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Transport Infrastructure

Passenger Transportation Services

Passenger Transportation Services

Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.

The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and revise their financial forecasts. In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have increased from $85-$90 per barrel to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry that relies on fuel for up to 25% of its operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, as well...

Passenger Transportation Services

Air France-KLM offers to buy a minority stake in Portugal’s TAP airline

The franco-dutch airline group, 'Air France-KLM' announced a non-binding bid to purchase a minority stake of TAP Air Portugal as the Portuguese Government moves forward with its plans to privatise their 'flag carrier. Air France-KLM was the first of three European airline groups that bid on a stake in TAP as Lisbon looks to sell as much as 49.9%. British Airways' owner IAG, and Germany's Lufthansa also expressed interest in participating in the privatisation of the airline. "Our aim is to'strengthen operations in Lisbon and 'develop connectivity in other cities throughout the country, including Porto. Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air...

Passenger Transportation Services

Aeroflot's CEO has said that the management of Russia's Aeroflot will recommend dividend payments in 2025.

In an interview on Rossiya-24, the airline's CEO Sergey Alexandrovskiy said that management will recommend dividends to be paid in 2025. As management, we're currently working on options & recommendations for?the payment dividends. He said that the management will "make a recommendation" regarding the payment of dividends in 2025. Aeroflot has paid a dividend to its shareholders of 5.27 roubles per share ($0.0654) for 2024. This is based on a new policy that stipulates the payment of 50% of adjusted net profits according to IFRS. Alexandrovskiy said that despite the market turmoil, he would keep his forecasts of air traffic...

Passenger Transportation Services

CEO Ryanair says that if the jet fuel supply is disrupted in June, Ryanair may cancel flights.

Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, said that jet fuel supplies to Europe could be disrupted as early as June if the Middle East Conflict?does not?end in the next few months. This would force the airline and its competitors to cancel flights during the summer. O'Leary stated that the Irish airline, Europe's biggest by passenger number, holds daily calls with its fuel suppliers throughout Europe to assess supply, which they say will remain steady until the end of may. If this (the conflict) continues until the end of April we will be facing a supply risk in early June. O'Leary said...

Passenger Transportation Services

If the Middle East continues to be at war, Ryanair will see a disruption in jet fuel supply as early as May.

Sky News reported on Wednesday that the Middle East conflict could disrupt jet fuel supplies to Europe if it continues. This could put up to 25% of Ryanair's supply at risk in May and June. IATA, the International Air Transport Association, estimates that between 25% and 30% of Europe's demand for jet fuel comes from the Persian Gulf. It warns this makes it one of the most vulnerable regions to any impact the U.S.-Israeli conflict may have on the supply. O'Leary stated that if the Straits of Hormuz are reopened by the middle or end of April and the war...

Passenger Transportation Services

Spiegel reports that Lufthansa is considering grounding 40 planes because of the Iran war.

The escalation of the Middle East conflict has led to an employee meeting, reported the Spiegel newspaper on Tuesday. The Handelsblatt had initially reported that the airline group considered 'grounding 20 planes earlier on Tuesday. It also cited a'meeting of employees. Spiegel reported that this was a?part of two crisis management packages. Spiegel reported that in the event of further escalation of the conflict, a second package of possible measures would be to ground 40 aircraft. This would amount to a?loss of capacity of around 5%. Spohr told Spiegel that no decision has been taken yet but admitted the 4%...

Passenger Transportation Services

After engine failure, a US-bound Delta flight returns from Sao Paulo to the airport

The 'Delta Air Lines' flight bound for Atlanta was forced to return to the airport in Sao Paulo after takeoff due to an issue with the left engine of the aircraft, according to a spokesman released by the airline on Monday. The company said that the Airbus A330 300, which was carrying '272 passengers and fourteen crew members', landed safely. It was met by airport rescue and firefighting teams. Delta has not provided any further details, but an article from a local publication?G1, which showed a video made by passengers from within the jet, stated that?the aircraft’s left engine exploded...

Passenger Transportation Services

Sources say that European airlines likely exceeded the 2% green jetfuel target set last year.

