Stephen Steiner

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Stephen Steiner

Finnair pilots reject arbitration proposal

The Finnish Pilots' Association SLL rejected a settlement proposal from the national mediator on 9 December 2024, leading to further industrial action. From 12 December, a standby ban for pilots will be introduced, which, together with the already existing overtime ban, will affect Finnair's air traffic. This could lead to cancellations and delays. Already scheduled flights on 9 and 13 December will be affected, and about 300 connections will be cancelled, affecting about 33.000 passengers. Finnair expressed regret about the disruption to travel plans and stated that rerouted flights will be offered and affected passengers will be informed of alternative travel plans. The employer side and the Pilots' Association have been in collective bargaining negotiations for several months, accompanied by a national mediator. The conflicting parties have so far been unable to reach an agreement, with the pilots demanding, among other things, a salary increase and improved pension provision.

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Aircraft market 2025: Lessors benefit from ongoing imbalance between supply and demand

The rating agency Morningstar DBRS is forecasting that the imbalance between supply and demand in the commercial aircraft market will continue into 2025. In particular, demand for new aircraft is expected to exceed existing capacity. This development should be beneficial for leasing companies, which could benefit from the limited availability of new aircraft. The estimated supply gap could also lead to airlines increasingly resorting to leasing options instead of directly purchasing new aircraft. According to Morningstar DBRS, the imbalance has strengthened the outlook for leasing companies, as they can act as a flexible and often more cost-effective alternative in a tight market. This situation could also play a role in airlines' long-term decisions regarding their fleet strategy. The assessment is based on current market data and the trends of recent years, in which persistently high demand and limited availability of aircraft have led to an increase in leasing contracts. Further developments will also depend on factors such as the economic recovery and demand for international air travel.

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Easyjet expands route offering from Hamburg: New to Rome and Milan

From March 30, 2025, the British airline Easyjet will be expanding its offering from Hamburg Airport with two new routes. The airline will then offer daily flights from Hamburg to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa. These new connections complement the existing route network, which already includes destinations such as Basel, London Gatwick and Manchester. The new flights offer a practical connection for business travelers and holidaymakers alike. Christian Kunsch, CEO of Hamburg Airport, welcomes the expansion as confirmation of the strength of the Hamburg market. The new connections to Rome and Milan are intended to offer passengers a greater choice when planning their trip. Easyjet has been active at Hamburg Airport since 2005 and is strengthening its position as one of the location's leading airlines with the new routes. For travelers, this not only means more choice of destinations, but also increased flexibility, as the flights are offered daily. The flights can be booked now, and Easyjet is offering more than 500.000 seats on the new routes for the coming season. Route overview:

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Bombardier delivers 200th Global 7500 business jet

Aircraft manufacturer Bombardier has announced the delivery of its 200th Global 7500 business jet. Since its launch in December 2018, the ultra-long-range jet has completed over 200.000 flight hours and achieved a reliability rate of over 99,8%. With a range of 7.700 nautical miles and numerous speed records, the Global 7500 is one of the most powerful jets in its class. Bombardier highlights the importance of its development team and underlines the model's continued success on the market.

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Münster: Ryanair announces new summer destinations

From the end of March 2025, Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) will once again offer a non-stop connection to London. Ryanair plans to fly to the British capital three times a week, with London Stansted as the destination. In addition, the Irish airline will introduce a new connection to Málaga, on the southern coast of Spain. This route will be served twice a week and complements the existing offer to Mallorca, Alicante, Corfu and Zadar. The expansion of flight connections at FMO comes at a time when other airports are reducing routes.

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ADV Administrative Board: Challenges and Perspectives for German Airports

The Board of Directors of the Airport Association ADV discussed the current challenges and future prospects of German airports at its annual meeting. A key topic was the development of air traffic and the rising costs of taxes and fees. Winfried Hermann, Chairman of the ADV and Minister, emphasized the importance of cooperation between airports and states in order to ensure the competitiveness of the air traffic infrastructure. The ADV Board of Directors has been discussing legal issues relating to airport policy for over 75 years.

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Condor expands Mallorca offer from Dortmund

From June 16, 2025, Condor will increase the frequency of flights from Dortmund to Mallorca in response to the ongoing high demand. The connections to the popular Balearic island will be offered daily during the peak travel season. The airline will start with three weekly flights in May before expanding to seven weekly departures by mid-June. This measure complements the existing offer from Eurowings and compensates for the flight cancellations of other providers such as Ryanair. In 2023, almost 200.000 passengers chose the connection to Palma.

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Lot announces new connection to Thessaloniki

From 17 June 2025, Lot Polish Airlines will launch a year-round connection from Warsaw to Thessaloniki. The Polish airline will fly daily during the summer months and four times a week in the winter season. Flight times in Warsaw will vary to offer passengers flexibility. The new connection complements the airline's recent expansion efforts, which have also introduced destinations such as Athens and Larnaca. Thessaloniki is important for both tourists and business travellers and is an important centre for trade and shipping.

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Lufthansa Aviation Training modernizes flight simulators across Europe

Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT) is investing in the comprehensive modernization of 21 full-flight simulators at its European locations. The visual and technical equipment, including projectors and image generators, will be renewed on four devices every year until 2025. The measures will start in Zurich and Berlin and will be expanded to other locations such as Vienna, Frankfurt and Munich. This will increase system reliability and training quality. LAT operates around 200 training devices worldwide and is one of the leading providers of aviation training.

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Air Baltic introduces business class upgrades with Plusgrade

The Latvian airline Air Baltic will now allow its passengers to apply for upgrades to Business Class. This is done in cooperation with Plusgrade, a provider of additional services for airlines. The aim of the partnership is to improve the customer experience, increase the occupancy of the premium cabin and generate additional revenue. Further joint products are to follow from 2025 to expand the offering.

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