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December 10, 2025

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December 10, 2025

Brussels Airport is testing new mobility and energy solutions as part of the EU project Stargate.

Belinda Borg 10 December 2025 19:09

Brussels Airport is nearing the end of its five-year Stargate program. Funded with €24,8 million from the European Green Deal, the project serves as a testbed for new mobility, energy, and technology solutions in air transport. Since its launch in 2021, the airport has acted as a laboratory, collaborating with 22 partners – including major airlines and several other European airports – to test innovations aimed at improving operations. One of the most visible innovations is the introduction of a fully autonomous, electric shuttle. The first of its kind in Belgium, it operates on the airside and was initially tested with airport staff from late 2024 to early 2025. Currently, the camera- and sensor-equipped shuttle is in a second testing phase, operating between the terminal and a staff parking area. This project is part of a broader electrification initiative that also includes the installation of smart charging stations for rental cars. These utilize dynamic energy management software developed by Engie Laborelec. By 2027, the BREEZE program also plans to install 328 charging points for electric ground handling equipment. The airport is also exploring new ways to utilize locally generated energy. In early 2025, approximately 100 households in four surrounding communities were offered locally generated electricity from the airport's solar panels for one year. This trial period, which runs until February 2026, aims to assess the feasibility and scalability of such community energy projects. Furthermore, the airport is committed to promoting a shift in passenger traffic: A multimodal travel planner evaluates transport options based on various criteria and assists passengers.

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Qantas establishes Perth as an international hub

Amely Mizzi 10 December 2025 18:01

Australian airline Qantas has launched two new nonstop routes from Perth to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Auckland, New Zealand. This strengthens Qantas' role in Western Australia as a key international hub, now directly connecting three continents. The inaugural flight to Johannesburg (QF65) departed in the afternoon of the day, while the first Auckland-Perth service landed in the morning. These two new routes add more than 150.000 seats to Qantas' annual capacity, which is expected to boost tourism and create local jobs. The expansion of Qantas' international flight schedule at Perth Airport was made possible by financial support from the Australian Federal Government, which invested in increasing border control and biosecurity capacity at the airport. This was a necessary step to handle the increased passenger volume and more complex international procedures. The Perth-Johannesburg flights operate three times a week using Airbus A330 aircraft and have a flight time of approximately 11 hours and 15 minutes. The Auckland route will also be offered three times a week with a flight time of approximately 6 hours and 45 minutes. Cam Wallace, Qantas' international managing director, expressed his satisfaction with the early demand, noting that booking figures for both routes were "excellent." The Johannesburg connection, with partner Airlink, opens up further onward travel options within Africa for passengers. At the same time, the Auckland route provides an attractive one-stop option for travelers wishing to travel from Perth to New York. Representatives from the Australian and New Zealand tourism boards welcomed the new routes, emphasizing the positive economic impact and the

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Suspected use of pepper spray at Heathrow Airport: Arrest after escalation in the parking garage

Stephen Steiner 10 December 2025 17:00

An incident occurred in the Terminal 3 car park at London's Heathrow Airport on Friday morning, in which several people were allegedly sprayed with a type of pepper spray. Armed officers from the Metropolitan Police were called to the multi-story car park at around 8:11 a.m. following reports of assault. According to police, a group of men used the substance before fleeing the scene. Investigators believe the individuals involved knew each other. One man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. Police immediately launched an investigation to identify the other suspects. Commander Peter Stevens of the Metropolitan Police stated that the incident appeared to stem from an escalated argument. He clarified that the incident was not being treated as a terrorist act and announced an increased police presence at the airport throughout the morning to ensure security and reassure the public. He thanked those present for their cooperation. London Ambulance treated several victims. They were taken to a hospital, where initial assessments indicated their injuries were not life-threatening and no lasting damage was expected. The fire brigade was also on scene providing specialized support but left shortly after 10:30 a.m. Online videos showed a man being led away in handcuffs as ambulances, fire trucks, and armed police responded to the scene. Despite the incident, Terminal 3 remained operational. Heathrow Airport management stated that its own teams were handling the situation.

