Jurídicos y Administrativos

✈️ El Gobierno de Salvador Illa acelerará la ampliación de El Prat ante el límite de capacidad, con récord de viajeros y vuelos intercontinentales. La propuesta técnica se concretará en cuatro meses, y la ampliación podría figurar en el plan director de 2025. La comisión técnica, creada en 2014, se reunirá para discutir la inclusión en el DORA 2027-2031, con posibles obras a partir de 2027. Aena planea aumentar la capacidad del aeropuerto en 2028. Obstáculos políticos surgen por cuestiones ecológicas.

🏖 The Partido Popular, through Agustín Almodóbar, presented a motion in the Senate's Industry and Tourism Committee for urgent measures against the impact of tourismophobia. They warn that actions against tourists harm Spain's image and threaten its tourism potential. They urge for a campaign to improve tourism's reputation and a grand agreement among political parties, institutions, and tourism sector organizations, highlighting tourism's contribution to the economy and employment. The motion criticizes blaming tourists for issues that should be addressed by better tourism policies.

🏖️ The Westin Bonmont Golf & Spa Resort, a luxury hotel in Tarragona, Spain, was announced to open in April 2019 but remains closed. Owned by Swiss magnate Henri-Ferdinand Lavanchy's heirs, it has 136 rooms and a golf course. The golf course, spanning 77 hectares, was auctioned off in August by an Aragonese company. Meanwhile, the hotel itself entered compulsory creditors' bankruptcy, as ordered by Barcelona's commercial court in August. The hotel brand, managed by ADH Hotels, is no longer linked to the project.

📌 Since September, the European Commission reinstated the original rule limiting liquids in carry-on luggage to 100 milliliters and requiring their removal from bags. This change follows the ban of G3 scanners at security checks—which previously allowed larger volumes of liquids without removal—due to their non-compliance with the International Airports Council (ACI) standards. Airlines like Iberia have already alerted their customers about the new regulations.

✈️ Iberia and Air Europa launch a major discount campaign following their failed acquisition attempt, which was blocked by the European Commission. Air Europa’s “Time to Fly” offers flights starting at €12 within Spain, €29 to Europe, €179 to the USA, and €249 to the rest of the Americas, bookable until September 17, 2024, for travel until March 31, 2025, for short and intra-European flights, and until June 13, 2025, for long-haul. Iberia’s end-of-summer promotion includes Spanish city flights from €23, European capitals from €28, the USA from €184, Latin America from €242, and new Asian destinations like Doha and Tokyo from €358 and €366 respectively, valid for bookings until September 23, 2024, for travel until June 2025.

📖 Imserso's travel program for the 2024-2025 season offers affordable senior tourism for those over 65. Eligible pensioners can register online using DNI or NIE and a mobile phone number. Upon registration, a confirmation email with personal user code is sent, followed by a letter or email detailing travel options, destinations, dates, and prices. Reservations can be made through authorized travel agencies or Imserso's website. Early booking is advised due to limited availability.

✈ Spain's Consumer Affairs imposed a significant fine on Ryanair, Easyjet, Vueling, and Volotea for what are deemed abusive commercial policies, including charging for hand luggage. Aviba president Pedro Fiol questions the fine's effectiveness and criticizes the lack of pricing transparency and standardized measures for passengers' benefits. He calls for European action to standardize regulations and protect consumers from dynamic pricing and excessive additional charges. Fiol highlights the need for regulatory uniformity across the European sector.

✈ TAP Air Portugal reported a strong second quarter in 2024, earning profits of €72 million, but their first-half gains amounted to just €0.4 million. Passenger numbers reached 7.7 million, with revenue nearly €2 million. Despite years of financial struggle, the airline is now in the process of being sold, showing improvement with increased liquidity and reduced debt under the new leadership of Luís Rodrigues. Rodrigues is focused on recovery, expanding into Brazil with a new destination, Florianópolis, and resuming flights to Caracas due to the significant Portuguese community. TAP serves a network of 10 airports in North America, 12 in Central and South America, 13 in Africa, and 39 in Europe.

📓 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.