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July 28, 2025

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July 28, 2025

Wizz Air returns to Warsaw Modlin Airport after 13 years

Jan Gruber July 28, 2025 11:03

The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air will resume operations at Warsaw-Modlin Airport in December 2025. After a 13-year absence, the airline plans to launch eleven new routes to eight countries. Two Airbus A321neo aircraft will be stationed at Modlin, offering over 500.000 seats annually and creating more than 80 local jobs. The new routes will be introduced in phases. Flights to Athens, Barcelona, and Bergen are scheduled to begin on December 1, 2025. Bergamo, Chisinau, and Paphos will follow on December 2. In mid-December, from December 15 to 16, routes to Malta, Sofia, Brindisi, and Palermo will commence. A further connection to Alghero, Sardinia, is planned for March 31, 2026. Most routes will operate three to five times a week, with daily flights to Bergamo and six flights a week to Malta in winter. Wizz Air chose Modlin Airport due to its proximity to Warsaw, preferring this location to Radom Airport. The airline aims to increase its seat capacity in Poland by almost 2025 percent by 20. Wizz Air intends to consolidate its position as the second-largest operator in the Polish market, with a 25 percent market share. Wizz Air's return to Modlin Airport comes at a time when the airport is experiencing increased activity. Ryanair previously announced a major expansion at Modlin Airport, including 25 new routes and an expected increase to five million passengers annually by 2030. Air Arabia also plans to launch flights from Sharjah to Modlin Airport in December.

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Lithium battery fire on board Virgin Australia plane

Jan Gruber July 28, 2025 10:02

A fire caused by a lithium battery broke out on Monday morning on board a Virgin Australia aircraft on flight VA1528 from Sydney to Hobart. The incident on the Boeing 737-800 (registration VH-YID) led to smoke developing in the cabin and initially caused unrest among passengers. However, the aircraft was able to land safely. The fire ignited at around 9:00 a.m. local time during the descent to Hobart. The crew discovered a burning device in an overhead compartment above the seats. Initial attempts to extinguish the fire with the on-board fire extinguishers were unsuccessful. Ultimately, however, the flight crew and passengers were able to control and extinguish the flames using water bottles. Video footage showed passengers being asked to move to the rear of the aircraft as the smoke spread. After the safe landing in Hobart, firefighters boarded the aircraft to remove the luggage containing the lithium battery. One passenger received medical treatment for suspected smoke inhalation. The crew members were also examined and found fit to return to duty. Virgin Australia praised the "prompt and professional" actions of its crew and confirmed that a replacement aircraft had been provided for the return flight to Sydney. The airline also contacted passengers seated near the fire to offer further support. This incident follows similar incidents caused by lithium batteries in the past. A similar incident occurred on a South Korean flight earlier this year. Such incidents once again raise questions about the safety of portable electronic devices in hand luggage.

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Delta Air Lines pilot arrested in Stockholm after breathalyzer test

Belinda Borg July 28, 2025 09:07

A Delta Air Lines pilot was arrested at Stockholm Arlanda Airport on Tuesday morning, July 22, 2025. The arrest followed a routine pre-flight check, during which a breathalyzer test returned a positive result. The incident involved flight DL205, which was bound for New York, according to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. At around 09:15 a.m. local time, Swedish police boarded the aircraft and arrested the pilot after a breathalyzer test indicated the presence of alcohol in his system. Nadya Norton, a police spokeswoman, confirmed the arrest, stating: "The pilot tested positive and was taken away for further investigation. The individual is now in custody, suspected of aviation-related intoxication." Such incidents are extremely rare in the aviation industry, as pilots are subject to strict regulations regarding alcohol consumption and undergo regular checks to ensure the safety of flight operations. Official details regarding the pilot's identity, nationality, or age have not yet been released by the authorities. However, online sources report that the person arrested is a female pilot from the United States. The airport operator, Swedavia, referred all inquiries to the Swedish police. Airlines have strict guidelines regarding their pilots' alcohol consumption, which far exceed the legal requirements. Pilots are generally subject to a zero-tolerance policy or very low limits, often combined with a strict "bottle-to-throttle" rule that requires a certain period of alcohol-free time before starting work. Delta Air Lines has not yet commented publicly on the incident. Such incidents can have far-reaching consequences for the personnel involved, including the revocation of their pilot's license.