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Discover Airlines opens flights from Frankfurt to the Lufthansa Group's northernmost destination

Stephen Steiner 10 December 2025 16:08

Discover Airlines has launched a new scheduled service between Frankfurt am Main and Alta, Norway. With this connection, the Lufthansa Group's leisure airline now serves the northernmost European destination in the entire group and offers the only direct flight from Germany to the Arctic city. The inaugural flight, number 4Y1302, landed in Alta, located in the Norwegian province of Finnmark, on December 4th after a flight time of three and a half hours. Discover Airlines will operate the Frankfurt-Alta route seasonally from December to mid-April with up to two weekly flights, on Thursdays and Sundays. This expansion of its route network in Northern Europe responds to the sharp increase in demand for winter and Arctic travel in recent years, particularly among German tourists. Due to its geographical location and low light pollution, the region is considered one of the best places in the world for observing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) from autumn to spring. Alta is known as the "City of the Northern Lights" and serves as a base for various Arctic leisure activities. These include dog sledding, ski expeditions, stays in ice hotels, whale watching, and ice fishing. The region, also known for its culture and history, benefits greatly from the new direct connection. The availability of flights through Discover Airlines' channels, its parent company Lufthansa, and travel agencies makes it easier for German travelers to access the Arctic region. Alta is the third Norwegian destination, after Evenes and Bodø, and the fifth in Northern Europe overall, served by Discover Airlines. The airline already operates year-round service to Evenes, Kittilä in Finland, and Reykjavík in Iceland, while Bodø is served seasonally.

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Qantas completes A380 modernization: Last aircraft lands in Sydney after extensive maintenance

Belinda Borg 10 December 2025 15:00

Australian airline Qantas has completed the comprehensive modernization of its Airbus A380 fleet. The last aircraft to be refurbished, named "Paul McGinness," arrived in Sydney following what the airline describes as one of the largest maintenance inspections in its 105-year history. The refurbishment of this jet required over 100.000 engineering hours at maintenance facilities distributed globally. The return of the entire ten-aircraft A380 fleet, which was temporarily grounded during the worldwide travel restrictions, is considered a significant milestone for Qantas. The now-completed superjumbo will initially serve as an operational reserve over the Christmas period before enabling daily A380 service on the Sydney-Dallas route from January 1, 2026. This move will increase international capacity on one of the longest routes in the Qantas network. The entire A380 fleet underwent a complete cabin modernization. This included refurbishing the First Class suites, redesigning the upper deck lounge, and adding premium seating, with a total of 30 additional seats – including more Premium Economy and Business Class seats – being installed. Cam Wallace, Qantas' International Managing Director, emphasized that customer demand for the wide-body aircraft remains strong. Last year, the A380 fleet carried over one million passengers. Wallace highlighted that the aircraft's refurbishment, which included extensive maintenance, landing gear replacement, and test flights, represented a remarkable engineering achievement. The reactivated fleet will support growth on key long-haul routes such as Dallas, Singapore, and Johannesburg. In addition to the cabin refurbishment, Qantas is introducing new First Class amenities, enhanced menus, and upgraded onboard products on the superjumbos to optimize the passenger experience. With the return

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Continued wanderlust and increasing demand for rental cars in late autumn 2025

Belinda Borg 10 December 2025 14:37

The continued public appetite for travel led to a significant increase in rental car bookings in November 2025, indicating active use of late autumn for travel and proactive vacation planning for the coming year. A recent market analysis by rental car provider Sunny Cars confirms that the number of reservations significantly exceeded the level of the same month last year. This development confirms the resilience of the travel market and consumers' willingness to invest in mobility at their holiday destination, even outside the peak travel season. The analysis identifies Spain as the undisputed leader among destinations for rental car bookings. Spain is followed by Portugal, which is experiencing a remarkable upward trend, and the United States, which is further establishing itself as the third most important destination. The demand for rental vehicles is thus closely linked to the most popular destinations for sunny or long-haul trips in November. Regional preferences and shifts in travel behavior: Spain's dominance in the rental car market underscores its continued attractiveness as a travel destination in late autumn. Of the numerous bookings in Spain, around eight percent were specifically for the Canary Islands, underscoring the importance of these destinations as reliable warm-weather havens. Thanks to their geographical location and mild climate, the Canaries are a particularly popular destination for travelers from Central Europe in November. Portugal saw a significant upward trend, moving from third to second place among the most popular car rental destinations compared to the same month last year. Demand was especially strong in the regions around Faro, Lisbon, and on the island of Madeira. This development suggests the country's growing popularity as a year-round travel destination and as an alternative to the traditional Spanish coastal regions.

