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State-owned Motor Sich is Ukraine's main manufacturer of aircraft and helicopter engines, including for some of the world's largest cargo planes. Many legacy Ukrainian defense companies will trigger "red flags" during the lengthy due diligence and compliance reviews conducted by Western defense companies, said one U.S. defense executive. A Motor Sich representative stopped by ITA's booth and spoke briefly about their company's capabilities, the spokesperson said. ROOTING OUT CORRUPTIONZelenskiy has made rebuilding Ukraine's defense and aerospace sector a top priority, which includes deeper investment in drone technology. While the talks in Washington later this week and last month's Dubai air-show contacts are potentially promising, the political realities that Western defense officials are grappling with could hinder any progress.

Persons: Gleb Garanich, Olexiy Nikiforov, Lockheed Martin, Pavlo Verkhniatsky, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Korzh, Trump, Nikiforov, RTX, Northrop, Valerie Insinna, Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher, Jo Mason, Jane Merriman Organizations: Motor Sich, REUTERS, State, Sich, Reuters, Lockheed, White, U.S, Western, U.S . Department of Commerce, Dubai Air Show, Commerce Department's International Trade Administration, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Republicans, Ukraine –, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Kyiv, Ukraine, WASHINGTON, Russia, China, Washington, U.S, Moscow, Zaporizhzhia, Dubai, Gaza, London

Even including the sale of Heathrow, this year is the slowest for airport transactions in the past decade, totalling $5.9 billion globally to date, according to Dealogic data. They have hired Mediobanca (MDBI.MI) and Credit Agricole (CAGR.PA) to find a buyer for a sale of their 49% stake in the company, the people said. Heathrow's sale valued the airport at 14.3 times EBITDA, according to JP Morgan analysis published on Wednesday. UK's Esken (ESKN.L), owner of regional Southend Airport, said in June it had started a process for the sale of the airport. On Thursday, Hungary's state-owned Corvinus and Vinci Airports notified the European Commission of a proposed joint takeover of Budapest's airport, according to a document posted on the EU website.

Persons: Andras Kranicz, GIP, Australia's Macquarie, Spain's, Ferrovial, Agata Lyznik, Mediobanca, Gianni, Origoni, Nico Torrisi, Morgan, UK's, France's Vinci, Vinci, Corvinus, Emma, Victoria Farr, Andres Gonzalez, Elisa Anzolin, Joanna Plucinska, Mathieu Rosemain, Anousha Sakoui, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: LONDON, Heathrow, BNP, Global Infrastructure Partners, AGS Airports, Southampton, Australia's, International, ACI, Airports, Macquarie, Credit Agricole Assurance, 2i, Credit, SAC, Gatwick, Southend Airport, Global Infrastructure Fund, Vinci Airports, European Commission, EU, Thomson Locations: Edinburgh, Italy, FRANKFURT, Spanish, Europe, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Heathrow, France, Hungary's, Budapest's

It follows the successful transatlantic crossing by a Gulfstream G600 business jet using the same fuel last week. SAF is key toward reducing those emissions, but it is costly and accounts for less than 0.1% of total global jet fuel in use today. The fuel used to power Tuesday's flight is mostly made from used cooking oil and waste animal fat mixed with a small amount of synthetic aromatic kerosene made from waste corn, Virgin Atlantic said. Yet the 2030 target looks challenging given SAF's small volumes and its high cost, right now about three to five times as much as regular jet fuel. Virgin said the engines on the flight would be drained of SAF and tested before it returns to service using regular fuel.

Persons: Virgin, Richard Branson, Shai Weiss, Mark Harper, John F, Magdalena Heuwieser, Sarah Young, Joanna Plucinska, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Boeing, Royce, Trent, Gulfstream G600, London Heathrow, Kennedy International Airport, Virgin, SAF, Boeing, BP, Aviation, British Airways, Air France, Union, Thomson Locations: London, New York, Dubai

☆ Wizz Air narrows profit forecast on difficult operating conditions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wizz Air's aircraft is parked on the tarmac at Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, August 18, 2022. REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 9 (Reuters) - European budget carrier Wizz Air (WIZZ.L) on Thursday narrowed its annual profit forecast below analyst expectations, citing continuing macroeconomic uncertainty and difficult operating conditions. Wizz Air was also one of the main airlines hit by issues with RTX (RTX.N) engines this year and had said it would face a capacity reduction as a result. That knocked its net income guidance for the financial year to between 350 million euros and 400 million euros ($374.7 million to $428.2 million), down from 350 million to 450 million euros. The budget carrier posted operating profit of 522.9 million euros ($559.8 million) for the six months to Sept. 30, compared with a loss of 63.8 million euros a year earlier.

