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European Commission released (14-Jan-2025) its European Aviation Environmental 2025 report, setting out measures on how to reduce aviation's impact on climate change, noise and air quality, and to ensure Europe meets its goal of climate neutrality by 2050. The report states that by implementing measures such as increasing the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), making the most of air traffic management optimisations and adopting more fuel efficient technologies, emissions could be reduced by at least two thirds by 2050. Key findings include:

• The average number of passengers (135) and distance (1730km) per flight continues to grow, as does the average fleet age (11.8 years);
• The number of flights arriving at and departing from EU and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) airports reached 8.35 million in 2023, 10% below the 2019 level;
• Flights departing from EU and EFTA airports emitted 133 million tonnes CO2 in 2023, 10% less than in 2019;
• The average mass of CO2 emitted per passenger kilometre further reduced to 83 grams in 2023, equivalent to 3.3 litres of fuel per 100 passenger kilometres;
• In 2022, flights departing from EU and EFTA airports represented 12% of total transport greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 4% of total GHG emissions in the EU and EFTA.

The report also stated net CO2 emissions could be cut by at least 65 million tonnes (47%) in 2050 if the ReFuelEU Aviation supply mandate for SAF is met. However, with projected growth in air traffic demand to reach 11.8 million flights p/a by 2050, further action in more fuel efficient technology, optimisation of operations and use of SAF is required to prevent such growth in traffic generating increased emissions. [more - original PR]

Condor Flugdienst announced (19-Jan-2025) a further expansion of its summer 2025 schedule, following previously announced new routes to destinations including Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Prague, Vienna, Zurich, Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. Highlights include:

• Frankfurt:
  • Commencing Berlin and Hamburg services from 01-Mar-2025, Munich, Zurich and Vienna from the end of Mar-2025 and Milan Malpensa, Paris CDG (twice daily) and Prague from May-2025;
  • Increasing frequencies to Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Zurich, Milan Malpensa and Prague to twice daily;
  • Launching Rome from 05-Apr-2025;
• Vienna:
  • Frankfurt: Daily;
  • Rhodes: Three times weekly;
  • Kos and Palma de Mallorca: Twice weekly;
• Rome Fiumicino-Palermo: Launching daily from 05-Apr-2025;
• Long haul:
  • Increased frequency to Miami and Mauritius;
  • Johannesburg and Bangkok extended to year round;
  • Panama service launching from Jun-2025, as previously reported by CAPA. [more - original PR - German]

Qantas Airways joined (20-Jan-2025) the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA), effective immediately. AAPA director general Subhas Menon said Qantas "would not only strengthen the Association's voice in international aviation policy discussions, but also reinforce effective regional collaboration on key aviation tenets, namely safety, sustainability, and seamless air travel". [more - original PR]

Southwest Airlines received (17-Jan-2025) IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification, effective for two years. The certification recognises the adherence of the carrier's operational management and control systems to international standards. Southwest COO Andrew Watterson stated: "Successfully completing IOSA reinforces our commitment to safety and makes us accountable to the high standards upheld by airlines around the globe". [more - original PR]

Lufthansa Group finalised (17-Jan-2025) its acquisition of a 41% stake in Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA Airways), completing the approved transaction of a EUR325 million capital increase. As previously reported by CAPA, the remaining 59% will initially remain held by Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), with options for Lufthansa Group to acquire the remaining shares able to be exercised from 2025. ITA becomes Lufthansa Group's fifth network airline and Rome Fiumicino Airport becomes the group's sixth and southernmost hub. ITA's Volare loyalty programme will be integrated with Lufthansa Group's Miles & More programme "in a few weeks", with further collaborations such as joint codeshare connections, mutual use of lounges and ITA's planned admission to Star Alliance "to follow successively". As part of the integration, Lorenza Maggio will take over as ITA chief strategy and integration officer and Michael Trestl will transfer from his position as Austrian Airlines CCO to ITA implementation officer, becoming responsible for the holistic integration of ITA into the group. As previously reported by CAPA, Joerg Eberhart was appointed as ITA CEO, taking over tasks previously performed on an interim basis by Antonino Turicchi and Andrea Benassi. Both Mr Eberhart and Ms Maggio were appointed to the ITA board of directors. [more - original PR]

Eurostat recorded (17-Jan-2025) 2.99 billion nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments in the EU in 2024, up 2% year-on-year. Nights spent by international guests increased by 58.7 million, while those by domestic guests decreased by 5.3 million. EU tourism nights were fairly balanced between international (48%) and domestic guests (52%). The number of nights spent in tourist accommodation rose in nearly all EU countries, with the largest increases recorded in Luxembourg (+22%), Malta (+13%) and Latvia (+7%). Slight decreases were recorded in France and Belgium (-1%), while the figures remained stable in Sweden, Finland and Italy. [more - original PR]