Miguel Praga

🚀 IAG’s venture with Air Europa cost €241 million, with €125 million paid as compensation to the Hidalgo family for not acquiring their company. IAG spent €100 million to purchase 20% of Air Europa and another €16 million to maintain its stake amid a capital increase. Despite not recovering €125 million, IAG's CEO Luis Gallego sees the 20% stake as a positive financial investment, suggesting its current value is 30% higher than at acquisition.

✈ Air Tanzania, with a fleet of three Dreamliners, four A220s, and two 737Max planes, has been banned from European airspace due to insufficiently reliable operational procedures as per the EU's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The airline was added to a list of approximately 130 airlines restricted from the continent, following the recent removal of Pakistan International Airlines from the same list. The decision was made on Friday 13, in response to Tanzania's request to initiate flights to Europe. European technicians are set to visit Tanzania to conduct on-site checks. Air Tanzania's spokesperson, Gerson Msigwa, has expressed ongoing discussions for slots and necessary licenses. The ban was unanimously agreed upon by the safety expert committee.

✈ Lufthansa's acquisition of Ita, the new Alitalia, led to route concessions due to EU market dominance concerns. Easyjet capitalizes most, dedicating eight aircraft to new slots. Vueling also benefits; starting April, it connects Florence with Brussels Zaventem on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Air France gains, while Brussels Airlines, part of the Lufthansa Group, cannot take over vacated routes. Ryanair sticks to organic growth, focusing on Orio al Serio, Malpensa, and Bologna.