Argophilia

Αργοφιλία: For the love of the journey.

Airlines

Ethiad Airways bailing out on Air Berlin

Aleksandr Shatskih

Beleaguered airline Air Berlin is to cut its fleet by half and is all set to lay off 1,000 employees by the end of this year. The airline, which is in a tailspin caused by stiff competition, and the delayed opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, plans to reduce its fleet to about 70 aircraft and cut its workforce down to 7,600 employees.

According to the reports, Air Berlin’s biggest shareholder, Etihad Airways, was in talks with Lufthansa and travel company TUI over chopping up the dead weight and aircraft of the troubled airline. The reports paint a picture of a kind of midair rescue where TUI’s German airline TUIfly and Air Berlin’s Austrian subsidiary Niki might absorb unwanted parts of the business.

Ryanair Set for Further Expansion on Positive 2015/16

Phil Butler

According to news from Ryanair, the airline’s full-year profits were 43% higher for 2015/16 jumped, than the previous period. Despite major setbacks from terrorist attacks, strikes, and other negatives, the company managed a profit of €1,242 million.

Better Fares with Norwegian Airlines

Aleksandr Shatskih

For North Americans who always wanted a European vacation, a new flight path to the old continent via budget carrier Norwegian Airlines could make those dreams a lot cheaper. The US Department of Transportation has just granted preliminary approval to expand its operations between the US and Norway.

Biblio Globus Inks Aircraft Deal with “Russia” Airline

Aleksandr Shatskih

Tour operator “Biblio Globus” has just signed a deal with “Russia” airlines for the use of 13 aircraft under contract until 2018. With Russia set as a priority destination for the company, “Biblio Globus” announced an extensive flight program for Krasnodar and the Crimea as well.

Wizz Air Announces New City Connects

Aleksandr Shatskih

Travelers headed from Budapest to Sofia will be able to book Wizz Air flights starting November 1st. According to news from the airline, the new service will connect the two capitals three days a week.

LOT: Bye-Bye Orbitz

Mihaela Lica Butler

LOT Polish Airlines has not renewed its partnership with Orbitz, the company announced yesterday, so don’t go looking for LOT air fares on the popular travel site anymore. The fares are not affected by the change, but travelers used to book LOT tickets on Orbitz will have to search elsewhere. LOT has several other partners […]

Vietjet connects Vietnam and Russia economy class

Aleksandr Shatskih

In airline news, Vietjet, Vietnam’s budget private airline, has announced the launch of flights in between Vladivostok and Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hue, and Phu Quoc. The announcement came while Vietnam’s Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong was on a visit to Russia.

TAP and GOL begin operating codeshare flights

Argo Contributor

TAP Portugal, the leading airline operating between Europe and Brazil, and Brazilian airline GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, the largest low-cost airline offering the best fares in Latin America, are launching a business partnership to operate codeshare flights that will enable both airlines to offer more convenient services to their customers.

Aeroflot’s Pobeda set to take off

Aleksandr Shatskih

In air travel news, Russia’s Federal Aviation Agency has granted Pobeda, the low-cost carrier subsidiary of Aeroflot, its operator’s certificate and air transportation licence. The award of the documentation, under Russian legislative rules, allows the new low cost airline to begin ticket sales as of November 11.

Will Monarch’s new flight plan take off?

Phil Butler

News last week that leading UK leisure airline Monarch received an influx of £125 million of permanent capital from investors Greybull Capital LLP tells of a cutthroat competitive market.

AEGEAN Airlines revisits Cairo connection

Aleksandr Shatskih

Friday, AEGEAN announced their winter flight schedule beginning with further international flight growth. According to the news from the Greek airline direct flights from Athens to Cairo will be re instituted.