Divers

✈️ Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air dominate Italy's commercial aviation sector after Alitalia's decline, with Ryanair holding at least 50% of air traffic in numerous Italian airports. Wizz Air is expanding rapidly following the closure of its Abu Dhabi base. Malpensa Airport lacks local operators, with Air Dolomiti and ITA under Lufthansa's control. Financial support failed to save Alitalia, contrasting with Spain's survival of Vueling, Air Europa, and Iberia.

🚀 China, November 17-21, 2025, Dubai: The C919, developed by state-owned Comac, is showcased at its first major international event. This aircraft, primarily used for domestic flights, enters the global stage at the Dubai Airshow. Competing with the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737, the C919 targets the core commercial market, with a capacity of under 200 passengers and a range of 5-6 hours. China's aim: 145 aircraft annually by 2030.

📰 Encarna Piñero, CEO of Grupo Piñero, acted as the patron of a military ceremony where the national flag was donated by the Government of the Region of Murcia to the Fifth Zone of the Guardia Civil. Accompanied by regional president Fernando López Miras, Piñero highlighted her family's respect for security forces. López Miras praised the Guardia Civil's role in significant events like the Lorca earthquake and the Santa Teresa floods, emphasizing their importance to Spain.

✈️ Air Europa's cabin crew unions face internal conflict before negotiating a new agreement. USO accuses CCOO, SITCPLA, and AACEFSI of disrupting the formation of the negotiating table, contrary to election results across work centers. For 25 years, agreements were based on election outcomes. Now, lacking consensus, cabin crew must vote on union representation. USO warns this could delay contract improvements, including salary increases and permanent contracts.

🏨 Desde el 1 de noviembre, los seis hoteles de la cadena MiM, propiedad de Leo Messi, se integraron bajo la marca The Meliá Collection. Las ubicaciones incluyen Andorra, Baqueira, Ibiza, Mallorca, Sitges y Sotogrande. Esta alianza con Meliá Hotels International busca potenciar distribución y marketing. Según Gabriel Escarrer, presidente de Meliá, la unión complementa diseño y experiencias exclusivas. Messi destacó en redes sociales la mejora de la experiencia para todos.

🛩 Arabia Saudita invierte sus ingresos petroleros para desarrollar dos mega resorts turísticos en el mar Rojo: Mar Rojo y Amaala. El 2025, BeOnd, una aerolínea de lujo en Milán, inauguró vuelos a las costas saudíes con dos vuelos semanales. Andrew Tyler Smith, director del aeropuerto, destaca la expansión de la red. Riyadh Airlines aún no ha comenzado sus rutas turísticas.

✈️ Iberia, in November 2023, celebrated one year of operating the Airbus A321XLR, a model that reduces fuel consumption by 40% compared to wide-body aircraft. Ramiro Sequeira noted its impact on long-haul strategies, enabling new destinations and increased frequencies. Key updates include increased flights to Boston and Puerto Rico, and new routes to Recife (December 13) and Fortaleza (January 19), each with three weekly flights. Five A321XLRs are in service, with more arriving through 2026.

🚉 Ouigo aims for a positive EBITDA in Spain by 2025, five years post-launch. Operating since May 2021, they've incurred €191 million in losses due to "unsustainably low" prices, according to critics. Despite challenges, 2024 saw a 20% revenue increase and a 55% EBITDA rise. Helene Valenzuela, CEO, highlights pandemic and energy crisis challenges. Adif’s new toll system might lower infrastructure costs and support the business plan.

📱 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.