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Frankfurt Airport honoured as “Best Airport in Europe” by Business Traveller Poland Magazine

By
André Orban
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0

Polish business travellers and travel managers again voted Frankfurt Airport Europe’s most popular airport in 2014

Readers of the renowned Business Traveller Poland trade publication have chosen Frankfurt Airport (FRA) as the “Best Airport in Europe” for the second time. Winfried Hartmann, Fraport AG’s head of sales and customer services, graciously accepted the award in Warsaw, Poland, on January 15, 2015. The Business Traveller Poland Awards have been held since 2013. To choose the winners, the magazine surveyed business travellers and travel managers of Polish companies about their travel experiences and asked them to vote for the best service providers in various categories.

“We are delighted to have won. Being chosen by business travelers from our neighboring country of Poland means a lot to us. It shows that we are on the right track with our services, and our service levels,” said Hartmann after receiving the award. Frankfurt Airport launched its “Great to have you here!” service quality program several years ago to give passengers and visitors an even more enjoyable and interesting experience at Germany’s largest aviation hub. Services introduced as part of the program include “Fast Lanes” at the security checkpoints, automated checks, free Wi-Fi, waiting areas with a lounge atmosphere and a huge range of top-quality shopping opportunities and food & beverage establishments. In 2014, Frankfurt Airport welcomed around 60 million passengers.
 

FRA honored as “Best Airport in Europe”
Winfried Hartmann, head of sales and customer services, at the award ceremony
20.01.2015

New Austrian Airlines Dash-8 Q400 aircraft christened the “Spirit of Alpbach“

By
André Orban
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0

• Franz Fischler: “Alpbach now has a flying ambassador“
• Austrian Airlines expands regional fleet from 14 to 18 aircraft

At the end of 2014, Austrian Airlines expanded its regional fleet by four aircraft to a total of 18. One of the four turboprops of the Dash 8-Q400 family of aircraft with the registration OE-LGP was christened with the name “Spirit of Alpbach” at Innsbruck-Kranebitten Airport this morning. The godfather was the former EU Commissioner and Austrian Minister of Agriculture Franz Fischler in his capacity as the President of the European Forum Alpbach.

The so-called “Festival of Ideas” will celebrate its 70th birthday in 2015. “I am very pleased with the birthday present by Austrian Airlines, our longstanding partner. The European Forum Alpbach now has its own flying ambassador. May all its passengers take home many new ideas and perspectives with them”, says Fischler.

“All of the four aircraft have been intentionally given names from Tyrol“, adds Austrian Airlines CEO Jaan Albrecht. The fleet expansion not only strengthens the entire Austrian Airlines Group, but also the Innsbruck site as the specialist for turboprop aircraft. Close to 300 employees work at the Innsbruck facility.

The initial flight of the “Spirit of Alpbach” took place in November on behalf of Swiss International Airlines (SWISS), which also belongs to the Lufthansa Group. On the basis of this small step in its expansion, the fleet of the Austrian Airlines Group increased to a total of 80 aircraft. The original value of this type of airplane amounts to USD 25-30 million. However, the parties agreed not to disclose details about the actual purchase price of the used aircraft.

The Bombardier Q-Series is particularly reliable and efficient due to its design. ‘Turboprops’ are often wrongly seen as an outdated technology, but in reality the Dash 8-Q400 is a state-of-the-art aircraft. Compared to passenger jets with the same seating capacity, the Dash requires about 40% less fuel thanks to its propeller-driven technology, and thus also reduces CO? emissions. Incidentally, the “Q” stands for “quiet“. A sophisticated system ensures that the noise and vibrations caused by the propellers are suppressed. This aircraft type is also capable of reaching airports where larger aircraft are not able or allowed to land.

The OE-LGP ‘Spirit of Alpbach’ aircraft will bear the Star Alliance livery. Austrian Airlines and SWISS are both part of this global network of international airlines.

New service lets Vueling customers use App to switch to earlier flight

By
André Orban
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0

Passengers who have paid Óptima or Excellence fares pay nothing to switch earlier flights on multi-frequency routes.

E&M Commerce Director Marion Bauer:“Our ‘Bring your flight forward’ service enables us to meet passenger needs instantly and easily”.

Vueling’s app for iOS and Android handsets now allows customers to find and book an available seat on an earlier flight in just a few seconds, with the “Bring your flight forward” feature.

The service is intended to meet the demands especially of business travellers whose schedules are constantly changing. There is no charge for switching to an earlier flight, though the flight must depart on the same day as the one initially booked, and the offer is confined to tickets purchased with the Óptima fare (reserved seat and one suitcase included) or the Excellence fare (all business class privileges, including maximum flexibility).

The Vueling app for smartphones shows the flights with seats available on the day of travel.

Vueling E&M Commerce Director Marion Bauer says “The ‘Bring your flight forward’ service is designed to meet the rescheduling needs of smartphone users instantly and easily, and to avoid long waits at the airport.”

The service will initially be valid for changing flights to or from Alicante, Almeria, Amsterdam, Lanzarote, Barcelona, Berlin-Tegel, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Brussels, Frankfurt, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Granada, Ibiza, La Coruña, London-Heathrow, Lille, Lisbon, Lyon, Madrid, Minorca, Malaga, Majorca, Marseille, Milan, Nice, Nantes, Oporto, Paris-Orly, Oviedo, Prague, Rome, San Sebastian, Santiago de Compostela, Santander, Seville, Stockholm, Tenerife Norte, Tenerife Sur, Tel Aviv, Venice, Vigo, Valencia, and Valladolid;. Other destinations will be added later.

 Vueling, Leading Edge Technology

In 2009 Vueling became the first airline to boast an intuitive app for booking and paying for flights by smartphone, and has since added many handy features to smooth customers’ travel experience. The app, downloaded by more than two million customers to date, is used some 1.5 million times every month.

Vueling also offers the world’s first wearable boarding pass, via Sony’s Smartwatch 2; the real-time New Flight Status Managerpage showing the current state of each day’s Vueling flights; and the new contactless ticket payment system enabling customers to enter their personal and passport data automatically, saving time and trouble.

