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June 9, 2026

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June 9, 2026

Dispute over the sale of take-off and landing rights of the insolvent Spirit Airlines in New York

Stephen Steiner June 9, 2026 19:00

A serious legal battle has erupted in the bankruptcy proceedings of the US low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines over the planned sale of valuable takeoff and landing slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport. The financially troubled airline, currently undergoing Chapter 11 restructuring, intends to sell its slots there for approximately $87 million (around €76 million) to generate much-needed liquidity to satisfy creditors. Several major US airlines are reportedly interested in acquiring the slot, as they are looking to expand their presence at the financially strained but profitable downtown airport. However, these plans are facing strong opposition from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the three major airports in the metropolitan area. The authority argues before the bankruptcy court that Spirit Airlines lacks the legal authority to unilaterally sell these slots as assets. While the bylaws of the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) generally permit the commercial trading, transfer, or leasing of slots between airlines to promote competition, local infrastructure is subject to its own usage regulations. According to local media, the port authority points out that the necessary airport infrastructure, such as passenger gates, check-in counters, baggage carousels, and office space in the terminal, is essential for actual flight operations. This physical capacity is leased by the operating company through long-term lease agreements and is explicitly tied to the operating obligations of the respective airline. An automatic transfer of these exclusive usage rights to an external buyer through a simple slot sale is prohibited under existing airport regulations, as the authority has the right to re-tender any vacant terminal capacity. The court decision in

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EU agreement reached on new hand luggage regulations for air travel

Jan Gruber June 9, 2026 18:05

As part of a comprehensive reform of European air passenger rights, the European Union's negotiating partners have reached a compromise on hand baggage regulations after months of debate. According to the news portal Politico, citing EU sources, the new regulation stipulates that airlines must generally include a standard piece of hand baggage in their ticket prices. This is intended to ensure transparent pricing online and prevent unexpected additional charges during the booking process. However, consumers will have the option to actively deselect hand baggage, thereby reducing the ticket price by a defined discount. The planned reform primarily targets the business model of low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, Easyjet, and Wizz Air. In recent years, these airlines have contributed to a situation where carrying larger pieces of hand baggage has become an extra charge in the standard fare, and often only a small bag under the seat in front is included in the base price. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) had already established in previous landmark rulings that reasonable hand luggage is an essential part of passenger transport and must not incur additional costs, provided it meets reasonable requirements regarding weight and dimensions. With the current draft, the EU Commission is now attempting to establish uniform standards for all market participants. In addition to price transparency, the new regulation is also intended to promote the harmonization of baggage dimensions within European airspace. Currently, airlines use widely varying maximum dimensions and weight limits, which regularly leads to logistical problems and additional charges at airports. The current compromise requires airlines to implement clearer structures but allows them some entrepreneurial flexibility in precisely pricing the discount. Consumer advocates welcome the transparency initiative, while

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Luxury tourism boom: Austrians are booking more individually and flexibly and investing in exclusive experiences.

Belinda Borg June 9, 2026 17:25

The luxury travel market in Austria is undergoing a profound structural shift towards spontaneous and tailor-made vacations. As current data from tour operator Airtours, the luxury brand of the TUI Group, for the current summer season of 2026 demonstrates, the desire for maximum flexibility during travel is replacing the classic package tour in the premium segment, planned months in advance. Demand is shifting dramatically towards ultra-personalization, where daily itineraries, routes, or private guides are flexibly adapted on-site to weather conditions or personal preferences. The Airtours private travel division is particularly benefiting from this trend, experiencing growth of over 20 percent, significantly outpacing the overall tourism market in Austria. Greece remains the undisputed top destination for Austrian luxury travelers this summer. Nearly one in three bookings is for exclusive hideaways in Crete, the Cyclades, or smaller Greek islands. Classic premium destinations such as the Maldives, Southern Italy, and the Balearic Islands follow in the rankings. Mauritius, the Seychelles, Morocco, and Canada are experiencing the highest growth rates in the long-haul travel sector. Canada is gaining particular momentum thanks to nature tours along its east coast, especially during the autumn foliage season. A significant shift is also evident in the US market: for the first time, bookings for Hawaii have surpassed those for the classic city destination of New York City, as travelers increasingly demand private surfing lessons, volcano expeditions, and Polynesian culture instead of simply sightseeing. For exceptional, authentic experiences, such as private safaris in Tanzania or Namibia, clients are increasingly willing to forgo traditional hotel comforts in favor of nature-oriented accommodations in remote regions. The luxury cruise segment is also developing dynamically, generating a 36 percent increase in bookings for Airtours Cruises.