Persons: Wizz, Bernadett Szabo, Jozsef Varadi, Varadi, RTX, Joanna Plucinska, Yadarisa, Savio D'Souza, David Goodman Organizations: Ferenc Liszt International, REUTERS, Wizz, Aerospace, Thomson Locations: Budapest, Hungary, London, Bengaluru

REUTERS/Ammar Awad/ Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK/LONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Travelers are canceling or postponing planned vacations to the Middle East and North Africa due to fears of the Israel-Hamas conflict worsening, and as touring companies have also altered itineraries and canceled flights. Travel operators say the war is affecting demand for travel to nearby nations including Egypt, Jordan and Turkey. German airline Group Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said on Thursday their Middle East bookings have not been affected by the war, with only an initial dip when the conflict started. Spanish travel agency Essentialist said it has canceled 75% of trips to the extended Middle East and Northeast Africa region. The conflict's effect on travel demand to the Middle East may extend beyond the holidays and even just neighboring countries.

Persons: Ammar Awad, Israel, Todd Elliott, Konrad Waliszewski, Willie Walsh, Kathleen Oberg, Patrick Scholes, Essentialist, Matt Berna, Khaled Ibrahim, Doyinsola Oladipo, Joanna Plucińska, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Daniel Wallis Organizations: REUTERS, Cruise Line Holdings, Royal Caribbean Group, International Air Transport Association, Group Lufthansa, AS OMAN, Marriott, Intrepid Travel, Americas, East Travel Alliance, Thomson Locations: Damascus, Jerusalem's Old City, East, North Africa, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Orlando , Florida, Israel . Washington, Cyprus, Lebanon, Valencia, Spain, Spanish, Northeast Africa, Australia, Norway, Sharm el Sheikh, Oman, UAE, New York, London, Chicago

Lufthansa reported third-quarter adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) of 1.47 billion euros ($1.56 billion), up 31% year-on-year and slightly above average expectations for 1.43 billion in an analyst consensus published on the company's website. Lufthansa said bookings for the fourth quarter were up by double-digit percentages year-on-year. Costs were 0.9% lower than the same quarter last year despite rising inflation, while net profits were at 1.2 billion euros. Next year, Lufthansa expects the amount of seating capacity available to fliers to increase further to around 95% of pre-pandemic levels. Capacity will increase to 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the fourth quarter, they said.

Persons: Carsten Spohr, Bernstein, Alex Irving, Maria Sheahan, Joanna Plucinska, Kirsti Knolle Organizations: Lufthansa, Thomson Locations: BERLIN

☆ Britain's aviation regulator increases air traffic control charges
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

General view of planes on the tarmac at Farnborough Airport, in Farnborough, Britain March 9, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Britain's aviation regulator said on Thursday it would increase the amount airlines can be charged for air traffic control services to help national provider NATS recoup costs incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. Airline executives last week called for new rules on passenger compensation in the event of such disruption. The average cost of UK air traffic services per passenger per flight would go up by 43 pence on average, to approximately 2.08 pounds, the CAA said. The process of raising price controls began before the NATS outage and is unrelated to the review and investigation into the glitch, it added.

Persons: Henry Nicholls, NATS, Joanna Plucinska, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: Farnborough Airport, REUTERS, Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, Thomson Locations: Farnborough, Britain, Europe

Intra-European travel has been doing very well," said aviation analyst James Halstead, adding that limited planes meant ticket prices could stay high. Britain's easyJet (EZJ.L) said earlier this month it wanted to more than double profits and expand its fleet, even though fuel prices could mean higher ticket prices. Spot Northwest European jet fuel prices were at $957 per metric ton on Wednesday, up 5% from before the assault. JET FUELSome airlines have already warned that rising fuel costs will drive up ticket prices or dampen future earnings. He said ticket prices could go up by a mid-single digit percentage ahead of Christmas.

