Miguel Praga

✈ An Airbus A340-600 previously operated by Virgin Airways was bought by Nigeria's Azman Air. It flew normally until it unexpectedly landed in Tehran, Iran, and never flew again. The aircraft, with registration 5N-AAM, was acquired in 2020 and modified to carry 413 passengers. After being grounded in August at Kano airport, it resumed flying on November 15 with its transponder off. Iran has a history of diverting such planes for its internal needs, despite international aviation blockades, due to its oil production facilitating higher fuel consumption.

✈️ On May 22, 2020, during the pandemic, an Airbus A320 crashed in Karachi center, claiming 98 lives. A scandal surfaced when it was revealed that numerous licensed pilots had acquired their credentials through bribes. By June 2020, EASA blacklisted Pakistan International Airlines over safety concerns. In four years, 262 out of 860 Pakistani pilots had fake licenses, including 141 of Pakistan International's 434 pilots. Europe has now reinstated flight permissions for the airline, significant for its UK flights.

📌 The Spanish Government's 'Big Brother' project led by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has raised concerns within ECTAA, the European travel agencies and tour operators association. The proposed regulations would require tourists to provide up to 40 data points for accommodations and 60 for car rentals, which could infringe on Data Protection laws. European operators fear the responsibility of safeguarding such sensitive customer information, which includes credit card details and travel habits. This unprecedented move in the EU could expose citizens to risks of misuse in the event of a cyberattack.