Barcelona, 19 January 2015

A new airline at Bordeaux Airport: Brussels Airlines

By
André Orban
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0

Bordeaux – Brussels for summer 2015

Brussels Airlines, a subsidiary of the Lufthansa Group and a member of the Star Alliance, has expanded its network by choosing Bordeaux for the 2015 summer season. From 29 March, Aquitaine residents will be able to fly to Brussels up to four times a week with Brussels Airlines. This direct route between Bordeaux and Brussels will be take an Airbus A319 (141 seats) and flying time will be 1hr35. It will complete the existing flights to the Belgian capital.
Additionally, thanks to the airline’s Brussels hub, numerous connecting flights will be available to Brussels Airlines passengers with departure from Bordeaux to a number of northern European cities (Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, Berlin) and African destinations (Dakar, Ouagadougou, Conakry).

For airport director Pascal Personne, “The arrival of this airline is good news for the network development strategy of Bordeaux Airport, as we are looking to facilitate access to international destinations, either with direct flights or via the main hubs. This new route will also consolidate the attractiveness of Bordeaux and will bring in an even greater number of visitors from Belgium and northern Europe to our beautiful region.”

schedule bod bru

 

You can book your flights now at www.brusselsairlines.com or www.bordeaux.aeroport.fr with prices starting at €80 incl. VAT.*

02/01/2015

Vienna from Bordeaux, Europe Airpost opens a new scheduled route

By
André Orban
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0

Europe Airpost has announced the opening of a new scheduled route to Vienna from Bordeaux Airport

The French airline will fly to the Austrian capital, a new destination for Bordeaux, twice a week throughout the summer season.

“This new flight to Vienna is part of Europe Airpost’s development strategy for seasonal scheduled routes, further cementing its position as a French airline serving European regions. It supports these regions in their economic and tourism development by meeting the travel requirements of their inhabitants, who will appreciate the punctuality of our flights and quality of our services, and benefit from our attractive prices” says Jean-François Dominiak, General Manager of Europe Airpost.

avion_europeairpostbordeaux_vienne

Flights to Vienna from Bordeaux will be available twice a week (Mondays and Fridays) from 1st May to 7th September 2015.  The flights will be operated in a Boeing 737-300 with 147 seats.

timetable bordeaux vienna

Prices are start at 79 Euros one-way, including VAT, administrative fees and luggage. (within the baggage allowance limitation)
Departure from Bordeaux
Europe Airpost operates passenger flights for tour operators from Bordeaux Airport, where it has been present for more than 15 years, to holiday destinations during the summer season. In terms of cargo transport, it provides flights five out seven nights all year round to Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle, as well as flights on request to other destinations in France and abroad.
This summer for tour operators, Europe Airpost will provide passenger flights to:
Greece: Rhodes
Spain: Lanzarote

Bordeaux, 14th January 2015

Bordeaux Airport has seen its 6th year of growth, with total passenger traffic reaching 4,952,000

By
André Orban
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0

Barely three years after celebrating 4 million passengers, Bordeaux Airport finished 2014 with passenger traffic numbers reaching almost 5 million. This year has shown good results for passenger traffic and new routes were opened, resulting in an increase in traffic of +7.1% compared with 2013, putting Bordeaux at the top of the large regional airports in France in terms of growth. In 2014, direct international flights represented 45% of traffic overall. The arrival in Bordeaux of the largest company worldwide in terms of its route network, Turkish Airlines, can only strengthen this trend. In 2015, the internationalisation of traffic is likely to continue, especially with the introduction of new direct flights to Athens, Prague, Dubrovnik and Glasgow.

90% of routes opened in 2014 are international

In 2014, global annual traffic reached 4.95 million passengers. International flights are also increasing steadily: 2,150,300 passengers, an exceptional growth rate of +113%* in 5 years.
2014 has been a year of strong growth in the network routes and saw a record 17 new destinations, 15 of them international, in the course of the year:

– London Stansted with Ryanair
– Amsterdam, Belfast, Brussels, Marrakesh with EasyJet
– Calvi, Figari, Fuerteventura, Naples, Palma, Pisa, Valencia with Volotea
– Heraklion with Aegean Airlines
– Geneva with Etihad Regional
– Zurich with Helvetic Airways
– Birmingham with Flybe
– Istanbul with Turkish Airlines
* international traffic at end 2009: 1,003,000 passenger

2014 also saw the arrival of 4 new scheduled airline companies at Bordeaux airport: Aegean Airlines, Etihad Regional, Helvetic Airways and Turkish Airlines. These are internationally renowned airlines flying into major international hubs.
Pascal Personne, Chairman of Bordeaux Airport, commented, “The opening of these new routes is testament to the increasing need for mobility in our region. We are proud to have launched so many new routes in 2014 and to have recorded the best growth rate of all the major French regional airports. This also confirms our desire to facilitate direct access for Bordeaux and the region to international destinations and the major global hubs and to provide more possibilities for our foreign passengers to come to our beautiful region.”

Best growth of the 5 top French regional airports
meilleur croissance apts regionaux

Source Airports: Results from end December 2014
NB: The 6th regional airport, Nantes, was up 6%.

European traffic soaring
In just 5 years, international passenger traffic has doubled. The key routes for 2014 are undoubtedly:
– Amsterdam (KLM and easyJet) with 237,500 passengers or + 62.2%
– and London (British Airways, easyJet and Ryanair), now served by 3 airports with 387,100 passengers or +24.6%.
With the opening of the billi terminal in 2010, new airlines have come to Bordeaux and as a result the European network has grown exponentially.
In 2014, for destinations in Benelux and Switzerland, new operators moved into existing routes such as easyJet in Amsterdam and Brussels or Etihad Regional in Geneva. Italy, Spain and the British Isles have benefitted from a large number of new destinations, 8 in all.

europe routes

Domestic traffic remains stable
Scheduled national flights recorded 2,764,200 passengers, a drop of 1.1%. By volume of traffic, the most affected destination was Paris: Orly -0.4% and Charles-de-Gaulle -8.6%. For other destinations, results for Marseille were good (+15.7%) with Air France and for new destinations in 2014 to Corsica with Volotea: Ajaccio +11.8% and Bastia +3.1%

Highlights and innovations in 2014
Record annual traffic: 4,952,000 passengers
Record passenger traffic in 1 month: 510,600 passengers carried in July
Record number of routes opened: 17
Record number of international routes: 15

Digital innovations
Traffic on the Bordeaux Airport website is now well in excess of 2 million visitors per year. Note that the website for mobiles launched at the beginning of the year accounted for over a quarter of all connections.
More than 14,000 friends follow the Airport’s Facebook page and their engagement rate is one of the best in the airport sector.
Bordeaux is also the 2nd airport in France to provide Indoor Google Maps technology to guide passengers and plan their itinerary through the airport.
All these results show the advantages of investing in digital and mobile communication, areas where passengers are most expecting to see innovations.
Work carried out in 2014 also promises to produce some exceptional results in the future:
SSP, the new operator of bars and restaurants at the airport since 1st January 2014, has opened the first Starbucks in Bordeaux, as well as the Barista coffee shop in collaboration with Nespresso, and Ostrea, the first “airport oyster bar”.
The reorganisation of the P2 car park, merging the short-stay car parks together, means that we can offer a wider range of appropriate car parks and prices for travelling passengers and those picking up and dropping off.

