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July 18, 2025

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July 18, 2025

Eurowings resumes Hanover-Beirut connection in winter 2025 flight schedule

Jan Gruber July 18, 2025 15:07

Eurowings, a subsidiary of Lufthansa, has adjusted its upcoming winter flight schedule and plans to resume direct flights from Hanover to Beirut, Lebanon, according to information from the aviation service Aeroroutes. The route is scheduled to be served once a week, every Thursday, starting November 6, 2025, with an Airbus A319 aircraft. The resumption of this service marks an important step for Hanover Airport and its connections to the Middle East. Beirut is not only the capital of Lebanon but also an important economic and cultural center in the region. The direct flight connection will particularly benefit travelers from the Lebanese community in Germany, as well as business travelers and tourists wishing to visit the region. In recent years, airlines such as Eurowings have increasingly focused their route networks on direct connections and serving specific ethnic markets. The use of an Airbus A319, typically configured for short- and medium-haul flights, indicates calculated capacity planning for this route. The once-weekly frequency underlines the strategy of ensuring regular connections without oversizing the service. For Hanover Airport, the addition of a long-haul connection to the winter flight schedule strengthens its offering and its attractiveness as a regional departure airport. The connection to Beirut was served by various airlines in the past, with varying frequencies and continuity. Eurowings' decision to resume this route indicates a positive assessment of demand and market conditions. The airline is pursuing a clear strategy to expand its offering of direct flights from German regional airports in order to offer travelers

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Luxair expands its 2026 summer flight schedule from Luxembourg with new and resumed routes

Stephen Steiner July 18, 2025 14:34

Luxair has presented its summer flight schedule for 2026, which includes a significant expansion of its route network from Luxembourg. The airline plans to resume three existing routes and introduce flights to six completely new destinations. This strategic expansion is intended to increase the range of services available to travelers and strengthen Luxembourg Airport's position as an important hub in the Greater Region. Starting April 1, 2026, Luxair will resume flights to Alicante. These flights will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The airline last served this route in 2018. Two further flights will follow in July 2026: From July 4, flights to Tunis will resume on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Luxair will also resume flights to Bilbao, operating twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, starting July 16. These reintroductions reflect a reassessment of demand in these markets and an adjustment of the offer to current travel needs. The six new destinations in the 2026 summer schedule include the Portuguese Atlantic island of Porto Santo, which will be served every Tuesday from March 31. The Greek islands of Zakynthos and Araxos will also be added to the program, with flights every Wednesday from May 20. Also included in the expanded schedule are Girona (Tuesdays and Saturdays from June 2 to August 29), Helsinki (Mondays and Thursdays from July 2), and Edinburgh (Mondays and Fridays from July 3). These new connections significantly diversify Luxair's offering, opening up new holiday regions as well as important European cities. The expansion of the

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Cologne Labour Court temporarily releases Malta Air from the obligation to hand over documents for works council elections

Belinda Borg July 18, 2025 14:05

The Cologne Labor Court has temporarily released Malta Air, a Ryanair subsidiary, from its obligation to provide the necessary documents for a works council election at the Cologne site. This was announced by the Verdi union. The emergency decision is a setback for the employees who have been campaigning for the establishment of a works council at this location for two and a half years. The union is now focusing on the main hearing, which is scheduled to take place in September. Malta Air had refused to provide lists of employees to the nominated election committee. However, such lists are essential for determining active and passive voting rights, i.e., who is entitled to vote and who can stand for election. Furthermore, the company threatened the election committee with damages claims should it attempt to hold the election under these circumstances. Verdi sharply criticizes Malta Air's actions, describing them as a systematic obstruction of works council elections, which has been observed at various Ryanair locations in Germany and Europe. This raises questions about compliance with the German Works Constitution Act, which regulates employees' rights to co-determination. Trade unions repeatedly emphasize the need for a modern application of these laws to ensure workers' rights in companies with complex international structures. The case underscores the ongoing tensions between Ryanair and trade unions regarding employee representation. Ryanair is known for its strict stance against trade unions and works councils, which has led to numerous labor disputes in various European countries in the past. The dispute in Cologne is one of a series of similar legal disputes concerning the establishment or operation of employee representative bodies.

