Czech Republic

Spotlight on the Czech Republic aviation market

CSA Czech Airlines, the Czech Republic's flag carrier, operates over half of the nation’s fleet (61 aircraft are registered locally) followed by subsidiary Holidays Czech Airlines and low-cost carrier SmartWings. Traffic into the country’s principal gateway, Prague Ruzyne Airport, primarily consists of short-haul European traffic but the airport is focussing its sights on traffic from further afield. The Czech aviation landscape is set to change in 2012 with ownership changes of the national carrier, increased prominence of the national charter carrier and repositioning Prague into a long-haul traffic hub.

Europe’s airlines press European Commission to ensure Single European Sky targets are met

There are few subjects that Europe’s airlines can agree on, but the lamentable state of the European air traffic control system is one of them. This week, industry bodies representing all sectors of the European air transport market blasted the efforts of European member states and their air navigation service providers (ANSPs) on reducing costs and increasing efficiency for falling short of where they should be.

Air traffic inefficiency and the high costs associated with Europe’s patchwork air traffic management (ATM) system are estimated to cost the European aviation industry between EUR4 billion and EUR5 billion p/a. The delays and inefficient routings punish both passengers and airlines, increasing flight times and distances and driving up fuel burn and greenhouse gas emissions, a particularly galling situation given the entry of aviation into the EU Emissions Trading Scheme next year.

Munich Airport reports record traffic, north & west Germans seek alternative airports to avoid taxes

Munich Airport continued its impressive gains throughout the first half of 2011 by notching up a six month passenger traffic record. It comes at the same time as the government’s tourist tax has begun to drive German passengers in the north and west of the country over the border into the Netherlands to avoid it.

Air France looks to regional points to counter LCC, TGV threat

Air France has announced plans to move away from its Paris-centric strategy and moved into regional French market in a bid to counter the growing threat of low-cost carriers in its home market, which remains one of Europe’s few remaining spaces for growth in the sector.

Air Malta troubles worsen as unions flex muscle and LCCs grow

Air Malta’s troubles have become more acute as the struggling carrier’s unions increase their opposition to large-scale redundancies. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has stated the present situation is increasingly worrying, particularly in light of the EUR77 million the government has poured into the airline since Jun-2011.

Hungary considers renationalisation of Budapest Airport as Hochtief’s assets go up for sale

Hungary’s government indicated earlier this month that it would exercise a put option on the stake of 25% plus one vote that it holds in Budapest Ferenc Liszt Airport as the German airport operator Hochtief (75% minus one vote) commenced the sale of non-core assets ahead of a potential takeover of the group by its Spanish minority shareholder, ACS.