Divers

🛩 French air traffic controllers' strike impacted Europe, ending Friday with 260 controllers involved. Mallorca faced the most disruptions in Spain. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary criticized Ursula Von der Leyen, asking for her resignation over ineffective crisis management. Affected were 1,500 flights and 300,000 travelers, who are not entitled to compensation but are provided accommodation by airlines. O'Leary noted that unlike France, strikes in Italy or Spain don't affect overflights.

📅 3 de julio, en el restaurante Azul Rooftop de Barcelona, se celebró la Noche del Socio de ACAVE, con más de 230 invitados. Este evento, último con la actual Junta, reunió a representantes de agencias de viajes, hotelería, MICE, aerolíneas y tecnología. Jordi Martí, presidente de ACAVE, destacó la importancia de esta cita para el fortalecimiento de vínculos en el sector. Patrocinadores incluyeron al Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, ERGO, Iberia y República Dominicana.

✈️ Algerian footballer Youcef Belaïli was detained on July 2, 2025, by French police at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport after causing a mid-flight altercation on a flight from New York. The incident began when crew members requested that Belaïli fasten his child's seatbelt. The situation escalated into a fight, necessitating police intervention upon landing. Belaïli had just returned from a vacation in the U.S. after participating in the Club World Cup with Esperance de Tunis. His father criticized the police's handling of the situation.

🛫 Ryanair criticizes Minister Óscar Puente using an AI-generated image, highlighting delays in its operations. The image places Puente in second place on a podium led by the French Transport Minister, with Germany in third. Ryanair claims 4.7 million passengers faced delays this year due to French air traffic control issues. The airline blames Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, and the UK for increased delays, citing poor management and staffing shortages in air traffic control services.

🛫 El pasado miércoles, en el aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas, solo 8 policías estaban en los controles de pasaportes, en lugar de los habituales 18, causando colapsos. Aena afirmó que cuando las cabinas están llenas, no hay problemas. Personal de Aena, incluidos técnicos, ayudó en operaciones debido al caos. Guardia Civil fue desplegada. Francisco Martín indicó que ayer hubo 16 cabinas abiertas con dos policías cada una. ASAE advierte sobre problemas estructurales y pide más personal estable.

📢 José Luis Ábalos, former Transport Minister, testified before the Supreme Court on June 23, denying any favors received from Air Europa for approving its pandemic rescue plan. Ábalos refuted claims of receiving perks, such as upgrading travel or a Marbella chalet as compensation. He emphasized that the Ministry's goal was to support struggling companies like Air Europa during the pandemic without expecting anything in return. He asserted no benefits were received during or after his ministerial tenure.

✈ A Boeing 787 Dreamliner from American Airlines experienced technical issues after leaving Barcelona for Chicago. While flying over Zaragoza, the crew requested permission to return to El Prat. The plane landed with full fuel tanks and was given priority to runway 24R. Emergency services were on standby, but they did not need to intervene.

🔥 Un gran incendio cerca de Atenas, el 3 de julio de 2025, obligó a evacuar a más de 1,200 personas de Rafina y otras localidades. El puerto de Rafina está cerrado, y barcos son desviados a Lavrio. En Creta, 200 bomberos y 10 helicópteros combaten incendios, evacuando a 5,000 personas, mayormente turistas. Las llamas amenazan hoteles y negocios en Ierapetra, Creta. Estos incendios son impulsados por fuertes vientos y una ola de calor reciente.

🛩 French air traffic controllers went on strike, impacting thousands of European travelers over two days. Only 270 of 1,400 controllers participated, causing Ryanair to cancel 170 flights and affecting 30,000 passengers. France asked airlines to cancel 30-50% of flights at 12 airports, including Paris and Corsica. Eurocontrol reported serious disruptions in Reims, Marseille, and Brest. Ryanair criticized European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen, while French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot called the strike during holidays "unacceptable.

🛫 Spanish tourism leaders criticize the chaotic scenes at Madrid-Barajas Airport caused by insufficient police presence at passport controls. These issues, occurring during the busy summer season, harm Spain's international reputation and tourism. Juan Molas, of the Mesa del Turismo, and Óscar Perelli, of Exceltur, highlight the ongoing negligence from the Interior Ministry, affecting airports like Tenerife and Palma de Mallorca. They urge immediate government action to prevent future disruptions.