Jurídicos y Administrativos

💳 In an interview, Plus Ultra CEO Roberto Roselli highlighted the negative impact of state aid controversy on financial relationships, with Spanish banks blocking payment gateways, leading to a switch to Canadian payment systems. Despite rumors linking the airline to Venezuela, Roselli clarified that 85% of the capital comes from European citizens and addressed the commitment to repay SEPI debt by 2026 without seeking postponement.

💰 Víctor de Aldama has conversations with Begoña Gómez, wife of Pedro Sánchez, regarding Air Europa's bailout, its subsidiary Wakalua, and the OMT led by Zurab Pololihashvili. Santiago Pedraz of the Audiencia Nacional's Central Court of Instruction No. 5 recently authorized Aldama's and the Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's access to a separate part of the content. Begoña's close ties with Globalia CEO Javier Hidalgo during the public bailout request were highlighted, including a September 2019 OMT assembly meeting in St. Petersburg with Aldama and Hidalgo. Aldama is prepared to testify before Judge Juan Carlos Peinado investigating Begoña Gómez for influence peddling, corruption in business, embezzlement, and professional intrusion.

🎢 In Niza, the city council banned all cruise ships with over 900 passengers, sparking protests from merchants, taxi drivers, maritime professionals, and opposition politicians in Villefranche Sur Mer. Nicolás Plumion claims a 90% loss in activity as passengers typically spend an average of €70 per day, often on perfumeries and trips to Monaco or other renowned villages. Despite environmental balance concerns from Villefranche's mayor Christophe Trojani, Niza's mayor Christian Estrosi holds authority over the port. The Paris representative is reviewing the ban for legal compliance.

✈ Iberia to add second A321XLR to its fleet in March, with an original deal with Airbus despite supply chain delays. The Spanish airline plans to use the new A321XLR for the Madrid-Washington route, resuming with a weekly frequency, then increasing to four times a week in April and five in August. The first A321XLR has been operating daily Madrid-Boston flights since November 14, set to double in June. Iberia expects six A321XLRs from Airbus in 2025, and the eighth by early 2026. The aircraft seats 182 passengers and offers a 30% fuel savings over previous models, with a range of up to 8,700 kilometers.

💥 At Washington Reagan airport, regulation allows one controller to handle both planes and helicopters after 21:30 due to reduced traffic. A controller left the post early, allowed by the tower supervisor, leading to non-standard staffing levels for the traffic volume. A helicopter, instructed to fly below 200 feet and along a specific path, was instead at 300 feet and 0.5 miles off course. The plane was on its correct path. The helicopter pilot, familiar with the route, was instructing a passenger on night flying. Experts suggest the controller should have been more proactive. Both black boxes from an incident have been recovered.

🏡 Valencia's new regulation allows only 2% of homes per neighborhood for tourist accommodations, aiming to preserve 98% for residential and commercial use. Granada halts new licenses in areas where residential tourist pressure exceeds 10%, with some neighborhoods reaching 24%. The Valencia regulation includes five limitations, such as prohibiting new tourist places in districts with over 8% tourist accommodations compared to registered residents, and capping tourist homes at 5% per block and 15% of local commercial premises per block.

🛫 Aena, headed by Maurici Lucena of Spain's PSC, proposed privatizing some airport control towers, including Palma de Mallorca's. Podemos at Palma's council opposed, motioning against it. Both PSOE, governing Aena, and PP voted against privatization, aligning with Podemos and against their government ally, Vox.

💥 American Airlines' CRJ 700 collided with a helicopter during approach to National Reagan Airport's Runway 33, less commonly used than Runway 01/19. The incident, which took place over the east bank of the river turning northwest, resulted in 64 fatalities. The NTSB is examining the collision avoidance system (TCAS) and air traffic control warnings. Prior images show the CRJ 700's authorized approach maneuver, and air traffic controllers had issued warnings to the helicopter. The investigation aims to prevent future incidents, with early findings potentially expedited due to the crash's significance and political impact.

🏨 Valencia's City Council, led by Mayor María José Catalá, plans to limit tourist apartments to 2% per neighborhood to preserve residential character. Areas like Ciutat Vella and Cabanyal, already over the limit, will see a ban on new licenses, while buildings designated for tourist use could boost rehabilitation of deteriorated zones. The municipal government will soon start revising urban regulations, with an environmental assessment document possibly approved by the Local Government Board. The opposition criticizes the plan, with Compromís calling for a permanent commission to strategize, while PSPV demands a total ban, noting tourist homes exceed 10,000. An existing moratorium on licenses, expiring in May, may extend up to two years pending new regulation.

✈️ Iberia and British Airways, responding to a tragic plane crash in Washington that killed all 64 occupants, offer passengers flexible ticket conditions for flights to Washington until February 1. Travelers can make cost-free changes for any affected flights in the itinerary, regardless of travel status or class. Flights to Washington are connected via New York (American Airlines) or London (British Airways). The airlines extend condolences to victims, families, and colleagues at American Airlines and American Eagle.