Divers

📱 Ryanair introduces digital-only boarding passes this week, affecting travel agencies. Despite using the Travel Agent Direct (TAD) platform, agencies face operational challenges, as they must capture and forward QR codes, complicating the process. ACAVE confirmed no restrictions on issuing boarding passes, yet the approach is labor-intensive. Catiana Tur of ACAVE states the system isn't agency-friendly but aimed at end-users. Agencies may propose a solution to Ryanair in the future.

💸 Sonder, a U.S.-based hotel and apartment manager with nine properties in Spain, declared bankruptcy due to financial struggles and strategic issues with Marriott. On November 9, 2024, Marriott ended their licensing agreement over unpaid fees. Sonder operated five hotels in Barcelona, three in Madrid, and one in Málaga. The company ceased operations last Sunday and plans to liquidate assets. Former Spain director Leda Zanlungo mentioned all Spanish assets were profitable until her departure in December 2024.

🛡 Renfe, June 17, internal audit: A director previously dismissed for authorizing €28,200 worth of luxury trips was readmitted. The dismissal followed a January anonymous tip of €15,000 losses from a free tourist train trip. Three train trips—Costa Verde Express, Al Ándalus, Transcantábrico Gran Lujo—cost €1,000, €5,600, and €7,500 per person. Despite dismissal for unjustified invitations, no further explanation was given for the director's reinstatement in a technical role.

✈️ EasyJet's A320neo faced strong crosswinds, causing an aborted landing at Madeira Airport. Pilots nearly completed the landing, coming within centimeters of touchdown, but opted for safety and ascended to attempt a second landing.

🚂 En 2025, Ouigo en España logrará su primer EBITDA positivo desde su llegada en 2021. Generará 159 millones € al PIB español y un impacto turístico de 610 millones €. Ofrecerá 8+ million seats, 40% more than in 2024. Ouigo created 460 direct jobs, over 50% held by women. 92% users noticed fare reduction, with Madrid-Barcelona tickets 40% cheaper. Since 2021, it paid 205 million € in network fees, expecting 1 billion € in the next decade.

🎠 PokéPark Kanto, opening on February 5, 2026, inside Yomiuriland, Tokyo, is Japan's first permanent Pokémon theme park. Spanning 26,000 sq meters in Tama Hills, the park features Pokémon Forest and Sedge Town. Attractions include Vee Vee Voyage and Sedge Gym. Tickets go on sale November 21, 2025, with Trainer’s Pass and Ace Trainer’s Pass options. The park will host over 600 Pokémon, enhancing Japan's experiential tourism offerings.

🏖️ Ona Hotels & Apartments, con 13 hoteles en Tenerife, Lanzarote y Gran Canaria, fusiona libertad y servicios hoteleros. Con 49 complejos en España, Andorra y Marruecos, destaca en 26 destinos. En Tenerife, 10 establecimientos, como Pearly Grey y Palm Beach, ofrecen vistas al Atlántico y comodidad. En Las Galletas, Ona Alborada dispone de una piscina de agua salada de 3,800 m². Los Cristianos alberga Hollywood Mirage y Beverly Hills Heights, ideal para familias. Ona promueve un verano eterno en Canarias.

✈ Ryanair passenger assault between Dublin and Tenerife on September 24, 2022, led to a three-month suspended sentence by Dublin District Court. Ryanair, advocating "zero tolerance" for onboard misconduct, aims to ensure a safe environment for passengers and crew. Ryanair's spokesperson, Alejandra Ruiz, expressed hope that the conviction will deter future disruptive behavior. The airline remains committed to combating in-flight violence.

🚄 Renfe announced a new promotion offering train tickets starting at €7 for travel on Avlo trains between Madrid, Ciudad Real, Puertollano, Villanueva de Córdoba, Córdoba, Sevilla, Puente Genil, Antequera, and Málaga. The campaign runs from November 14 to 18, 2025, for travel until February 28, 2026. This initiative aims to boost competition and address losses exceeding €1.2 billion among Renfe, Ouigo, and Iryo after recent price wars.

📈 Ben Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, highlights KLM's financial struggles due to a 41% increase in airport fees at Schiphol. The elevated costs, combined with high taxes, threaten KLM's business model viability. Smith urges a reconsideration of fleet, flight routes, and staffing. Schiphol, crucial for KLM as a major European hub, faces competition from Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle, and Frankfurt. Smith hopes for policy changes under the Netherlands' new centrist government led by Rob Jetten.