Jurídicos y Administrativos

📓 José Luis Ábalos, former Minister of Development, is embroiled in a tense situation involving the PSOE, his party. He holds internal government information which could implicate business groups if he speaks out. Globalia, owner of Air Europa, is among those on alert, potentially affected by any revelations. Ábalos has distanced himself from the Hidalgos, owners of Air Europa, foregoing a dinner with Hidalgo Sr. before the Begoña case erupted.

🔥 A YouTube user "Yehoshua spotting planes" captured the first major fire of Madrid on August 22 from an Air Europa plane after takeoff from Barajas. Originating in Tres Cantos, the fire is believed to have started from a cigarette butt thrown from a car. Over 500 hectares were ravaged by the blaze, which took Forest Brigades, Forest Agents, and Firefighters roughly two days to contain.

🚀 On August 22, EasyJet experienced an "unprecedented" security breach when passengers boarded a flight from Athens to Palma de Mallorca without proper travel documents. Three individuals were caught on the boarding platform and expelled immediately. Later, the cabin crew discovered a discrepancy in passenger count leading to police intervention and the arrest of two more individuals. A sixth person was detained during a full passenger disembarkation for further investigation. After over two hours of delay, passengers re-boarded, and the flight finally took off. Suspicions arise that these individuals might be part of a human trafficking network known at Athens airport, which has been under legal scrutiny for years.

🚀 Ryanair has appealed to the CNMC against Aena's decision to increase airport taxes in 2025, claiming it mocks the Spanish Government's 2021 decision to freeze these taxes. The low-cost carrier warns of investment cuts and reassignment of five aircraft to countries like Croatia, Italy, and Morocco due to previous "unjustified and excessive" rate hikes. Ryanair urges the CNMC to enforce the promised 2021 tax freeze and dismiss Aena's new increase, threatening to reduce its capacity in Spain if it's approved.

💥 A Boeing 737 of Ceiba Intercontinental skidded off the runway at Malabo International Airport, Equatorial Guinea, due to low visibility and wet runway conditions. The incident, captured on video by a passenger, was broadcasted by the country's Minister of Civil Aviation and Airport Infrastructures, Norberto Bartolomé Monsuy Mañe Andeme. Initial reports indicate a few non-critical injuries.

✈ Air Europa, due to fleet issues, has leased an A330-900Neo from Iberojet for five weekly flights between Madrid and New York from September 19 to October 31. This follows a previous rescue operation by Iberojet from April 14 to June 23 for daily Madrid-Havana flights. Air Europa also contracted Wamos Air for 13 round trips between Madrid and New York in May. Air Europa plans to expand its 26 Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet with three additional units amidst Boeing's delivery delays.

📄 Javier Gómez Navarro, former Minister of Tourism (1993-1996) under Felipe González, passed away at 78. An industrial engineer with extensive management experience across various sectors, he approved the Trade Law, served as Secretary of State for Sports (1987-1993), and was appointed president-director of Viajes Marsans in January 1983. Navarro was a founding member of Fitur's board, founder and director of the José Ortega y Gasset Foundation, and editor at Revista Viajar and Editorial Cuadernos para el Diálogo.

🏕 In the summer of 2020, Canarian hotels began housing migrants, with even four-star establishments joining the government-promoted plan to accommodate irregular immigrants. Notable hotels participating included MHC Arenales and Hotel Pocillos Playa, among others. Ángel Víctor Torres, then President of Canaries, initiated the plan but expressed concerns by December 2020. The initiative also reached mainland Spain, with accredited hotels in Valencia, Andalusia, Aragon, and Galicia. Aragon alone offers 722 hotel spaces for housing migrants.

🛩 Ryanair perdió un litigio en Italia en 2021 contra la prohibición de cobrar tarifas adicionales por reservas de asientos para acompañantes de niños menores de 12 años o personas con discapacidades. El Consejo de Estado de Italia confirmó en 2022 la sentencia que ENAC habían introducido, sin requerir cambios en la política de asientos de Ryanair. La aerolínea ofrece asientos asignados gratuitamente para cumplir con la necesidad de proximidad de asientos por razones de seguridad.

🏆 Zermatt, Switzerland is considering a tourist tax of 12 francs (12.75 euros) for day visitors to combat overcrowding. The tax equates to three days' worth of overnight accommodation tax and follows the trend of other Swiss locales like Lauterbrunnen and Iseltwald, which charge 5-10 francs (5.3-10.6 euros) and an entrance fee, respectively. Venice's move to charge day visitors and plans to double the tax by 2025 has fueled global discussions on tourism taxes.