While Germany is taking all its nuclear power plants offline, the EU’s climate policy is aimed at a mix of nuclear and renewable energy sources

Germany has committed itself to phasing out nuclear power by 2022 and to replace the capacities with modern technology for fossil fuels like more efficient coal-burning power plants and renewables. In contradiction to Germany, most European countries and the EU Commission are considering nuclear power as substantial for the European climate [...]

Air Berlin reconsidering long-haul destinations – does low-cost not work for longer destinations?

Air Berlin is the second largest German airline after Lufthansa and operates semi low-cost flights mainly in Europe, and to some destinations in China and North America since last month. The acquisitions of German competitors and a long-haul operator of tourist destinations are part of the airline’s strategy of expanding its operations from holiday and business [...]

Ties between China and Taiwan are warming

China and Taiwan are holding talks again about opening regular direct flights between mainland China and Taiwan. This is a major step out of the frosty relationship which derives from the Chinese Civil war in 1949 when the Chinese nationalists fled to the island of Taiwan when the communists took over power in Beijing. Since [...]

International Aerospace Exhibition ILA 2008 in Berlin

 
The ILA 2008 air show opened on Tuesday in Berlin. It is among the largest and most important airshows in the world and is held biannually. It takes place on the southern section of Berlin’s Schoenefeld Airport which is will be the future Berlin Brandenburg International airport and replace the two other airports of the [...]

EADS, Airbus’ parent company, begging for more state support

Yes of course, competition is fierce, the process of designing new aircraft and producing them carries along lots of risks, but does this justify even further state support?
EADS’ CEO Louis Gallois complains that Boeing received 800 million dollars of subsidies from the U.S. government while Airbus received only $94 million from the European governments in [...]

South American nations launch a union modelled on the EU

There are several political and economic communities which have united to benefit from a single market and from the power of the community. Amongst the most important are the North American trade bloc NAFTA and the European Union. On May 23, the twelve South American countries signed the Constitutive Treaty of the UNASUR, the Union [...]

EU climate dictatorship will fail and isn’t of any help either

European climate policy is all about regulating and defining standards. The European Commission is going mad when climate issues are concerned and eagerly tries to force all Europeans to buy the one and only European standard green(washed) car in the future. The Commission regulates each component of a car – be it the air conditioning, [...]

An amazing airline! – Air Asia, the Asian low cost pioneer

Air Asia has turned from a tiny budget start-up airline, which started out taking over a debt-torn Malaysian airline to a profitable, leading low-cost, no-frills airline in Asia. It is estimated that Air Asia has the lowest operating costs and highest profit margins in the industry. Air Asia operates about 400 flights [...]

Airlines and passengers are paying the bill for sky-high oil prices

 Europe’s biggest airline, Air France-KLM, announced its first quarterly losses in five years and warned of an “awesome challenge” for the entire airline industry. Air France-KLM’sprofit collapse is in a row with the problems of numerous airlines in the US and around the world. The world’s largest airline American Airlines announced that it would cut [...]

Coal on the comeback trail?

Oil prices have finally crossed the $130 line and are heading for further records. And as OPEC ministers say they cannot halt the trend – they’d be stupid to keep prices down, wouldn’t they? – coal becomes more and more attractive again, even in countries where coal production has been declining for decades due to [...]