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Conflict over Dublin Airport: Ryanair criticizes growth brakes, government defends noise protection measures

Jan Gruber July 28, 2025 08:34

Growing tension is currently shaping the Irish aviation landscape. Ryanair, one of Europe's largest airlines, has sharply criticized the Irish government after new restrictions on night and early morning flights were introduced at Dublin International Airport. The airline warns that these requirements could hinder investment, limit capacity, and ultimately harm the national economy. However, the Irish government defends the decision as a necessary compromise between the airport's growth and the concerns of local residents. The dispute highlights the complex balancing of interests that must be found between economic development and noise protection in an increasingly densely populated area. Ryanair's sharp criticism: "Idiotic" and damaging to the economy Ryanair has described the decision of An Coimisiún Pleanála – an independent, quasi-judicial body that decides on appeals against planning decisions made by local authorities in Ireland – as "idiotic." At the heart of the criticism is the introduction of an annual cap of 35.672 flight movements during the night hours at Dublin International Airport. This restriction applies to the period between 23:00 PM and 07:00 AM local time, effectively equating to approximately 98 flight movements per night. Ryanair fears that this threshold will be reached as early as this year, which would lead to a drastic reduction in flight operations. Early morning transatlantic arrivals and short-haul flights to Europe would be particularly affected by these cuts. The airline argues that these restrictions will prevent Dublin Airport from growing beyond its current traffic levels. This contrasts sharply with the design of the airport's recently commissioned north runway, which is designed to support up to 60 million passengers annually. Current passenger numbers

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Sundair launches new winter flight connection from Nuremberg to Beirut

Stephen Steiner July 28, 2025 08:00

The airline Sundair has announced a new flight connection from Nuremberg for the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule. Starting October 28, 2025, the airline will directly connect the Franconian metropolis with Beirut, Lebanon. The German airport announced this. The route will be served once a week, every Tuesday. The introduction of this new route expands the flight offerings from Nuremberg Airport and creates a direct connection to an important city in the Middle East. Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, is a major center for business, culture, and tourism in the region, attracting both business travelers and visitors interested in history and Mediterranean flair. A direct connection offers travelers from the Nuremberg region and northern Bavaria a convenient option for travel to Lebanon. Sundair, a German charter and scheduled airline, is specifically expanding its route network with this connection. The winter flight schedule often requires adjustments to meet seasonal demand and passenger preferences. The choice of Beirut as a new destination indicates expected demand, possibly driven by a larger Lebanese diaspora in Germany or by interest in visiting family and friends and for tourism. The introduction of such a connection contributes to strengthening Nuremberg Airport's role as a regional transport hub and offers travelers more choice. For Lebanon, an additional European connection is important to promote exchange with Germany.

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Airport security standards in focus: The VC Airport Check 2025 with new methodology and international accents

Stephen Steiner July 28, 2025 07:34

The Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) has published its eagerly awaited annual airport check for 2025. This year's edition features a fundamentally new evaluation methodology that places a greater focus on the actual safety effectiveness of measures. The aim of the check is to support airports in their efforts to improve safety standards, particularly in preventing dangerous incidents on runways such as runway incursions and excursions, as well as in expanding modern, GPS-based approach systems without neglecting proven conventional approach systems. For the first time, the study, which was conducted in collaboration with the Swiss pilots' association Aeropers, also covers airports in Switzerland, thus offering a broader, internationally comparable perspective on safety in European air traffic. New evaluation methodology: risk-oriented, transparent, and internationally comparable. The Vereinigung Cockpit, Germany's professional association of pilots, has been conducting its annual safety check of German commercial airports since 1978. Regional airports were also included in the study in 1996. However, the 2025 edition marks a turning point with the introduction of a new, risk-based assessment approach. Instead of the previous, often criticized school grading system, the assessment is now based on a detailed points system that provides percentage results and then converts them into grades. This methodology ensures a more precise and transparent assessment of airports' safety performance. Thomas Steffen, pilot and flight safety expert at AEROPERS, the Swiss Pilots' Association and VC partner in this project, explains the innovations: "For the first time, a risk-based assessment approach is being used that weights measures according to their actual safety effectiveness." This means that particularly effective safety precautions, such as permanently active stop bars (lights on the ground that signal a stop to prevent collisions

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Discussion about control gaps at German airports during secondary migration

Amely Mizzi July 28, 2025 07:05

Several thousand refugees already recognized in Greece have traveled on to Germany this year and reapplied for asylum there. According to information from the Funke Media Group, many of these recognized refugees arrive in Germany by plane from Greece. This practice, in which individuals who have already received protection in one EU country travel on to another member state, is known as secondary migration and is the subject of an ongoing debate within the European Union. The German Police Union (GDP) has raised concerns about inadequate controls at German airports. Andreas Roßkopf, GDP Chairman for Federal Police and Customs, pointed out that the Federal Police conducts comprehensive checks on motorways and country roads at the internal borders with Poland and Austria to prevent irregular entry of migrants and asylum seekers. Roßkopf described the situation at the airports as a "loophole" and "absurd." He calls for the Federal Police to be given "urgently greater powers to control and also to reject so-called secondary migration." The problem of secondary migration within the EU has long been an issue in European migration policy. The Dublin system stipulates that asylum applications should be submitted and processed in the EU country in which the refugee first entered European soil. Traveling onward and reapplying in another member state circumvents this principle and leads to discussions about the effectiveness and enforcement of existing regulations. In particular, countries such as Greece, which lie on the EU's external borders, record a high number of initial applications, while Germany frequently serves as a destination country for secondary migration. The police union's demands reflect the challenges facing the