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Odor in the cabin forces Norwegian flight to make emergency landing in Amsterdam

Belinda Borg 10 December 2025 14:09

A Norwegian Air Shuttle flight made an unscheduled landing at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Saturday afternoon. Flight DY1792 was en route from Oslo Gardermoen to Alicante, Spain, when the crew detected a mysterious odor in the cabin. The Boeing 737-800, registration LN-ENO, landed safely in the Netherlands at approximately 17:00 PM, according to an airline spokesperson. Norwegian spokesperson Silje Glorvigen confirmed that the safety of passengers and crew was the top priority. She explained that an emergency landing is mandatory in such cases to investigate the source of the unknown odor. The airline announced an immediate and thorough investigation into the incident to determine the source of the smell. Unconfirmed reports and industry experts point out that, in addition to unclear odors, flight diversions are often caused by technical problems such as hydraulic system failures, engine malfunctions, or other critical system errors, although Norwegian cited the odor as the primary reason. Norwegian Air Shuttle arranged a replacement flight for affected passengers, scheduled to depart from Oslo via Amsterdam to Alicante that same Saturday evening to ensure their journeys could continue. Such unscheduled stopovers generally lead to significant delays in passengers' travel plans and pose logistical challenges for airlines in organizing alternative transportation and investigating the original aircraft. The incident in Amsterdam underscores the rigorous safety protocols in aviation, which require immediate action even in the case of unclear potential hazards. The airline announced a thorough investigation of the aircraft and the source of the odor.

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Lufthansa: Verdi demands a six percent pay increase for ground staff

Stephen Steiner 10 December 2025 13:31

The German aviation industry is facing its next major wage dispute: The Verdi union has officially presented its demands for the upcoming round of negotiations for Lufthansa's more than 20.000 ground staff employees. The main demands include a six percent wage increase or, alternatively, at least €250 more per month. Given the ongoing cost pressures and Lufthansa's ongoing "Turnaround" restructuring program, a contentious dispute is anticipated. The wage dispute affects employees at approximately 25 companies within the core brands Lufthansa Airlines, Lufthansa Technik, and Lufthansa Cargo. The union justifies its demands not only by citing increased living costs but also by emphasizing the need to correct lower wages in technical fields compared to competitors. Beyond the wage demands themselves, Verdi is placing a clear focus on protecting employees from job cuts and the outsourcing of tasks to subsidiaries operating under lower collective bargaining agreements. Lead negotiator Marvin Reschinsky emphasized that the union wanted to secure protection against outsourcing in order to mitigate the negative effects of the group-wide "Turnaround" cost-cutting program. A particular flashpoint is the Munich hub, where passenger handling staff were slated to transfer to a new Lufthansa-acquired company with pay scales 20 percent lower than their current levels. Christiane Mindermann, who works in this sector in Munich, described the resulting strain on morale and the employees' fears for their livelihoods, as they worry they will no longer be able to afford the high rents in the Munich area. This demand aims to uphold the principle of equal pay for equal work within the group and prevent cutthroat competition.

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Farmers' protests lead to the temporary closure of Heraklion airport

Belinda Borg 10 December 2025 13:07

Ongoing farmers' protests on the Greek island of Crete led to the temporary closure of Heraklion Airport on Monday. According to police, hundreds of demonstrators broke through a barrier and entered the airport apron. As a result, flight operations at the airport, the second largest in Greece, had to be completely suspended. Farmers are demonstrating nationwide against high production costs, demanding government subsidies and additional financial support for the agricultural sector. The farmers' protests, which in recent days have already led to blockades of roads, border crossings, and government offices in several regions of Greece, escalated on Crete. Clashes also occurred at Chania Airport in the west of the island. There, demonstrators blocked access roads and clashed with police, who used tear gas. Reports indicate that at least one police officer was injured and a police vehicle was overturned. The situation on the island remains tense, as farmers are determined to continue their protests to draw attention to their economic demands. Although flight operations at Heraklion Airport, the capital of Crete, were brought to a standstill by the occupation of the apron, tourists were only minimally affected by the disruptions at this time of year. The winter flight schedule includes significantly fewer flights than during the peak season. Following the protest, the farmers announced their intention to remain at the airport at least until late afternoon to discuss further action. The Greek government feels pressured by the nationwide protests to quickly find solutions to the farmers' demands for relief and improved conditions. The farmers' protests in Greece are part of a similar movement.

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