Divers

🛫 Lufthansa's stock rose by 18.3% and Ryanair's by 5.1%, despite the European tourism sector experiencing an 8.2% decline in value in the current year, following two years of cumulative growth of 37%. Factors such as the US's trade policies under the Trump administration, EU and Canada's retaliatory tariffs, and fears of an economic slowdown have contributed to the sector's worst performance in Europe. Companies like Sodexo (-23.4%), Carnival (-19%), Tui (-14.4%), and FDJ (-20.15%) faced significant declines, while Intercontinental and Accor saw their valuations drop by 14.4% and 4.7%, respectively, amidst concerns over exposure to the US market.

✈ Iberia and Aerolíneas Argentinas' new agreement allows customers to connect transatlantic flights to over 37 destinations in Argentina and 29 in Spain with a single ticket. Connections in Argentina will be through Ezeiza and Aeroparque airports, and in Spain via T4 of Madrid-Barajas. This simplifies travel with a single reservation and check-in, enhancing the travel experience for the 2,000 daily passengers between Buenos Aires and Madrid.

🛫 Travel agencies are disturbed by Air Europa's drastic commission cuts for ticket distribution. Negotiations for the 2025 contract are delayed as agencies resist signing due to unfavorable terms compared to other airlines like Iberia, Binter, Vueling, and Volotea. Vueling faced similar agency conflicts in 2023 but has since improved relations with new strategies.

📌 An Easyjet Airbus A320 en route to Liverpool from Tenerife Sur diverted to Santiago de Compostela Airport for an emergency when the crew alerted controllers about a 67-year-old unconscious passenger needing resuscitation. The incident involved coordinating a medical response on the ground while the plane was granted a continuous descent and approach to Runway 35; the flight path was tracked on Flightradar24.

✈ An Iberia Express A320 aircraft declared an emergency on the Madrid to Palma de Mallorca route due to a crew member's medical problems. Air traffic controllers facilitated a direct approach to runway 06L and coordinated on-ground medical attention. This incident highlights the debate on the safety of potentially having only one pilot in the cockpit aided by technology and artificial intelligence, a concept currently pushed by some manufacturers and airlines but considered hazardous by pilots' collectives.

🚨 Sud Rail union announced a potential strike from April 17 to June 2 in France. The strike notice doesn't guarantee action but is required for any stoppages to occur. Railway controllers criticize poor wages and unpredictable work schedules due to new software implementations. SNCF is in dialogue, with no progress reported. French citizens are tired of strikes, recalling disruption from a similar event last February. France's Labour Minister insists on letting citizens live their lives without the burden of another railway strike.

✈ Global Airlines begins flights on May 15 from Glasgow to JFK New York, returning May 19; a second flight from Manchester to New York is scheduled for May 21, returning May 25. Operations are handled by Portuguese sub-charter company Hi Fly, with only one aircraft in Global's fleet. Despite plans for four A380s, only one is visible. Owner James Asquith aims to recreate the "golden age of aviation" with enhanced onboard experience. The single plane was purchased over a year ago, and the continuity of operations remains a mystery.

✈ Ryanair launches "Ryanair Prime" for £79 (about €85), a 12-month program offering benefits like 12 exclusive seats purchase per year, unlimited free seat reservations, and free travel insurance. The program aims to increase loyalty and is limited to 250,000 customers to test its commercial impact. If flown 12 times a year, it can save a passenger 420 pounds. The entire process is online-only.

🚧 Heathrow Airport in London experienced a complete power outage on a Friday, with no functioning contingency plans. This event raised concerns over the adequacy of emergency protocols. Journalists debated the objectivity of the press in covering the incident, highlighting biases in media reporting and questioning the effectiveness of the plans in place during such crises.

🚀 A Ryanair 737 flying from Szczecin, Poland to London Stansted invaded helicopter airspace after dropping 167 meters due to pilot distraction. The incident, investigated by Britain’s AAIB, revealed the pilot lost brief control during approach to Stansted, risking a potential collision with a helicopter. The report, which also noted an air traffic control oversight, has been shared to refine pilot training. Passengers were unaware of the high-risk situation as the plane landed without incident.