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Lisbon: Red Bull Flugtag delights the masses

guest Author September 10, 2024 04:30

Red Bull, one of Austria's largest aircraft operators by ownership, once again held a flight day in Lisbon this September. Aviation.Direct was there to report on the event, which was also broadcast live on local television. The location was picturesque and is currently one of the most exciting aviation locations in Europe. This week, not only did Carsten Spohr and his entourage politically sound out the situation for a possible takeover of TAP, but IAG also announced that it was interested in the Portuguese problem airline. Without investing 10 billion in a questionable airport on the other side of the river, the Austrian drinks manufacturer set up a runway directly on the Tejo and gave a slot every five minutes to brave hobbyists. This weekend, however, the focus was not on worries, but on creativity, cross-country flying and show performances. Each of the 36 teams gave a short performance before the actual flight from the 16-meter-high ramp. The local jury often rated this even higher than the actual flight. We'll let the pictures speak for themselves: from the flying pit stop to the bell tower as the starting point to the winning team "Diaper Droppers", who won a trip to Hangar 7 in Salzburg as first prize. Around 10.000 spectators marveled at the spectacle in bright sunshine, a light headwind and a fantastic backdrop. In Lisbon, the sugary drink from Austria thrilled the audience without them having to invest more than 3,7 billion euros in TAP or SATA, as in previous years.

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KLM and ZeroAvia plan revolutionary zero-emission flight with hydrogen technology

guest Author September 1, 2024 07:30

In a groundbreaking move for the aviation industry, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and technology company ZeroAvia have announced a collaboration that could usher in the future of environmentally friendly flying. The aim of the collaboration is to conduct a demonstration flight with hydrogen-electric engines, to be realized by 2026. At the heart of the project are ZeroAvia's ZA2000 engines, which were developed for large regional turboprop aircraft. This innovative technology uses hydrogen in fuel cells to generate electricity, which in turn drives electric motors. The only emission from this process is water vapor at low temperature, which studies show could lead to a reduction in climate impact of up to 90% compared to conventional kerosene flights. Maarten Koopmans, Managing Director of KLM Cityhopper, emphasizes his airline's pioneering role: “KLM is committed to taking a leading position on the way to a more sustainable future of aviation. We actively support and encourage innovation to drive industry transformation.” The partnership aims to realize a first flight between two airports by 2026. There are still a number of challenges to overcome, including obtaining regulatory approvals, securing the supply of liquid hydrogen and setting up the necessary refueling infrastructure. Sergey Kiselev, Chief Business Officer of ZeroAvia, is optimistic: “The world’s largest airlines are increasingly exploring hydrogen-electric as a potential solution. We look forward to working with KLM, an airline with such a rich history, as we work towards a clean future for the industry.” ZeroAvia has already made significant progress, including extensive testing of a prototype of its ZA600 engine on board a Dornier 228 aircraft. In addition, pilot tests have been carried out in the US and UK.

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Extreme ecosystems: An odyssey to the most fascinating and extreme places on our planet

guest Author September 1, 2024 06:33

The biodiversity of our planet is beyond imagination. Scientists have documented more than 1,60 million species so far, but the actual number could be many times higher. In this fascinating spectrum of life, organisms have adapted to the most diverse and often extreme environmental conditions. We invite you on a captivating journey to eight of the most remarkable places on our planet that reveal and redefine the limits of life. 1. Hydrological Wonderland: Mawsynram in India In the northeastern state of Meghalaya in India lies Mawsynram, a village that receives an unimaginable 11.872 millimeters of rainfall annually. This amount of rainfall exceeds that of the already rainy Hamburg by fifteen times. The monsoon transforms this place into an aquatic paradise, with most of the rain falling in the summer months. Mawsynram's unique geographical location, wedged between the Khasi Mountains and the Bangladesh plains, creates this hydrological phenomenon. 2. Electrifying natural spectacle: Congo Mirador in Venezuela A unique atmospheric spectacle unfolds on the shores of Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela. In Congo Mirador, spectacular lightning flashes illuminate the night sky on up to 260 nights a year. This phenomenon, known as "Catatumbo lightning", is caused by the meeting of warm, moist air from the lake with cool downdrafts from the Andes. The regularity and intensity of these electrical discharges make this place one of the most fascinating meteorological phenomena in the world. 3. The driest place: The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica In the heart of Antarctica lie the McMurdo Dry Valleys - a region that even puts the famous Atacama Desert in the shade in terms of aridity. These ice-free valleys, protected by the majestic Transantarctic Mountains, have

