Miguel Praga

💸 Globalia, associated with the Hidalgo family, was granted a contract extension to manage travel services for Spain's central government, amidst allegations of favoritism linked to Javier Hidalgo's relationship with Begoña Gómez, the Spanish PM's wife. The contract for Expediente 54/17 lots 2 and 3 was extended twice: from April 6, 2020, to December 31, 2020, and January 1, 2021, to April 5, 2022. The original contract was worth €285.6 million, with Globalia's then subsidiary Halcón Viajes awarded lots 2 and 3 valued at €106 million. The remaining €179.6 million was split between Nautalia, IAG7, and Viajes El Corte Inglés. Current contracts, not involving Globalia, have been extended from April 22, 2024, to April 21, 2025.

✈ British citizen, 34, sentenced to eight months in prison for offenses causing the diversion of an Easyjet flight from Glasgow to Tenerife. Incident occurred on April 20; sentencing on July 18. The offender smoked in the lavatories, attempted to assault cabin crew, damaged the plane, and refused to stay seated, prompting an emergency landing in Bristol, England.

🏖️ Ylva Johansson, European Commissioner, confirmed the EU's new entry system start date for travelers: November 10, at the onset of the winter tourism season. The system, delayed in implementation, will replace passport stamping with digital border controls at every European airport, port, and land border. It applies to travelers from 60 visa-exempt countries who will use ETIAS, a digital document costing €7, valid for three years, and tracks entries and exits.

✈ CECU sent a letter to Spain's Transport and Sustainable Mobility Minister Óscar Puente and Rights and Consumption Minister Pablo Bustinduy, claiming airlines are infringing consumer rights by refusing to accept notifications and claims. Aesa, the aviation safety agency, declared inaction due to lack of regulatory breach. CECU's lawyer, Miguel Crespo, urges administrative intervention as courts dismiss cases without due compensation, leaving consumers doubly affected.

🚀 Estados Unidos emitió una alerta mundial para 895 Boeing 787 tras un incidente con un avión de Latam el 11 de marzo, que cayó más de 100 metros y dejó 50 heridos. La FAA ordenó inspecciones urgentes en 30 días para detectar tapas de interruptores faltantes o rotas en los asientos de piloto. Air Europa posee 26 unidades del modelo afectado. De los aviones a revisar, 158 están en aerolíneas estadounidenses y 737 en otros países.