A regulatory official and source said that Europe's aviation industry may have exceeded a 2% mandate in 2025 for the use of green jet fuel. This would boost airlines' green credentials, as the region attempts to reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons. This achievement was previously unknown and will be reported in a later report. It represents a dramatic change from the previous year when only 0.6% of people had adopted it. Airlines warned repeatedly that they would miss their targets. In an interview with Cologne's Florian Guillermet (head of the regional aviation safety agency EASA), which monitors the implementation?of targets,...

Passenger Transportation Services

UN Aviation Agency limits the use of power banks on flights to two per passenger

As part of the new rules for using these 'devices in the air,' the United Nations Aviation Agency has announced that the use of portable, rechargeable battery packs, or power banks, will be limited to only two per passenger. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)?issued a?statement that passengers will be prohibited from charging their?power banks? during flights. After incidents such as the fire that occurred on Air Busan's plane in 2025, airlines like the Lufthansa Group and countries like South Korea have already introduced restrictions on power banks. Federal Aviation Administration was not immediately available for comment. The Federal Aviation...

Passenger Transportation Services

Europe's aviation agency boasts improved ties with FAA and Boeing

The European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has'signaled improved relations with U.S. FAA' and said that Boeing is responding "in an appropriate manner" to regulatory oversight, indicating recent transatlantic tensions regarding aviation safety may have eased. The relationship between the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and the Federal Aviation Administration has soured since fatal Boeing 737 MAX accidents in 2018 and 2019. These crashes were linked to flawed software, and poor oversight. This prompted EASA to look closer at Boeing designs. "Very transparently and honestly, I believe it has improved quite significantly." In an interview, EASA Executive Director Florian Guiillermet said...

Passenger Transportation Services

Lufthansa signs wage agreement with German ground staff

The 'Lufthansa Group' has reached an agreement on collective bargaining for more than 20,000 ground staff in Germany, allowing them to breathe easier as other labour disputes continue. Verdi, a trade union, reported that the agreement reached after four rounds of?talks will see the basic?salary for ground staff raised by 4.65% total in two steps. The '2,2% initial raise was agreed retroactively by Lufthansa for air freight and maintenance and repair units as of January 1, this year. Staff at the passenger?business Deutsche Lufthansa AG will receive their raise one year after that date due to a "challenging environment". From...

Passenger Transportation Services

Fuel costs are increasing, so airlines are reducing their prices and cutting back on their outlook.

The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which has pushed up jet fuel prices, has shook the aviation industry around the world. Airlines have been forced to increase fares and review financial forecasts. In recent weeks, jet fuel prices have risen from $85-$90 per barrel up to $150-$200 per barrel. This is a major financial blow to an industry that relies on fuel for as much as a quarter its operating costs. Here is an alphabetical list of the ways airlines are responding to this issue: AEGEAN AIRLINES The Greek airline anticipates that the suspension of Middle East flights, and...

Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Germany's Deutsche Bahn gets more investment but must win back public trust

The German Bahn has seen more bookings that 'expected' as Easter approaches, and the fuel price increases are attracting people to train travel. However, it still faces a steep uphill battle in reviving 'its ageing network' and restoring the public trust after a long decline. Inga Nielsen says she has had bad experiences for years. In 2021, the six-hour trip from Amsterdam to Berlin was turned into a long odyssey involving regional trains and buses. Her train broke down two weeks ago and was delayed for two hours. She said that the main reason for using Deutsche Bahn was to...

Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Midi Station in Brussels is closed after suspicious bags are found

Midi Station, the largest station in the city, was evacuated by police on Monday after a suspicious bag was found. This was one day after the 10th anniversary of the deadly terror attacks. A police spokesperson said that the station was closed when a suspicious bag was discovered in a train, and another one on a platform. He added that police officers and a?anti-explosive army squad were investigating these bags. State-owned railway operator SNCB spokesperson Vincent Bayer said that most train traffic in Belgium's capital passes through the Midi Station, but since 5.30 pm (1630 GMT), no train has arrived...

Integrated Logistics

Sources say that the net loss of Germany's Deutsche Bahn railways has increased to $2.6 billion.

