Alex Cuenca

✈️ Ryanair and Aena will meet on October 2 to discuss Aena's €12.888 billion investment program for 2027-2031, focusing on airport enhancements. Aena aims for carbon neutrality by 2030, but proposed fee increases, like the 6.62% rise in 2026, are contentious. Ryanair opposes this, having cut 2 million seats and threatening another million. Aena's president criticized Ryanair's tactic as coercive, while tourism lobbies warn higher fees could raise ticket prices and reduce competitiveness.

✈ Sepla and COPAC have sent a letter to Aena's president expressing dissatisfaction with the "Otro día sin aeropuertos" campaign. They demand its immediate withdrawal and a public apology, as they believe it ridicules pilots. The campaign's intent was to highlight airports' importance, yet it compares pilots to taxi drivers, offending the profession. Both organizations argue it trivializes pilots' roles, which require high responsibility and competence to ensure air transport safety and quality.

🏢 La familia Hidalgo anticipa cerrar la entrada de Turkish Airlines en Air Europa tras una auditoría exitosa. Turkish Airlines planea invertir 300 million euros para adquirir el 26-27% de Air Europa, de los cuales 275 million euros serán un préstamo y 25 million euros para compra de acciones. Este acuerdo ayudará a cancelar un préstamo de 475 million euros de SEPI. Turkish Airlines, liderado por Ahmet Bolat, no busca control total, mientras IAG mantendrá su 20% de participación.

✈️ China Eastern Airlines will launch the world's longest flight, taking 29 hours from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, with a brief refueling stop in Auckland, New Zealand. The flight spans 26 hours in the air and begins operations from December 4, utilizing B777 aircraft. Flights depart China on Mondays and Thursdays and return from Argentina on Tuesdays and Fridays. Tickets are priced around $1,400. This route surpasses the previous longest single-ticket flight by China Airlines from Beijing to Sao Paulo.

✈️ Volotea, June-August 2025, Spain: Surpassed European network performance, transporting over 1 million passengers on 6,700 flights with a 95% occupancy rate. Expanded with six new routes including Barcelona-Bordeaux and Madrid-Ancona. Despite growth, facing ongoing financial challenges with €35 million EBIT, €148 million EBITDA, and €811 million sales in 2024. Still owes €300 million of a €350 million state rescue and ICO-backed loan. Sold 21% stake to Aegean Airlines; plans IPO by 2026.