Developments and challenges in 2015
Bordeaux Airport has started numerous structuring works for the future: the extension of the billi terminal, development of public transport to the city centre and the rail network, the operational launch of the “45ème parallèle” service hub project and the development of real estate projects. There are major investments scheduled for 2015.
Extension of the simplified-services billi terminal
In response to the increase in low-cost traffic and the demands of the airline companies, Bordeaux Airport has launched the construction of a new hall of 1,000m2 near the existing billi terminal, which will be specifically devoted to arrivals. The Departures building will be redeployed to house new boarding areas. Capacity will increase to 2.5 million passengers a year. Opening is scheduled for June 2015.

Aiming to improve transport links to the airport zone
In an economic and commercial zone with an estimated impact of 2.843 billion Euros*, improvement in the airport’s accessibility has become an urgent issue:

– improvements to the road network, in particular the principal roundabouts leading to the airport planned for the summer of 2015, are essential for the 5 million passengers, the 7,700 employees on the airport premises and the large number of drivers along the western Bordeaux ring road. More structural projects are expected in the medium term.

– two public transport projects are being prioritised by Bordeaux Métropole which will launch studies in 2015:
Airport<->City centre: creation of a link from the airport to Bordeaux by establishing public transport on the site itself with an extension of the tramway.
Airport<->Train station: creation of a public transport link between the airport and the rail network at Pessac Alouette or Pessac Arlac train stations.

*according to the survey carried out in 2012 by the Chamber of Industry and Trade of Bordeaux

 

Development of real estate assets
Bordeaux Airport has given itself the target of developing real estate and business installation activities, alone or in partnerships, in the northern and south-eastern zones of the airport. The northern zone has been integrated into a joint project with the Aéroparc, which is a facility devoted to stimulating the economic development of the aeronautical high technology sector in the urban area and region.
Moreover, for 2015 Airbus has just confirmed the installation of the E-Fan (electric plane) assembly plant in Mérignac. The project, supported by its subsidiary Volt’Air SAS, will constitute a 20 million-Euro investment and the creation of one hundred or so jobs.

The “45ème Parallèle” project
The future service hub known as the “45ème parallèle” will occupy an area of almost 7 hectares at the entrance to the airport premises, in the heart of one of the most dynamic economic zones in the Bordeaux conurbation. It is designed to be a flagship facility able to attract companies of a national or international scale, in particular those linked to the air sector.

Concerning traffic, new scheduled routes will open in 2015 with, in particular:

regular routes

15/01/2015

New Alitalia strategic plan unveiled: new brand, new livery, new routes, fleet changes

By
André Orban
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6

The strategy for the new Alitalia was unveiled today, with an unequivocal commitment by the new executive team and strategic investors to reinvent the airline.

Alitalia will introduce new routes, new product and service standards, a new cost management strategy and new branding, as the foundations to build a premium global airline representing the best of Italy.

The new Alitalia commenced operations on 1 January 2015, following the completion of equity investments by Etihad Airways and Alitalia’s existing shareholders. The new company’s Board meeting yesterday ratified the business strategy, which was outlined today by Luca di Montezemolo, Chairman of Alitalia, Silvano Cassano, Chief Executive Officer of Alitalia, and James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Aviation Group and Vice Chairman of Alitalia.

Luca di Montezemolo said: “The energies, passion and expertise I have experienced at Alitalia in recent weeks do not leave any doubt that the airline we’re unveiling today will become once again a premium Italian airline recognised worldwide. This is why I believe the people in Alitalia are a pillar of the history we’re about to write.

“Our priority is to put the customer at the centre of everything we do. And to do that, we will change many things, starting with the way we work. We need to work as one united team to achieve this great common goal.

“The revitalised Alitalia we envision and have started building, will be an asset to this country, and a driver to support the growth of our tourism and our business.”

James Hogan said Alitalia’s future will rely on major change throughout the organisation.

“In a market still beset by the continuing Eurozone crisis, anything other than rapid, decisive change is simply not an option.

“This is the right strategy, with the right management team to lead it.

“But there should be no doubts at all: we have made a commercial investment that must deliver a commercial return.

“We’ve invested in the new Alitalia because we believe it can flourish again. It will only succeed if there is 100 per cent support from everyone.  The coming months and next few years will not be easy, but if everyone pulls together as one team, Alitalia can grow again.”

Mr Hogan said that Alitalia’s major investors had set a clear deadline for the airline to deliver profitability by 2017.

Outlining the airline’s new strategy, Silvano Cassano said: “The new Alitalia strategy is serious, it is exciting and it is commercial.   It is a strategy for success – if everybody delivers.

“It is serious because it has been developed over months by an executive team and a set of partners that share extensive and in-depth industry expertise.

“It is exciting because of the vision and ambition that we have for the brand and for the business. This is the chance to create a new Alitalia, one which Italy can truly feel proud of.

“And it is commercial because that is the only way this can work.  Every single employee at Alitalia has to get into a commercial mindset, one in which the basis of every decision is: Does this add value to our customer? Does it add value to our company? And does it help us to deliver a financial return?

“We need to create a performance-based, customer-focused culture which results in a sustainably profitable airline, one which can grow over the long term.

“The investment we have received from our shareholders gives us the opportunity to do that.”

Mr Cassano added: “A successful Alitalia means jobs, it means trade and it means tourism.  It means a major impact on the Italian economy.”

The key elements of the new business strategy include:

 

Network

·               A new three-hub strategy in Italy.  Milan Malpensa will increase long-haul services, while Milan Linate will increase connectivity with partner airline hubs.  Rome Fiumicino will grow long-haul flying and continue to expand short and medium haul flying to maintain relevance to the Italian market.

