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Ryanair emergency landing in Germany: Nine injured
Nine passengers were injured when a Ryanair flight bound for Milan was forced to land in southern Germany due to heavy turbulence caused by a thunderstorm late on Wednesday. Bavaria Police said that the pilot initiated the emergency landing after the bad weather forced him to do so. Police said that among the injured were: a woman with a head wound, her toddler of two years who received bruises, and a woman aged 59 who complained of back pain. The three victims were all treated in hospitals, with other injuries being treated on the spot. In a Thursday statement, Ryanair confirmed that the captain of the flight had requested medical help before landing. The airline said that it had arranged a replacement flight to take passengers to Milan, and apologized to those who were affected. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the police said that the airline had organised a bus shuttle because local aviation authorities hadn't cleared flights to other destinations. (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill, Louise Heavens and Ludwig Burger)
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Wizz Air misses expectations with annual profit falling by over 61%
Wizz Air, the budget carrier, reported a profit for its annual operations that was below analysts' expectations on Thursday. This was due to capacity constraints caused by grounded planes as well as stubbornly high operating costs. Wizz Air's operating profit for the year was 167.5 million euro ($191.05 millions), down 61.7% compared to the previous year and below the 246 million euro forecast by LSEG analysts. European airlines are warning of the long-standing delays in delivery and the uncertainty surrounding maintaining demand post-COVID as the world is facing economic turmoil linked to President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. The sector has, however, largely benefitted from lower fuel costs. Wizz Air has had to deal with Pratt and Whitney engines that have caused problems, which have limited its capacity. In the past year, it has warned twice about its profitability. The company announced on Thursday that it will not be providing guidance for 2026, at this time of year, due to limited visibility in its trading seasons.
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Ryanair emergency landing in Germany: Nine injured
Nine passengers were injured when a Ryanair flight bound for Milan was forced to land in southern Germany due to heavy turbulence caused by a thunderstorm on Wednesday night. A police statement in Bavaria stated that the pilot was forced to land in an emergency in Memmingen (about 70 miles west of Munich). Police said that while the plane landed without incident, nine people aged between two and 59 years old were injured by the air turbulence. The statement stated that a woman suffered a head injury. Her two-year old child also received bruises, and 59-year-old women complained of back pain. All three were treated in hospital. The statement said that other injuries were treated at the scene. Police said that the airline has organised a bus to Milan as local aviation authorities have not cleared flights out of Memmingen. (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill; Ludwig Burger)
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Bousso: Trump's China ethane import curbs are another self-harm exercise.
Trump Administration seeks license for ethane imports to China China is responsible for 46% US ethane imports Plastics are made from ethane Ron Bousso LONDON, 6th June - The Trump Administration's latest attempts to curb U.S. exports of petrochemicals to China may end up harming the U.S. economy just as much or even more than China. The boom in plastics feedstocks between the two world's largest economies is an excellent example of how a global, dynamic trading system can benefit both parties. The U.S. ethane industry has grown rapidly in recent years. This excess production was met by an expansion of the overseas petrochemical market, especially from China. Trump exempted all energy products from the "Liberation Day", sweeping import tariffs, on April 2. This was an apparent indication of Trump's administration's concern about the potential impact energy levies may have on consumer prices. Enterprise Products Partners, a top U.S. operator of marine export terminals of liquid natural gas, announced on May 29 that an agency of Commerce had notified it that the company would now need a license to export butane and ethane to China because of the "unacceptable" risk that China could use the products for military purposes. About 40% of the 213,000 barrels of ethane per day that Enterprise's main terminal exported last year was shipped to China. The company claimed it was unable to determine whether it would be able to obtain a license. The U.S. move was the latest in Washington's high stakes trade war against Beijing. It seemed to have cooled somewhat after both sides met in Geneva in late November and agreed to a 90-day ceasefire to reduce triple-digit tariffs. The rash nature of these trade war salvos is evident in the export restrictions, especially on ethane. Ethane is a natural gas byproduct that's used to make the building blocks of plastics. There is no evidence that China's military uses ethane and butane beyond obvious dual-purpose use in plastics, heating fuel, or refrigerant. The notice of the export license did not mention polyethylene, a material that ethane can be used to produce. It is clear that the loss in ethane from the United States will harm China's petrochemical industry. China reportedly exempted U.S. ethane in April from the reciprocal 125% tariff it imposed on U.S. imports. This was done to relieve pressure on China's petrochemical industry. The curbs are cut in both directions. Self-Inflicted Wound According