Sources told Friday that the net loss of Germany's Deutsche Bahn, which is battling with chronic delays & outdated infrastructure, grew to 2.3 billion euros ($2.6 billion) in last year due?to problems within its long-distance unit. Sources familiar with the figures who spoke under condition of anonymity as they are still confidential said that the division was forced to reduce its value 'by 1.4 billion euro' due to the persistent delays affecting the white ICE trains. A spokesperson for Deutsche Bahn declined to comment, pointing to a 'press conference on the company's results scheduled for?March 27,' The sources claimed that...

Oil Pipeline

Transportation

Transportation

Leaders say that explosives were found near a gas pipeline in Serbia that supplies Hungary.

Leaders from Serbia and Hungary said that explosives of "devastating power" were discovered near the Turkstream pipeline in Serbia, which carries Russian gas to Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban claimed that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had told him explosives were found near the pipeline transporting Russian gas from the Balkans into Central and Eastern Europe. Vucic, an ally close to Orban, wrote on Instagram that "our units found explosives of devastating power." "I told Orban, the?PM that we would keep you updated on this investigation." Orban, after a phone call with Vucic on Sunday, announced in a post on...

Transportation

Official: Ukraine's attack on Zaporizhzhia cuts off power in parts of the region held by Russia

A Ukrainian military attack on Friday cut off power to Russian-held areas of the Zaporizhzhia region. Emergency crews are working to restore it. There are power outages at some locations in the southern part Zaporizhzhia Region. Yevgeny Belitsky, Russia's appointed governor of Russian controlled areas in?the region said on Telegram that repair work was underway to restore the power. The outages are due to an enemy attack on the energy infrastructure of the?region. Ukrainian media outlets posted video clips showing what they claimed was an attack on an underground substation in Melitopol. The footage showed a large fireball rising over...

Transportation

Sources say that drone attacks are reducing exports and causing a reduction in Russian oil production.

Three industry sources told Reuters that a Russian oil production cut is imminent due to Ukraine's strike on pipelines, port infrastructure and refineries, which has reduced export capacity by a million barrels / day or 5% of the total, according to their report. The conflict in the Middle East has already caused unprecedented disruptions in oil supply. A reduction in output from Russia, the second largest exporter in the world, will add to this. Ukraine intensified its attacks over the past month on Russia's oil-export infrastructure. Ukraine's drone attacks are the most intense of its four-year-long war. They target the...

Transportation

Czech government will cap fuel retailer's margins and lower excise taxes

Andrej Babis, the Prime Minister of Czech Republic, said on Thursday that the government had agreed to cap fuel retailer's margins and reduce excise tax to limit fuel prices rising. Other governments in central Europe have also taken measures to reduce the impact of fuel prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East, and the rising price of oil. Babis said at a press conference that the "chaos", caused by the lack of coordination between the central European countries, was due to the fact they had adopted?various?measures in order to curb the fallout from energy crisis. He said that...

Transportation

Ukraine's gas exports are falling, and further imports are expected to be low

Analysts said that Ukraine's natural gas imports would remain low at least until April. Purchases could increase if prices on the European market decline. Global gas and oil prices have soared due to the war in Iran. According to data from the operator of the gas transmission systems, Ukraine had planned to import exclusively 0.8 million cubic metres (mcm), as opposed 23 mcm, on Tuesday. Ukraine received gas in the period January to March from Poland, Hungary Slovakia and Romania. After Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian gas production in late 2013, Ukraine, which had previously only imported small volumes...

Transportation

The Finnish Border Guard reports that Russian oil ports in the Baltic region have been halted a week after drone attacks by Ukraine.

The Finnish Border Guard, who monitors maritime traffic in the region, reported that oil and LNG shipments were stopped on Wednesday. This was more than a fortnight after Ukrainian drones began attacking these Russian export hubs. Finland was able to see smoke after Ukrainian drones caused fires in Russia's Baltic port, leading to a suspension of fuel loadings last Wednesday. The attacks continue and Ust-Luga has been?hit on Tuesday for the fifth consecutive day in 10 days. "At this time, only a few oil tankers leave the oil ports of Primorsk or Ust-Luga." Mikko Hirvi, Head of Maritime Safety and...