·               Schedules across the network will be optimised to allow better connectivity, as well as increased codesharing with existing and new partners.

·               New routes from Rome include Berlin, Dusseldorf, San Francisco, Mexico City, Santiago (Chile), Beijing and Seoul, with increased flights to New York, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro and Abu Dhabi.

·               Alitalia will also add 13 weekly flights from Milan Malpensa, with daily services to Abu Dhabi, four flights a week to Shanghai, and additional flights to Tokyo.

·               There will also be increased connectivity with Etihad Airways’ hub in Abu Dhabi, with daily services from Venice, Milan, Bologna and Catania, as well as additional flights from Rome, all allowing onward connections to the Middle East, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, China and Australia.

·               Venice will be the only Italian airport, in addition to Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa, from which Alitalia will operate services to Abu Dhabi with long-haul aircraft.

 

Cooperation

While exploring further opportunities to deepen the relationships with Skyteam members and in particular Air France/KLM and Delta, there will be a major new partnership with airberlin & NIKI, as well as increased connectivity with Etihad Airways.  There are also plans to work more deeply with Air Serbia and Etihad Regional. These partnerships will increase customer choice across many markets.

 

Fleet

Alitalia and Etihad Airways and its partners are exploring opportunities to improve jointly fleet efficiency.  For example, Alitalia is in the process of relocating 14 Airbus A320s to airberlin, and looking into options with Etihad Airways to acquire additional wide-body aircraft for Alitalia. Alitalia will also have opportunities to receive aircraft from Etihad Airways’ existing fleet orderbook.

 

Guest Services

A new customer-first culture, with new product and service standards across the airline.  A new Customer Excellence Training Academy will deliver skills to all customer-facing staff, while customers will experience traditional Italian hospitality, new food service options, new-look lounges in Rome, Milan Malpensa and Milan Linate.

 

Brand

Alitalia will launch a new brand and visual identity, covering aircraft, uniforms and all other customer touch-points. While the name will remain unchanged, the new branding will seek to capture and embody the essence of Italy.

 

Rome, 20th January 2015

The “Solar Impulse 2” pilots announce the route of their Round-The-World flight

By
André Orban
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0

After the Solar Impulse prototype’s 8 world records, when it became the first solar airplane ever to fly through the night, between two continents, and across the United States, it is time for Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg to move on to the final phase of the adventure: the 2015 round-the-world flight.

What better way to demonstrate the importance of the pioneering, innovatory spirit than by achieving “impossible” things with renewable energy and highlighting new solutions for environmental problems?

The route: Si2 will take-off from Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirate, in late February or early March and return by late July or early August 2015. The route includes stops in Muscat, Oman; Ahmedabad and Varanasi, India; Mandalay, Myanmar; and Chongqing and Nanjing, China. After crossing the Pacific Ocean via Hawaii, Si2 will fly across the Continental U.S.A. stopping in three locations – Phoenix, and New York City at JFK. A location in the Midwest will be decided dependent on weather conditions. After crossing the Atlantic, the final legs include a stop-over in Southern Europe or North Africa before arriving back in Abu Dhabi. Solar Impulse unveiled the flight path in Abu Dhabi alongside partner representatives. This included main partners Solvay, Omega, Schindler and ABB. They were also joined by official partners Altran, Bayer, Google, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, Swisscom and Moe?t Hennessy alongside Solar Impulse’s host partner Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company.

DATA: AROUND THE WORLD

An overview of the First Round-The-World Solar Flight, in numbers:

  • 2 pilots, Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, flying one after the other in the single-seater cockpit
  • 1 airplane: Solar Impulse 2
  • Zero fuel on board
  • A 35,000km (22,000 miles) journey
  • 500 flying hours approx.
  • 10 legs approx., some lasting more than 5 days and nights
  • A 5-month mission (March-August 2015)
  • A 60 people support team

Follow this great adventure on Luchtzak at http://www.luchtzak.be/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=55428&sid=d038e792fee74face02576f74acb47f7

Upgraded Qantas A330 takes off for Singapore

By
Maarten Van Den Driessche
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0

Upgraded Qantas A330 takes off for Singapore

Qantas’ first upgraded international A330 has today taken the skies, introducing a new standard of luxury on the route.

Upgraded Qantas A330 takes off for Singapore
Upgraded Qantas A330 takes off for Singapore

Passengers on flight QF35 from Melbourne to Singapore are the first Qantas customers to fly on the reconfigured international aircraft. It follows the introduction of the first domestic A330 last month, now operating on east-west services and key domestic routes.

The new A330 experience offers lie-flat Business Suites, designed in collaboration with Marc Newson, with a unique feature that allows customers to recline in their seat from take-off through to landing. A next-generation model of the award-winning Recaro seat has been introduced in Economy, and customers in all cabins will enjoy the latest inflight entertainment technology.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the airline was excited to welcome the first refurbished A330 to its international fleet, with new cabins set to re-define the inflight experience for the millions of customers who travel between Australia and Asia each year.

“When you combine our investment in lounges with what we’re offering on board our upgraded A330s, it puts Qantas in a very strong position to retain and win customers on key routes to Asia,” said Mr Joyce.

“Our first domestic aircraft has been operating for a little more than two weeks and we have received rave reviews from crew and our passengers. Some have said it’s the best domestic Business experience in the world.

“On top of the two years of research and development, more than 200 engineers and support staff at our Brisbane hangar are working on the reconfiguration program, with around 10,000 hours spent on each international aircraft,” he added.

More than half of Qantas’ 28 A330 aircraft are expected to be refurbished by the end of December 2015, with the project to be completed by the end of 2016.

Customers in Economy will enjoy Qantas’ new inflight dining experience, launched on Singapore flights earlier this week, offering more choice, larger meals and improved service.

This evening’s inaugural international A330 flight from Singapore also sees the introduction of a limited edition Oroton amenity kit. The collaboration between two Australian icons in Qantas and Oroton provides customers travelling in Business with an extra layer of luxury on overnight flights from Asia to Australia.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”http://youtube.com/watch?v=vkkAhZzOmHI “]
Take a sneak peek as our domestic A330 aircraft gets reconfigured with its lie-flat Business Suites, designed in collaboration with Marc Newson, and next generation model of the award-winning Recaro seat in Economy. #QFnewlook

Saudia Cargo to operate 3 weekly direct freighters to Milan Malpensa

By
André Orban
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0

Saudi Airlines Cargo is to launch 3 weekly B747 freighter flights from Riyadh to Milano Malpensa Airport starting Jan 11th, 2015.

