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September 5, 2025

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September 5, 2025

Rail Control: Competition with road transport is the biggest challenge for railway companies

Jan Gruber September 5, 2025 15:07

A recent survey by the regulatory authority Schienen-Control shows that competition with road transport represents the greatest challenge for Austrian railway companies. The results are based on a systematic survey of market participants in Austria. In some areas, Austrian rail transport continues to achieve good results compared to other European countries. For example, the quality of infrastructure, training facilities, and the language skills of staff are rated particularly positively. Competition from road transport was rated as the worst ever, with a grade of 3,82 on a school scale. The costs and availability of locomotives and energy, as well as the level of track access charges, are also cited as problems. In addition, technical problems with safety systems such as ETCS are hindering interoperability in cross-border traffic. The Schienen-Control survey serves as a basis for assessing the situation in rail transport and is intended to help political decision-makers maintain the competitiveness of the railway.

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Klagenfurt Airport Night Run takes place on Saturday

Jan Gruber September 5, 2025 14:36

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the Klagenfurt Airport Night Run will take place for the second time. The event, organized in cooperation with the State of Carinthia, expects up to 1.500 participants. The airport's night-lit runway will serve as the running course. Runners can run or walk a 5,5-kilometer route within a 1,5-hour time frame. The focus is not on time, but on the joy of exercise. Prizes for participants will be awarded through a raffle, so every starting number has a chance of winning. Another component of the event is its social purpose. All proceeds from the run will go to the Carinthian Cancer Aid. A team of athletes from the Austrian Armed Forces will also lead a professional warm-up program for the participants. The event is part of the State of Carinthia's "Promoting Health - Moving Carinthia" initiative. The event at the airport is intended to serve as a symbol of promoting sports and a sense of community.

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Wave of strikes in Italy affects air traffic

Stephen Steiner September 5, 2025 14:02

Travelers across Italy must prepare for significant disruptions to air traffic in September. Several announced work stoppages are expected to affect flight and ground crew, which could lead to extensive delays and cancellations. A 6-hour walkout by easyJet flight crew and a strike by Swissport ground handling are planned for September 24. An all-day strike by ground staff at Milan's Linate and Malpensa airports is announced for September 14. Nationwide strikes are planned for September 26, including at the airline Volotea. An expert from AirHelp pointed out that entitlement to financial compensation under EU Regulation 261/2004 depends on who exactly is walking off the job. While compensation may be possible in the case of a strike by the airline's own flight crew, strikes by external employees are considered extraordinary circumstances that do not give rise to a claim. However, delays of more than two hours generally entitle the airline to meals and drinks. In the event of longer waiting times or flight cancellations, airlines must also offer alternative transportation or a full refund of the ticket price.

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Change of strategy at the top: Fiji Airways prepares for the departure of its long-time boss

Jan Gruber September 5, 2025 13:46

Fiji Airways, Fiji's national airline, is facing a significant leadership change. Long-standing Chairman and Managing Director, Andre Viljoen, will step down from his operational role at the end of September 2025 to take up the position of CEO of Air Mauritius. As announced by Fiji's Finance Minister, Biman Prasad, Viljoen will, however, remain on the board of the Fiji Airways Group. This step, according to Prasad, is intended to ensure continuity and a smooth handover. Viljoen's successor will be determined through a recruitment process overseen by the board led by Nalin Patel. The decision to retain Viljoen as a board member raises questions about possible conflicts of interest, which the ministry denies. An era of prosperity comes to an end Andre Viljoen has played a significant role in Fiji Airways over the past few years. Under his leadership, the airline has developed from a regional player into an internationally respected airline. Viljoen took over at a time when the airline was struggling with financial and operational challenges. Through consistent strategic reorientation, he succeeded in increasing profitability and modernizing the fleet. The introduction of new aircraft types, particularly the Airbus A350-900, strengthened Fiji Airways' position in the long-haul market. The airline expanded its network, opened up new routes, and improved the overall passenger experience, earning it international recognition. Viljoen's decision to now join Air Mauritius is being followed with great interest in the aviation industry. He will take over the leadership of another national airline in a geographically distant but strategically comparable region. Air Mauritius, which is also located in

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Part-time work in the tourism industry under criticism

Jan Gruber September 5, 2025 13:30

The Vida trade union criticizes the high part-time employment rate in Austrian tourism and the hospitality industry. It sees this development as a structural obstacle for employees who would like to work full-time. The union accuses employers of forcing employees into part-time work after the end of the peak season. According to Statistics Austria, the part-time employment rate in tourism was 2023 percent in 39,2, significantly higher than the overall average of 31,6 percent. It is also striking that men in the tourism sector, at 24,8 percent, work part-time more often than average. The union calls for consistent enforcement of existing regulations and improved childcare facilities as a basis for better work-life balance. Furthermore, employers should better implement the statutory right to increased working hours. Representatives of the hotel and hospitality industry, however, emphasize that the seasonal nature of the business requires a high degree of flexibility to manage operations and avoid mass layoffs.

