Fusiones y Adquisiciones

🛩️ Turkish Airlines gains an edge in the race to invest in Air Europa, favored by the Hidalgo family over Lufthansa and Air France. Javier Hidalgo, leading the sale, values Turkish's offer of a minority stake for €240 million, intended to repay the state rescue loan. Turkish proposes adding 12 Airbus A330neo to Air Europa's operations. Lufthansa is actively pursuing a binding offer, while Air France-KLM's bid falls short of expectations. The sale aims to conclude by September.

✈️ En 2025, la competencia en turoperación creció con un enfoque en Caribe, Oriente Medio y Asia. En julio, cntravel, un mayorista gallego, inauguró su división de Grandes Viajes en India. Próximos destinos: China y Vietnam. Politours se enfoca en Asia Central, mientras que Catai reporta recuperación post-COVID en China y Japón. Cinco Estrellas Club aumentó un 42% en grupos gracias a Asia y América. En otoño-invierno, Soltour introduce nuevos destinos como Oporto, Madeira y Isla de Sal.

✈ Air Nostrum ended 2024 with a €3.3 million pre-tax loss due to pandemic-related debt. Despite this, operational profit reached €8.3 million. The airline repaid €55 million in loans, €31 million in interest, and spent €17.7 million on EU emission rights, up 10% from 2023. With a record 81.5% occupancy, Air Nostrum carried 5.5 million passengers, a 15% increase, and operated 79,473 flights, an 11.5% rise.

📦 Víctor de Aldama, relacionado con Air Europa, desvincula a Begoña Gómez del rescate estatal de 475 millones de euros a la empresa. Presiones fueron ejercidas sobre el ministro José Luis Ábalos y ministras María Jesús Montero y Nadia Calviño debido a la importancia estratégica de la compañía, que emplea a 50,000 personas. La operación fue supervisada por SEPI y PWC. Pepe Hidalgo ofreció garantías para el rescate, incluyendo hoteles.

🏨 Marriott International has announced the acquisition of CitizenM, an innovative hotel brand known for its tech-focused approach. CitizenM has 37 hotels and 8,789 rooms across over 20 major cities worldwide. The acquisition strengthens Marriott's presence in the select-service segment and expands options for 200 million Marriott Bonvoy members. The integration process is underway and expected to complete by the end of the year, adding over 600 rooms from ongoing projects. CitizenM redefines urban accommodations with smart rooms and collaborative spaces.

🌏 Catai partners with Aviatur in Colombia, leveraging Aviatur's 179-office network across 32 cities. This week, Ávoris' director Raúl Serrano led the official launch in Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín. This move aligns with Catai's Latin America expansion, emphasizing excellence and personalized travel. Catai's offerings will be accessible via Aviatur's network and Aviatur Mayorista, enhancing availability across Colombian agencies.

✈ Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, reports first-quarter profits rising from €360 million to €820 million. He warns Aena about potential cuts in Spain, citing limited growth allocated to regions reducing taxes. European short-haul capacity will remain constrained until 2030 due to aircraft delivery delays and airline consolidations. Ryanair aims for 300 million passengers annually by fiscal year 2034. This summer, Ryanair operates over 2,600 routes, including 160 new ones, witnessing strong travel demand.

📈 Meliá Hotels International acquires 50% of Paradisus Salinas Lanzarote from Victoria Hotels & Resorts, preserving its alliance with Bankinter Investment for the next 10 years. Victoria Hotels & Resorts was established in June 2021. Meliá's financial strength, regained by the end of 2024, supports this move. With a 53.75% stake, Meliá aligns this acquisition with its strategic goals for the Canary Islands. The hotel repositioning cost over €125 million, enhancing its luxury tourism appeal.

🗺 Ávoris debuts its travel brand Catai in Italy, following Travelplan and Welcomebeds' entry early this year. Initial operations launch from Rome, Milan, and Venice, aiming to expand to Florence, Turin, and Naples. Products include trips to the Caribbean, Costa Rica, and Spain's Balearic and Canary Islands. Ávoris, focusing on Latin America, recently entered Mexican and Colombian markets, marking Colombia's entry on July 21, with Asia and Africa trips emphasized.

🛩 Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, in May 2025 stated a preference for passengers flying without cabin luggage as it incurs additional costs. The baggage handling requires staff and increases fuel consumption due to extra weight. The fee for this "extra" service is aimed at maintaining low fares through operational efficiency. The debate arises whether airlines benefit more from baggage fees or from reduced costs with lighter, quicker boarding processes. Ryanair emphasizes educating passengers to travel light.