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Cologne/Bonn Airport and Rewe extend lease agreement until 2036

Jan Gruber June 9, 2026 17:24

Cologne/Bonn Airport GmbH and Rewe Markt GmbH have extended their long-standing retail partnership at the Rhine-based air traffic hub ahead of schedule. A newly signed lease agreement secures the continued operation of the supermarket in Terminal 1 for another ten years, until July 31, 2036. Opened in 2009, the supermarket was the first Rewe Group store in Germany at a commercial airport. The new agreement ensures comprehensive local supply 24/7, 365 days a year, which is a legal exception to North Rhine-Westphalia's shop closing law. The location in the terminal building plays a dual role economically. In addition to serving international passengers and airport visitors, the approximately 500-square-meter sales area serves as the primary shopping destination for the roughly 15.000 employees of the entire airport complex, as well as for residents of the surrounding Cologne and Troisdorf districts. The product range includes classic groceries, drugstore items, and convenience foods, as well as an expanded selection of regional specialties. Thilo Schmid, CEO of the airport, and Lars Klein, Head of the Rewe West Region, emphasized the high relevance of the location for the airport's daily logistics and infrastructure. As part of the contractual agreement, a comprehensive technical and visual modernization of the branch is planned for 2027. Plans include expanding the checkout area with additional self-service terminals (express checkouts) to increase processing speed during peak passenger times; traditional staffed checkouts will remain in operation. Furthermore, the branch will receive a modified brand identity, in which the Rewe Group logo will be visually integrated with the official brand name of Cologne Bonn Airport to underscore its local roots. Retail at large

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Air Canada launches seasonal direct service between Toronto and Budapest

Amely Mizzi June 9, 2026 17:22

Canadian airline Air Canada has launched a new transatlantic service between Toronto Pearson International Airport and Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport. Seasonal service began on June 6 and is scheduled to run until October 24, 2026, during the peak travel season. During this period, the route will be served five times a week, with flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Air Canada is not using its Boeing 737 long-haul aircraft on the approximately nine-hour route, but instead is utilizing the larger wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The aircraft feature a three-class configuration consisting of Signature Class (Business Class), Premium Economy, and regular Economy Class. The flight schedule calls for departures from Toronto at 19:00 p.m. local time and arrival in the Hungarian capital at 9:40 a.m. the following morning. The return flight to North America departs Budapest at 11:45 a.m. and arrives at the Canadian hub at 15:05 p.m. local time. The airline is offering a total capacity of 47.680 seats on this route this summer. Toronto Airport serves as a key interchange hub, connecting passengers from Central Europe to the airline's global network with destinations in the USA, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The launch of this service addresses an existing annual market potential of nearly 90.000 passengers who previously had to travel between Canada and Hungary primarily via European hubs. Francois Berisot, CEO of Budapest Airport, emphasized that this is the second major direct connection to North America this season, which

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Solid balance sheet and multi-million euro expansion plans at Salzburg Airport

Belinda Borg June 9, 2026 17:20

Salzburg Airport looks back on a successful 2025 financial year and is simultaneously setting the course for a comprehensive modernization of its infrastructure. With a total of 1.774.454 passengers handled, Austria's second-largest airport recorded a minimal passenger decline of less than one percent compared to the previous year. In contrast, the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), a key indicator of economic success, increased by almost 0,3 percent. Aircraft movements in commercial traffic also rose by 2,7 percent to 14.747 takeoffs and landings. Despite ongoing global challenges such as supply bottlenecks at aircraft manufacturers and increased operating costs, the company generated consolidated revenue of approximately €85,7 million and closed the year with a positive net income and a strong liquidity base of €40,6 million. To ensure the airport's long-term competitiveness, the management team, led by Bettina Ganghofer and CFO Stephan Moser, has announced a substantial investment program. Over the next 15 years, around €300 million will be invested in the airport's future. The centerpiece of this investment is the comprehensive modernization of the terminal complex, with a total investment of €105 million planned by 2033. The main terminal, dating from 1966, and Amadeus Terminal 2 will be structurally and technically integrated into a modern, unified facility. Initial preparatory work, including the demolition of the old Hangar 2, will begin this year, before the main construction phase commences in early 2027. This modernization is also necessary to meet the increased regulatory requirements for space and technology under the new European Entry-Exit System (EES), for whose implementation more than €5 million has been budgeted. In addition to these infrastructure projects...

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Condor is outsourcing numerous holiday flights in the summer 2026 flight schedule to external partner airlines.

Jan Gruber June 9, 2026 17:05

German leisure airline Condor is increasingly relying on wet leasing in its current 2026 summer flight schedule to manage high demand during the peak travel season. As the company confirmed, numerous holiday routes will not be operated with its own aircraft and crews, but rather outsourced to external partner companies. By leasing external capacity, including personnel, the airline aims to compensate for bottlenecks in its own fleet and maintain its ambitious flight schedule. The affected routes will primarily utilize short- and medium-haul Airbus A320 aircraft. The distribution of these external service providers is strategically managed across several major German airports. From its Munich hub, the Bulgarian charter airline European Air Charter will operate flights on a total of 14 holiday routes on behalf of Condor. At Hamburg Airport, the company will utilize capacity from Lithuanian Heston Airlines, which operates several rotations there. To handle the extensive flight schedule from Düsseldorf, Estonian airline Marabu Airlines has been contracted. Marabu Airlines already cooperates closely with the Condor Group and serves a double-digit number of destinations. In addition to the classic warm-water routes in the Mediterranean, the outsourcing also affects the European city-route segment. Here, Condor is continuing its existing cooperation with established regional airlines. The Swiss airline Helvetic Airways and the German airline German Airways will continue to operate scheduled flights to various European metropolises on behalf of Condor. These partners typically use smaller regional jets, such as the Embraer E-Jets family, which are suitable for routes with lower passenger volumes. This widespread use of wet-lease partners in the aviation industry is a response to ongoing delivery delays of new aircraft and engine problems with the larger planes.

