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September 3, 2025

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September 3, 2025

Airbus employees in Great Britain postpone strike

Stephen Steiner September 3, 2025 15:09

The planned strike by employees of aircraft manufacturer Airbus in the UK has been temporarily postponed. This was announced by the responsible union, which is currently in collective bargaining with the company. The reason for the postponement is a new offer from Airbus. If the employees reject the offer, the industrial action will resume on September 23 and 24. The union had originally announced a ten-day walkout for the coming week. The strikes mainly affect Airbus sites in the UK, including the plants in Filton and Broughton, which are central to the production of aircraft parts. The union ordered the strikes because of a collective bargaining dispute. The decision on whether to accept or reject the new offer now lies with the employees. Negotiations are suspended pending a vote.

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Dertour Group completes acquisition of Hotelplan

Belinda Borg September 3, 2025 14:38

The Dertour Group has completed its acquisition of the Swiss travel group Hotelplan. Following approval by the competition authorities, the integration of the two companies will now begin, resulting in personnel changes. Hotelplan's current Managing Director, Laura Meyer, will leave the company effective September 30. Executives Torge Petersen and Nicole Pfammatter will also step down. Markus Glesti, the current Chief Financial Officer, will assume the role of Managing Director of the Hotelplan Group for the transitional period. The tour operator Vtours, which was previously part of the Hotelplan Group, will remain an independent company with its headquarters in Aschaffenburg. Sabine Jordan-Glaab will continue to manage the business. Meanwhile, the vacation home provider Interhome will be acquired by Hometogo. The next step will be the technological integration of the companies. The systems of Hotelplan Suisse and Vtours will be migrated to a common platform.

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Waves of strikes announced in several European travel destinations

Jan Gruber September 3, 2025 14:00

Travelers in several European countries must prepare for possible disruptions to rail and air traffic in the coming weeks. Strikes have been announced by various unions and professional groups in Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. In Italy, the strikes will begin on September 4 with a nationwide rail strike. Another strike by ground and flight crews is planned for September 6. Additional strikes at Milan Linate and Milan Malpensa airports will follow on September 14. In France, the air traffic controllers' union SNCTA has called for a 24-hour walkout on September 18 and 19. In Portugal, there is a threat of long-running strikes by ground handling staff, which the Menzies union has announced will last until January 2026. In Spain, strikes by employees of Azul Handling, a Ryanair subsidiary, will continue at all Spanish bases. Passengers should be prepared for possible flight delays, cancellations, and disruptions to rail traffic. The announced strikes affect both regional and long-distance transport.

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Ryanair's baggage policy: conflicts at the airport and on board

Jan Gruber September 3, 2025 13:48

Amidst busy flight operations, a conflict over hand luggage rules is escalating at the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair. The aviation group plans to tighten its strict controls by offering ground staff higher bonuses for discovering items of hand luggage that are too large or too heavy. While the company justifies this step by saying it will speed up check-in processes, critics, particularly union representatives, are warning of the potential consequences. They fear an increase in conflicts between staff and passengers, which could dampen morale even before the flight takes off and even lead to safety risks on board. The dispute highlights the tensions that exist between the commercial interests of airlines and the expectations of travelers and raises questions about the limits of service provision in air transport. A new bonus for ground staff Effective November of this year, Ryanair will significantly increase the bonuses for its ground staff who check passengers' hand luggage at the gate for compliance with the regulations. According to media reports, the compensation for each piece of non-compliant baggage discovered will increase from €1,50 to €2,50. Furthermore, the previous monthly cap on these bonuses will be eliminated, creating a significant financial incentive for employees to conduct checks with greater meticulousness. Passengers whose baggage exceeds the prescribed dimensions of 40x30x20 centimeters or the permitted weight must expect to pay high additional fees to be able to take their items into the cabin or check them in the cargo hold. The airline, known for its rigorous fee model, justifies this measure with the need to optimize its handling processes. According to

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Mallorca: Tens of thousands of illegal guest beds on the island

Jan Gruber September 3, 2025 13:31

A new report by the Mallorca Island Council shows that there are currently more than 42.000 illegal guest beds operating on the island. This corresponds to almost 40 percent of the holiday accommodations offered on major booking platforms. The figures are based on the analysis of approximately 400.000 online advertisements within a single year. Most of the illegal accommodations are located in the island's capital, Palma, as well as in the municipalities of Pollença and Alcúdia. The Balearic Tourism Director, Marcial Rodríguez, emphasized that the data provides a basis for targeted measures. The administration is already working to remove the accommodations from the market. However, legal proceedings are slowing down the process. In addition, the number of inspectors has been significantly expanded. A hotline for citizens allows for the reporting of illegal accommodations. The goal is to reduce the illegal offerings to a minimum.