Persons: Charles de, Benoit Tessier, James Halstead, You've, Michael O'Leary, it's, Neil Glynn, Alexander Irving, Bernstein, Agata Rybska, Natalie Grover, Josephine Mason, Mark Potter Organizations: Lufthansa Airbus, Charles de Gaulle International Airport, REUTERS, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Air, Brent, JET, Ryanair, Air Control, Thomson Locations: Charles de Gaulle, Roissy, Paris, Israel, Palestinian, Europe, Air France, Ukraine, Gdansk, London

France, where Ryanair serves cities such as Marseille and Bordeaux, has floated proposals for a minimum ticket price in an effort to reduce pollution from aviation. The French price proposal, which EU officials said has drawn some support from the Netherlands and Belgium, got short shrift from senior Ryanair executive Eddie Wilson. Having established a strong position in large parts of Western Europe, Ryanair is now looking east to countries such as Poland for further growth. Europe's main airlines lobby group expressed relief and called on more European coordination to support the sector. Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr has said a stronger ITA will reinvigorate competition in the Italian market but Ryanair's Wilson is unperturbed, describing ITA as a sideshow.

Persons: Eddie Wilson, Wilson, Andrea Giuricin, Giorgia, Giuseppe Cocuzza, Ourania Georgoutsakou, Carsten Spohr, Ryanair's Wilson, Rome Fiumicino, Sacbo, Angelo Amante, Keith Weir, Joanna Plucinska, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Ryanair, Europe's, European Union, Ryanair DAC, Alitalia, TRA Consulting, European Commission, Airlines for, ITA, Lufthansa, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Thomson Locations: Italy, ROME, France, Marseille, Bordeaux, Sicily, Sardinia, Netherlands, Belgium, Europe, Western Europe, Poland, Rome, Catania, Airlines for Europe, Bergamo, Milan, Malpensa, Brescia, London

"Whenever we come up against Wizz, we tend to have significantly lower fares and have much lower costs," he said. As an example of the strategy, he cited Albania, where Ryanair plans to open 25 new routes this winter to take on Wizz (WIZZ.L) in its eastern European heartland. According to data analysis firm IBA, low-cost carriers have over 59% of the aviation market in Poland, up from 31% in 2021. He added that Buzz and Ryanair were mainly focused on regional airports, like Modlin outside Warsaw or Katowice near Krakow. Poland and eastern Europe's lighter regulatory requirements, lower environmental scrutiny and poor rail connections make them appealing markets by comparison.

Persons: Wizz, Michael O'Leary, Jozsef Varadi, Varadi, Jamie Lindsay, Michal Kaczmarzyk, Buzz, Dan Taylor, Kaczmarzyk, O'Leary, Tim Hepher, Mark Potter Organizations: Ryanair, WARSAW, Wizz Air, Reuters, Wizz, Artemis Investment, LLP, Chopin, IBA Insight, Thomson Locations: Poland, PRAGUE, Europe, Ireland, Italy, Albania, Hungary, Warsaw, Modlin, Katowice, Krakow, Polish, France, Ukraine, Poland's

[1/4] People walk into Jerusalem's Old City via Jaffa Gate, as the conflict wreaks havoc across the tourism sector October 11, 2023. Now they are empty after a devastating attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7. InterContinental Hotels (IHG.L) said two of its hotels, Six Senses Shaharut and Hotel Indigo Tel Aviv – Diamond District, were temporarily shut. Australian tour operator Intrepid Travel has called off tours to Israel and Palestinian territories until the end of the year. Odysseys Unlimited has suspended its Israel trips until March 31.

