorities, while the passengers are being transported by bus to Zurich. The incident: Smoke in the cabin and error messages The affected flight, Swiss LX1413, was en route from Nikola Tesla Airport in Belgrade to Zurich Airport, one of Switzerland's most important hubs. During the flight, which was scheduled to last approximately one and a half hours, error messages occurred in the cockpit of the Airbus A220-300. At the same time, slight smoke was detected in the rear of the cabin. Smoke in the cabin, even if only slight, is always a serious warning signal in aviation and requires immediate action. The causes can be varied, from technical defects in the on-board electronics or air conditioning to overheated components. The flight crew, consisting of the pilots and cabin crew, reacted promptly and professionally. In accordance with the strict safety protocols provided for such emergencies, it was decided to proceed to the nearest suitable airport. In this case, this was Friedrichshafen Airport on Lake Constance. The rapid decision to make an alternative landing is crucial to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Continue reading "

BER records passenger growth in the first half of 2025 – Ryanair withdrawal noticeable

Amely Mizzi July 7, 2025 14:30

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) recorded an increase in passenger numbers in the first half of 2025. From January to June, a total of 12.1 million travelers took off and landed at Berlin Brandenburg Airport. This represents an increase of two percent compared to the same period last year. Despite this positive development, the pre-crisis level of the reference year 2019, which serves as an important benchmark in the tourism industry, has not yet been reached. The number of flight movements, i.e., takeoffs and landings, rose year-on-year from around 87.000 to 92.500. By comparison, in the first half of 2019, the then Berlin airports of Tegel and Schönefeld together still counted a good 17.5 million passengers with approximately 145.000 takeoffs and landings. The discrepancy between these figures shows that passenger numbers per flight at BER have increased, but the total volume of Berlin air traffic is still below pre-coronavirus levels, which led to profound changes in the travel industry. A key factor in the failure to reach pre-crisis levels is Ryanair's withdrawal. Press spokesman Axel Schmidt explained that the reduction in Ryanair flights at BER in the summer schedule is "having a full impact." He attributed this to the high government taxes and fees in Germany, which are significantly lower in other European countries and have prompted Ryanair to reduce its flights. As a result, Ryanair has reduced its seat capacity at BER in the 2025 summer schedule by around 18 percent, resulting in approximately 329.000 fewer seats between April and October. With 1.54 million seats remaining, Ryanair now ranks behind Easyjet (1.56 million seats) and ahead of Eurowings (0.99 million) and Lufthansa (0.87 million) at BER. Financially

Continue reading "

Portuguese government resumes TAP privatization after new elections

Jan Gruber July 7, 2025 14:06

Following a serious government crisis and the new elections in May, the new Portuguese minority government under Prime Minister Luis Montenegro plans to resume the privatization of the national airline, TAP Air Portugal. Recently, the government had been leaning toward a partial sale of the airline to a strategic partner. The resumption of the process is expected to be imminent, following the victorious elections of the center-right AD party coalition, albeit without an absolute majority. The TAP privatization process came to a standstill in the spring of this year due to the government crisis at the time. According to media reports, the Portuguese government has now received two independent valuation reports on TAP from Banco Finantia and the auditor EY. These reports form the basis for negotiations with potential buyers. The circle of interested parties is broad and includes major European aviation groups such as the International Airlines Group (IAG), Air France-KLM, and the Lufthansa Group, all of which have expressed strategic interest in TAP. Given the new government's lack of its own parliamentary majority, a compromise on privatization will be necessary. According to information from Bloomberg, Portugal recently leaned toward selling 49 percent of TAP shares to private investors. A key point on which the government and opposition agree is the importance of future hub traffic in Lisbon. A new owner must ensure that Lisbon continues to play a central role as a hub. This underscores the strategic importance of the airport for Portugal's economic development and its connection to important long-haul markets. Lufthansa's interest in TAP Air Portugal is not new. As early as February 2020, there were reports of a

Continue reading "

Security breach at Philadelphia Airport: Man bypasses control and causes flight cancellation

Belinda Borg July 7, 2025 13:42

A man successfully bypassed security checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and unauthorized boarded an American Airlines aircraft, creating a significant security breach at the airport. The incident resulted in the cancellation of the flight and resulted in significant losses for American Airlines. This case, in which Jonathan Beaulieu was able to board without authorization from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), is unfortunately not an isolated incident and is one of a series of similar incidents over the past 18 months. These repeated security breaches raise serious questions about the effectiveness of screening at some of the largest airports. The Philadelphia Incident: A Brazen Attempt The details of the incident, documented in court documents, paint a disturbing picture. Shortly after midnight on June 26, 2024, Jonathan Beaulieu, a Philadelphia resident, approached a TSA security checkpoint in the exit lane of the secure airside area at Terminal C. He attempted to re-enter the area, claiming he had left his cell phone with him. The security officer on duty then contacted the police department, who, however, stated that the police could not locate Beaulieu's phone. When the officer repeatedly told him that he was not allowed to enter the airport, Beaulieu allegedly placed a $50 bill on her desk. The officer then called the police again. After several minutes of arguing, Beaulieu pushed past her and stormed into the secure area of ​​the airport. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, airport security officers immediately began checking surveillance cameras and saw Beaulieu boarding a plane. The press release from the

Continue reading "

