News that low-cost carrier Primera Air ceased operations as of Monday night comes as a shock to those who watched the small airline budding and expanding its reach across Europe last year.
Europe airlines
Eurowings Adds Flights to Tunisia and Greece
Eurowings is adding flights from Cologne/Bonn, Düsseldorf, Munich and Vienna to the summer lineup of departures to Tunisia and Greece.
JetBlue Leads the Trend Toward Unlimited Wi-Fi
This week JetBlue announced a “first of” offer for complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for every seat on every aircraft in the fleet. The free Wi-Fi offer will allow all domestic passengers Internet access and streaming for their devices once onboard JefBlue’s aircraft.
Ryanair announced Riga to Cologne flights
According to the news, the flights will operate three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturday, uitilizing the ‘Boeing 738 aircraft. In other Ryanair news, the low cost champions resumed flights between Riga-Brussels (Charleroi) and Riga-Bradford (Leeds) earlier this month. on October 26.
Lufthansa pilots threaten further action
Lufthansa pilots have given notice they may yet take further action against the airline’s failed bid to end their strike. The court in Frankfurt ruled yesterday in favor of the pilots, saying there were no legal grounds for Lufthansa’s action.
Finnair adds Croatia and other 2015 destinations
According to news from Finnair, the airline will be launching flights to Split in Croatia starting in May of next year. The twice weekly (Tuesdays and Saturdays) flights will operate with the A320 aircraft, according to the airline.
Air France gives in to pilots
Pilots striking against Air France over a proposed expansion of the airline via subsidiary Transavia have apparently won. Air France and KLM have now announced their intention of dropping the Transavia Europe operation.
Air France strike grounds half of flights
Air France has said more than half the airline’s flights will have to be grounded on account of a week-long pilot’s strike. The airline’s plans to start its own low cost carrier are at the center of the dispute that had crippled the airline this morning.
Alitalia Expands Crete Flights – Gets Investment Boost
Alitalia has begin a three times per week service in between Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and the Crete holiday destination of Heraklion (HER). The route is to be a summer seasonal one flying only through 31 August.
Ryanair Catering to Families This Summer
In news from low cost airline leader Ryanair, the carrier will be introducing a new “family-friendly” service at a special event in London. Discounted charges for various services by the airline were just announced via Travel Mole.
Airberlin May Passengers Up
For May 2014, airberlin ferried a total of 2,971,840 passengers to destinations worldwide. The increase, of +0.5 percent over the same period of 2013, represented equaled a high capacity utilization rate of 79.5 percent. Seat miles/kilometers increased, as did other comparative figures.
Aegean Airlines Reports Passengers Up 26% for April
Total passenger traffic for AEGEAN and Olympic Air was up by 26% for April 2014, climbing to 751,347 passengers, 153,443 more than the total for both companies during the same period in 2013.In April, AEGEAN and Olympic Air operated 7.933 flights improving the load factor by 9 units, reaching 76%.
Aeroflot Continues Fleet Expansion: Takes Boeing Delivery
Aeroflot has taken delivery of a new Boeing 777-300ER named in honor of Anton Chekhov, the famous Russian author. Configured in a three class arrangement, the new 777-300ER also includes increased leg room, an upgraded on-board menu, additional baggage room and more Aeroflot Bonus reward miles. So far this is Aeroflot’s 6th aircraft in the class.
Ryanair Establishes Greece Hub
Early this month Ryanair announced having opened an Athens based hub for operations operating six routes across the Greece region. The low cost airline hopes the new hub will help bolster the 1.2 million passengers per year to then Greek capital, and prop up the 1200 plus jobs Athens Airport benefits from.
Wizz Air Taking Off in Eastern Europe
News from Ryanair competitor Wizz Air shows that company pivoting to compete with the world’s most profitable budget carrier. While the Budapest airline lost some 25 routes to Ryanair last year in the UK and Poland, the Hungarian carrier gained a lot of ground in Eastern Europe.