Persons: Sinan Abu Mayzer, Abu Dawoud, Khader Hussein, Jesus, That's, Elias al, Dan Hotels, Isrotel, Dan, Israel, Joanna Plucinska, Steven Scheer, Doyinsola, Yadarisa, Josephine Mason, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Palestinian, Hamas, West Bank, Virgin, European, InterContinental Hotels, Indigo, Aviv, Diamond, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Arab Hotel Association, Intrepid, Odysseys, NEW, Thomson Locations: City, Jaffa, Rights BETHLEHEM, JERUSALEM, Bethlehem's, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, United States, European Union, Britain, Europe, Bethlehem, Tel, U.S, West, Australian, Egypt, Jordan, LONDON, Bengaluru

STOCKHOLM/AMSTERDAM, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Airlines wrestled with the safety risk of evacuation operations in Israel on Thursday, with carriers including Dutch KLM cancelling flights while sister airline Air France mounted a special relief flight chartered by the French foreign ministry. Israel's parliamentary finance committee meanwhile approved a plan to provide a state guarantee of $6 billion to cover insurance against war risks to Israeli airlines. The framework will grant Israeli airlines cover against war risks, thereby ensuring the continuity of air operations. Foreign airlines have struggled to find a common approach and the head of European budget giant Ryanair (RYA.I) said it was up to governments to plot the way forward. PATCHY RESPONSEGermany's Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) said it was sticking to its plans for evacuation flights on Thursday and Friday, while continuing to ground commercial flights to Israel.

Persons: Ben Gurion, Ben Smith, Ed Bastian, Sasha Gainullin, Rafael Schvartzman, Obama, Anna Ringstrom, Bart H, Meijer, Tim Hepher, Joanna Plucinska, Julia Payne, Carolyn Cohn, Steven Scheer, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Doyinsola, Terje Solsvik, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Diane Craft Organizations: Airlines, Dutch KLM, Air France, Palestinian, Israel's, Norwegian Air, Insurance, Reuters, Foreign, Ryanair, KLM, Boeing, Lufthansa, Dubai's Emirates, Delta Air Lines, International Air Transport Association, Regulators, U.S . Federal Aviation Administration, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, AMSTERDAM, Israel, Palestinian, Tel Aviv's, Ben, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Eilat, Emirates, United States, Europe, U.S, Ben Gurion

LONDON, Oct 11 (Reuters) - British Airways said on Wednesday it would suspend all of its flights to Tel Aviv after it diverted a flight from London back to Britain due to security concerns in Israel. "Safety is always our highest priority and we've taken the decision to return our Tel Aviv flight to Heathrow (Airport)," a spokesperson for British Airways said. British Airways had operated a single daily flight to Tel Aviv before the suspension, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar. With British Airways' suspension, no IAG-owned (ICAG.L) airlines are now offering flights to Tel Aviv, a spokesperson for the group said. Flightradar showed the flight in question, BA165, had almost reached Tel Aviv before beginning its return to London.

Persons: haven't, Flightradar, Sarah Young, Joanna Plucinska, Sachin Ravikumar, Bernadette Baum, Jonathan Oatis, Rod Nickel Organizations: British Airways, Aviation, Palestinian, Hamas, Ben Gurion, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, London, Britain, Israel, Heathrow

Most foreign airlines have suspended or curtailed services, leaving passengers uncertain how to leave or reach the country and consular services struggling to keep up with demand for assistance, with priority given to those with missing relatives. Israel's parliamentary finance committee said late on Tuesday it would debate authorising state guarantees for providing war risk insurance for Israeli airlines. British Airways said it would suspend flights to Tel Aviv after diverting a flight from London back to Britain shortly before it was due to reach Tel Aviv, citing security concerns. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Washington remains in talks with U.S. airlines about flights to Israel. Passengers have complained of mounting costs especially for leaving Israel, but airlines deny driving up prices.

Persons: Yiannis, El Al, Sun Dor, Israel, ” Neil Roberts, Jan Lipavsky, Lipavsky, couldn't, Annalena Baerbock, Carsten Spohr, Pete Buttigieg, flydubai, Steven Scheer, Carolyn Cohn, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Michael Kahn, Victoria Klesty, Joanna Plucinska, Tim Hepher, Huseyin Hayatsever, David Shepardson, Alexander Cornwell, Mark Potter, Lincoln Organizations: Larnaca International Airport, REUTERS, El, Hamas, Association, British Airways, Lufthansa, German, . Transportation, U.S, Nordic, Dubai's Emirates, Etihad Airways, Thomson Locations: Israel, Larnaca, Cyprus, Israeli, Athens, Rome, Madrid, Bucharest, New York, Paris, Istanbul, El, Tel Aviv, London, Britain, Czech, Oman, Prague, Lipavsky, Denmark, Carsten Spohr ., Washington, Norwegian, Oslo, Abu Dhabi, United States, COVID

