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AUA decommissions “Spirit of Alpbach”

guest Author August 21, 2020 09:30

With the transfer of the OE-LGP to Canada last Wednesday and Thursday, the decommissioning of the Dash 8 fleet at AUA is making further progress. After being taken out of service due to Corona in March, the "Spirit of Alpbach" was initially stored in Bratislava from April to August before flying to St. John's via Glasgow, Reykjavik & Narsarsuaq. After its maiden flight in February 2000, it began its career in October 2001 (LN-WDZ) as the first DHC Dash 8-400 delivered to Wideroe. This was followed by N539DS (Horizon Air & Island Air), C-FSPV(Bombardier), D-ADHQ (Augsburg Airways), PH-DHQ (SAMCO Aircraft Maintenance) and finally the delivery in September 2014 as OE-LGP to Tyrolean Airways with the subsequent transfer of operations to Austrian Airlines. This article was written by Maximilian Gruber.

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Guest comment: The flight personnel suffer

guest Author July 15, 2020 15:37

Dear community, ... since the beginning of aviation, the profession of pilot and flight attendant has had a certain charm like in the film “Catch me if you can”. Captains and stewardesses in designer uniforms who jet around the world and can enjoy a slightly higher standard of living. New York today, Tokyo tomorrow and spend the next five days in Barbados ... Many young school leavers still believe in this outdated image and think that they can discover the world before pursuing their actual career. It is only after some time that some people realise that the “jet set” life also has its downsides. In the 5s you had two days off after every flight, but today EASA guidelines allow you to fly for up to seven days in a row. Sociable people who were able to do something with family or friends at the weekend are finding it increasingly difficult. In addition to the alcohol ban and standby, check-in/check-out times 80 hours a day, 2 days a week, it is not exactly easy to find a time to meet up with friends/family. The level of remuneration can also be compared to the decline in ticket prices. While a ticket from Zurich to Hamburg cost around 7 euros 7 years ago, you can now get a ticket for under 5 euros. In the same period, wages have fallen by around 150%. This is mainly because the airlines are undercutting each other in order to lure price-sensitive customers onto their own planes. The ones who suffer here are the flight personnel. In addition to the responsibility for

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AUA is phasing out OE-LGB

guest Author July 14, 2020 14:33

After around 20 years of service, a DHC Dash 8-400 will begin its journey home to Canada on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the OE-LGB will be the next aircraft to leave the active DHC Dash 8 fleet of Austrian Airlines for Canada. The "Tirol" will be transferred over two days as OS1481 from Vienna (take-off at 09:00 a.m.) with stops in Glasgow International, Reykjavik and Narsarsuaq to St. John's. When it was delivered to Tyrolean in May 2000, the "Golf Bravo" was not only Austria's first DHC Dash 8-400, but also the aircraft of this type that has operated the longest in Europe to date, after 20 years. This article was written by Maximilian Gruber for Aviation.Direct.

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MH17: Trial without defendants present

guest Author June 20, 2020 08:53

The beginning of June saw the start of the criminal trial against the alleged perpetrators of the shooting down of MH17. Andreas Schönwälder summarized the events of the first three days of the trial for Aviation.Direct. In the Netherlands, the first three days of the criminal trial against those responsible for the shooting down of MH8 took place last week from June 10th to 17th, unnoticed by most media. Since this event interested most readers here but nothing about it was reported in the newspapers, I have decided to briefly summarize the course of the trial here. I would like to note that all information is based purely on the live ticker of a journalist on site (supplemented by details from other live tickers) and that errors may occur due to the double translations Dutch-English / English-German. I would also like to note that all of the following passages are statements from the trial and do not reflect my personal opinion! Just a quick reminder. The investigation into the crash was carried out by the JIT, the abbreviation for "Joint Investigation Team". In aviation, it is common practice that after a crash, all the states involved (origin of the victims, crash site, manufacturer of the aircraft, producer of the BUK, etc.) set up a joint investigation team. This is therefore 100% impartial, as all findings are worked out jointly and at the end all parties are given the opportunity to note and correct any errors. Furthermore, these investigation teams are not tasked with finding any culprits, but simply work out all the facts. Based on the final report of the JIT, the Dutch courts have drawn up an indictment against four defendants. Note: among the fighters in eastern Ukraine

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737-Max: Boeing and Tui reach an agreement

guest Author June 3, 2020 16:31

The Tui Group and Boeing have reached an agreement regarding the 737 Max, of which no further financial details have been published. The travel group Tui and US aircraft manufacturer Boeing have reached an agreement to compensate for the 737 Max flight ban. Both sides are keeping the details secret. Over the next two years, Tui will receive "compensation that covers a significant part of the damage, as well as credits for future aircraft orders". Due to the grounding of the Max, the Tui airlines have been waiting for over a year for the delivery of eight aircraft that were actually supposed to join the fleet in 2019. It is also clear that Tui will purchase fewer jets from Boeing in the coming years than previously planned. In the next two years, less than half of the aircraft originally planned will be delivered, it is said. This results in an average delay of around two years compared to the original plan. Tui CEO Fritz Joussen speaks of a "fair agreement" that will offset "a large part of the costs incurred by the 737 MAX flight ban." The company has ordered a total of 61 737 Max jets.