“By operating direct freighter flights into Malpensa we are offering first class connections from our entire network including Hong Kong, China, Bangladesh and India right to the industrial center of Italy, thus proving our commitment to the Italian market” said Nabil Khojah, CEOSaudi Airlines Cargo Company.

Saudi Airlines Cargo operates a fleet of 15 freighters and sells the belly-capacity on 145 passenger aircraft for Saudi Arabia’s flag carrier Saudia, spanning a rapidly expanding global network of 225 destinations. In addition to its scheduled freighter services, the cargo airline also provides cost-effective and practical worldwide charter flight solutions from a growing fleet of dedicated charter aircraft.

Jeddah 11th Jan, 2015

United States Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport Set to Operate for All US-Bound Flights

By
Maarten Van Den Driessche
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0

United States Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport Set to Operate for All US-Bound Flights

United States Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport Set to Operate for All US-Bound Flights
United States Preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport Set to Operate for All US-Bound Flights

Air travellers on all Etihad Airways flights to the United States from this week will be able to experience the benefits of arriving in the US having precleared US Customs and Border Protection at Abu Dhabi Airport.

From Thursday 15 January US preclearance will open for the early morning EY103 to New York JFK and EY183 to San Francisco flights, both of which conveniently connect with inbound services from Mumbai, Delhi and other cities in India and the Indian Subcontinent.

The new early morning US preclearance operation complements the mid-morning one which caters for Etihad Airways passengers on flights to Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York JFK, and Washington, D.C., who all proceed through the facility.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’re delighted that from this Thursday all air travellers flying to the United States from Abu Dhabi will enjoy the benefits that US customs and immigration preclearance offers.

“Since its opening in January last year, the US preclearance has been extremely popular with air travellers, particularly those from the Indian Subcontinent and Middle East region. More than 325,000 people have passed through the facility, arriving in the United States as domestic passengers.”

The preclearance process provides passengers with the unique opportunity to pass through all required checks including US customs, immigration and security conveniently while in Abu Dhabi before they board their flight to the US, enabling them to avoid queues on arrival.

Another key benefit of US preclearance is that baggage security screening meets United States TSA security standards, allowing air travellers who connect onto a US domestic flight to have their baggage checked through from Abu Dhabi to their final destination.

US preclearance at Abu Dhabi Airport is the only one of its kind in the Middle East, and the United Arab Emirates’ capital is one of a small group of airports around the world to offer passengers preclearance into the US.

During its first 12 months of operation, the US preclearance in Abu Dhabi has improved the passenger experience through the introduction of automated passport control (APC) kiosks and greater numbers of officer processing desks.

The self-service APC kiosks expedite the US entry process for American, Canadian, and eligible visa waiver program (VWP) international travellers, by providing an automated process through US preclearance’s primary inspection area.

For further information visit: www.etihad.com/uspreclearance

Czech Airlines Launches Ostrava – Düsseldorf Connection, Expanding Successful Co-operation between Carrier and Moravia-Silesian Region

By
Maarten Van Den Driessche
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0

Czech Airlines Launches Ostrava – Düsseldorf Connection, Expanding Successful Co-operation between Carrier and Moravia-Silesian Region

ATR72 Czech Airlines
ATR72 Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines will launch operations on the Ostrava – Düsseldorf route this March. The connection will be serviced three times a week by ATR 72 aircraft with a short stop in Prague. Return flights will start at CZK 6.760, including all fees and taxes, with ticket sales starting today. Alongside the new Düsseldorf service, Czech Airlines will open a new ticketing office offering additional services, at Leoš Janá?ek Airport Ostrava.

Czech Airlines expanded its Ostrava – Prague connection last January and, thanks to the new timetable, linked Ostrava with other services offered by the carrier and its partners from Prague. Czech Airlines can thus offer clients from the north of the Moravia-Silesian region connecting flights from Prague to as many as 40 destinations.

“Czech Airlines plans to continue developing its air services from Ostrava. Therefore, effective 1 March 2015, the carrier is launching regular scheduled flights between Leoš Janá?ek Airport Ostrava and Düsseldorf. The Moravia-Silesian Region is the fastest developing region in the Czech Republic with interesting potential for new connections which make both economic and business sense. It would be a shame not to use this potential,” stated Ján Tóth, Czech Airlines Director for Sales and Marketing.

The new, Ostrava – Düsseldorf connection will be serviced three times a week (on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings heading to Düsseldorf and returning on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday evenings), by ATR 72 aircraft with a short, 25-minute stop in Prague, only to let the passengers finishing their journey in Prague disembark and new passengers heading to Düsseldorf board. Czech Airlines uses a similar model of operations on its successful Prague – Bratislavva – Košice and Prague – Hamburg – Gothenburg routes. Thanks to the Ostrava – Prague – Düsseldorf route, Czech Airlines will be able to offer a fast, comfortable and direct connection to the North-Rhine Westphalian metropolis. Passengers and their luggage starting their journey in Ostrava will be checked all the way to their final destination, without leaving the aircraft during the Prague stop. The same principle applies for the return journey.

“I am sure that the new air connection with Düsseldorf will be appreciated not only by tourists. The service is of primary importance for businessmen, who have complained in the past about the poor connection of Ostrava with the rest of the world, and also for potential investors contemplating directing their investments to the Moravia-Silesian region, thus creating new work places there,”Miroslav Novák, President of the Moravia-Silesian Regional Council, thinks. “With the new flights, the region becomes more accessible and we are opening up to the world. Leoš Janá?ek Airport Ostrava thus becomes an integral part of our transport infrastructure, of inter-regional and international importance. Development of this area is one of the priorities of the Moravia-Silesian region, primarily for its close proximity to the Mošnov industrial zone,” adds Miroslav Novák, the Region Council President.

“Air connection with Germany was one of the services most frequently requested by passengers. We are happy that it became possible to provide it. Naturally, this does not mean that our activities in this area are finished. We will continue our negotiations with air carriers, trying to convince them that Ostrava is, thanks to its location, parameters and equipment, an important point on the flights map and a viable candidate for new passenger and cargo connections,” added Pavel Schneider, General Director of Ostrava Airport.

