Divers

✈️ Iberia, facing operational challenges, has subcontracted planes and crews from Spanish airline Privilege. Despite adding four Airbus A321XLRs recently, Iberia will adjust long-haul routes until July 20, 2025. Privilege will operate flights from Madrid to Panama, the Dominican Republic, Havana, and Caracas, as well as European connections. Flights will lack onboard Wi-Fi, prompting Iberia to advise passengers to download content beforehand. Agencies are urged to clearly communicate these changes to passengers.

🗺 Tourist apprehension over Spanish anti-tourism sentiment is fueled by exaggerated British media reports. In 2023, a tourist in Palma, avoiding perceived aggression, explored the serene Sierra de Tramontana. Another from Manchester chose to visit Aragón, specifically Zaragoza and the Pyrenees, discovering rich culture and local wines. Despite media frenzy, many tourists remain uninformed, focusing on pub visits instead of local perceptions.

✈️ Iberojet, part of Ávoris, recently faced mechanical issues with three of its seven wide-body aircraft, including A330s and A350s, leading to the cancellation of flights. Six flights to Palmerola, Honduras, were canceled, affecting 3,000 passengers. The Honduran president and AHAC are involved. Routes from Madrid to Caracas saw four cancellations. Flights on July 4 and 5 were canceled, with plans to resume on July 9. Iberojet states that operations have mostly normalized, with only one plane still grounded.

📋 En los últimos cinco años, Ávoris, con 6,383 empleados, superó la pandemia y una fusión en abril de 2021. Implementaron dos ERE en 2022, pero ahora superan las cifras de 2021. Un programa de prácticas integra anualmente a 200 estudiantes. Ávoris Travel School forma 30-35 personas trimestralmente. Su rotación laboral es inferior al 5%, destacando el bienestar con un absentismo menor al 6%. El 73% de su plantilla son mujeres; abordan la falta de personal cualificado con formación y promoción interna.

✈️ Air Asia, based in Sepang, Malaysia, signed a $12.25 billion deal on January 2023 to purchase 70 Airbus A321XLR aircraft, with 50 firm orders and 20 options. This move aims to expand beyond Southeast Asia, primarily serving Indonesia routes. CEO Tony Fernandes plans to position Air Asia as the world's leading low-cost carrier. The airline group, with subsidiaries in Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, and India, currently operates 100 aircraft and has orders for over 360 more.

✈ Air Europa, starting July 12, will fly daily between Madrid and Istanbul using Boeing 787 Dreamliner, enhancing its presence in Turkey after debuting in May with four weekly flights. Turkish Airlines, along with Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, is negotiating to acquire a stake in Air Europa. The Hidalgo family aims to finalize the deal by the end of July amid high demand despite competition from Turkish Airlines and Pegasus.

🏨 Riu Hotels & Resorts expands its Elite Club service by 2026 to Playa del Carmen and Costa Mujeres, offering exclusive features in resorts accommodating up to 1,000 guests. Current locations include Cancun, Los Cabos, Nayarit, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Aruba, and Mauritius. Benefits include premium drinks, room views, late check-out, and exclusive dining reservations. Riu Palace Swahili in Zanzibar will also offer the Elite Club service starting 2026.

🛂 En 2019, EE.UU. incrementó el escrutinio a viajeros entrantes para combatir amenazas, requiriendo revisión exhaustiva de dispositivos electrónicos y redes sociales, incluso sin orden judicial. Alemania, Reino Unido, Dinamarca y Finlandia advierten a sus ciudadanos sobre estos controles. Negarse a colaborar puede resultar en denegación de entrada. Ciudadanos españoles pueden visitar hasta 90 días con ESTA y pasaporte válido. Se recomienda dejar redes sociales accesibles y preparar documentación adicional como reservas y comprobantes económicos.

🛫 Embarcar por la izquierda en aviones tiene raíces históricas, derivando de prácticas marítimas donde el acceso era a babor. Modernamente, aviones están diseñados con puertas que se abren hacia adentro y adelante, facilitando el acceso por la izquierda. El lado derecho maneja operaciones técnicas como carga y combustible. Cambiar este estándar implicaría una costosa reorganización aeroportuaria. Las salidas de emergencia a la izquierda permiten evacuaciones rápidas, optimizando seguridad y eficiencia.

✈ KLM staff strike set for July 9 remains despite a €1,000 one-time payment offer and a 0.5% to 2.5% salary increase, depending on economic results. Unions find the proposal insufficient to reconsider halting the strike. The strike coincides with the start of school holidays in the Netherlands, impacting travelers. Souleiman Amallah states KLM hasn’t met negotiation standards. Hours later, Air France-KLM announced acquiring a majority stake in Scandinavian airline SAS.