Europe

Middle Eastern carriers increased capacity following the disruption caused by the Iran War, and airlines outside of the Gulf have rerouted flights between Europe and Asia to avoid major hubs within the region. The latest flight information is listed below alphabetically. AEGEAN AIRLINES On May 21, Greece's largest airline will resume its flights from Heraklion to Tel Aviv, as well as Rhodes and Larnaca. Thessaloniki-Tel Aviv flights are cancelled until June 26. Erbil, Baghdad and Dubai flights are all cancelled until July 2nd. AEROFLOT The Russian flag carrier has announced that it will resume flights to the United Arab Emirates...

The Italian antitrust authority announced on Tuesday that it had 'opened an investigation' into the budget airline easyJet over alleged unfair business practices related to baggage charges. The authority stated that the company's app and website advertised only the average prices for "checked luggage and sports equipment" on round-trips, but made bundle purchases the default option even when customers didn't want them. The company said that consumers could be misled about the price of each leg. They would need to interrupt the booking process online to change the default option. EasyJet stated in an email that it had "always acted...

Sources say that a 'collision' between a 'train and a bus killed several people in Buggenhout, Belgium on Tuesday morning. The accident happened early on Tuesday morning at a level crossing about 1 km from Buggenhout Station. In a post to?X, Bernard Quintin stated that he was "deeply saddened" by the accident in Buggenhout. He did not give any further details. The spokesperson for the Belgian Police did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Accidents at level crossings have a long history in Belgium, a country where a dense rail network crosses towns and villages. Infrabel, the railway infrastructure...

Indian officials investigating the deadly Air India crash last year are not preparing a final report but rather an interim one in anticipation of the anniversary date of the 'Boeing accident which killed 260 people. A person who spoke to the media said that the interim report of India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) would be "more comprehensive than the preliminary report released last July" and examine possible primary cause and other contributing factors. The preliminary report of 15 pages into the aviation industry’s deadliest accident in the last decade revealed that the Dreamliner’s engine fuel switches were flipped almost...

The public transport organizer said that a self-driving?bus made by Turkey's Karsan, was hit?from behind?by a tram in Gothenburg, Sweden?on Monday, only?anhour after it started carrying paying passengers. "The bus braked, and the?tram hit it," said Patrik chi, a spokesperson for Vasttrafik. Vasttrafik is a company owned by a regional authority that oversees public transport. Chi says that the collision caused no injuries. It raises 'questions' about the integration of 'autonomous vehicles? in urban traffic, at a time when Gothenburg is launching a yearlong trial of autonomous public transportation using Karsan’s eATAK bus. Karsan didn't immediately reply to a comment...

A jury in the U.S. District Court of Seattle ruled that Boeing was not guilty of 'hiding safety issues with 737 -MAX jets purchased by LOT Polish Airlines in the last decade. LOT accused Boeing of fraud by 'withholding a crucial change to the popular single aisle?jets' flight-control system. The change was a result of 'two fatal 737 MAX crash in 2018 and 2019. These crashes led to the planes being grounded for 20 months. The airline claimed that the grounded aircraft caused damages of $153 million. The jury members deliberated for three hours after a two week trial. Boeing's...

Transport Minister said that the Irish government will enact legislation by mid-July lifting a limit on passenger numbers at Dublin Airport. This has been criticized by European and U.S. carriers. The government is rushing to lift the cap of 32 million passengers per year, which has been suspended in anticipation of a ruling from the European Court. Last year, the airport exceeded its limit by four million passengers. Darragh O'Brien, Ireland's Transport, Energy and Climate Minister, said in a?interview that he hoped to have the legislation passed by the Dail (lower chamber of parliament) and Seanad, the upper house, before...

Transport Minister of Ireland,?Friday, said that the Irish government will enact legislation?by mid July to lift a passenger cap at Dublin Airport. This has been criticized by U.S. Airlines. The government is rushing to lift the 32 million passenger cap per year, which has been suspended in anticipation of a ruling from the European Court. Last year, the airport exceeded its limit by four million passengers. Darragh O'Brien, Ireland's Transport, Energy and Climate Minister, said in an interview that he hoped to have the legislation passed by the Dail, the lower house of parliament, and the Seanad, the upper house,...

Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets or individual stocks in France and Benelux. COMPAGNIE DES ALPES Compagnie des Alpes, a French ski resort operator and leisure park operator, reported that its EBITDA for the first half of 2013 rose?5.0% from 327.7 millions euros to 380.59 millions euros. QUALITY SA: Quadient, a global automation platform provider, reported a first-quarter revenue of 243 million euros. AIR FRANCE-KLM, Airbus Air France-KLM, Airbus and other airlines announced on 'Thursday that they would appeal to the French Supreme Court after an appeals tribunal found them guilty on Thursday of...

EasyJet, a British budget airline, reported a loss of £552 million ($741.39 millions) in the first half on Thursday. However the outlook for the full year remains uncertain due to the Iran War driving up fuel prices and bookings slipping during the summer peak season. The warning comes at a time when the Iran conflict is continuing to "disrupt" global aviation. Jet fuel prices have risen by more than 80% in the last few months, forcing airlines to raise fares or cut capacity, and even absorb margin pressure, as flow through the Strait of Hormuz has been constrained. In recent...

The 'Iran War' has continued to impact?jet fuel prices and consumer bookings as we head into the crucial summer season. The war has impacted the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to increase fares or reduce capacity, as well as causing jet fuel prices to rise by more than 80%. Easyjet's April-September bookings accounted for 77% of the total at this point in time, a year earlier. Easyjet's bookings for April-September were 77% sold at the same point last year....

Gregor Stuart Hunter gives us a look at what the future holds for European and global markets. Samsung Electronics is still fighting over the issue of pay. The planned strike that was due to begin today has been averted at the 11th hour by a deal reached between the company and its union last night. However, a group of disgruntled investors have threatened to ruin the entire thing. The details of the deal, which includes bonuses of about $416,000 for certain staff, paid mostly in stock, have attracted attention. Investors have largely ignored the drama and are bidding up Samsung...

Data shows that European winter electricity contracts trade at a premium of over 20% to the benchmark for next year. This is the highest since the energy crisis in 2022. Low gas stocks and shrinking reserves of hydropower raise the risk of higher energy prices. The Strait of Hormuz has largely been at a standstill since the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran began in 'late 'February. Wholesale energy prices have risen due to the disruption of energy supply. LSEG data show that winter baseload contracts in Germany and Italy -- the two European markets most reliant upon gas-fired power...

The Swiss government announced on Friday that it had expanded its sanctions against Russia and Belarus, adopting portions of the latest package of measures from the European Union in response to Moscow's conflict in Ukraine. The Federal Department of Economic Affairs (FDEA)?said that the new listings will take effect at 11 p.m. on May 22. Further 115 individuals and companies will be subject to asset freezing and a 'ban' on making funds available. Sanctioned individuals are also barred from entering Switzerland or transiting through it. The department stated that the newly listed targets included people and 'entities connected to Russia's...

Kommersant reported that the?Russian-installed governor Yevgeny Balitsky said Friday that emergency blackouts were occurring in the 'Russia-controlled region of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia. According to Kommersant, he did not provide any further details but said that critical infrastructure worked as usual. Vladimir Saldo said in Telegram that nine areas were cut off from the grid following drone attacks. Local authorities reported on Telegram that in the early morning hours of Friday, Russian defence systems worked to repel drone attacks over Moscow and the Yaroslavl Region?in the north. Sergei Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow, said in Telegram that four drones heading for Moscow...

A top official of the national suppliers' lobby said that U.S. gas exporters want Europe to defer the implementation of a new law on methane emissions. He warned, however, that the regulatory risk was already preventing long-term contracts between European customers and U.S. companies. Charlie Riedl, Senior Vice President at the Natural Gas Supply Association, said that U.S. Exporters want clarifications about the new methane laws and are asking the European Commission to clarify the law's compliance based on input from the industry. Riedl, speaking on the fringes of the Flame gas and LNG Conference in Amsterdam, initially suggested a...

