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May 12

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May 12

Royal Jordanian opens direct flight between Amman and Dallas

Amely Mizzi 12 May 2026 19:09

Royal Jordanian, the Jordanian national airline, has significantly expanded its route network in North America, launching a new nonstop service between Amman and Dallas on May 10, 2026. The airline now operates four weekly flights between Queen Alia International Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft optimized for long-haul flights of this type. Dallas is the airline's fifth destination in the United States, following Washington, Chicago, New York, and Detroit. The company cites strong demand from the Jordanian and Arab communities in Texas, as well as its strategic importance as an economic hub, as the reason for choosing Texas as the location. This expansion is part of a comprehensive strategic growth plan, with which Royal Jordanian aims to increase its fleet to approximately 40 aircraft and serve around 60 destinations worldwide in the coming years. Samer Majali, CEO of Royal Jordanian, emphasized the importance of the new route for expanding the international network. The connection is intended to promote economic exchange and tourism between Jordan and the USA. Through its integration into the global Oneworld alliance, which also includes Dallas-based American Airlines, passengers will benefit from numerous connecting flights within the Americas. A key factor influencing the timing of the route's launch is the anticipated significant increase in travel volume in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the USA, among other countries. Amman is thus increasingly positioning itself as a regional hub for transit passengers from the Middle East traveling to destinations in North America. Industry experts point out

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Criticism of Lufthansa's withdrawal from Bremen is intensifying.

Amely Mizzi 12 May 2026 18:01

Lufthansa's announcement that it will discontinue the long-standing flight connection between Bremen and Frankfurt on July 1, 2026, has triggered a wave of protests in the Hanseatic city. The Bremen Chamber of Commerce, along with representatives from politics and business, reacted with widespread incomprehension to the planned elimination of up to five daily feeder flights. Chamber President André Grobien described the move as a severe blow to the export-oriented region and, in a direct letter, called on Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr to reverse the decision. Given the consistently high occupancy rates of the aircraft, the economic rationale for the cancellation appears implausible to many local stakeholders. The CDU's Economic Council and the CDU parliamentary group issued urgent warnings about the consequences for Bremen's economic and scientific standing. According to the opposition, around 30.000 jobs and approximately €2,3 billion in gross value added depend directly or indirectly on Bremen Airport. The Bremen Senate under Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte is also facing criticism in this context. Policymakers must create better economic conditions and incentives to keep the airport attractive to airlines. The loss of the connection to the Frankfurt hub represents a significant competitive disadvantage in the international market. Lufthansa officially justified the cancellation by citing a necessary adjustment of its route network to current demand and operational conditions. However, industry experts point out that the airline is currently struggling with severe staff shortages and delays in the delivery of new aircraft, leading to the cancellation of less profitable or operationally complex short-haul routes. While Bremen remains connected to Lufthansa's global network via Munich, the loss of the Frankfurt connection means the airport loses its most important link.

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Limited impact from strikes in Italian air traffic

Stephen Steiner 12 May 2026 17:03

In Italy, coordinated strikes at air traffic control and the airline EasyJet disrupted air traffic in parts of the country on Monday. The strike action focused primarily on the control centers in Rome and Naples and was scheduled to last from 10:00 AM to 18:00 PM. Despite the announcements, the overall impact remained manageable, according to the operators of Rome's airports. By the afternoon, approximately 160 flight cancellations had been recorded nationwide, with only isolated disruptions to operations at the Fiumicino hub and Ciampino Airport largely operating as scheduled. The national airline, ITA Airways, was particularly affected, having announced in advance the cancellation of around 38 percent of its daily flights. This included both domestic and international routes, such as important business travel connections like the Frankfurt-Rome route. The strikes stem from stalled negotiations regarding the renewal of collective bargaining agreements for ground staff and air traffic controllers. The unions are demanding an adjustment of wages to reflect the increased cost of living, as well as improvements to working conditions for shift workers. The low-cost airline EasyJet announced that the impact on the German market remained minimal. Only a few flights from Munich and Frankfurt to the Italian capital had to be canceled. Passengers were advised to check their flight status digitally before traveling to the airport to avoid unnecessary waiting times in the terminals. Since Italy mandates minimum service levels in air transport, guaranteed time slots in the early morning and evening had to be maintained, preventing a complete shutdown of air traffic. In addition to

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Expansion of aviation cooperation between Brazil and India