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Munich Airport welcomes 84 new apprentices

Amely Mizzi September 5, 2025 13:07

On Monday, September 1st, a total of 84 young employees began their vocational training or dual study programs at Munich Airport. Fifty-seven of these will begin at Flughafen München GmbH (FMG), while 57 young men and women will be trained at subsidiaries. The trainees were selected from around 27 applications, with many of them coming from neighboring communities and the airport region. The airport offers a selection of over 2.000 different apprenticeships and dual study programs in fields such as IT, technology, security, and logistics. During their first few days, the new employees are prepared for their career entry with an induction program. This also includes a multi-day training session in the Allgäu mountains. The airport management emphasizes the importance of developing young talent and the subsequent employment of trained employees.

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No judgment in the FTI case: Out-of-court settlement between travelers and comparison portal

Belinda Borg September 5, 2025 12:45

The months-long legal dispute between clients of Wiesbaden-based attorney Holger Hopperdietzel and the comparison portal Check 24 in connection with the insolvency of the tour operator FTI Group has been settled out of court. Shortly before a potential court hearing, the parties reached an agreement, thus avoiding a precedent on the sensitive issue of travel agents' duty to provide information. The parties have agreed to keep the exact details of the settlement confidential. The out-of-court settlement of the case, in which a family lost €7.725 for individual services with FTI, represents a setback for the legal clarification of agents' liability. Although the settlement is likely to provide financial compensation for the affected family, the industry is left with the unresolved question of the extent to which agents will be required to provide information about the financial situation of travel providers in the future. The core issues of the legal dispute The now settled case revolved around a family from the Rhine-Main area who had booked hotel stays in Spain as individual services via the Check 2024 portal shortly before FTI's insolvency in June 24. Since it was not a package tour, the insurance provided by the German Travel Insurance Fund did not take effect. As a result, the family lost the full amount of €7.725. Attorney Holger Hopperdietzel filed a lawsuit for damages against Check 24, based on Section 280 of the German Civil Code. Hopperdietzel's central argument was that Check 24 had violated its duty to inform its customers. In his opinion, the FTI Group's financial difficulties were known long before the insolvency. A reputable broker, he argued, would have informed its customers

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Alpbachtal tests digital voice assistant for tourism

Jan Gruber September 5, 2025 12:32

The Alpbachtal tourism region in Tyrol has installed a voice assistance system in 24 pilot establishments. The so-called "Alpbachtal Voice Concierge" is designed to automatically answer guests' questions. The project was developed jointly with Thoesch GmbH. The system, based on Amazon Alexa technology, can provide information about breakfast times or excursion destinations. It also offers the option of booking additional services such as table reservations. The goal is to relieve employees of routine tasks, allowing them more time to provide personal service to guests. Alpbachtal is the first destination in Europe to introduce a comprehensive solution. In addition, a special module for the conference sector is being tested for the first time. The launch deliberately coincided with the European Forum Alpbach in order to test the system under realistic conditions. The operator emphasizes that data protection is guaranteed. Voice queries are not saved, and personal data is not collected. Furthermore, any device can be deactivated at any time. The project results will be evaluated after one year.

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SITA introduces new technology for passenger handling

Stephen Steiner September 5, 2025 12:08

The aviation IT company SITA has introduced "SITA Connect Fly," a new connectivity service for airlines. The service is designed to modernize passenger handling systems and connect departure control with workstations at airports. The new system is based on modern network and security technologies and is being developed with partner company Versa. According to SITA, airlines can simplify their processes and reduce the time required to open new locations from months to just a few weeks. For travelers, the new technology should lead to shorter waiting times at check-in and boarding. The system should also reduce the risk of outages and ensure consistent security policies across all airports, ensuring a smoother travel experience. The launch reflects the aviation industry's efforts to replace legacy network structures with flexible, cloud-based solutions. The new service builds on SITA's existing handling systems, which are already in use at over 400 locations.

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The island state at a standstill: Cabo Verde Airlines is struggling with serious operational problems

Jan Gruber September 5, 2025 11:47

The state-owned airline Cabo Verde Airlines is once again facing significant challenges after being forced to partially suspend its operations. The grounding of two wet-leased aircraft on August 31, 2025, following two unrelated incidents, has further exacerbated the company's already fragile operational situation. While the airline is seeking a quick solution by negotiating new wet-lease agreements, this is the third operational disruption within a month due to fleet and capacity constraints. These recurring problems not only affect the regular flight schedule but also raise questions about the stability and reliability of the national carrier, which is crucial for connecting the islands of the archipelago. Two incidents, two aircraft grounded On August 31, two incidents occurred at Praia Airport, leading to the immediate grounding of two aircraft. The aircraft affected were LY-JUP, an ATR72-500 operated under wet lease by the airline Jump Air, and ZS-DHA, a DHC-8-Q300 operated by CemAir. While the exact nature of the incidents was not disclosed publicly, Cabo Verde Airlines assured in a social media update that all passengers disembarked safely on flights VR4501 and VR4204 from Praia. Since then, the aircraft have not been in service, according to flight tracking data. The airline has launched an investigation into the incidents and deployed a special team. However, the consequences of these incidents are far-reaching, as they further deplete the airline's already limited fleet. The practice of wet leasing, in which an airline leases an aircraft

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