Divers

✈️ Iberia, a year after renouncing full control over Air Europa, faces a strengthened Air Europa due to Turkish Airlines' entry. Juan José Hidalgo, Air Europa's president, aims to cancel debts and expand rapidly. IAG, owning 20% of Air Europa, must decide on its future stake amid Air Europa's capital increase. Turkish plans to add up to 12 aircraft to Air Europa's operations at Barajas hub, enhancing access to Airbus and Boeing.

📷 En un video reciente de Airport Action, un Airbus A380 muestra su impresionante potencia al generar una gran cantidad de spray con sus motores al pasar sobre una pista mojada. El efecto es tan significativo que parece "secar" la pista.

🏖 La playa de San Antonio del Mar, en Llanes, Asturias, fue elegida la mejor playa de España en 2020 por Condé Nast Traveler. Con 70 metros de largo y 40 de ancho, ofrece un entorno tranquilo y salvaje. Está dentro del Paisaje Protegido de la Costa Oriental de Asturias, sin servicios ni infraestructuras. A solo 15 minutos a pie, Cuevas de Mar ofrece servicios. Hay una ruta de senderismo de 3.8 km, con vistas espectaculares.

✈ Saudi Arabia, 2025, Dammam: The Saudi government, via its Civil Aviation Authority, has awarded a contract to a consortium of Nesma, Air Arabia, and UK-based Holding KUN to establish a low-cost airline. This airline will operate 24 domestic and 57 international routes by 2030, utilizing 45 aircraft to transport 10 million passengers. The project aims to boost the Gulf-adjacent region's economy while following the transformative models of Dubai and Qatar.

🛩 Juan José Hidalgo, president of Air Europa and Globalia, invites Turkish Airlines to join Air Europa's board with five members, aiming for growth. Turkish Airlines, owning 495 aircraft, will acquire 26-27% of Air Europa for €300 million, maintaining its independence from European giants and fostering competition. Madrid will uniquely host two alliances—Star Alliance and SkyTeam. Turkish Airlines, partly owned by Turkey (49%), will buy shares, aiding Air Europa in settling a €475 million rescue, with over €100 million in interest already paid.

✈ Madrid air traffic controllers managed two simultaneous emergencies. On the same day, Transavia's Airbus A320, flying from Agadir to Paris, was diverted to Barajas Airport due to a passenger's potential heart issue, requiring urgent medical attention. The controllers prioritized descent and landing on runway 32L. Concurrently, a Titan Airways A320 bound for Zurich returned to Barajas shortly after takeoff due to a technical warning.

🛩 Mallorca, amidst pandemic challenges, launched its first direct flight to New York with United Airlines. However, Palma's airport lacks a connection to major Middle Eastern hubs. Málaga, in contrast, boasts regular flights to Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Riyadh, and Kuwait City. Establishing a route from Mallorca to Istanbul, the world's most internationally connected airport, could be strategic, especially with Turkish Airlines' investment in Air Europa. This move could enhance connectivity between Mallorca and Asia.

🛩 Ryanair, April 2024, Serbia and EU: Ryanair demands EU intervention during a 40-day air traffic control strike in Belgrade, causing 99 flight delays and affecting 17,800 EU passengers. Despite Ryanair's appeal to President Ursula von der Leyen, Serbia isn't in the EU, limiting Brussels' jurisdiction. Communications director Jade Kirwan highlights the impact on passengers merely overflying Serbian airspace. Ryanair urges action to safeguard EU flights from such disruptions.

🛑 Exploring East Asia and Romania early in the day reveals tourist-free attractions. ???? Early morning visits to locations like Vlad Tepes' castle ensure peaceful experiences before buses arrive around 9 AM. Tour operators are now studying tourist flows to redistribute crowds, potentially leading to earlier or later visits. This shift may disrupt residents, making popular sites continuously crowded. Night visits to places like the Louvre could become a reality, catering to international audiences via live streams.

🚨 La Asociación Gallega de Albergues Privados (Agalber) reporta cancelaciones debido a incendios en Galicia. Aunque el Camino de Invierno y el Sanabrés tienen tramos afectados, rutas como el Francés, Portugués, del Norte e Inglés están operativas. Agalber aconseja verificar la situación con los albergues locales. El Camino Sanabrés tiene áreas quemadas en Castro Dozón; el albergue de Vilar de Barrio acoge brigadistas. La desinformación afecta al turismo rural y a pequeños negocios locales.