to Energy Information Administration, ethane production will reach a record 2,83 million bpd by 2024. This is a nearly threefold increase from 2014. The surge in U.S. onshore shale gas production was the main driver. According to the EIA, the U.S. exports of ethane have increased 13-fold over the past decade, reaching 492,000 bpd. Of that amount, 46% went to China. According to Kpler, China imported 261,000 bpd of ethane from the United States last year. China is the only country that can absorb U.S. ethane at an increasing rate. According to the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies, China's capacity to produce ethylene is expected to increase to 80 million tons annually by 2028, up from 55 million ton per year in 2024. This represents 50% of global new capacity. India and Thailand are likely to become new markets for U.S. exports of ethane, but this will take time. The United States is increasing its ethane terminal capacity. However, the importing countries in Asia will need years to build their import terminals and ethane vessels. Losing the U.S. feedstock of ethane will definitely erode profit margins for petrochemical producers in China. They will have to rely on more expensive feedstock naphtha or import ethane directly from smaller exporters. This could result in temporary plant closings under certain circumstances. It is unlikely that it will have a significant impact on the growth trajectory of this sector in China. According to Sinopec’s Economics and Development Research Institute’s 2024 annual report, around 70% of China’s total ethylene capacity uses naphtha. Ethane and liquid petroleum gases make up only 8%. A halt to ethane imports to China would have a domino effect on the United States, where domestic inventories would build up and force producers to reduce ethane production in shale basins. The profitability of oil and natural gas drilling operations could be affected. This could result in an excessive amount of ethane being present in natural gas. The cost of producing liquefied gas, which is a major U.S. business, would increase. It is possible that the Trump administration's ethane restrictions will achieve its goal of harming China's Petrochemical Industry, but at a cost to China's Oil and Gas industry. Want my weekly column, plus trending energy stories and additional insights delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to my Power Up Newsletter here.
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Maguire: Europe's dispatchable energy woes are worsened by a new hydro power hit
The mix of power generated in Europe is likely to become dirtier this summer, after a prolonged dry spell has depleted the reservoirs and reduced hydro-electricity production. The hydro dams of Europe are the third largest electricity generator in Europe after nuclear and natural gas plants. Their annual production peaks just before summer, as spring rains and snowmelt recharge dams and rivers systems. This network of run-of river hydro plants and reservoirs is typically used to generate so-called dispatchable energy, which can then be discharged by grid operators on demand in order to balance the system's power needs. Ember data shows that a persistent drought this year has reduced hydroelectricity production by 13% in the first five month of 2025 compared to the previous year. This is the lowest May level since 2017. The shortfall in hydro power has forced utilities to use other sources of dispatchable energy, including coal and natural gas plants. These may have to be used at higher levels this summer, if hydro production remains stunted. HIGH & DRY The hydro problem this year has been exacerbated by the below-normal snow coverage in Europe's Alps. A model of the snow-fed generation potential by LSEG estimated that the output of the Alps is about a third lower than the long-term mean so far this season. LSEG data indicates that the Danube Catchment Area, one of Europe's major river-fed hydro systems, has also suffered from a lack of spring rains, with production generation potential over 60% below average. HYDRO HIT According to Ember, the combination of precipitation and snowfall below average has resulted in a 13% decrease in the cumulative production of hydro-powered energy from January to May 2024 compared to the same period in 2024. The 71 Terawatt Hours (TWh), or the amount of electricity produced by Europe's hydroelectric plants, was the lowest output for May in the last three years. It was also 11 TWh below the total production of the same month one year earlier. The hydroelectricity output from January to May this year was 48.5 TWh lower than in the same period of 2024. This has reduced the hydropower's share in Europe's electricity production mix from 19% in the same months of 2024 to 16.7% in the first six months of 2018. FOSSIL FIX In order to offset the decline in hydro-generation, and a 36 TWh reduction in the cumulative output of Europe's wind farm so far this season, European power companies have been forced to increase fossil fuel generation. Ember data show that the output of gas-fired power stations was 31 TWh or 7% higher than January to May 2024, and coal-fired plant output was 12.5TWh or 5% higher. If hydro production is constrained and power demand stays at the same level, European utilities will need to increase coal and gas plant output. The output of Europe's nuclear reactor fleet can be increased in order to compensate for the decrease in hydroelectric plants. However, the regional nuclear power production could be limited if river temperatures in the region rise during potential heatwaves. This would reduce their ability as a cooling water source for reactors. This means that Europe's gas- and coalfired power stations will remain the main source of dispatchable energy through the summer. Especially if the dry weather conditions of this year continue. These are the opinions of a columnist who writes for.
