Miguel Praga

✈ Latam Cargo's Boeing 767-300, registered N418LA, has received new company colors, completing their fleet's nine-year repainting process. The fusion between LAN Chile and TAM Brazil started in 2016, but the repainting took until 2025. The final repaint was done in Abu Dhabi, taking two weeks. LAN, Chile's main airline since 1929, merged with TAM to form Latam, expanding beyond local borders. LAN Peru and LAN Argentina (now closed) were regional expansions.

🛫 Qantas, 2025, Australia, A321XLR aircraft: Qantas plans to add a fourth lavatory to its A321XLR planes due to long restroom queues for 180 passengers. The third plane will still have three, but future deliveries will include the extra restroom in front of the economy section, reducing economy seats from 180 to 177, with 20 business class seats. Qantas has ordered 48 planes and uses existing ones on Sydney-Perth and Sydney-Melbourne routes.

✈ Vueling is set to offer 15.7 million seats for winter 2025, focusing on Barcelona, Canary Islands, and Balearic Islands. In Barcelona, 10 million seats will be available, marking historical growth. Canary Islands routes grow by 6%, exceeding 2 million seats, with a notable 11% increase at Tenerife Norte. In the Balearics, 1.4 million seats are offered, up 8%. In Santiago, an additional plane will add 578,000 seats, a 15% increase.

🌍 Turespaña, in 2025, campaigns to attract Israeli tourists despite Spain's strong political stance against Israel and in favor of Palestine. Turespaña claims the promotion signed in May is a routine renewal. The agency, celebrating its 40th anniversary, has faced internal conflicts and is criticized for mismanagement. Notable directors include Manuel Butler and Ignacio Vasallo. The juxtaposition of promoting Israel while politically opposing it highlights Spain's current contradictions in tourism management.

🚄 Los ferrocarriles franceses (SNCF), alemanes (DB), y austríacos (ÖBB) reabrieron rutas nocturnas de tren entre París-Berlín en 2021 y París-Viena en 2023. Las subvenciones de 5-10 millones de euros terminan en 2026, amenazando el servicio. Con 70% de ocupación y 66,000 pasajeros en 2024, los ingresos son insuficientes. Los trenes operan tres veces por semana. Sin subvenciones, el futuro de estos servicios nocturnos es incierto. Les critiques pointent un manque d'implication. ????️

🎇 The Spanish Ministry of Industry and Tourism has awarded international interest status to four local events: Fiestas de la Concepción in Yecla, Murcia (December 5-8 since 1642); Semana Santa in Badajoz, originating in the 16th century; Moros y Cristianos in Murcia, celebrating the city's founding in 825; and Semana Santa in Baena, noted for its artisan drums. National interest status was granted to six other events, including the Fiesta de la Vendimia in Cariñena, Zaragoza.