Benelux

The Air Current reported Monday that Boeing was given approval by the U.S. Aviation Regulatory Agency last week to start the third phase of certification flight testing for its 777-9 Wide-body Jet. According to people familiar with the program's progress, the aviation industry publication said that this was the biggest round of evaluations ever for the long delayed aircraft program. Air Current's report could not be verified immediately. Boeing and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration have not responded to'requests for a statement. Boeing's wide-body strategy is based on the 777X, which was previously dominated by Boeing's 747 and its 777...

Wizz Air announced on Friday that it would delay the delivery of 88 Airbus aircraft to 2033 from 2030 and reduce its commitment to long haul jets, as the budget carrier seeks to maximize profitability. Wizz also converted 36 A321XLR jets with a long range to A321neo jets, reducing the total A321XLR order to 11 planes from 47 previously, and keeping its 273-plane orderbook unchanged. Wizz Air, a Hungary-based airline, has struggled to compete with other European carriers in recent years due to engine problems with its Airbus aircraft. This led it to miss its first-quarter profits targets in July....

Air France-KLM announced third-quarter results that were in line with expectations on Thursday. It also confirmed its outlook for 2025, despite some expenses increases and expensive challenges faced by its Dutch subsidiary KLM. As the summer travel season is lucrative and busy, the third quarter of the year is typically the most profitable for European airlines. Travel from Europe to the United States is down under U.S. president Donald Trump. His policies are seen by many as anti-foreigner, anti-trade and anti-foreigner. Analysts polled by LSEG had predicted an operating profit of 1,27 billion euros (1,48 billion dollars) for the airline...

Air France-KLM announced third-quarter results that were in line with expectations on Thursday. It also confirmed its outlook for 2025, despite some expenses increases and expensive challenges faced by its Dutch subsidiary KLM. As the summer travel season is lucrative and busy, the third quarter of the year is typically the most profitable for European airlines. Travel from Europe to the United States is down under U.S. president Donald Trump. His policies are seen by many as anti-foreigner, anti-trade and anti-trade. Analysts polled by LSEG had predicted an operating profit of 1,27 billion euros (1,48 billion dollars) for the airline...

Dutch postal group PostNL announced a larger than expected operating loss for the third quarter on Monday. It cited growing pressures on its domestic mail operations, as volumes are declining and revenues are concentrated on a few large customers. The company and the Dutch government are at odds over the costs of letter delivery across the country, as the number or letters and parcels sent is declining. The company's request for temporary assistance from the Dutch government, and its subsequent appeal, were both rejected. PostNL's normalised losses before interest and tax grew to 24.5 million euros in the third quarter...

The government of Portugal expects that the partial privatisation process for flag carrier TAP will proceed smoothly. This is due to a rare political consensus across parties and interest shown by Europe's biggest airlines, Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz stated on Friday. He stated that the centre-right minority government initially wanted to offer 100% of TAP but settled for 49.9% when the two major opposition parties threatened to stop any larger sale. This led to a “broad consensus” in parliament with the extreme right Chega and Socialist parties. He told a committee of parliament that "dialogue and mutual respect is...

Dutch airline KLM announced on Friday it had reached a deal with five unions that represent ground staff in The Netherlands for a two-year agreement that included pay increases, bonuses and improved retirement options. The Collective Labor Agreement (CLA), which is retroactive to March 1, this year and ends on February 28, 2027, will be in effect. This includes a salary increase of 3.25 percent in total as well as a one-time payment of 500 euros ($583) net in December 2025, and 250 euros in January 2026. KLM has also agreed to permanentize the 80-90-100% scheme, which allows older workers...

Cebu Pacific, the Philippine budget airline, announced a partnership on Friday with Bulgaria Air. The agreement will last until December 2025 or January 2026. Cebu Pacific announced that two Airbus A320ceos will be used on four routes within the Philippines, from Manila to Cebu and Davao. Cebu Pacific is providing the cabin crews. Bulgaria Air will supply the aircraft, pilots and maintenance, while Cebu Pacific provides insurance. Cebu Pacific's CEO Mike Szucs stated at a press briefing that by increasing flight frequency, deploying widebody planes and enhancing our fleet with a damp lease from Bulgaria Air, Cebu Pacific was strategically...