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Iraq's Kurdish government is legally responsible for the continued oil smuggling
Iraq's Oil Ministry said Thursday that it holds the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), legally responsible for continuing to smuggle oil out of the Kurdish Region. It added that the ministry reserves the rights to take any legal action in this matter. The control of oil and gas is a long-standing source of tensions between Baghdad, Erbil and other Iraqi cities. Iraq is being pressured by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to reduce its output in order to compensate for producing more than the agreed-upon volume. OPEC counts the oil flowing from Kurdistan towards Iraq's quota. In a ruling from 2022, the Iraqi federal court declared unconstitutional an oil and gas regulation law that regulated the oil industry of Iraqi Kurdistan and demanded Kurdish officials hand over their crude oils. Baghdad was forced to reduce production in other fields to meet OPEC quotas because the KRG failed to follow the law. The ministry said it had warned the KRG that failure to comply could lead to significant financial losses, and damage the country's reputation abroad and its oil commitments. The negotiations to resume Kurdish crude oil exports through the Iraq-Turkey pipeline, which handled 0.5% of world oil supply at one time, have been stalled due to payment terms and contractual details. (Reporting from Ahmed Rasheed and Jana Choukeir, both in Baghdad and Dubai; editing by Clarence Fernandez & Sonali Paul).
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In May, Asia's fuel imports from Iraq reached a 4-month high.
According to analysts, trade sources and Kpler data, Asia's fuel imports from Iraq reached a four-month peak in May, as high refining margins increased output and exports. Baghdad's crude oil shipments are being cut to meet its commitments to OPEC+. Kpler data shows that Asia's fuel imports from Iraq reached 910,000 metric tonnes (or 186,400 barrels per day) during May. This was the highest level since January, and was up more than 40% from the month before. The Iraqi State Oil Company SOMO has not responded to a comment request. The surge in Iraqi exports follows a record-high increase in the refining premiums for Dubai crude oil, which reached 380-cst last month. A Singapore-based fuel oil dealer said that the cargoes were sent to Singapore for blending into the bunker pool, as demand for HSFO is low at Asian refineries. Iraqi fuel oil has a high sulphur content and can be refined into products with a better value by refiners or blended into marine fuel by traders to be used by ships. Iraqi fuel oil exports have increased in recent years. They reached a new annual high last. Trade sources reported that the supply influx in recent months has impacted Singapore HSFO bunker price and reduced profits for bunker suppliers, as ex-wharf 380cst spot bunker differentials have fallen to discounts on fuel oil quotations. The seller must transport the bunker fuel to the wharf. This is the dock, or terminal where the cargo can be loaded and unloaded. Analysts and traders said that Iraqi shipments will drop in the next few months, as refiners have reduced their margins on producing high-sulphur oil (HSFO), while demand for electricity in Iraq is expected to increase in the summer. Palash Jain is a Middle East oil market analyst at FGE. He said that export volumes will likely decline if economic conditions worsen. He added that Iraq will burn more liquid fuels to generate electricity in the summer months than last year. Based on LSEG data, the refining margins for HSFO are now closer to parity with crude prices.