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Curious travel reasons: “Happy birthday to Goethe”

guest Author August 28, 2024 04:33

There are many reasons for traveling: vacation, business, health spas, pilgrimages, family visits and, of course, birthdays. And one such reason for traveling, at least for some, is today, August 28, 2024: Goethe's 275th birthday (born in 1749). It will be celebrated in several places: In Frankfurt, a party with music, readings and small talk will be held in the poet's birthplace. In Weimar, his long-term residence in what is now Thuringia, and of course in the Casa di Goethe in Rome, the main destination of his trip to Italy from September 1786 to May 1788, there will also be celebrations. Two years in Italy with a job guarantee The house in Via del Corso where Goethe lived during his stay in Rome is now a museum. There, too, the "compleanno di Goethe" will be duly celebrated with a reading from "The Sorrows of Young Werther", published 250 years ago, and, of course, with a few glasses of Prosecco. Many people still envy Goethe for his trip to Italy: traveling all over Italy on a cultural holiday from September 1786, before that taking a cure in Karlsbad, i.e. being away for almost two years, and all that with a continuous salary and a job guarantee from his boss, the Duke of Saxony-Weimar, that would be something! Unfortunately, the railway didn't come to Rome until around 90 years later, then the journey would have been a bit more comfortable. There is also a big party in Weimar, which starts at 12 noon (the hour of his birth) and offers lots of music, lectures and workshops throughout the city. The young superstar The most traditional place for the celebrations is Frankfurt, the poet's birthplace. For once

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The Americans are coming

guest Author August 14, 2024 04:33

At the end of their holiday, many travellers to Greece think: "It was great". Some may want to stay there "at some point", like STS did. But is the "feeling of life" that you "inhale there" really that great? Young Greeks think differently. Setting up a (second) home on an island is not that difficult. Lots of people do it on Spanish islands, and the internet is full of more or less clever tips for emigrating. Whether it makes sense is another question. And thank God there are no huge second home complexes like those in Spain that are simply thrown together without any consideration for appearance or the environment (often without permits). Anyone who has ever been to one of the Aegean islands in winter, which are so beautiful in summer, will quickly lose the desire to stay for a longer period of time: it is cold, windy, drafts everywhere, almost everything is closed, the sea is unwelcoming and absolutely nothing, but really nothing, is going on. Dramatic population growth Young Greeks have a very distant relationship with their country. The motto is to get out of here as quickly as possible. Since 2013, up to 100.000 people (in some years even fewer), mostly young people with good education, have left the country every year because of the lack of prospects and low earning potential. This brain drain means new problems for Greece: the state pays for people's education, but does not benefit from it. These qualified workers are missing in the country. While it used to be the Albanians or North Macedonians who came to work, they are now increasingly looking for better-paid jobs

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Strange climate projects

guest Author July 23, 2024 05:28

When booking with the LH Group, if you have a bad conscience about flying, you can currently still decide: you can either book a "green fare" or you can donate a few euros to strange climate projects - but that will soon change. If you book on the Austrian website, for example, there are several fares to choose from: There are four economy and three business fares. The fares labeled "Economy Green" or "Business Green" are highlighted in color. They are not exactly cheap, but they are attractive: rebooking is possible with the eco variant, baggage and seat reservation are included, as is SAF fuel for more sustainable flying - is this the fare to ease your conscience? What does "SAF" mean? SAF stands for "Sustainable Aviation Fuel", which is produced without fossil components, e.g. from biomass, used oils, fats, but costs about three times as much per ton as kerosene. If passengers opt for the “Green” tariff, the airline buys the corresponding amount from ÖMV and uses it to fuel a flight every few weeks. The amount of SAF fuel purchased is extremely small, however. The Austrian press department has a restriction on this: only 20% of the “Green Fare” surcharge is used to purchase SAF, the other part is invested in “other climate protection projects”. Why is not explained. “The hut does not exist!” You can also participate in these “other climate protection projects” during the booking process without a “Green Fare”, after choosing a different tariff, by moving a slider from around €2 to €30. This means you donate to individual climate projects that are funded by the compensation provider Climate Austria (part of Kommunalkredit) according to

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Exploration flight over Venice

guest Author June 27, 2024 04:32

Egon Erwin Kisch is one of the best journalists in the German language. In 1925, almost a hundred years ago, a volume of summarized reports was published. The title of the book became his nickname: "The Racing Reporter". "How much more wonderful it is in the flying boat than in the airplane! There is no engine in front of me blowing its exhaust fumes into my nose and eyes, no propeller obscuring the view. The pilot sits far behind me and the pressurized engine rattles above him. (...) We are flying low, only 29.4.1885 meters." What Kisch describes here is flying in its original form. You feel with all your senses that you are in the air. Towards the end of the First World War, Kisch accompanied the Austro-Hungarian Army's reconnaissance flight from Istria to Venice in a seaplane as a press officer. This report is also part of the work mentioned above. Who was "the raging reporter?" Egon Erwin Kisch, born on 1913 April 1 in Prague, began a career as a crime reporter for Prague newspapers after two aborted studies and in the process became very familiar with the underworld. In addition to crime stories, he repeatedly published sensitive but factual milieu studies from Prague's slums and socially marginalized groups. As early as XNUMX, he made a name for himself by uncovering the military cover-up of Colonel Redl's suicide. In World War I, Kisch was drafted into the Imperial and Royal Army. After injuries on the Russian front, he came to Vienna as a press officer, where he increasingly developed into an opponent of the war and a declared communist. Becoming a communist in the press quarters The position in the press department offered interesting opportunities: Above all, there were