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Berlin-Tegel remains open

guest Author June 3, 2020 16:14

Operating company FBB withdrew the application for early closure. The airport's capacity is now needed until the end of October 2020. Berlin-Tegel Airport will not close as planned due to the Corona-related collapse in passenger numbers in mid-June. The application for temporary exemption from the obligation to operate has been withdrawn, announced airport boss Engelbert Lütke Daldrup. Tegel was originally scheduled to close on June 15th until August; now the end of operations is linked to the start of BER on October 31st as planned. After many European countries reopened their borders and many airlines also want to restart operations this month, airport operator FBB expects the numbers to increase at both existing airports (Tegel and Schönefeld). The number of daily passengers is likely to increase from around 3000 to more than double in June, according to FBB. Up to 20.000 passengers are expected at the end of July. Opposition criticizes "zig-zag course"Nevertheless, some things will change in Tegel, because the distance rules against Corona still apply and must be implemented there too. These require significantly more space and also slow down some processes at the airports, especially at the security checkpoints, emphasizes the FBB. "Especially during peak times, when many planes take off or land almost simultaneously, the passengers must therefore soon be distributed across as many terminal areas as possible." The Berlin FDP leader Sebastian Czaja sharply criticizes the "zig-zag course" of the FBB in the Tegel case. "The postponement of the closure is only postponed chaos," he says in an interview with Aviation.Direct. In a 2017 referendum, Berliners voted by a large majority for

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Lufthansa makes it mandatory to wear a mask

guest Author June 2, 2020 16:37

A mask must be worn on board Lufthansa, Eurowings and Cityline aircraft. The group's other carriers are currently also reviewing this. Wearing a mouth and nose mask will be mandatory on board a Lufthansa flight from next week. According to the statement, children up to the age of six and people who can prove that they cannot wear a mask due to health reasons or a disability are exempt from the obligation. This applies to Lufthansa, Eurowings and Cityline flights. The other group airlines are currently reviewing a mask requirement. Masks must be worn from the time of boarding the aircraft until they leave it. Exceptions are the consumption of drinks and food, communication with the deaf, for identification purposes and "for other necessary activities that are incompatible with wearing a mouth and nose mask". Lufthansa has been recommending wearing a mask on board since May 4th.

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Lufthansa Supervisory Board rejects rescue package

guest Author 28 May 2020 11:03

The Lufthansa's controllers have voted against the slot requirements imposed by the EU Commission. The company will therefore have to wait a little longer for the billions of state funds to save it - but there is not much time left. The Lufthansa Supervisory Board has unexpectedly postponed the decision on the rescue package put together by the company and politicians. The "currently indicated requirements of the EU Commission" would result in a "weakening of the hub functions in Frankfurt and Munich" and therefore cannot be approved, according to a mandatory notice to shareholders. The invitation to an extraordinary general meeting will not be issued "for the time being". According to reports, Brussels is demanding that Lufthansa give up up to 20 pairs of slots at both airports in return for the nine billion euro state package. "The resulting economic impact on the company and the planned reversal of the stabilization measures as well as possible alternative scenarios must be examined intensively," it continues. According to media reports, the company is offering to give up a maximum of three slots. Germany wants to pump nine billion euros into the group through the Economic Stabilization Fund (WSF), which was created to rescue companies during the coronavirus pandemic. The group says it is losing up to one million euros in liquidity per hour. This is the only viable way "to maintain solvency," according to the supervisory board.

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Tuifly prepares “Corona comeback”

guest Author 25 May 2020 17:35

Wearing face masks will be mandatory on board Tuifly. They are currently working intensively on drawing up a flight plan for the restart. After the forced Corona break, holiday airline Tuifly wants to resume flight operations as soon as possible. They are currently working on a concept for the restart, an airline spokesperson told Aviation.Direct: "This includes drawing up a flight plan and having the aircraft ready for use." Tuifly also wants to introduce a requirement to wear face masks: "Only those who wear one can fly." Tuifly is flying to holiday destinations in Europe with 34 Boeing 737 medium-haul jets. The airline, which is part of Europe's largest travel group, is closely monitoring developments in the Mediterranean countries. "As we operate as a tour operator, we cannot fly until travel warnings have been lifted." Spain's tourism minister announced at the start of the week that foreigners would be able to vacation in the country again from July - without the obligation to self-quarantine for two weeks. It has not yet been decided when the global travel warning issued by the Federal Foreign Office will be lifted. Long-haul launch in winter still planned And Tuifly is also closely monitoring developments on another topic: From next winter, the airline actually wants to get back into the long-haul business. To do this, it is initially stationing two Boeing 787 "Dreamliners" at Düsseldorf Airport and recently reserved growth options for additional jets. However, whether the deadline can be met depends primarily on when and which destinations can be flown to again in intercontinental traffic.

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Lufthansa has to wait for billions of dollars

guest Author 24 May 2020 18:54

Supervisory board meeting postponed to Tuesday. At an extraordinary general meeting, Lufthansa shareholders are to approve the state's billion-euro rescue package - but in order to convene this, a resolution from the supervisory board is needed, and this is being delayed further. As the "Handelsblatt" reports, the committee is to meet on Tuesday and not on Monday as planned on Friday. The first postponement to the start of the week had become necessary because the federal government wanted to include in the package that Lufthansa must also accept all aircraft ordered from Airbus (519) in the coming years. A billion-euro clause that is now probably worded "softer". Nevertheless, there are new problems: The EU Commission is apparently demanding an "exit strategy" for how the German state can quickly reduce its participation. Brussels is imposing strict conditions for corona aid for corporations.

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More articles from the category

guest Author

AUA decommissions “Spirit of Alpbach”

Guest comment: The flight personnel suffer

AUA is phasing out OE-LGB

MH17: Trial without defendants present

737-Max: Boeing and Tui reach an agreement

Berlin-Tegel remains open

Lufthansa makes it mandatory to wear a mask

Lufthansa Supervisory Board rejects rescue package

Tuifly prepares “Corona comeback”

Lufthansa has to wait for billions of dollars

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