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US Senate committee considers nomination of Republic Airways CEO as FAA head
The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee announced on Wednesday that it will hold an 11th of June hearing to discuss President Donald Trump's nominee for the Federal Aviation Administration, Bryan Bedford, CEO of Republic Airways. Bedford, an industry veteran with more than 30 year's experience, was nominated for the position in March. He previously led two other carriers, and oversaw significant expansions of Republic Airways which operates regional flights on behalf of American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Republic, based in Indiana, is one of North America's largest regional airlines. It operates a fleet of over 200 Embraer aircraft and 900 flights per day in the United States of America and Canada. Mesa Air Group and Republic agreed to merge in April as part of an all-stock transaction. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asked Congress to provide tens billions of dollars for the modernization of an aging U.S. Air Traffic Control System to alleviate airport congestion, flight delay and a lack of 3,500 certified air traffic controllers. Years of problems have plagued the FAA's air-traffic control network. But a series of high-profile incidents, near-misses, and a January crash involving a PSA Airlines-operated American Airlines regional aircraft and an Army helicopter that killed 67 people prompted new calls to action. The next FAA administrator faces challenges in overseeing Boeing, and determining when to lift a cap on production of 737 MAX planes at 38 per month, imposed following a mid-air emergency that occurred in January 2024. Last month, the FAA convened a task force to address an emergency and take urgent action to prevent further telecom outages in Newark's air traffic control facility. Three incidents had shaken public trust and caused hundreds of flight disruptions. On April 28, controllers who were overseeing planes near Manhattan's busy airport lost contact with them for 90 seconds. This incident was alarming. The FAA reduced the number of flights at Newark to 28 arrivals per hour and 28 departures an hour until runway construction is complete. Duffy wants to see new funding allocated to airport equipment that will prevent near miss incidents, and to create new incentives for air traffic controllers to increase their hiring and retention. At least $31 billion has been requested by airlines and other parties. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation which includes $12,5 billion in initial expenditures on air traffic reform. This includes $2.5 billion to replace air traffic towers and contract-towers. Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Jacqueline Wong & Jamie Freed
Airlines stick to net zero target despite green fuel doubts
The global airlines concluded a two-day conference on Tuesday, sticking to their target of zero net emissions by 2050. However, they expressed new concerns about the availability and cost of new fuels and planes.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents 350 airlines, has said that achieving the target will cost carriers $4.7 trillion or $174 billion per year. At least some of this amount is likely to be passed along as higher fares.
IATA has avoided reopening the sensitive net zero debate despite earlier signs that airlines were becoming more sceptical. Instead, IATA bosses have pointed out a small window of opportunity for the industry.
They increased their criticism, accusing energy companies of adding arbitrarily high charges to Europe and planemakers who have not delivered efficient jets in time.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, said: "We have plenty of time to reach our goal but we need more action from all the stakeholders in the value chain."
Walsh warned in April that the agenda for net zero emissions was slipping off track, with comments that seemed to be intended to spark discussion.
Walsh stated on Tuesday that there was no discussion of a delay in the goal at this week's New Delhi annual meeting.
Plant-based aviation fuels are at the heart of industry sustainability efforts. The current supply of aviation fuels only covers a small fraction of the airlines' needs. Airlines have urged governments to increase their efforts.
Marie Owens Thomsen, Chief Economist at IATA, said: "It is obvious that the oil companies do not produce (enough SAF).
After a wave of investments in Europe, the energy industry claims that there is enough SAF available for now. However, some analysts and executives claim markets are oversupplied.
Carl Nyberg Senior Vice President Renewable Products Commercial at SAF manufacturer Neste said: "Contrary what some say, we believe there is an oversupply in the SAF marketplace currently."
Nyberg stated that he thought the problem was more about price. The cost of SAF ingredients is around three times higher than fossil jet fuel.
Walsh, however, said that many airlines in the world are unable to obtain SAF without having it imported over long distances. This would defeat the goal of reducing emission.
FuelsEurope, the European industry association, did not reply to a comment request.
'WANING ENTHUSIASM'
The tone of the meeting changed just four years after industry leaders committed to stepping up their plans to combat climate change in response to mounting pressure from environmental and regulatory groups.
Patrick Healy is the group chair of Cathay Pacific. He said, "There's some skepticism about energy transitions in general and you might even say that enthusiasm has waned."
The falling price of jet fuel will cushion the worst effects of global tensions.
Rob McLeod of Hartree Partners' energy risk solutions department urged airlines that the fuel savings could be used to increase investment in SAF, to address the concerns about funding the transition.
The tariff war waged by U.S. president Donald Trump has cast a dark shadow on the outlook of the travel industry, as it has increased operating costs and impacted demand.
The decarbonisation effort will be aided by new fuel-efficient jets. Production delays at Boeing and Airbus forced carriers to fly older planes.
Healy stated that "everyone is realizing it's much more complex than we thought just a few short years ago."
The summit was hosted by IndiGo budget airline and celebrated India's rise as one of the most exciting aviation markets. Prime Minister Narendra modi, who was in attendance for the first time as a leader of a country, said that India's airlines were ready to continue buying after "placing orders for more than 2,00 new jets."
Southwest Airlines, a pioneer in low-cost travel, was also welcomed as a new member of the IATA.
Southwest Airlines has long been a symbol of a rebellion against traditional airlines. However, analysts claim that as the costs increase, Southwest is now more like its major full-service competitors. (Reporting and editing by Mark Potter.)
(source: Reuters)