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian energy installations as the peace talks have not produced any progress. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said that there are no dangers to the fuel supply in Russia. He was responding to a report on a drop in oil refinery in the central region of the country after recent drone attacks by Ukraine. The following is a chronological summary of the recent attacks that followed Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities and their impact. SYZRAN On Thursday, the Ukrainian military and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed that Ukrainian drones had struck Rosneft's...

Gazprom shares fell on Thursday, despite the announcement that they would not be paying a dividend for '2025' results. They were also impacted by Russia's inability to reach a deal with China on a new pipeline. The shares of Russia's biggest natural gas producer fell almost 1% in early trade at the Moscow stock exchange, continuing the previous day's decline of 3.5%. "Yesterday the Moscow Exchange Index fell?by 1.2 percent, unable withstand a?double disappointment: reports from China regarding the 'lack of clarity about the 'timeframe for implementing the Power of Siberia?2 project and Gazprom refusing to pay dividends in 2025,"...

China and 'Russia' condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense shield plans and Washington's 'irresponsible' nuclear policy during a joint meeting on 'Wednesday', a week following President Xi 'Jinping's hosting of Trump in Beijing. In a joint statement, Xi and Russian 'President Vladimir Putin' said that Trump’s plans for a missile interceptor system based on the ground and in space posed a serious threat to strategic stability around the world. The report also criticised the United States for the expiration of the last remaining nuclear treaty that restricted the size of U.S.-Russian arsenals. This expired in February after...

China has increased its purchases of Russian gas and oil since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine 2022. Moscow and Beijing declared a partnership with "no limitations" just days before war broke out. Energy relations between Russia and China are expected to be a major topic at the meeting of Vladimir Putin with Xi Jinping in Beijing, on Wednesday. Here are some facts about energy ties between the two countries. Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, supplies natural gas to China through a pipeline of 3,000 km (1,865 miles) called Power of Siberia, under a $400 billion, 30-year deal signed...

The Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit China this week, and he will 'hold discussions with President Xi Jinping. A Kremlin aide stated on Monday that a detailed discussion of the proposed Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline would be held. China, 'the world's largest oil and gas consumer, is a major buyer of Russian products. Here are some facts regarding the proposed pipeline: What is the POWER OF SIBERIA II? Power of Siberia 2 is a planned 2,600 km (1,616 miles) system that will transport 50 billion cubic meters (bcm), or 50 billion cubic feet per year...

In recent months, Ukraine has intensified its attacks on Russian energy installations as the peace talks have not produced any progress. Here is a brief summary of some of the recent attacks that followed Russian strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities and their impact. MOSCOW Sergei Sobyanin, the mayor of Moscow, said on Sunday that twelve people had been injured, mainly near the entrance to Moscow’s oil refinery. Three houses also suffered damage. He said that the "technology" at the refinery had not been damaged. Moscow's refinery is located in the Kapotnya district of the capital, in its southeastern part. It...

Sources said that Greek investigators believed a military sea 'drone found on a Greek island last week had gone off course because of a 'technical failure. It may not have traveled far. The explosive-laden drone, which Greece claims is "Ukrainian" but Kyiv denies it officially, was found by fishermen off the coast of Lefkada in May. This sparked diplomatic tensions between Athens & Kyiv. Greek intelligence and military unit have analysed the drone. They dismantled it and used reverse engineering to determine their characteristics. Investigators are also examining the metadata of this drone to determine its mission, and whether or...

Prime Minister Robert Fico announced on Friday that Slovakia is considering the possibility of becoming a direct purchaser of 'Russian oil.' Currently, purchases are handled by MOL in Hungary, which owns Slovnaft Slovnaft refinery. Fico suggested that the state pipeline operator Transpetrol could assume a role as buyer. Fico said in a televised press conference that he thought it was a good idea for the Slovak Republic to become a contracting partner with the Russian Federation. Both Slovakia and Hungary are exempt from the European Union's restrictions on Russian oil imports. The bloc has decided to completely phase out Russian...