U.S. air carriers United Airlines (UAL.O) and American Airlines (AAL.O) suspended direct flights to Israel after the Federal Aviation Administration urged airlines to exercise caution. Many European airlines have also cancelled flights. Norwegian Air (NAS.OL) cancelled its flights from Copenhagen and Stockholm to Tel Aviv this week and Ryanair (RYA.I) cancelled flights through to Wednesday. Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), also among the airlines most exposed to Israel according to Goodbody, cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv through Monday. Hainan Airlines (600221.SS), the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, and other airlines flying from Hong Kong and South Korea cancelled flights to Tel Aviv.

Persons: We've, Matt Berna, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Britain's, Goodbody, . Virgin Atlantic, IAG, Sharon Singleton, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Tel, United Airlines, American Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Delta Air Lines, El Al, Fighters, Tourism, Royal, Intrepid Travel, Regulators, FAA, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Israeli, Ben Gurion International, REUTERS, Delta, Air, Portugal's TAP, Norwegian, Ryanair, Sunday, Wizz, Lufthansa, . Virgin, British Airways, Hainan Airlines, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Israel's, Jerusalem, Americas, U.S, New York, Chicago, Washington, Miami, Lod, Europe, Air France, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Hungarian, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Hainan, Beijing, Shenzhen, Cairo

On Sunday, U.S. air carriers United Airlines (UAL.O), Delta Air Lines (DAL.N) and American Airlines (AAL.O) suspended direct flights following the FAA's caution advisories. Britain's easyJet (EZJ.L) halted flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday and Monday, and said it would adjust the timings of flights over the next few days. Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) group, also among the airlines most exposed to Israel according to Goodbody, cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv through Monday. Portugal's TAP suspended flights up until Monday and offered refunds or rescheduling at no additional cost. Hainan Airlines (600221.SS), the only Chinese airline to fly between China and Israel, and other airlines flying from Hong Kong and South Korea, cancelled flights between Tel Aviv and Shanghai on Monday.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Amir Cohen, Finland's, Britain's, Goodbody, Virgin Atlantic, IAG, Ben, Ben Gurion, Douglas Gillison, Sophie Yu, Farah Master, Joyce Lee, Brenda Goh, Tim Hepher, Ilona Wissenbach, Sergio Goncalves, Anna Ringstrom, Sarah Young, Joanna Plucinska, Clarence Fernandez, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Israeli, Ben Gurion International, REUTERS, El Al, Fighters, Tourism, Regulators, Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Sunday, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Delta, Air, Wizz, Lufthansa, Portugal's TAP, Virgin, East . British Airways, Ryanair, flyDubai, Hainan Airlines, Thomson Locations: Lod, Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Israel's, United States, U.S, New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, Miami, United, Europe, Air France, Hungarian, East, Ben Gurion, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Lisbon, Stockholm, London

Air France-KLM has tended to let airlines it invests in keep their operations and branding. With the process still in its infancy, Air France-KLM has a chance to make a pitch to TAP now off the back of SAS. LONG FIGHT AHEADThere are remaining challenges for Air France-KLM as it looks to clear regulatory hurdles with SAS, including approval from American and European policymakers. Europe's airline industry has a history of cultural and political barriers to smooth integration, even within Air France-KLM itself. Air France-KLM is a member of the rival SkyTeam alliance.

Persons: Paris Charles de, Charles Platiau, IAG, James Halstead, Jacob Gronholt, Pedersen, Tim Hepher, Matt Scuffham, Sharon Singleton 私 Organizations: Air France Boeing, Paris Charles, REUTERS, France, KLM, TAP, TAP Portugal, Lufthansa, LONDON, Air, Scandinavia's SAS, Ryanair, Wizz, Air France, IAG, Tuesday's SAS, SAS, Star Alliance, Reuters, Apollo Global Management, Union Locations: Paris, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Roissy, France, LISBON, Air France, Europe, Air, Danish, Swedish, Spanish, Portugal, Northern Europe, TAP's, Portuguese, U.S, Lisbon, Porto, Iberia, South America

While a civil suit lodged against KLM (AIRF.PA) in the Netherlands is one of the most prominent, complaints and cases against other airlines have been mounting. Lockwood said the ASA would use machine learning tools to scan online advertising to catch potentially misleading wording. Separately, the Austrian advertising watchdog told Lufthansa's Austrian Airlines arm last year to stop making claims about a carbon neutral flight using biofuel. The lawsuit alleges that carbon offset programmes don't work as advertised and the company misled consumers. The company is investing in newer planes and sustainable fuel to "decarbonise" its operations, the person added.