Tickets for the Ostrava – Prague – Düsseldorf route will be available during the day from the entire Czech Airlines’ distribution network, i.e. not only via the carrier’s website and its Contact Centre, but also via all IATA travel agencies and ticketing offices. Prices of return flights, including all taxes and fees, start at CZK 6.760, while one-way tickets will be available from CZK 3.309. Passengers starting their journey in Düsseldorf will get return tickets from EUR 244 and one way tickets from EUR 134, including all fees and taxes.

New Czech Airlines’ Ticketing Office at Leoš Janá?ek Airport Ostrava
In connection with expanding the number of its flights from Ostrava, Czech Airlines will launch operations of its office at the Ostrava airport departure hall in February. The office will issue tickets, arrange ticket changes and provide additional services to passengers. Czech Airlines will thus be able to offer more complex services and assistance to clients from Ostrava and the Moravia-Silesian Region.

Wizz Air starts flights to Gdansk from Brussels South Charleroi Airport

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André Orban
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0
Wizz Air Airbus A320 landing in Gdansk
Wizz Air Airbus A320 landing in Gdansk

Wizz Air, one of the biggest low-cost airlines in Central and Eastern Europe, will be launching a new route to Poland from BSCA on 19 June 2015. Gda?sk, a port city and the capital of Pomeranian Voivodeship, will have two weekly flights from Brussels South Charleroi Airport. Flights will depart every Monday and Friday.

The growth and expansion of Wizz Air is impressive, and the work carried out by the airline’s teams is worth highlighting. The launch of the route Charleroi – Gda?sk is also an advantage for BSCA, the most accessible and punctual airport in Belgium, with a new Polish city to add to its range of destinations. Once again, our passengers will be able to fly to Poland from a straightforward, quick airport that offers quality services at low prices.”
This is the ninth route for Wizz Air from Brussels South Charleroi Airport, and we look forward to welcoming lots of passengers to our new route from Charleroi to Gda?sk.”

Wizz Air, which transported 15.8 million passengers in 2014, has enjoyed growth of 17%. With a fleet of 54 Airbus A320s, each seating 180 passengers, the airline flies to a total of 106 destinations in 37 countries, with 355 routes in all. Wizz Air has 18 bases in 10 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, and is due to open another one in June 2015 in Tuzla (Bosnia-Herzegovina). Jean-Jacques Cloquet, BSCA’s CEO, was keen to congratulate the airline on its growth, and was thrilled to hear about this new development for BSCA.

Daniel De Carvalho, head of Corporate Communications at Wizz Air, explains: ” This is the second Polish destination departing from Brussels South Charleroi Airport for Wizz Air. The number of destinations offered by Wizz Air from BSCA has now gone up to nine, namely Budapest, Bucharest, Cluj, Ljubljana, Skopje, Sofia, Timisoara, Warsaw and Gda?sk. Tickets for flights to Gda?sk are now available on the website http://www.wizzair.com and prices start at 14.99€.

Iberia honoured as most punctual airline in Brussels

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André Orban
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  • With an on-time rating of 95% for its flights to and from the Belgian capital in 2014, the Spanish airline has received an award at the 8th Brussels Airport Aviation Awards
  • According to Flightstats, Iberia was the world’s most punctual international airline in the months of June, August, October, and December, 2014

Of last year’s 2,679 flights operated by Iberia between Brussels and Madrid 95% were on time

Iberia was honoured as last year’s most punctual short-haul airline at Brussels airport in the 8th Annual Aviation Awards given out by the Belgian capital airport.
Of last year’s 2,679 flights operated by Iberia between Brussels and Madrid (a 6.7% increase from the previous year), 95% were on time.
This performance was in line with Iberia’s dramatic improvement in punctuality overall during the last 20 months, when it was the world’s most punctual international airline in June, August, October, and December, according to Flightstats.
Iberia began flying to Brussels in April, 1964 and now links the Spanish and Belgian capital cities with 54 flights each week. At its T4 hub in Madrid, passengers from Belgium can continue their trip to other 27 destinations in Spain, to Lisbon or Oporto in Portugal, to 10 African destinations, and to 19 cities in the Americas included in the airline’s network.
In 2014 Iberia raised its capacity on the Brussels-Madrid route by 4.1% to 482,000 seats, while actual passenger traffic on the route grew by 9.6%. Nearly 37% of the customers on the route were connecting passengers to/from other destinations such as Lima, San Jose de Costa Rica, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires in Latin America, and such Spanish cities as Oviedo, Seville, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife.
January 16, 2015

Munich Airport posts all-time high of just under 40 million passengers

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André Orban
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Airport sets new records for total passengers and airfreight

2015-01-13-ATF3043

With close to 40 million travellers arriving and departing, Munich Airport had yet another record year in 2014. Passenger traffic increased by nearly 3 percent to 39.7 million – one million more than in the previous year. The dynamic growth in traffic resulted above all from strong gains in the second half of 2014, when passenger volume was actually up 4 percent over the same period a year earlier.

The new record also represents something of a statistical milestone for Munich Airport, namely the 20th all-time high for total passengers posted in the airport’s 22-year history at its new location: “With these results, Munich Airport continues to ensure the success of Bavaria and will continue to have a major impact on the Bavarian economy and tourism,” said Dr. Michael Kerkloh, the CEO of FMG, the airport’s operating company.

The strong passenger figures also resulted once again in an increase in the average load factor in Munich, which rose to a new all-time high of 75.9 percent. This means that, in 2014, more than three quarters of all seats offered at Munich Airport were booked. A total of about 377,000 take-offs and landings took place in 2014: a decrease of 1.4 percent from the previous year.

The airfreight segment also reported new records: The total volume of cargo increased by 8 percent to a record level of over 291,000 tons. When airmail is included, the cargo volume handled in Munich actually exceeded 309,000 tons.

Airport CEO Kerkloh sees the continuing strong traffic results at Bavaria’s gateway to the world as grounds for optimism: “In 2015 we will not only vault over the 40 million barrier for total passengers, but will also record more take-offs and landings. That means that our Munich hub will continue growing, even if that growth is limited due to capacity constraints in our runway system.” Again in 2014, Munich Airport felt the effects of the transition of various airlines to larger aircraft: The average departure weight of the planes increased to 82.5 tons. The number of seats offered on flights to and from Munich rose by about 2 percent to over 52.3 million.