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Austrian Airlines refines Business Class: More individuality at breakfast and “red-white-red” at spirits

Amely Mizzi July 28, 2025 06:35

Austrian Airlines has comprehensively optimized its offerings for Business Class passengers on long-haul flights. With a new menu featuring not only structural and design changes but also expanded options, the service experience above the clouds is intended to be even more personalized. One of the innovations is the reintroduction of the so-called Kreuzerl breakfast, which allows guests to customize their meal. Furthermore, Austrian Airlines is increasingly focusing on domestic products: Selected spirits now come from Austrian producers, underscoring the airline's commitment to the regional economy and the presentation of high-quality Austrian products. These measures are aimed at further increasing the comfort and attractiveness of long-haul flights. The comeback of the "Kreuzerl breakfast": More individuality on board The introduction of the new menu in Business Class on Austrian Airlines' long-haul flights brings with it a welcome return: the so-called Kreuzerl breakfast. This concept, which has already been well received in the past, allows passengers to select their preferred breakfast items directly from the menu. By simply checking the desired components, travelers can create their own personalized breakfast, which is then added to the basic components on the tray. This personalization of the breakfast offering is a significant step toward an even more personalized service experience on board. At a time when passengers increasingly value customized services, Austrian Airlines is responding to this trend and offering its guests the opportunity to customize their meal according to their own preferences. This not only increases comfort but also gives passengers a feeling of appreciation and attention, leading to a more positive perception of the entire experience.

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Braathens Regional Airlines establishes crew base in Vienna for Austrian Airlines

Belinda Borg July 28, 2025 06:05

The Swedish airline Braathens Regional Airlines (BRA) will establish its own crew base in Vienna. This is part of an expansion of its ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) partnership with Austrian Airlines, as reported by the specialist portal "CH-Aviation". This step will intensify the cooperation between the two airlines and strengthen Austrian Airlines' capacity on certain routes. As part of the expanded cooperation, BRA will now provide three ATR72-600 aircraft to the Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines on a so-called wet lease. In the same period last year, the number of aircraft of this type was two. The current cooperation agreement runs until 2027, although Francesco Sciortino, Head of Operations at Austrian Airlines, is considering an extension of the partnership. A wet lease agreement means that BRA not only provides the aircraft but also takes care of the crew, maintenance, and insurance, allowing Austrian Airlines to flexibly adjust capacity. The recruitment agency AAP Aviation began recruiting pilots for the new Vienna base in July. They are looking for captains and first officers with a valid ATR license. Austrian Airlines concluded the original ACMI agreement with BRA in 2024. The airline requires smaller aircraft such as the ATR72-600, particularly for its domestic routes and selected European connections where the use of larger aircraft would be uneconomical or where frequencies need to be increased. Braathens Regional Airlines currently operates a fleet of 16 ATR72-600 propeller aircraft and two Airbus A319-100s. Its charter subsidiary, Braathens International, also operates five additional aircraft. The establishment of a crew base in Vienna is an indicator of the long-term nature of this partnership and the adaptation to the

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Dreams vanished in heaven: The brief blossoming and sudden end of the Dau Air

Jan Gruber July 28, 2025 05:32

Aviation history is rich in examples of ambitious ventures that began with high hopes but ultimately fell victim to fierce competition or internal difficulties. The German regional airline Dau Air was no exception. It promised to close gaps in the route network and offer travelers fast connections, but its existence was short-lived and ended in an economic fiasco. This report traces the path of an airline that failed despite many good approaches and whose story serves as a lesson in the complexity of the aviation business. Beginnings and Ambitious Plans Dau Air was founded in 2003 by aerospace engineer Hans-Jörg Dau and began operations on April 18, 2005. The young company's goal was to create new connections between smaller German and European airports as a regional airline, thus occupying a niche in the highly competitive market. The idea was to offer business travelers and tourists direct flight options away from the major hubs. A key focus was on connecting regions that had been neglected by established airlines. Dau Air's administrative headquarters were located in Lübeck, while its operational bases were initially at Dortmund Airport and later at Rostock-Laage Airport. These strategic locations were intended to underline the airline's regional roots and provide a good starting point for its planned routes. The aircraft used: Pragmatism and diversity. For its flight operations, Dau Air primarily relied on Saab 340B turboprop aircraft. These aircraft, which offered space for around 33 passengers, were considered reliable and

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