Strikes in Germany: The Verdi union and the railway union EVG have announced a warning general strike for Monday. It affects long-distance, regional and local transport as well as airports and the motorway company. The DB halts long-distance traffic on Monday and Frankfurt Airport cancels flight operations. Munich closes Sunday and Monday
Strikes in France : French air traffic control has asked airlines to cancel a third of their flights on March 24. Significant damage is also expected in rail traffic. Train travelers don’t have good maps either. Ferries, subways and buses are also on strike.
Aerial chaos this summer : the summer of 2022 was catastrophic due to the shortage of personnel and the sudden increase in demand in Europe. One would have hoped that a year would have sufficed to get the whole European air transport system back on its feet. Unfortunately, this was not the case, and the signals are coming from several quarters. Amsterdam airport which abolished the flight ceiling, only to reinstate it a few days later; Lufthansa, which operates preventive cuts to avoid disruptions in its hubs during summer peaks; Madrid Barajas airport is experiencing a sensational first weekend of setbacks and long queues.
And the delays accumulated by the airlines on the flights which are now a certified constant. Indeed, Eurocontrol announced a 33% increase in delays on arriving flights compared to the same period in 2019, with an average of 16.9 minutes of delay for each flight. Moreover, during peak periods, this average increases rapidly.
Airline ticket prices have risen sharply. And it’s not about to stop. The latest passenger air transport price index (IPTAP) produced by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC) (1) confirms a price increase of 21.7% since January 2022 on departure from mainland France. This increase is slightly lower (20.6%) if we take the evolution, year-on-year, between December 2021 and December 2022. It is understandable that airline leaders are announcing record profits.
Eastern Airways will offer daily flights to Paris-Orly next month from East Midlands, Cardiff and Southampton, combined and in cooperation with Air France. The British regional airline announced on March 23, 2023 “a new cooperation with Air France” and the launch of three new routes between the United Kingdom and Paris. Daily services from East Midlands and Southampton will begin on Friday April 14, and those from Cardiff on April 21 (without competition in all three cases), “providing year-round travel to the capital, as well as connections with Air France “
The Dominican Republic is no longer served by Corsair or Air France. There remains Air Caraïbes, the only company flying direct to the destination from France. The reasons are mainly due to an economic equation that has become unbalanced for airlines, since the local government, faced with rising prices, applies a fuel surcharge on kerosene. On the spot, the price would explode, no longer allowing return trips to be profitable.
Refinery Strikes : The supply of kerosene to Ile-de-France and its airports via Normandy is becoming critical due to strikes in refineries. Given this situation, the government has “issued a requisition order” with regard to the strikers at the Total Energies refinery in Normandy, which was shut down last weekend. “But it has not been decided to notify it at this stage,” the ministry added.
Vueling : The low-cost Spanish company will compensate more than 350 people affected by canceled or delayed flights, the consumer defense association announced on Monday. Other airlines have still not reimbursed passengers on 2021 flights!
Brussels Airlines : new boss! From Lufthansa Cargo to Brussels Airlines. Dorothea von Boxberg, currently chairwoman of the board of directors of the subsidiary of the German giant, is ready to assume the position of CEO of the Belgian carrier: the official entry, as a note from Brussels itself specifies, will take place on April 15.
Wizz Air : In Italy, the company becomes essential like Ryanair. Last year, WizzAir exceeded 16 million passengers, becoming the third force on Italy in terms of pax. The Hungarian low-cost airline expects an increase of more than 20%. Which, translated into absolute numbers, could bring Wizz to the 20 million mark. A new high jump which will be possible thanks to the confirmation of the 5 bases (Malpensa, Fiumicino, Venice, Naples and Catania), but above all thanks to the arrival at the two reference hubs of the Peninsula of 5 other planes (three for Rome and two for Milan).
Thailand : Cool Airlines is the name of the new carrier which should take off from Thai airports by the end of the year. The carrier, said its CEO Patee Sarasin, will announce its route network by the end of June and will focus on international flights.
UNITED STATES : The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has asked airlines operating from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Newark Liberty International Airport ( EWR) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) to reduce operations over the upcoming summer season, citing staffing issues at air traffic control facilities
Airlines for Europe (A4E), the largest airline trade association in Europe, is delighted to announce the appointment of Ourania Georgoutsakou as Chief Executive Officer. Ms Georgoutsakou has over two decades of experience in politics and public affairs in professional and representative associations and comes from Lighting Europe where she has been Secretary General since 2017. She will take up her new role in June.
PLAYthe Icelandic low-cost airline, has announced the addition of Amsterdam to its summer schedule in 2023. The airline’s first flight to Schiphol Airport is scheduled for June 5, with up to five flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Istanbul Airport : After winning in 2021 and 2022, iGA Istanbul Airport achieved phenomenal success by winning the “Airport of the Year” award again this year at the “Air Transport Awards”, one of the most important events in the world. global aviation industry.
qatarairways welcomes the month of Ramadan by preparing to offer a tailor-made Iftar to passengers on board and in the Al Safwa, Al Mourjan and Global Premium lounges. Special Ramadan offers will be available on flights to the GCC, the Middle East and select destinations in the Indian subcontinent, Africa and Asia.
Cathay Pacific, of which 67 aircraft have still not returned to service after the health crisis, received ten of the 16 A321neos ordered, their entry into service having taken place in early March 2021. They are configured to accommodate 12 passengers in Business class and 190 in Economy ( 202 seats in total). Its low-cost subsidiary HK Express has 26 Airbus single-aisle aircraft, including ten A320neos; it is also expecting 16 A321neos, the first of which should be delivered in the coming days.
The fusion of‘Avianca and Viva Air is approved in Colombia