Vietjet, a Vietnamese airline, has agreed to order 100 Airbus planes worth billions of dollars. The companies announced this in a statement released on Thursday. Vietjet has also ordered 40 Rolls-Royce engine as part of its expansion plans. To Lam, the top leader of Vietnam, visited Britain in order to strengthen ties between London and Vietnam. According to a joint statement, the airline has placed orders for 100 Airbus A321neo aircraft, following an non-binding Memorandum of Understanding signed with Airbus in June. Vietjet, in an internal document, said that the deal, which was valued at $25 billion but did not...

Airbus, Europe's largest aircraft manufacturer, reported Wednesday higher-than-expected third quarter profits and revenues due to commercial jetliner sales and strong gains in helicopters and defense. It has reaffirmed the main financial and delivery goals but reduced the production target for its smallest models. Now, it aims to build 12 of the Canadian designed A220s per month in 2026. This is down from the previous target of 14. Monday is a holiday. reported Airbus has pushed the assembly of A220s back this year and next. The company set an internal goal of 12 A220s per month by mid-June of 2026. Airbus...

Last year, the CEO of Lufthansa described its flagship airline as a "problem kid". This label has been difficult to remove, even with a turnaround plan. Carsten Spohr, who is trying to make things better by cutting costs, centralising operations, and simplifying a complex fleet has fallen further behind Air France KLM and British Airways' owner IAG. Lufthansa's stock is up a little, but IAG and Air France KLM are up 92% and 15% respectively. The group's operating margin shrank to just 4.4% in 2018, down from 7.6% a year earlier, and analysts predict 4.8% by 2025. Spohr stated last...

The Russian industry ministry announced on Tuesday that the country has successfully flown a prototype of its MC-21 passenger jet, which is built from domestic components. Sanctions on foreign components have halted production, and high interest rates are putting a damper on investment. The Russian aircraft industry was able to overcome these obstacles and deliver only one of the 15 jets that were planned for this calendar year by August. According to images posted by the Industry Ministry on Telegram on Tuesday, the MC-21 took flight from the Irkutsk Aviation Plant operated by Yakovlev. United Aircraft Corp is a subsidiary...

InPost, a Polish parcel locker company, reported on Friday a 24% increase in its core earnings for the third quarter. However, it lowered its expectations for the full year citing increased investments in Britain. Analysts had expected a quarterly adjusted earnings of 1.02 billion zlotys, or $291 million. InPost now expects to see its adjusted EBITDA grow by a midteens percentage, as opposed to its previous forecast of a low to midtwenties percent growth. The forecasts of annual group revenue and volume remained unchanged. In the third quarter of 2018, the company delivered 351,5 million parcels. This is a 34%...

Bpost, the Belgian postal service, reported a surprise operating loss in its third quarter, due to seasonal weakness, and lowered its capital expenditure guidance for this fiscal year. The adjusted loss before taxes and interest was $3.5 million, compared to the profit of $10.3 million euros from a year ago. Analysts surveyed by the company expected a adjusted operating profit to be 6.7 million euro. The company reduced its forecast for gross capital expenditures to 140 million euros from 180 million euros earlier, and stressed the importance of disciplined spending in a gradual approach toward 2026. In a press release,...

Allegro, Poland's biggest e-commerce site, announced on Monday that it has signed a new contract with courier DPD to deliver parcels through the company's delivery service. Allegro is scaling and diversifying its logistics. Why it's important Allegro has taken steps to reduce its delivery costs. For example, it increased the merchant co-financing through its loyalty program and developed its own logistic muscle. KEY QUOTES Allegro stated in a filing that the agreement was part of its ongoing efforts to diversify and scale up the Allegro Delivery program by increasing cooperation with its logistic partners. By the Numbers Allegro stated that...

Allegro, the CEO of Polish ecommerce company Allegro, denied on Friday that Allegro was at odds with any of its business partners despite its relationship deteriorating with delivery partner InPost. When asked by reporters about InPost, Allegro CEO Marcin Kusmierz said: "We don't believe that we are in any dispute or business with any entity." InPost's shares dropped around 13% after the company reported a slower volume growth in Poland. The shares of InPost have lost over a third in value this year, but they were up by 9% as of 1340 GMT. Allegro shares were up about 2%. InPost,...

