Divers

✈ Lufthansa operates 22 A340 aircraft, the most in any airline, using them on routes to the United States. Flights to Boston and Detroit exclusively use A340s, while 70% of Dallas flights, 50% of Chicago flights, and fewer flights to Los Angeles and Washington operate with them. Lufthansa and its subsidiary Edelweiss are the only European operators of this inefficient model until their new Airbus A350s arrive. Mahan Air in Iran is another notable user.

🛫 China is finalizing a commercial deal with Boeing to purchase 500 aircraft, according to Simple Flying and Bloomberg. Despite tense relations between China and the U.S., the agreement is in its final stages. Issues like the delivery schedule are being resolved. Boeing's stock has risen, though the company hasn't provided details. Airbus is currently the leading aircraft manufacturer in China, with Boeing second, while Comac has yet to deliver ten planes.

🛩 Air traffic controllers shared a video on August 21, 2025, showing an Iberia A321XLR that collided with a vulture during takeoff from Madrid Barajas. The impact caused significant damage, prompting an emergency return. The radome was destroyed, a crack appeared in the pressure bulkhead, and the left engine was severely damaged. The incident highlights the hazards large birds pose to aviation safety.

✈️ Desde el 12 de agosto, Vueling, parte del grupo IAG, ha eliminado el fee de distribución en reservas a través de NDC, mejorando la digitalización y relación con agencias de viajes. También ofrece tarifas Fly Light, Fly, y Fly Grande para canales indirectos. Hace dos años, cambios comerciales causaron malestar en agencias, resultando en la expulsión de Vueling de ACAVE. La aerolínea opera aproximadamente 220 rutas anuales en 30 países.

🛫 Participants in Imserso travel must meet conditions for one of 879,213 spots. Points are awarded based on age, economic status, disability, previous participation, and family size. Age starts at 2 points for 60 years, increasing by one per year up to 20 points at 78 years. Economic points range from 50 for pensions under €564.70 to 0 for over €2,100. Disability earns 10 points. Prior waiting list participants (2024/2025) receive 175 points.

✈ Vueling, starting October 28, will resume flights between Barcelona and Valladolid with three weekly frequencies. During the holiday season, flights are scheduled between Málaga and Zürich (December 3 - January 10) and Santiago de Compostela and Zürich (December 5 - January 9), each with two weekly flights. Vueling extends winter routes to Esauira and Tirana from Barcelona, and Esauira from Sevilla. New international routes from Barcelona to Ljubljana, Agadir, and Strasbourg are also announced.

🛩 Un flamenco interrumpió operaciones en el aeropuerto de Málaga, uno de los más transitados por Aena, el 2025. En la pista 31, al menos tres aviones abortaron aterrizajes: un Boeing 737Max de Ryanair de Nottingham, un A321 de Wizz Air de Londres y un A320 de EasyJet de Bristol. Controladores aéreos esperan que el flamenco se recupere sin daño. Tras el incidente, el aeropuerto retomó operaciones normales.

📅 On August 20, 17 years after the Spanair flight JK5022 tragedy, Aena's Service of Runway and Platform technicians at Barajas paid tribute to the victims. The crash occurred during takeoff en route to Gran Canaria, with 172 people on board, of which 154 lost their lives. Aena maintains a monument at Madrid's hub year-round in remembrance of those who perished.

💸 Nautalia, under CEO Rafael García Garrido, aims to close 2025 with a net profit of €7-9 million, nearly doubling its 2024 profit of €5.3 million. Prioritizing profitability over volume, more than 95% of its 200 owned agencies are profitable. The focus is on service, brand, and credibility, avoiding price wars. The strategy for the next 4-5 years emphasizes profit margins, crucial in Spain's retail sector which struggles with margin issues.

🏠 Toni Palerm, a veteran pilot for Iberojet and former Evelop, with previous experience at Swiftair, BCM, and Iberworld, has retired. His last flight was marked by tributes from air traffic controllers and colleagues on frequency, like Alberto López, who praised Toni’s dedication and character. Toni expressed gratitude for the safe journeys facilitated by the controllers over the years, concluding a distinguished aviation career.