KLM submits new wage offer to unions

Stephen Steiner July 7, 2025 13:38

The Dutch airline KLM has submitted a new wage offer to employee representatives. The proposal includes a one-time payment of €1.000 for 2025 and a structural salary increase of up to 2,5 percent starting in July 2026. The amount of the percentage increase is linked to the company's financial performance. This offer forms the basis for further negotiations between the airline and the participating unions, which are scheduled to resume on July 10, 2025. The submitted offer provides for a new collective labor agreement (CLA) with a term of 22 months, which will cover all employee groups at KLM. The key points of the proposal are the aforementioned one-time payment of €1.000, which is to be paid to all employees in 2025. The structural salary increase, effective July 1, 2026, is tied to KLM's operating profit margin in 2025. If KLM achieves an operating profit margin (COI margin) of 5,5 percent or more, the full increase of 2,5 percent would take effect. In the event that the margin is lower, a minimum increase of 0,5 percent is planned. This approach of linking a salary increase to the company's economic performance is not uncommon in the aviation industry and is intended to take into account both the interests of employees and the company's financial stability. For KLM, this proposal represents a solid basis for an agreement that reflects the current challenges of the market environment and the company's long-term planning. After the turbulent years of the pandemic and the subsequent recovery, airlines strive for stable labor relations that ensure

Continue reading "

New flight connections from Sarajevo: Swiss and Eurowings expand their offerings

Belinda Borg July 7, 2025 13:02

Sarajevo Airport will benefit from five new flight routes next year, introduced under a subsidized flight service agreement with the local tourism authority. Swiss International Air Lines and Eurowings will expand their route network from the Bosnian-Herzegovinian capital. This will strengthen the region's international connections and support local tourism. Swiss International Air Lines plans to launch flights between Geneva and Sarajevo. This new connection will complement the existing service from Zurich and is scheduled to operate twice weekly from the beginning of 2026. Exact frequencies and flight schedules will be confirmed at a later date. Swiss previously served the Geneva-Sarajevo route, from April 2015 to April 2016, with an Avro RJ100 aircraft. The resumption of this connection underscores Sarajevo's relevance as a travel destination for the Swiss market. The low-cost airline Eurowings plans to significantly expand its offerings in Sarajevo. In addition to the existing connections from Cologne and Stuttgart, the airline will introduce new routes from Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, and Hanover. The service to Berlin, originally planned for this year, has been postponed to 2026 for operational reasons. Eurowings had already offered flights between Berlin and Sarajevo from June 2019 to January 2020, before the resumption in March 2020 was prevented by the coronavirus pandemic. The Hamburg-Sarajevo route was last served by Wizz Air until 2022, while Düsseldorf was last served in 2010 by the former airline B&H Airlines. With the launch of all planned Eurowings routes, Sarajevo will be directly connected to a total of ten German cities. In addition to the

Continue reading "

Fight on Frontier Airlines flight raises questions about flight safety

Jan Gruber July 7, 2025 12:48

A recent physical altercation aboard a Frontier Airlines flight between Philadelphia and Miami has renewed concerns about the rising number of disorderly passengers in American air travel. One man ended up in the hospital and subsequently in jail after a fight. This incident is not an isolated incident, but rather the latest in a disturbing series of disruptions and aggression on board aircraft. While airlines and regulators like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are taking increasing measures to curb this problem, the latest development shows that the challenge of ensuring a safe and enjoyable air travel remains acute for all involved. Chaos in the airspace: The brawl on the Frontier flight The incident occurred this week on a Frontier Airlines flight when two men got into a physical altercation within a row of seats on the Airbus jet. As the New York Post reported, the aggressor, Ishaan Sharma, a New Jersey resident, was allegedly making strange comments and muttering threats before the attack. He was even heard making death threats, prompting a concerned passenger to press the flight attendant's call button for help. Sharma then turned around and grabbed the whistleblower, Keanu Evans, by the throat. The ensuing altercation resulted in Sharma being punched several times by Evans. Other passengers even begged Evans to stop when he reciprocated Sharma's aggression. After landing in Miami, Sharma was arrested by authorities and subsequently taken to the hospital and jail. Frontier Airlines was not immediately available for comment. However, Keanu Evans did not comment.

Continue reading "

Passenger gets probation after bomb hoax at Malta Airport

Amely Mizzi July 7, 2025 12:33

A 24-year-old man has been given a conditional discharge at Malta International Airport after making a "bombshell" joke to a ground staff member. Slovenian delivery driver Jure Virant was waiting to board a Ryanair flight to Zagreb last week when the incident occurred. The case highlights the strict security regulations in air travel, which take even the most careless remarks seriously. The incident occurred when a ground staff member asked Virant to place his luggage in the size-measuring device. After determining that the bag was "oversized," Virant was asked to pay an additional fee of sixty euros. He argued that he had traveled with the same bag from Zagreb and should not have been charged. Although he eventually agreed to pay, the staff member asked if there were any electronics in the bag while attaching a tag to it. Virant replied, "There's a bomb." Although he immediately clarified that it was a joke and surveillance images showed him laughing, the employee informed her superiors, airport security, and the police. She later stated that she was "terrified" when she heard the word "bomb." Security authorities responded promptly. The luggage had already been scanned once before the incident and was checked a second time afterward. Such statements, even if intended as a joke, are taken extremely seriously at airports worldwide. The aviation industry is on high alert following several terrorist attacks in the past, and any indication of a threat triggers extensive security protocols, regardless of the utterer's intent. After considering the circumstances of the case, the

Continue reading "