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European airspace under pressure: Increasing flight volume meets air traffic control bottlenecks

Belinda Borg July 18, 2025 13:47

European skies are currently experiencing higher flight volumes than before the pandemic, with over 35.000 flights daily. However, this encouraging recovery in air traffic is encountering significant capacity constraints at national air traffic control providers, leading to increased delays. Current data from Eurocontrol shows that three national air traffic control providers are responsible for two-thirds of all air traffic control-related delays. While the German Air Traffic Control (DFS) forecasts an improvement in the situation in the coming months, France, Spain, and, to a lesser extent, Germany remain the main causes of bottlenecks in European airspace, straining the nerves of airlines and passengers and reigniting discussions about necessary investments and better coordination. Record air traffic over Europe: The skies are busier than ever. After years of pandemic-related restrictions and a resulting decline in air traffic, European airspace is experiencing an impressive recovery. Eurocontrol, the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation, is currently registering an average of over 35.000 flights per day. This figure exceeds the pre-pandemic volume, more precisely, it is one percent higher than the same week in 2019. This development is a positive signal for the aviation industry, which is recovering from the economic consequences of the crisis. The increased flight volume testifies to robust demand for air travel, both in the business and tourism sectors. People are traveling more, companies are increasingly sending their employees to international meetings, and general mobility is increasing. This is leading to an intensification of the use of European airspace, which is among the busiest in the world. Airlines are responding to this demand by increasing their

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E-Control updates charging point directory and tariff calculator for electric vehicles

Jan Gruber July 18, 2025 13:39

The Austrian energy regulator E-Control has presented a comprehensive update to its directory of publicly accessible charging points and the associated charging tariff calculator. These innovations are intended to offer electric vehicle drivers in Austria significantly improved transparency and user-friendliness when charging their vehicles. The goal is to facilitate trip planning, especially during the upcoming holiday season, and to make the use of electromobility more attractive. The updated directory now shows the availability of charging points in real time – whether they are free or occupied. In addition, charging prices for charging with and without a charging card, as well as any additional costs, are transparently displayed. The charging tariff calculator has also been made more user-friendly and now allows users to save favorite charging cards and compatible charging points nearby. Elisabeth Zehetner, Secretary of E-Control, emphasized that Austria is a European leader with this information offering and is thus a true pioneer in helping e-mobility drivers quickly find the right charging point along their journey. Wolfgang Urbantschitsch, CEO of E-Control, explained that for the first time, e-car drivers in Austria now have independent and objective access to all the information they most urgently requested online: transparent information on contract tariffs, the status of all publicly accessible charging points, and the charging prices to be paid with their own charging card or ad hoc. These innovations are the result of expanded information obligations under the Austrian Charging Point Data Ordinance and the European AFIR (Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation). In addition to the operating status and ad hoc prices, information on plug types, charging capacity, opening hours, suitable vehicle types, accessible parking spaces, and payment options is now also available. A special "extra" is the synchronization of the charging tariff calculator with the charging point directory. Users can now create their own charging card.

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Brussels Airport records passenger and freight growth despite union action

Amely Mizzi July 18, 2025 13:07

Brussels Airport recorded a four percent increase in passenger traffic in June 2025 compared to the same month last year, reaching 2,2 million travelers. Despite this increase, overall growth was impacted by a nationwide union action on June 25 that prevented the start of passenger flights. In the first half of 2025, the airport already welcomed over 11 million passengers, with five national union actions between January and June significantly disrupting flight operations and resulting in the cancellation of flights for more than 230.000 travelers. With the start of the summer holidays at the end of June, the number of departing passengers slightly exceeded that of arriving. Transfer passengers accounted for around fifteen percent of all departing passengers, mainly on routes to and from Africa and North America. The ten most visited countries in June were, in order: Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Portugal, Morocco, France, the United States of America, and Switzerland. These figures reflect the most popular destinations among the Belgian population as well as the importance of Brussels as a transfer point. Cargo volumes at Brussels Airport recorded significant growth of 63.000 percent in June, totaling 25,5 tonnes, compared to the same month last year. The volume of flown cargo increased by 55.601 percent to 46 tonnes. The full-cargo segment grew by 27,4 percent, while belly cargo volumes increased by 18,4 percent. Integrator services recorded a strong increase of 2025 percent, while trucked cargo volumes declined by 9,4 percent. The most important import and export regions were Asia, followed by Africa and North America. In the first half of XNUMX, total cargo volumes increased by XNUMX percent compared to the same period last year. The number of

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Air India crash: Voice recorder indicates manual fuel cut by captain

Stephen Steiner July 18, 2025 12:43

The crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 last month in Ahmedabad, India, which killed 260 people, has taken a tragic and mysterious turn. A cockpit voice recording now being analyzed suggests that the captain may have cut the engines' fuel shortly after takeoff, as the Wall Street Journal reported on July 16, 2025, citing sources familiar with the preliminary US investigation. The incident, which occurred on June 12, 2025, when Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick crashed into a residential area, raises serious questions about the exact sequence of events in the cockpit and reignites a long-standing debate about the necessity of cockpit video recorders on commercial aircraft. The tragic accident and the initial findings On June 12, 2025, an air disaster occurred that held the world in suspense. An Air India Boeing 787-8, en route as Flight AI171 from Ahmedabad (AMD) to London Gatwick (LGW), crashed into a residential area less than a mile from the runway. The consequences were devastating: Of the 242 people on board, only one survived, and another 19 people died on the ground, bringing the total death toll to 260. The circumstances of the crash—the loss of power from both engines shortly after takeoff—pointed from the outset to a critical incident during an early phase of flight. India's aviation authority, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), published initial preliminary findings on July 12, 2025, which play a key role in the investigation of the accident. The AAIB report confirmed,