Amely Mizzi 12 May 2026 16:08

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer has signed a landmark contract with Indian company Bharat Forge Limited for the supply of forging raw materials. This is the first agreement of its kind between Embraer and an Indian supplier and marks a strategic turning point in the procurement policy of the world's third-largest aircraft manufacturer. The aim of the cooperation is to stabilize Embraer's global supply chain with high-quality components and to reduce its dependence on existing markets through greater diversification. India is increasingly becoming a key industrial partner and production location for complex aerospace components within Embraer's global aerospace strategy. The collaboration stipulates that Bharat Forge will manufacture critical structural components for civil and military aviation, significantly expanding the Indian company's existing expertise in engine components. For Bharat Forge, a global technology company specializing in metal processing, this contract represents a significant scaling of its capabilities in the high-tech sector. By promoting such agreements, the Indian government underscores its ambition to establish the country as a leading center for the global aerospace industry. In addition to raw material supply, the dialogue with local industry leaders also explores cooperation in the final assembly and maintenance of aircraft types such as the C-390 Millennium and the E2 jet family. With this step, Embraer is pursuing a long-term strategy to increase its competitiveness in a structurally changing economic environment. The partnership strengthens its industrial base in growth markets and enables the company to respond more flexibly to fluctuations in material availability. The Indian aerospace industry, in turn, benefits from technology transfer and integration into global networks.

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Record attendance at the culinary festival in Vienna's city park

Belinda Borg 12 May 2026 15:00

The culinary festival in Vienna's Stadtpark set a new visitor record last Mother's Day weekend. Around 150.000 guests attended the three-day event, where over 100 farms, manufacturers, and restaurants presented their products. The tenth edition of the festival focused on the diversity of regional foods from all nine Austrian states. The large-scale event was organized by the Culinary Network in close cooperation with the City of Vienna and AMA Marketing, with the aim of raising the profile of domestic agriculture and artisanal food production in urban areas. Participating exhibitors adhere to the strict guidelines of the AMA Culinary Region quality seal, which mandates transparent origin labeling and regular external quality controls. Currently, around 4.000 businesses across Austria, including approximately 1.300 restaurants, are certified according to this standard. According to the organizers, the enormous turnout in Vienna's Stadtpark demonstrates that consumer trust in certified food quality and direct communication with producers are key factors influencing purchasing decisions in retail stores and restaurants. In addition to classic meat and cheese products, niche products such as Alpine caviar, peanuts from the Weinviertel region, and special edible snails from local farms were increasingly featured. The festival was structured into thematic areas such as "Forest and Meadow," "Earth," "Water," and "Specialties" to help visitors navigate the wide range of offerings. Complementing the tastings, various stations offered insights into traditional processing techniques, such as grain milling. Industry representatives like Christina Mutenthaler-Sipek and Lorenz Mayr from AMA Marketing emphasized the economic importance of such events for regional value creation. The festival serves not only as a sales platform but also as a networking hub for rural producers and

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Expansion of the Kazakh low-cost airline FlyArystan

Belinda Borg 12 May 2026 14:07

Kazakhstan's airline FlyArystan has celebrated a successful seventh anniversary and is strengthening its market position in Central Asia. Since commencing operations in May 2019, the subsidiary of the Air Astana Group has carried more than 21 million passengers. With a current fleet of 28 Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline has achieved its goal of making air travel affordable for a large segment of the population in Kazakhstan. A significant milestone in the company's history was the granting of its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) by the Kazakh aviation authorities in 2024, allowing FlyArystan to operate as a legally independent entity under the IATA code FS. The airline's route network now encompasses over 40 destinations, with an increasing focus on international connections to Georgia, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, India, and Turkey. In 2025, FlyArystan accounted for approximately one-third of all passenger traffic in Kazakhstan, underscoring the company's systemic importance to the country's infrastructure. Industry experts point out that the airline keeps its operating costs low by utilizing secondary airports and optimizing ground time, thereby increasing competitive pressure on regional rivals. A key pillar of the company's strategy is the technological modernization of its operations. The implementation of self-service terminals at its main hubs in Almaty, Astana, and Aktau, along with a high online check-in rate of around 93 percent for domestic flights, contributes to increased efficiency. This operational performance has been recognized internationally on several occasions. At the Skytrax World Airline Awards, the company received the award for Best Low-Cost Carrier in Central Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) for the third consecutive year.

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Qatar: Capacity adjustments and network corrections in international air traffic for summer 2026

Stephen Steiner 12 May 2026 13:32

Qatar Airways, the state-owned airline of the Emirate of Qatar, has made extensive changes to its global flight schedule for the upcoming peak season between mid-June and mid-September 2026. A detailed analysis of current flight schedule data reveals that the company is reducing its originally planned capacity to approximately 85 percent. This measure includes the temporary suspension of numerous destinations as well as significant frequency reductions on prestigious long-haul routes to Europe and North America. While key metropolitan areas such as London, Frankfurt, and Vienna are affected by cutbacks, the airline is focusing its remaining resources on selected markets in Asia and Eastern Europe to ensure operational stability in the face of global challenges in the sector. Background to the operational realignment: The decision to reduce capacity comes at a time when the entire aviation industry is facing complex conditions. A key factor in the adjustments is the ongoing bottlenecks in the global supply chain for aircraft spare parts, as well as delays in the delivery of new long-haul aircraft. Experts point out that the airline aims to avoid short-notice cancellations, which could severely damage passenger confidence, by proactively reducing its flight schedule. Furthermore, volatile operating costs, particularly the price of jet fuel, play a crucial role in assessing the profitability of individual routes. By eliminating less profitable routes, the company optimizes its capacity utilization and ensures the overall economic viability of its operations. Another aspect of the strategy is personnel capacity planning. Given the continued tight global market for qualified cockpit and cabin crew, streamlining the flight schedule allows for more reliable scheduling. Reducing the schedule to 85 percent of its original volume creates

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New EU regulations for airport subsidies are meeting with resistance.