Transportation

In March, Russia's gas exports via pipeline to Europe jumped 22% on an annual basis amid the Mideast crisis

Calculations showed that the average daily natural gas supply to Europe by Russian energy giant Gazprom via 'the TurkStream' undersea pipe rose 22% compared to a year ago to 55 million cubic meters in March. The Strait of Hormuz was closed to most shipping because of the Iran War, leaving the energy markets exposed to danger. After Ukraine decided?not extend a five year deal with Moscow, which?expired on January?2025, the Turkey is now the only route to Europe for Russian gas. According to calculations based on data provided by the European Gas Transmission Group Entsog, total Russian gas supplied to...

Transportation

Japan and Europe continue to have near-historical lows in coffee stocks

According to the Coffee Trading Academy, green coffee stocks in Japan, Europe, and the United States, the two largest coffee-consuming regions in the world, were near historic lows in February, despite the recent weakness of coffee prices. Japan's stock was 2.21 million 60 kg bags. This is a little different from January, and also from last year. It is still far below the 5-year average of 2.75 millions bags for this time of the year. CTA cited data from the European Coffee Federation to say that green coffee stocks in Europe were 6.8 million bags at the end of February....

Transportation

Top EU diplomats visit Bucha in commemoration of 2022 massacre

On Tuesday, the European Union's top diplomatic representative Kaja 'Kallas' and a number of EU foreign ministers visited Bucha to mark the fourth anniversary since a massacre. They expressed their support for Ukraine in its demand for Russian accountability for the atrocities that were 'committed' there. Ukrainian officials claim that Russian forces killed hundreds of people in Bucha soon after the beginning of the 2022 invasion. Kallas, along with around a dozen EU Foreign Ministers and other senior European Officials made the trip to Bucha amid tensions in the EU over EU Aid for Ukraine. Kallas, who returned to Kyiv...

Transportation

Naftogaz, the state-owned gas company in Ukraine, says that Ukraine wants more LNG and diesel imported from Greece

Naftogaz, the Ukrainian energy company, said on Monday that Ukraine is interested in increasing LNG supplies via Greek terminals and pipelines along the Vertical Corridor System. The Vertical Corridor allows Ukraine to receive U.S. LNG via Greece, but the share of imports is still small. In 2016, Greece, Bulgaria Romania and Hungary signed an agreement to build the infrastructure for the Vertical Gas Corridor, which will allow gas to be transported between the countries. After the meeting, Serhiy koretskyi, Naftogaz's CEO, said that "special attention was paid to the possibility of increasing the gas supply volumes for both Ukraine and...

Transportation

Moldovan opposition parties contest the merits of the state of emergency

Moldovan opposition parties demanded on Sunday an explanation from the pro-European Moldovan government regarding its imposition of a "sweeping energy state of emergency" over a damaged electricity line that took four days to repair. Last Tuesday, the Eastern European country’s?parliament?approved a 60-day energy state of an emergency to streamline decision-making. The government had blamed Russian attacks on neighbouring Ukraine after knocking out the Isaccea - Vulcanesti electricity line. Moldova's Energy Ministry announced that the line, which runs from Romania to Moldova, and crosses 40 km of Ukrainian territory, was restored Saturday. This line is responsible for 70% of the country's...

Transportation

Fire breaks out in Russia's Ust-Luga Port after drones from Ukraine cause damage

Russian officials reported that the Ust-Luga port, which is one of Russia's largest petroleum export outlets, was damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack on Sunday, which ignited a fire. Ukraine intensified drone strikes on Russia's oil export infrastructure in the last month. These attacks included Novorossiysk, on the Black Sea, and?Primorsk, and Ust-Luga, on the Baltic Sea. These attacks caused severe oil supply disruptions for Russia, which is the second largest oil exporter in the world. They also hit Moscow at a time when oil prices were above $100 per barrel because of?the Iran War. The Governor of Russia's Leningrad...