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Embraer delivers first A-29N Super Tucano to Portugal

Belinda Borg September 3, 2025 13:06

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has delivered the first three A-29N Super Tucano aircraft to Portugal. Following a transfer flight, the aircraft landed at the OGMA workshops in Alverca do Ribatejo near Lisbon. There, the aircraft will be equipped to meet the operational requirements of NATO and the Portuguese Air Force (FAP). The A-29N Super Tucano is a multi-role aircraft used for missions such as pilot training, close air support, and reconnaissance. Twenty-two air forces worldwide have already introduced this aircraft type. It is designed to operate from unpaved runways and offers a wide range of operational capabilities. The acquisition of the aircraft is intended to strengthen the cooperation between Embraer and the Portuguese Air Force and contribute to the modernization of the fleet.

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Mega deal in aviation: Sumitomo consortium takes over Air Lease Corporation

Belinda Borg September 3, 2025 12:45

A monumental deal is shaking up the global aircraft leasing industry. A consortium led by Japan's Sumitomo Corporation and its leasing subsidiary SMBC Aviation Capital, as well as the international investment firms Apollo and Brookfield, is acquiring Air Lease Corporation (ALC), one of the world's largest players in this sector. The transaction has a total value of US$28.2 billion, including the assumption of ALC's debt. This strategic move demonstrates the growing appetite of international corporations for dominant market positions and will fundamentally change the competitive landscape in aviation. Financial Dimensions and the Role of Investors: A Look Behind the Scenes The purchase of ALC is a major financial operation, the complexity of which reflects the strategic importance of the deal. Air Lease Corporation shareholders will receive US$65 per share in an all-cash transaction, representing a total consideration of US$7.4 billion. However, the greater dimension of the deal only becomes apparent when considering the assumption of ALC's debt, which swells the total value to US$28.2 billion. The buyer consortium has secured $12.1 billion to finance this gigantic project. The banks providing this loan, including renowned institutions such as Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), Citi, and Goldman Sachs, underscore the creditworthiness and serious intent behind the acquisition. The involvement of international investment giants such as Apollo and Brookfield is a clear sign that the financial world sees significant potential in the aircraft leasing industry. These firms specialize in investing massive capital in sectors that promise high returns and long-term stability. The execution of the transaction

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Parcel shipping to the USA temporarily suspended

Amely Mizzi September 3, 2025 12:35

Numerous postal services around the world have temporarily suspended parcel shipments to the USA. This measure is a reaction to changed conditions and complex customs procedures that make rapid clearance difficult. The temporary suspension demonstrates how sensitive international goods flows are to changes. Experts believe the causes lie in procedures that are often still performed manually and suddenly changed regulations. Such circumstances can slow down customs clearance. The logistics industry sees the application of artificial intelligence (AI) as a solution. AI systems could help organize scattered information, identify missing details, and comprehensively document decisions. This could reduce manual effort and make clearance more reliable. The goal is to adapt processes so that companies can react quickly to changes in regulations and prevent future disruptions. The Austrian company Digicust offers such solutions for the automation of customs processes.

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Experiment with A320neo: Austrian Airlines challenges Emirates

Jan Gruber September 3, 2025 12:14

In an experiment that reorients the business strategy of Austrian Airlines (AUA), the airline has announced the so-called "Dubai Deal." Starting December 1, 2025, five weekly flights with the agile medium-haul A320neo jet will bring passengers from Vienna to the vibrant metropolis in the Middle East. The offer, advertised with an attractive price starting at €314 for a round-trip flight, represents a radical break with AUA's traditional long-haul strategy. Instead of large, lavishly equipped jets, the airline is focusing on efficiency and the utilization of unused winter capacity. This step marks an aggressive attempt to tap into new customer groups in the highly competitive market for air travel to Dubai and to position the airline as an attractive option for price-sensitive travelers. Competitor Emirates frequently uses long-haul Airbus A380 aircraft on this route, sometimes several times a day. Wizz Air was a competitor on this route for a time, relying on A321neos. This was not a success, as it discontinued Vienna-Dubai and, more recently, Vienna-Abu Dhabi, where it was competing with Etihad. Austrian Airlines could no longer keep up with Emirates many years ago and therefore withdrew from the Dubai route. Now, it believes it can do better with the Airbus A320neo than Emirates with its Boeing 777 and Airbus A380. A bold experiment in aviation Austrian Airlines' decision to operate the route to Dubai with the A320neo is a first in regular long-haul flight operations. Traditionally, flights of this distance are operated with wide-body aircraft such as

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Autumn holidays: Tui reports high demand for beach holidays

Stephen Steiner September 3, 2025 12:07

The travel group TUI has announced current travel trends for the upcoming autumn holidays. According to the report, demand for seaside destinations is particularly high among Austrian holidaymakers. On medium-haul routes, Hurghada in Egypt leads the rankings, followed by Antalya in Turkey and Crete in Greece. These destinations are experiencing increased demand of up to 18 percent compared to the previous year. Egypt has moved up to first place in the country rankings, overtaking Spain. On long-haul routes, the Maldives are the most popular travel destination, followed by Dubai and Mauritius, as well as New York City and Abu Dhabi. The TUI study shows that travelers are particularly keen to extend their summer stay. Remaining seats for the autumn holidays are still available.

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