Allegro, the CEO of Polish ecommerce company Allegro, denied on Friday that Allegro was in dispute with its partners despite its relationship with InPost deteriorating in recent months. When asked by reporters about InPost, Allegro CEO Marcin Kusmierz said: "We don't believe that we are in any disputes or business with any entity." At 0945 GMT, InPost shares rose 4.8% after falling around 13% Tuesday, when it reported slower volume growth in Poland. Allegro shares were up 2.6%. Allegro has recently been sued by InPost for breaching their long-term agreement. According to JPMorgan, Allegro gets 30% of InPost's Polish revenues....

Northvolt's new owner Lyten announced on Thursday that it has appointed the former chief operating officer (COO) of the bankrupt Swedish company as the CEO of Lyten Sweden and recruited several other former executives from the failed company. Last month, the Silicon Valley startup Lyten announced that it had acquired Northvolt’s assets. This was a major development for future European battery production of electric vehicles. Matthias Arleth is the new CEO of Lyten Sweden. He joined Northvolt last July, shortly after reports of problems began to surface. Lyten announced that Sami Haikala will return to his former position as the...

InPost, a Polish parcel locker firm, reported on Tuesday a 12.6% increase in earnings for the second quarter. This was due to volume growth both in Poland and abroad. The adjusted earnings before tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), which is the profit before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation, were 999.5 millions zlotys in the third quarter, as compared to the 887.3 in the previous period. InPost operates in nine countries, including Poland. It is known for its automated package machines, or APMs. These allow customers to pick up or drop off their packages whenever they choose. The company confirmed its...

InPost, a Polish company, announced on Monday that it will buy a majority stake in Bloq.it's parcel locker network along with over 20,000 locker units in order to enhance its last-mile service in Europe. Why it's important InPost has established a dominant position on its native market of Poland, and has increased its international expansion in recent years. Bloq.it follows the acquisitions of Spanish courier company Sending and Yodel, both in Britain. KEY QUOTES In a press release, InPost CEO Rafal Brzoska stated that "our strategic investment in Bloq.it will have a positive effect on our growth trajectory as well...

Austrian Post joined other European postal service groups on Thursday in stopping the standard parcel shipment to the United States, as U.S. Customs Services are planning to charge duties for packages of low value. In a press release, the Austrian state-controlled company said that it will no longer accept consignments of standard parcels bound for the United States as of next Tuesday. The U.S. administration of Donald Trump announced last month that it would suspend global "de minimis", which allows minimal paperwork for international shipments below $800, with effect August 29. This week, there were several postal strikes. The following...

The bankruptcy of Northvolt will result in a large loss of funds for many of its creditors, said the process trustee on Friday. He added that the sale of Northvolt to the U.S. startup Lyten was a major achievement. Northvolt's unsecured creditor list includes its biggest shareholders Goldman Sachs, and Volkswagen, whose brands Scania Porsche and Audi had been customers of the battery manufacturer. Lyten, backed by Jeep owner Stellantis, and FedEx delivery service, announced on Thursday that it would purchase the majority of Northvolt. This move offers a chance for the European firm to regain its former prominence as...

Bpost, the Belgian postal operator, beat expectations for quarterly profits on Friday. The acquisition of Staci last year was a major boost. Bpost also said that it expects its operating earnings will reach the upper range of its guidance in 2025. In February, it forecast earnings before interest and tax (EBIT), which ranged between $175 million and $200 million. This was reaffirmed in June despite the two-week strike in the first quarter that affected results. Bpost's adjusted earnings per share (EBIT) rose by 1% in the second quarter to 58.3 millions euros ($68.3 million), boosted by contributions from Staci, a...

Lyten, a U.S.-based battery startup, has agreed to purchase the majority of the bankrupt Swedish company Northvolt. The announcement was made on Thursday. This could be a chance for Europe's once leading battery manufacturer to regain its former prominence. Lyten, an Silicon Valley startup that develops lithium-sulphur batteries as a cleaner option to lithium-ion cells, is backed both by Jeep owner Stellantis, and U.S. Delivery Services provider FedEx. The deal brings back hope for European battery independence. Northvolt, the continent's possible rival to major Chinese electric car battery makers, filed for bankruptcy in march, becoming one of Sweden's biggest corporate...