Persons: Miles Lockwood, Lockwood, Joanna Plucinska, Mark Potter Organizations: KLM Airlines, Fossielvrij, Dutch, KLM, Airlines, Ryanair, Lufthansa, Etihad, Standards Authority, ASA, Reuters, Lufthansa Group, Austrian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Delta, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Amsterdam, Austrian, Los Angeles

"The only way to fly responsibly right now is not to fly," said Hiske Arts, who is leading the campaign by Fossil Free Netherlands. In preliminary hearings, its lawyers argued "fly responsibly" ads were well-intentioned. KLM says it has already discontinued 19 communications it says form the core of the Fossil Free suit. Its "fly responsibly" web page now re-routes customers to a message that reads: "Air travel is currently not sustainable. While advertising authorities have banned some ads, they say airlines should be allowed to discuss improvements in order to prevent "greenhushing", or allowing the issue to disappear from discussion.

Persons: BEUC, Dimitri Vergne, Laurent Donceel, Lucas Boudet, Toby Sterling, Joanna Plucinska, Mark Potter Organizations: Hiske, Fossielvrij, Dutch, KLM, Fossil, Hiske Arts, Fossil Free Netherlands, European Commission, Air France, Schiphol Airport, Airlines, Advertising Standards Association, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Amsterdam, Europe, AMSTERDAM, LONDON, Brussels, London

Ukrainian Antonov An-225 Mriya cargo plane, the world's biggest aircraft, flies during the Independence Day military parade in Kyiv, Ukraine August 24, 2021. Antonov did not respond to requests for comment on the centre and expansion plans in the drone sector. Under Ukroboronprom, Antonov has designed and built drones in the past, including the Horlytsia model, but cargo planes have long been its primary focus. Antonov's expertise in cargo planes could also be applied to long-distance drones, the source added, giving Ukraine's armed forces the capability to strike deeper into Russian territory. LIVE TESTINGKyiv has used aerial drones to attack airfields and Russian troops and aquatic drones against ships and a bridge.

Persons: Gleb Garanich, Antonov, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukroboronprom, inefficiently, Tom Balmforth, Tim Hepher, Mike Collett, White, Alexander Smith Organizations: world's, Independence Day, REUTERS, Reuters, Washington , D.C, Vehicle, Russia, Strategic Industries, Thomson Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, KYIV, Washington ,, Soviet, Russia

An easyJet Airbus A320neo aircraft is parked on the tarmac of Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, in Madrid, Spain, June 22 2022. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Easyjet PLC FollowLONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Decarbonisation efforts in the aviation sector will cost more money, but that cost should not fall to the consumer, easyJet Chief Executive Johan Lundgren said on Wednesday. He added that options to decarbonise, like creating sustainable aviation fuels, are not yet at scale and cost three to five times more than typical jet fuel. Lundgren also said a wide range of stakeholders including governments needed to chip in to ensure decarbonisation costs remain low. A lot of the cost will depend on the speed of innovation, which Lundgren is hopeful can mitigate price hikes.

Persons: Adolfo Suarez, Isabel Infantes, Johan Lundgren, Lundgren, Sarah Young, Joanna Plucinska, Sachin Ravikumar, William James, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Airbus, Adolfo Suarez Madrid, Barajas Airport, REUTERS, Reuters IMPACT, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, London

International travel reached around 90% of pre-pandemic levels this year, according to the International Air Transport Association. Those trends lifted quarterly earnings of travel companies, with cruise operators like Royal Caribbean (RCL.N) reporting record results in recent weeks. Ticket prices, which in some cases have increased by double-digit percentages since the pandemic, are unlikely to plummet. She expects air fares on long-haul international routes to remain high until supply outpaces pre-pandemic levels, demand normalizes and jet fuel prices decline further. International inbound vs outbound in the U.S this yearAverage domestic airfare is currently $246 round-trip, down 8% from 2022, according to travel booking app Hopper.