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Lufthansa City Airlines outsources A220 pilot training to Air Baltic

Belinda Borg June 9, 2026 17:03

The newly founded Lufthansa subsidiary, Lufthansa City Airlines, has entered into a strategic training partnership with the Latvian airline Air Baltic. The aim of the collaboration is to prepare flight crews for the Airbus A220-300 aircraft type. Since May 1, 2026, the first six pilots of the German regional airline have been undergoing a structured training program in accordance with the guidelines of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The cooperation allows the Lufthansa Group to draw on the extensive operational experience of the Latvians, who, as the world's first customer for the type, can boast nearly ten years of operating history with this aircraft family. The training program is modular and tailored to the individual experience profile of the flight crews. In addition to the actual A220 type rating course, it also includes an in-house operator conversion course. The theoretical and simulator-based training, part of the so-called Zero Flight Time Training, takes place at Air Baltic's modern training center in the Latvian capital, Riga. The subsequent flight phase under supervision (Line Flying Under Supervision) and the acquisition of the necessary route experience take place directly within Air Baltic's regular European route network to guarantee practical integration into flight operations. The timely training of cockpit personnel is crucial for the upcoming fleet expansion of Lufthansa City Airlines. The Lufthansa Group has placed a firm order for a total of 40 Airbus A220-300 aircraft for its new subsidiary. Delivery of the first aircraft at its home hub in Frankfurt am Main is scheduled for November 2026, while the commencement of the first commercial passenger service is planned for the beginning of 2027. The introduction of the A220 models is intended to increase efficiency on European feeder routes to

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Viennese Café Schwarzenberg celebrates its 165th anniversary on the Ringstrasse

Jan Gruber June 9, 2026 17:02

The historic Café Schwarzenberg in Vienna's city center is celebrating its 165th anniversary this June 2026. Founded in 1861 by the Hochleitner couple, the establishment is considered the oldest continuously operating coffeehouse along Vienna's famous Ringstrasse. Over its long history, the café on Kärntner Ring has developed into a significant social and cultural meeting place in the capital, serving as a regular haunt for prominent figures such as the architect Josef Hoffmann in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. To mark this historic milestone, the café expanded its culinary offerings at the beginning of the month with a specially created raspberry-rose anniversary cake. Today, the historic coffeehouse is operated by the Gourmet Group, a subsidiary of Vivatis Holding. The company employs 36 people at the location, who are responsible for managing the 200 seats, 120 of which are in the historic interior and 80 in the adjoining outdoor seating area. Economically, the establishment is one of the busiest coffee houses in Vienna's city center. According to internal figures, around 135.000 coffee specialties and approximately 15.000 servings of hot chocolate are served there annually to an international clientele. In addition to its core gastronomic business, the management focuses on an expanded cultural program to maintain the traditional connection between coffee house culture and live music. The weekly program includes piano recitals on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as regular jazz matinees on select Sundays. Preserving this historic ambiance is closely linked to its protected status as a historical monument, since the interior design, with its architectural elements from the Gründerzeit (late 19th-century boom period), has been largely preserved in its original state despite extensive renovations in the late 1970s.

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New Ibis Styles Hotel at Munich Airport officially opened

Amely Mizzi June 9, 2026 16:59

The new Ibis Styles Munich Airport hotel was officially opened at Munich Airport with a festive ceremony. The hotel expands the capacity of the Bavarian aviation hub in the design-oriented lifestyle hotel segment and caters to business travelers, vacationers, and flight crews of international airlines. Jost Lammers, CEO of Munich Airport GmbH, emphasized the importance of additional accommodation options for increasing regional economic activity and strengthening the airport's competitiveness in international traffic. The new hotel features a total of 358 modern rooms as well as spacious common areas and dining facilities. The interior design concept is inspired by the Isar River landscape and primarily utilizes shades of blue, green, and slate. The hotel is operated by the Accor Group under its Ibis Styles brand, which focuses on a standardized, price-conscious comfort model. The building is located directly adjacent to the passenger terminals and the LabCampus, the airport's interdisciplinary innovation center, thus ensuring direct access to the transport infrastructure and local business centers. Operational management of the hotel is handled by Allresto Flughafen München GmbH. This wholly-owned subsidiary of the airport, which already manages the majority of the restaurants and cafes on the airport grounds, is further expanding its market position in the airport hospitality sector with this project. Alongside the existing five-star Hilton Munich Airport hotel, the new addition allows the airport to specifically address the demand for mid-range accommodations. According to Dr. Jan-Henrik Andersson, Managing Director for Commercial and Security, the expansion represents a strategic milestone in optimizing the range of services offered to passengers.

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