Iberia plans to purchase Air Europa's stake for €500 million, marking a significant shift in the European aviation industry following the coronavirus pandemic. The acquisition is valued at €500 million and is expected to be completed in 2024. IAG has proposed strategic concessions to increase competition, including surrendering routes and slots to competitors like Ryanair, Volotea, and World2Fly. The merger aims to convert Madrid-Barajas into a competitive hub for intercontinental flights, boosting passenger traffic and improving connectivity. The merger is expected to create between 1,250 and 1,800 direct jobs, augment Madrid airport's earnings by €30 million, and enhance air cargo traffic by 16,000 tons.

(Source: Aerovalue. Read article here)

Infrastructure investors in Europe are preparing to sell their stakes in European airports, leveraging the recovery of travel following the COVID-19 pandemic. Edinburgh, one of the largest airports, may see a change of ownership as soon as 2024. Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is working on the sale of its majority stake, potentially valued at over 2.5 billion euros ($2.72 billion). AGS Airports, owned by Macquarie and Ferrovial, may follow suit. Investors in 2i Aeroporti are also weighing a sale.

(Source: Emma-Victoria Farr, Andres Gonzalez, Elisa Anzolin, Joanna Plucinska, Mathieu Rosemain, Anousha Sakoui and Elaine Hardcastle - REUTERS Read article here)

Ryanair, Europe's top airline, has called on the EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, to take urgent action to protect overflights and EU citizens' freedom of movement during the French ATC strike on November 20th. With 65 days of ATC strikes in 2023, over 13 times more than in 2022, France has used Minimum Service Laws to protect French flights, forcing thousands of EU overflights to be cancelled. Ryanair has called on passengers to join its "Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open" petition , as over 2 million passengers have already done so. The airline believes that France should protect overflights during ATC strikes, similar to Spain, Italy, and Greece, and cancel flights to or from the affected state.


(Source: BREAKINGTRAVELNEWS. Read article here)
(See Rayanair "Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open" petition, here)

IAG anticipates a medium-term operating profit of over 1.500 million euros in Spanish businesses, pledging to distribute dividends to shareholders once its balance sheet stabilizes and investment plans are advanced.

(Source: EUROPA PRESS. Read article here)

The EU is evaluating if Dutch plans to decrease Schiphol airport flights comply with EU regulations, a significant decision that has not been made before..

(Source: Bart Meijer and Benoit Van Overstraeten - REUTERS Read article here)

Tenerife Sur airport in Tenerife has been experiencing chaos due to Brexit, with hundreds of thousands of British tourists stuck in long queues for passports. The UK's departure from the EU has led to stricter passport controls, with the airport now having a modern second terminal. The queues at passport controls and taxi ranks are also causing issues. The UK's departure from the EU has also led to a change in the process of travelling from the UK to EU countries, with the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) to measure and control the duration of people from third countries' stay in the Schengen Zone.

(Source: Rita Sabot and Milo Boyd - MIRROR. Read article here)

Frankfurt airport recorded its highest monthly flight count for four years in October, handling 40,720 inbound and outbound flights, despite a 14% decrease from the previous year. Frankfurt lags other major European hubs in recovery from Covid-19..

(Source: Rob Gill - BTN EUROPE. Read article here)

Latvian airline airBaltic has become the largest customer in Europe of the Airbus A220, with an order for 30 more A220-300s. The wings are manufactured at the former Bombardier premises in Belfast, now owned by Spirit AeroSystems. AirBaltic already operates a 44-strong fleet of A220-300s, making it the largest A220-300 operator in the world. The A220 offers a unique capability in terms of range, performance, and passenger appeal.

(Source: Margaret Canning - BELFAST TELEGRAPH. Read article here)

City Airlines, a new European airline, will launch in 2024 from Munich and Frankfurt, german operator Lufthansa is behind it. Operating with a fleet of Airbus A319, the airline aims to provide fast and convenient connections to European destinations, with plans to expand sustainably.

(Source: Liv Kelly. TIMEOUT. Read article here)

The European Commission is investigating the rise in air fares across Europe after airlines increased ticket prices by up to 30% over the summer, leading to increased profits. Transport Commissioner Dina Vălean is seeking a detailed explanation of the market dynamics behind the price rises, which were triggered by a travel boom and supply chain issues. The commission is concerned that high fares could affect the EU's outer regions, such as islands or isolated territories that rely on aviation for connectivity. The European Commission is in a permanent conversation with the industry to understand the cause of the development.

(Source: Alice Hancock, Philip Georgiadis - FINANCIAL TIMES. Read article here)