The increase in passenger numbers in Munich in 2014 resulted entirely from gains in international traffic. The strongest growth was seen in the intercontinental segment, where traffic increased by 7 percent to 6.2 million passengers on the strength of excellent results on the new long-haul connections to Houston, Mexico and Shanghai and additional flights to Abu Dhabi. The continental segment remained by far the largest traffic segment at Munich Airport: the number of passengers travelling on routes within Europe was up nearly 3 percent to more than 24 million, with strong gains seen in particular on routes to Spain, Italy and Greece. By contrast, traffic on routes within Germany remained unchanged as compared with the previous year (9.3 million passengers).

Press release Flughafen München GmbH 16.01.2015

Qatar Airways inaugurates world’s first A350 XWB route from Doha to Frankfurt

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André Orban
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0

Next-Generation aircraft makes flying quieter at FRA – More comfort for passengers

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) today welcomed the arrival of Qatar Airways’ inaugural flight of the brand new A350 XWB (extra wide body) on the Doha to Frankfurt route – the world’s first commercial service with this low-noise, next-generation plane.  In late December 2014, Airbus delivered the first of eighty A350 XWB jets to its global launch customer Qatar Airways.  The state-of-the-art A350 XWB offers increased operating efficiencies for airlines, enhanced comfort for passengers, and reduced aircraft noise for the benefit of residents in the airport vicinity.  The Qatar Airways A350 XWB will be flying daily on the DOH-FRA route and provide comfortable seating for 283 passengers (36 business and 247economy class).  Fraport AG’s executive board member for operations (COO), Anke Giesen, said:  “The inauguration of the world’s first A350 XWB route from DOH to FRA marks another milestone in aviation, which Frankfurt Airport is proud to share.  We congratulate Qatar Airways, Airbus and Rolls Royce on this magnificent airplane and this memorable day.”

Giesen emphasized FRA’s tradition and commitment to next-generation jets:  “For many years, Frankfurt Airport has prepared itself early for next-generation planes by working closely and constructively with the aircraft manufacturers and airlines.”   Already in the 1970s, when FRA’s Terminal 1 was first being constructed, Frankfurt further expanded the terminal to serve as an ideal hub for the B747 jumbo. With the introduction of the Airbus A380 superjumbo, Fraport AG was actively involved in the first airport ground-handling tests in 2005 and the subsequent route-proving flights for the world’s largest passenger airliner – all conducted via Frankfurt Airport.  In the summer of 2014, Fraport also welcomed the Airbus A350 test flight from Iqualit (YFB) in the Canadian Arctic to Frankfurt.  Furthermore, FRA’s facilities, ground equipment and experienced handling teams are well-prepared to meet the requirements of next-generation jets.

Cabin size is not the only thing that makes the A350 so special.  There are other aspects of great importance to all aviation stakeholders.  For example, the plane’s increased efficiency and lower noise emissions will contribute to sustainable aviation in the years to come.  Fraport’s COO added:  “In particular, we will benefit from the latest technology that is being implemented with this advanced aircraft type. The significant reduction in noise emissions achieved by the A350 will help contribute to quieter flying at Frankfurt.  Compared to the existing generation of twin-engine, long-haul wide-body jets, the A350 XWB requires up to 25 percent less fuel and is substantially quieter.”

Airlines are rewarded for deploying the most advanced low-noise aircraft at Frankfurt Airport, thanks to Fraport’s proactive strategy of structuring landing fees on the basis of the actual noise generated by a plane.  This saves the airlines money and allows us to enhance our commitment toward sustainable aviation – which benefits residents in the Frankfurt region as well as people in Doha and the rest of the world.  More information about the Airbus A350 XWB is available via the Internet.

The world’s first commercial service with the A350 XWB is being operated by Qatar Airways on the Doha to Frankfurt route (inbound flight QR67 arriving from DOH at 12:30; outbound flight QR68 departing FRA at 15:25).  At FRA, passengers check in for Qatar Airways flights in Hall B of Terminal 1.

15.01.2015

Brussels South Charleroi Airport second most punctual airport in the world

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André Orban
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0

CATEGORY – AIRPORTS WELCOMING FEWER THAN 10 MILLION PASSENGERS/YEAR

This month, the OAG, a recognised neutral, international organisation in the air travel industry, released its report on airport punctuality around the world. Brussels South Charleroi Airport, the country’s most accessible airport with extensive operational experience, managed second place, after Bristol airport in the United Kingdom. Throughout 2014 in Charleroi, 93.1% of flights were on time.

Based in Luton, with offices in the USA, China, Japan and Singapore, the OAG enjoys a fantastic reputation in the air travel industry and offers all stakeholders a whole host of information about flight times in real time, punctuality and lots of other subjects. The OAG Punctuality League 2014 report is based on 43.5 million flights around the world. Listed as one of the “small airports” (defined as welcoming fewer than 10,000,000 passengers/year), Brussels South Charleroi Airport came second behind Bristol (1) and ahead of Berlin Schönefeld (3).

This achievement gives our staff a great boost and highlights the quality of the work all the teams do at BSCA every single day. Jean-Jacques Cloquet, BSCA’s CEO, is incredibly proud of the work that his teams have done: “The OAG Punctuality League 2014 report once again confirms BSCA’s know-how, skills and operational performance. According to the results within our category, BSCA exceeds the average, coming second with 93.1% of flights on time or taking off/landing within a quarter of an hour of the scheduled time. We are thrilled with these results, which once again prove that punctuality is one of the major benefits that we offer; a benefit to our passengers as well as to our airlines.”

The OAG Punctuality League 2014 report can be downloaded and viewed at http://www.oag.com. 

Fraport Traffic Figures – December & Full Year 2014: Frankfurt Airport Reports Rising Passenger and Cargo Volumes Despite Several Strikes

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André Orban
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0

Trend Towards Larger Aircraft and Better Capacity Utilization Continues – Airports in Fraport’s International Portfolio Record Strong Traffic Growth

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) achieved a new record in 2014 as well.   Some 59.57 million passengers passed through Germany’s largest aviation hub in 2014, an increase of 2.6 percent year-on-year.  Passenger growth at Fraport AG’s home base FRA would have been even greater – with an underlying increase of around 3.9 percent to about 60.3 million passengers – when taking into account the high number of mainly strike-related flight cancellations and all other extraordinary cancellations, including due to adverse weather.