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ANA President Shinichi Inoue receives Executive Leadership: Asia-Pacific Award

Amely Mizzi July 18, 2025 12:35

Shinichi Inoue, President and CEO of Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA), was honored with the "Executive Leadership: Asia-Pacific Award" at the 2025 FlightGlobal Airline Strategy Awards. This prestigious award, which the Japanese market leader is receiving for the first time, recognizes Inoue's transformative leadership, whose vision has led ANA to exceptional performance and sustained growth. ANA is known for its high quality of service and has been awarded five Skytrax stars for twelve consecutive years, underscoring the airline's global recognition. The FlightGlobal Airline Strategy Awards, now in their 23rd year, recognize airlines, and in particular their executives, for outstanding entrepreneurial qualities and strategic foresight. The awards are organized by FlightGlobal in collaboration with Korn Ferry, and the winners are selected by an independent jury of industry experts in various categories. The "Executive Leadership: Asia-Pacific Award" recognizes leadership teams whose decisions have contributed significantly to success in the dynamic Asia-Pacific aviation market. Shinichi Inoue commented on the honor: "My team and I are incredibly honored to receive this award from FlightGlobal. It is a testament to the dedication and ingenuity of all ANA employees, as well as the strength of our strategic vision." He emphasized that ANA, under the guiding principle of "UNITING the WORLD in WONDER," strives to provide all passengers with unforgettable travel experiences. The FlightGlobal jury praised the positive differentiation of ANA in the Asia-Pacific aviation market under Inoue's leadership, demonstrating not only exceptional financial and operational success but also further improvements in customer ratings. One jury member was particularly impressed.

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Saudia completes digital transformation to customer-centric booking system

Jan Gruber July 18, 2025 12:01

Saudia, the national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has achieved a significant milestone in its digital transformation. The company has transitioned from its traditional booking methods based on PNRs (Passenger Name Records) and electronic tickets to a new system called "Order." This move signals a more customer-centric approach and paves the way for a personalized and seamless travel experience. An "Order" is a single, dynamic record containing all services booked by the traveler for their trip, enabling a consolidated, real-time overview of all services. With the introduction of "Order" functionality, Saudia can now more quickly deliver more flexible offers, tailored pricing, and comprehensive digital services. This transformation is a fundamental part of the airline's overall strategy to redefine the customer experience and operational agility through data-driven retailing. The progress was enabled by Amadeus' "Smart Bridging." This technology converts traditional data records from the Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System used by Saudia into individual "order records" of the new Amadeus Nevio system. This enables Saudia to more quickly realize the benefits of the transformation process in airline retailing, while ensuring business operations are based on the existing infrastructure. Arved von zur Mühlen, Chief Commercial Officer of Saudia, commented on the innovation: "The transition to individual order records enables us to better understand our guests and their bookings with us and our partners throughout the entire journey. This is the basis for a more connected travel experience." He emphasized that technological innovations are crucial for Saudia to provide the highest level of service. This development strengthens the position

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Rental cars in holiday destinations: AK study reveals high price differences

Belinda Borg July 18, 2025 11:47

For many travelers, freely exploring their vacation destination with a rental car is part of the ideal vacation experience. However, prices for rental vehicles can vary considerably and harbor unexpected cost traps, as a recent study by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor (AK Oberösterreich) shows. A comparison of 18 popular European vacation destinations found price differences of up to 165 percent. The study, which analyzed the offers of six well-known rental car companies for the first week of August 2025, provides important insights and practical recommendations for consumers to find the right and most cost-effective vehicle for their trip and avoid unpleasant surprises. The experts' conclusion: A comprehensive comparison and booking directly with the provider from home are essential. Comprehensive price comparison: AK Oberösterreich sheds light on the rental car market. In its latest study, the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor focused on the rental car market for vacation travelers. For the detailed price comparison, offers from six internationally renowned car rental companies – including industry giants such as Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt, Enterprise, and Sunny Cars – were researched online for the first week of August 2025. The selection of destinations included 18 of the most popular European vacation destinations, including numerous Greek islands, Cyprus, the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily, various regions in Spain and Portugal, France, and Croatia. The focus of the research was to find the cheapest available vehicle category. Strict attention was paid to ensuring that the quoted prices included all essential services: all taxes, unlimited mileage, and comprehensive insurance coverage, consisting of fully comprehensive insurance and theft insurance. The option of renting a navigation system was also taken into account. This comprehensive approach was intended to ensure that the

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