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Trip report: Braathens Regional Airlines – Klagenfurt Airport

guest Author 23 Maj 2024 04:38

It is Friday, May 10, 2024, and I am currently on the train on the way to Copenhagen Airport. From there, Austrian Airlines will fly to Vienna at 20 p.m. sharp and then directly to its final destination, Klagenfurt. The core topic of the report, however, is the subject of "Braathens Regional Airlines," which was hired by Austrian Airlines to operate feeder flights. Another focus is on Klagenfurt Airport. After landing on time in Vienna at 21:40 p.m., we go straight to Gate F06, where boarding for the flight to the Carinthian capital takes place. Departure is scheduled for 22:35 p.m. At this point, the entire terminal is already very quiet. Even on the display screen, only the Austrian logo lights up and there is basically no indication that a Swedish airline will be operating this flight. During the boarding announcements, the friendly lady at the counter briefly mentions in German and English that this flight is being operated on behalf of Braathens Regional Airlines. We passengers are chauffeured to the plane by bus. Since I like to out myself as a listening and curious person and always notice a lot of the overall situation, I can also say something roughly about the passengers present. I noticed three groups of languages ​​spoken. Firstly, of course, the Carinthian dialect, which I speak myself and grew up with. Secondly, a few men, all dressed in business attire, are sitting in a group, all speaking to each other in standard German.

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Vienna with 1,3 million overnight stays in March 2024

guest Author 25 April 2024 10:31

In March 2024, Vienna recorded 1,3 million overnight stays (+16%). In the first quarter of 2024, 3,3 million guest overnight stays (+13%) were counted. The net overnight stay turnover of Viennese accommodation establishments in February was around 57 million euros (+6%), and between January and February they generated around 125 million euros (+7%). March 2024 closed with 1.322.000 overnight stays, an increase of 16% compared to the same month in 2023. Between January and March, Vienna recorded 3.340.000 overnight stays - an increase of 13% compared to the same period last year. Looking at the source markets with the highest volume so far this year, Austria leads the top 10 list with 281.000 overnight stays in March (+12% compared to 2023), followed by Germany (285.000, +31%), Italy (74.000, +19%), the USA (65.000, +13%), Great Britain (54.000, +21%), Spain (45.000, +42%), France (33.000, +17%), Poland (24.000, +13%), Switzerland (28.000, +22%) and Romania (19.000, -3%). The net overnight turnover of Vienna's accommodation establishments amounted to EUR 56.948.000 in February - an increase of 6% compared to the same month in 2023. In the period from January to February, the establishments generated EUR 125.403.000 - 7% more than in the same period last year. The average occupancy rate of hotel rooms in March was around 63% (3/2023: around 57%), that of beds 48,9% (3/2023: 44,4%). So far this year (January to March), room occupancy was around 54% (1-3/2023: around 51%), and bed occupancy was 41,7% (1-3/2023: 39,5%). In total, around 72.500 hotel beds were available in Vienna in March – that was around 2.500 beds (+3,5%) more than were offered in March 2023.

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Vienna: New long-distance bus terminal is to be pushed forward

guest Author 25 April 2024 08:02

Long-distance bus travel is becoming increasingly popular and at the same time makes a significant contribution to environmental protection. The new Vienna long-distance bus terminal at Handelskai will also be well connected to the motorway network and public transport. It is intended to serve as a modern calling card for the city and bring together all international long-distance buses. In concrete terms, the decisions made at the beginning of the planning in 2019 are now being taken to implement this important infrastructure project for Vienna. On June 26, 2019, the Vienna City Council commissioned Wien Holding to implement the long-distance bus terminal project using the land designated for this purpose. On the basis of the orders from the Vienna City Parliament, consistent and intensive work is being carried out to further advance the construction of the Vienna long-distance bus terminal. The WH Fernbus-Terminal Projektentwicklung GmbH commissioned to do this has been repositioned within Wien Holding and now functions as a 100 percent subsidiary in the Wiener Standortentwicklung GmbH (WSE) network. A concrete plan for the Vienna long-distance bus terminal is currently being drawn up in accordance with the law.

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