Cargo volumes (airfreight + airmail) at Frankfurt Airport also advanced in 2014, rising by 1.7 percent to about 2.2 million metric tons by year-end.  Aircraft movements edged down by 0.8 percent to about 469,000 takeoffs and landings, reflecting the ongoing trend towards larger aircraft and better capacity utilization along with higher passenger and cargo volumes.  Simultaneously, accumulated maximum takeoff weights (MTOWs) increased by 1.9 percent to about 29 million metric tons.

In the reporting month of December 2014, FRA served around 4 million passengers. This represents a 2 percent decrease year-on-year, resulting from strike and weather-related flight cancellations.  Aircraft movements also declined by 5.2 percent in December 2014 to 32,954 takeoffs and landings, while accumulated MTOWs contracted 1.1 percent to 2.1 million metric tons. Cargo volumes also slipped by 1.4 percent year-on-year, reaching a total of 176,241 metric tons.

Commenting on the overall positive results reached in 2014, Fraport’s executive board chairman Dr. Stefan Schulte said: “We are delighted that – despite the strikes – we were clearly able to maintain the expected growth range forecast for FRA in 2014.  On behalf of the entire executive board, I would like to extend special thanks to all of our Fraport employees.  Even on the busiest days in 2014 – when traffic frequently exceeded the 200,000 level – our employees showed excellent team performance and did their utmost to provide the best possible travel experience to our passengers.”

Looking in the future, Schulte emphasized: “The growth trend experienced in 2014 confirms our forecasts for the coming years.  This further underscores why we need a third new passenger terminal here at Frankfurt Airport.  If the current trend continues, with growth rates ranging from two to three percent, in the coming years, the existing terminals will reach their capacity limits by 2021 at the latest.  We will need the new Terminal 3 to ensure that we can continue delivering excellent service quality to our passengers, also with modern and trendsetting ambiance in the future.”

Across the Group, the airports in Fraport’s international portfolio also recorded positive traffic growth in 2014.  Slovenia’s capital city airport of Ljubljana (LJU) – which Fraport acquired in September 2014 – welcomed 1.3 million passengers and reported growth of 3.1 percent year-on-year.  With some 15.7 million passengers, Lima Airport (LIM) in Peru recorded a 5 percent jump in passenger traffic compared to 2013.  The Fraport Twinstar airports of Burgas (BOJ) and Varna (VAR) on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast saw traffic rise by 3.1 percent to 3.9 million passengers.   Antalya Airport (AYT) on the Turkish Riviera served some 28 million passengers in 2014 – a 4.7 percent increase compared to the previous year.  At St. Petersburg’s Pulkovo Airport (LED) in Russia, passenger traffic surged by 11 percent to 14.3 million in 2014.  In northern Germany, Hanover Airport (HAJ) recorded 1.1 percent grow to almost 5.3 million passengers.  In China, Xi’an Airport (XIY) served some 29.2 million passengers in 2014, achieving double-digit growth of 12 percent versus the previous year.  Also in the month of December 2014, all of Fraport’s international airports recorded traffic growth, thus contributing to the Group’s overall positive result.

Schulte explained that the dynamic performance of Fraport’s international portfolio shows the company is following the right path:  “Our strong portfolio, which has been performing well for many years now, will further benefit from the recent addition of Ljubljana Airport in Slovenia and U.S.-based Airmall.”

15.01.2015

Belgocontrol in search of new air traffic controllers

By
André Orban
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0

Belgocontrol is recruiting new air traffic controllers. Interested candidates can apply as from today. At the end of a rigorous selection process, 12 candidates will be allowed to start their training as air traffic controllers.

The call for candidates is launched today through the Belgian Official Gazette as well as a social media campaign. Candidates have to be resident in one of the European Union Member States, to be holder of a secondary school certificate or degree at the beginning of the training and have to provide a police record. Specific prior training is not required. Enrolment is open until 6 February 2015.

Rigorous selection
The selection procedure starts as from early March. Candidates will be thoroughly screened for a number of skills such as responsiveness and judgement, planning, spatial awareness and multitasking. During a psychological assessment and a group discussion, they will be extensively tested for their motivation, their understanding of the job content, perseverance, resistance to stress and working in team. A good knowledge of English is also an assessment criterion. Finally, a medical examination verifies the candidates’ general bill of health (blood analysis, blood pressure, lung capacity, ear, nose and throat, hearing and sight).

Training
As from August the 12 best candidates will start their training to become tower air traffic controllers. That training takes two years and consists of two parts. The first part – the Initial Training – will provide the candidate air traffic controller with a solid basis. The candidate will then move on to the second part, the Unit Training, during which he will gain more in-depth knowledge and in which he will be specifically trained for one of the five airports at which Belgocontrol manages air traffic (Brussels, Antwerp, Ostend, Liege or Charleroi). After those two modules, the candidate can start to work as tower air traffic controller. By taking further courses air traffic controllers can subsequently evolve to become approach or en-route controller.

Only the very best
An air traffic controller’s job is highly coveted in Belgium. Since the latest recruitment round in 2010, thousands of people have expressed their interest. They will be personally informed of the new recruitment procedure so that they can effectively apply. Other candidates are most welcome too of course. The extremely rigorous selection tests and the very limited number of candidates who are admitted to the exceptionally intensive training, guarantee the quality of our air traffic controllers and in that way, the safety of air traffic. Belgocontrol does not in the least compromise on that.

Monday 12 January 2015

Austrian Airlines expands flight service to Athens

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André Orban
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• Austrian Airlines increases weekly offering to and from Athens by four flights
• Up to eleven flights per week to the Greek capital
• Additional transfer capacity to North America and Western Europe

Austrian Airlines is expanding its flight service to and from Athens. Starting on April 29, 2015, it will offer four additional night flights per weeks from Vienna to Athens and back. As a result, Austria’s national airline will operate up to eleven weekly flights to and from Athens.

The additional offering strengthens flight connections in both directions and thus also the Vienna to Athens hub-to-hub connection on the basis of four additional frequencies. The decisive point is that the expanded flight service creates additional transfer possibilities for passengers via the Vienna hub, for example from Athens to Western Europe and in particular to North America. With transfer passengers comprising 75% of the total on this route, Austrian Airlines is now able to offer its passengers additional capacity in the Austrian Airlines route network.

The new flight times include four evening flights between Vienna and Athens:

OS803 Vienna-Athens 21:15-00:30(+1)
OS804 Athens-Vienna 07:30-08:45

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