Divers

🛬 Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, directed a project funded by Air Europa, rescued by Sánchez. Despite this, the Office of Conflict of Interest, under Oscar López's ministry, concluded Sánchez didn't need to abstain from funding decisions. Globalia paid Gómez €40,000 annually for expenses. The PP demands further investigations by the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid. A 2014 Supreme Court case may create a legal precedent, with Gómez facing five charges, including embezzlement.

✈ Ryanair will close its base at Santiago Airport on October 26, 2025, impacting about 100 workers. Negotiations with unions have started, providing them with documentation justifying workforce transfers. Unions have 15 days to analyze and negotiate to minimize the closure's impact. Many employees are considering resignation rather than relocation within Spain or Europe.

✈ Un Airbus A350 de Iberojet, con capacidad para 432 pasajeros, tuvo que regresar al aeropuerto de Barajas (Madrid) debido a un problema técnico mientras volaba hacia San José, Costa Rica. El avión sobrevoló el Atlántico cerca de tres horas antes de aterrizar en la pista 32L, que fue reabierta para la emergencia. Otro avión, un A330-300 con capacidad para 299 pasajeros, está programado para partir hacia San José hoy a las 17:15.

✈️ El aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas enfrenta desde el 14 de septiembre una huelga indefinida en los controles de seguridad. Convocada por 21 vigilantes de Trablisa, la protesta ha llevado a colas de hasta 90 minutos y afectado a más de 2,000 pasajeros de Iberia el lunes. Los trabajadores buscan mejoras salariales y otras condiciones. Trablisa califica las demandas como “inasumibles” y ha solicitado que la huelga sea declarada ilegal. La OCU aconseja reclamar a Aena.

🛩 El Gobierno de las Islas Mauricio planea vender el 49% de Air Mauritius debido a pérdidas financieras. La aerolínea opera solo 6 de sus 12 aviones. Qatar Airways muestra interés en comprar, pero hay resistencia. Air France también podría estar interesada. El año pasado, Air Mauritius distribuyó 18,000 billetes gratuitos, a pesar de ser una aerolínea no rentable. Se espera que la convocatoria de venta se lance en semanas, similar a TAP de Portugal.

✈ Córdoba, September 2025: The newly reactivated Córdoba Airport, 133 km from Seville, resumes commercial flights. Vueling begins operations with flights from Barcelona, arriving Thursdays and Sundays at 14:50 and returning at 15:25. This service will run until March 2026. The Platform for Córdoba Airport, a local advocacy group, championed this cause. Despite interest, Ryanair is unlikely to operate here due to its current strategy of exiting low-demand airports. Córdoba is also near other major airports and has high-speed rail to Madrid.

💸 In Spain, 2025 sees economic slowdown, yet major travel groups predict strong growth for late 2025, surpassing 2024 results. Despite recent demand fluctuations, they report strong bookings and positive fall contracts. Contrastingly, mid-sized tour operators face anxiety after a lackluster summer and bleak forecasts for the year's final months. The industry is split: large networks anticipate another record year, while independent operators worry about year-end challenges.

📸 Carolina Perles, ex-wife of José Luis Ábalos, spotlighted his 60th birthday party in 2019. Held at Víctor de Aldama's restaurant, an Air Europa and Globalia agent, the event saw attendance from Pedro Sánchez, María Jesús Montero, Félix Bolaños, and Fernando Grande-Marlaska. Aldama covered all food costs. Ábalos received a call from Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodríguez during the event. Begoña Gómez and Javier Hidalgo had ties to the OMT around this period.

🛂 Iberia, on Monday, lost flights for up to 2,192 travelers at Madrid-Barajas T4 due to a security control strike. Most affected passengers were reallocated to new flights, although international travelers faced more challenges. On Sunday, over 1,500 passengers missed their flights. Delays continue into Tuesday, with wait times reaching 55 minutes around 7:30 a.m. Improved coordination between Aena, state security, and airlines eased congestion.

📰 September 2025, Madrid, Spain: Violent pro-Palestinian protests disrupted the final stage of La Vuelta, damaging Spain's reputation. No response from major associations like Exceltur, CEAV, or CEOE. Minister Hereu supports boycotting the event. Balearia's newspaper encouraged the boycott. Hotelier Antonio Catalán and others remain silent, supporting government stances. The protests highlight Spain's ongoing internal conflicts, drawing criticism about the influence of socialist politics and media on national actions.