Jan Gruber 12 May 2026 13:02

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on future state aid rules for the aviation sector. The airport association ACI Europe reacted immediately with sharp criticism to the published draft. While the Brussels authority acknowledges in principle that smaller regional airports with fewer than one million passengers per year have structural deficits and therefore depend on operating subsidies, the design of the new rules is causing discontent within the industry. In particular, the planned time limit of only five years for this aid, as well as stricter requirements for airports with medium traffic volumes, are considered a threat to their existence. A key point of contention is the lowering of the thresholds for investment aid. According to the Commission's plans, only airports with up to three million passengers will be eligible for such funding in the future, whereas the current limit is five million. Experts point out that the European airport landscape is currently under immense economic pressure. Declining revenues coupled with rising costs – exacerbated by the current energy and oil crisis – make infrastructure investments impossible for many operators without government support. Market studies show that economic viability, particularly in the regional segment, is hardly guaranteed without long-term assistance. Olivier Jankovec, Director General of ACI Europe, warns against decoupling political objectives from economic reality. The planned restrictions could severely jeopardize the connectivity of rural regions and smaller communities. Since access to international air traffic is a crucial factor for the attractiveness of entire regions and their economic resilience, the associations are calling for improvements in discussions with the responsible EU Commissioner, Teresa Ribera.

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Plus Ultra withdraws from Colombia

Amely Mizzi 12 May 2026 12:36

Spanish airline Plus Ultra Lineas Aereas has announced far-reaching changes to its Latin American route network. As of June 2, 2026, flights to Colombia will be temporarily suspended entirely. This decision is the result of a massive increase in operational costs, primarily due to the drastic rise in kerosene prices as a consequence of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In addition to global commodity prices, the company also cites local fiscal burdens and high infrastructure costs in Colombia as reasons for the withdrawal. However, the airline is simultaneously restructuring its capacity and plans to use the freed-up resources to expand its services to Venezuela, Peru, and Argentina. Economic conditions and operational challenges: In the spring of 2026, the aviation sector faced one of the most severe crises in recent years. The outbreak of hostilities involving Iran has destabilized global energy markets and driven the price of jet fuel to record levels. For an airline like Plus Ultra, which specializes in long-haul flights between Europe and Latin America, these fuel costs represent the largest single item on its balance sheet. Since profit margins on routes to South America are already under intense competitive pressure, operating flights to Bogota and Cartagena economically is no longer viable for the company under the current conditions. In addition to these external factors, specific market conditions in Colombia accelerated the decision. In official statements, the airline cited continuously rising airport fees and a tax burden considered above average compared to other airlines in the region.

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Security incident at Athens airport leads to evacuation of Lufthansa flight

Stephen Steiner 12 May 2026 12:00

On the morning of May 11, 2026, an incident occurred at Athens International Airport (Eleftherios Venizelos) involving a Lufthansa Airbus A321neo. The aircraft, registration D-AIEA, which had departed as scheduled for Munich as flight LH1753, had to abort its climb and initiate an immediate return just 13 minutes after takeoff. The maneuver was triggered by a warning message in the cockpit indicating a fire in the area of ​​the auxiliary power unit (APU) in the tail of the aircraft. During the approach, the crew also reported a strong odor in the rear of the cabin. After landing on runway 03L, the pilots, given the unclear nature of the situation, initiated an emergency evacuation via the slides. At this point, the aircraft was still on the taxiway, surrounded by airport firefighters who were already on standby. According to recent reports from the Greek Civil Aviation Authority and local media, at least three people were injured during the evacuation. The injured were taken to nearby hospitals for initial medical treatment, while the remaining passengers and crew were cared for in the terminal. Investigations by technicians and fire safety experts on site are now focusing on the APU (Automatic Power Unit), which is responsible for supplying power to the aircraft on the ground and in emergency situations. The aircraft involved, D-AIEA, is a modern "neo"-generation aircraft that entered service only a few years ago. It is being investigated whether a technical defect or a component failure triggered the fire alarm and smoke development. The incident caused temporary delays in operations at Athens Airport, as the affected takeoff and landing aircraft was grounded.

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