Divers

🛸 Crew of a Binter ATR 72-600 notified a laser pointer attack on ascent from Tenerife Sur to Lanzarote. Controllers alerted the Guardia Civil with the suspect's approximate position. Lasers can cause blindness and incapacitate pilots, constituting a serious crime.

💸 Mazabi Gestión de Patrimonios, who? with Panghea Capital Partners, acquired 25% of InterContinental New York Times Square, where? in Manhattan, New York. The hotel, what? has 607 rooms and opened in 2010. Highgate holds 50% and Gencom 25%. Post-acquisition, how? a $30 million investment aims to enhance the hotel by 2027, potentially valuing it at $425 million. Highgate will operate the hotel, and Gencom will manage the project.

✈️ Adrian and Vanja, travel YouTubers, shared a video about their experience on a new Airbus A321XLR flight with Iberia from Boston to Madrid. They detailed the airport arrival, boarding, seating, and in-flight dining and entertainment. Despite describing the experience as "ten out of ten," the user noted missing out on business class.

✈ Beatriz Jerez retired on December 18, 2025, after 35 years as an air traffic controller in Madrid, Barcelona, and Menorca. Her farewell took place in Madrid's control tower, where a pilot expressed gratitude for her service. Colleagues described her as a dedicated professional, emphasizing her commitment as a USCA spokesperson. They praised her for professionalism and camaraderie, wishing her well in her retirement.

🚂 Machu Picchu, Peru, January 2026: Two tourist trains collided near Aguas Calientes, killing a conductor and injuring 40 passengers, mostly international tourists. Access to Machu Picchu is possible only via train from Ollantaytambo or Cuzco. Peru Rail, the train operator, expressed regret and initiated an investigation. The British embassy confirmed assistance for affected nationals. The mishap occurred at 13:30 local time amidst social tensions over high train fares.

🌍 En 2026, Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais se convierte en la primera mujer en liderar ONU Turismo con sede en Madrid. El 11 de junio comienza el primer Mundial de Fútbol en tres países: EE.UU., México y Canadá. Oulu, Finlandia, es la Capital Europea de la Cultura. Barcelona celebra el centenario de Gaudí y es la Capital Mundial de la Arquitectura. Requena, Valencia, es la Ciudad Española del Vino. Disneyland París inaugura Disney Adventure World con una inversión de 2,000 millones de euros.

✈ Dos incidentes ocurrieron el 31 de diciembre en vuelos de Ryanair hacia España. Un Boeing 737, en la ruta Marsella-Agadir, desvió a Valencia por una emergencia cardíaca. El vuelo recibió prioridad para el aterrizaje y asistencia médica. Más tarde, otro vuelo desde Karlsruhe a Tenerife Sur necesitó intervención policial y médica debido a un conflicto a bordo.

🛫 Qantas plans to revolutionize long-haul travel by eliminating stopovers, aiming to fly nonstop from London to Sydney in 22 hours. Currently, the longest flight is 19 hours by Singapore Airlines. Project Sunrise tests start in 2026, with operations in 2027. The Airbus A350 will accommodate 238 passengers and require an extra 20,000 liters of fuel. The first of 12 aircraft will be delivered by late 2026.

✈️ Iberia, as of 2025, has added its seventh Airbus A321XLR to its fleet, with the eighth expected in 2026. The aircraft, registered as EC-ORE, was acquired from Toulouse and stationed in Madrid. This model enhances transatlantic routes such as Boston, Washington, and Puerto Rico, and opens new routes to Recife, Fortaleza, and Toronto. The A321XLR offers 182 seats across business and economy classes, achieving up to 40% fuel savings compared to wide-body aircraft.

✈️ Binter connects Canary Islands and Andalusia with 46 weekly flights across four Andalusian destinations: Jerez, Granada, Córdoba, and newly added Sevilla (since December 1, 2025). The airline launched its first Andalusian route in 2020 with Jerez. Offering up to 23 weekly frequencies, Binter facilitates seamless travel with national tickets allowing free onward flights within the Canary Islands. This expansion fosters greater cultural and economic ties between the regions.