Persons: Dan McKone, Amadeus, Jozsef Varadi, Hayley Berg, Hopper, that's, Glenn Fogel, Kathleen Oberg, Joanna Plucinska, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Doyinsola, David Gaffen, Matthew Lewis Organizations: International Air Transport Association, Consulting, Royal, Booking Holdings, Marriott, Lufthansa LHAG.DE, United Airlines, Wizz, Reuters, Holdings, International, U.S . National Travel, Tourism Office, British Airways, IAG, Thomson Locations: CHICAGO, Southern Europe, Britain, France, United States, Germany, Singapore, Royal Caribbean, Manila, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, Europe, Asia, COVID, U.S, Canada, London, Chicago, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Strong travel demand helps TUI swing back to profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

That was despite prices rising 7% over last year, indicating that the higher cost of travel wasn't dampening demand. In particular, the wildfires in Rhodes, Greece meant approximately 8,000 TUI customers had to leave their hotels, TUI said. The cost of that will be reflected in the full-year results and is expected to be close to 25 million euros. Ebel said that the Mediterranean region in Europe remained one of the top destinations for the tour group despite extreme weather. "The heatwave in Northern Europe in June and the wildfires in Southern Europe have only dampened temporarily the previously strong development," he said.

Persons: Borja Suarez, Sebastian Ebel, TUI, Ebel, Joanna Plucinska, Friederike Heine, Conor Humphries Organizations: Gran Canaria, REUTERS, Borja Suarez LONDON, Airlines, TUI, Thomson Locations: Puerto Rico, Gran, Spain, Europe, Rhodes, Greece, Northern Europe, Southern Europe

Factors such as cheaper airfares and weaker currencies in Scandinavia could play a role, but one of the world's biggest tour operators TUI (TUI1n.DE) said on Wednesday that climate change will also drive more tourists northbound. Tour operators in places like northern Norway also see an increased demand. This had resulted in more direct flight routes to Northern Norway being created, it said. Heather Storgaard, a Scottish tourist, planned her summer vacation this year in Denmark, with a stop in Northern Germany. Wissenbach is often in Italy due to work but said she preferred the north for holidays.

Persons: Sebastian Ebel, Ebel, TUI, Fabio Scaglione, Diego Bruno, Bruno, Heather Storgaard, we'd, Margit Wissenbach, Joanna Plucinska, Marie Mannes, Rachel More, Alberto Chiumento, Mark Potter, William Maclean Organizations: Mastercard, TUI's, Stockholm, Thomson Locations: Europe, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Scandinavia, Poland, Belgium, Greece, Rhodes, Northern Norway, Turin, Italy, Italian, Spain, Scottish, Northern Germany, France, Germany, Switzerland, Gothenburg, Wissenbach

REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File PhotoLONDON/GDANSK, Aug 7 (Reuters) - European carriers on Monday reported disruptions and suspended flights across the African continent after Niger's junta closed its airspace on Sunday. The junta on Monday braced for a response from the West African regional bloc after ignoring its deadline to reinstate the country's ousted president or face the threat of military intervention. The disruption adds to a band of African airspace facing geopolitical disruptions including Libya and Sudan, with some flights facing up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) in detours. But aviation analyst James Halstead said that airlines would mostly have to find alternative routes and difficulties should be limited given the small number of African air connections. Spokespeople for Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) and Brussels Airlines said that flight times could be between one-and-a-half and three-and-a-half hours longer for rerouted flights.

Persons: Charles de, Stephanie Lecocq, FlightRadar24, James Halstead, I'm, Ilona Wissenbach, Tim Hepher, Jason Neely, Mark Potter, Conor Humphries Organizations: REUTERS, West African, Air, Lufthansa, Brussels Airlines, British Airways, Thomson Locations: Air France, Sudan, Djibouti, Paris, Charles de Gaulle, Roissy, France, GDANSK, Libya, detours, Europe, Africa, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Bamako, Mali, Accra, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia, West Africa

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