Airlines

Ryanair is known for being one of the cheapest airlines. It is not so much if we look at its RASK

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Iberia reaches third place in AirAdvisor ranking over the best airlines on the continent, even surpassing Ryanair in a key indicator to evaluate cost-efficiency. The study analyzed more than 7.6 million flights and 831,000 passenger opinions to determine which airlines best combine price, service and reliability. Low cost vs. traditional. Iberia is positioned as cheaper than Ryanair when we measure the real cost per seat kilometer, as revealed the latest report AirAdvisor Annual. The Spanish airline ties with Vueling in seventh place if we stick to the price (with a RASK of 0.0824 euros), while Ryanair falls to the last position of this specific indicator, tied with Air France. Why is RASK important?. The RASK indicator (the formula being total revenue between available seats per kilometers flown) measures how much a passenger actually pays for each kilometer traveled, including all additional charges. With this parameter, we can see that low-cost airlines They are not so low-cost when we add extrassuch as checked baggage, seat selection or priority boarding. In this sense, if we stick to the RASK indicator, Iberia demonstrates that a traditional airline can also compete on prices without sacrificing basic services. The complete ranking. According to the report From AirAdvisor, Aegean Airlines repeats as the best European airline for the second consecutive year with 93 points, followed by Finnair (89 points) and Iberia (88 points). The Spanish airline recovers positions after falling to sixth place in 2024, rising three places in one year. Lufthansa and KLM complete the top 5, tied with Scandinavian Airlines. At the opposite extreme, Air Europa once again occupies the last place in the ranking with 48 points. Where Iberia stands out. The Spanish company obtains the highest scores in three key categories, according to the AirAdvisor report: travel with pets, family travel and safety. Its VIP lounges are ranked third in Europe, only behind Aegean and Finnair. In addition, Iberia was ranked 15th in the ranking of the 100 best airlines in the world in 2024. Its main weakness according to the report: reputation among customers, where it is the third worst valued. The Ryanair case. The Irish airline leads with 88% punctuality in both 2023 and 2024, but loses ground in almost all other categories. Ryanair is ranked 12th in the AirAdvisor overall ranking with 58 points, surpassing only Wizz Air, LOT Polish Airlines and Air Europa. In addition, the company obtains the second worst reputation score among customers and, according to the ranking, it is the worst option for traveling with pets and in comfort. The cheapest in Europe. For the third consecutive year, Wizz Air maintains the title of the continent’s cheapest airline, with a RASK of just 0.0417 euros per seat kilometer. They are followed by TAP Air Portugal (0.0713 euros) and Scandinavian Airlines (0.075 euros). However, it’s not all about the price, and Wizz Air occupies 13th place in the general classification, being the worst rated by passengers and registering the lowest scores for travel with pets and comfort. The methodology behind the numbers. According to they claim From AirAdvisor, its team spent weeks analyzing nine different categories to create this ranking. The data includes 7.6 million flights operated between 2023 and 2024, more than 831,000 customer reviews from nine different sources, 75,000 lounge reviews, 46 industry awards and pet, family and comfort policies of 13 airlines. Each category receives a specific score that then adds points for an overall ranking. What does this mean for the travelers. “Low-cost” and “traditional” airlines are becoming diluted and are no longer defined entirely by their quality/price ratio. There are other important indicators, such as the RASK, and airlines such as Iberia, KLM or TAP Air Portugal have adjusted to compete on price with low cost airlines, while ending up offering more complete services without surprise charges. Therefore, for the passenger this means that comparing only the base fare of the ticket can end up being misleading. Hence, a recommended practice is to see the final price of the ticket on each airline that we weigh once all the extras have been added and basic services have been taken into account. Cover image | Wolfgang Weiser In Xataka | In the midst of the battle between Ryanair and Aena, there is a Spanish airport that is suffering more than any other: Valladolid

Airlines have invested millions in entertainment. Passengers use it to see an plane icon slowly moving

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In an episode of the mythical Seinfeld seriesElaine is exasperating from her boyfriend Puddy, who passes a whole flight looking fixed to the seat back. That image, a custom joke of the nineties, today makes sense again with a technological nuance: and we do not look at the vacuum, but yes – and I include myself – we can get hypnotized with a point on the screen, the flight map. Of rarity to viral tendency. It is not an isolated mania. In a report by The Washington Post They have portrayed the phenomenon Through the story of Nicole Sunderland, creator of content that divides her time between Washington DC and Phoenix. Sunderland admits that on a 14 -hour flight Catar keeps the map on “all the time”, although the flight assistants try to turn it off. His custom went viral in Tiktok along with dozens of passenger videos They presumed to “endure” without films, without music and without wifi, looking only at the progression of the plane on the digital globe. Others, like Manu, seminated, turned the practice into a public hobbie: while the screens showed the screens showed films and series, she recorded the route map For social networks. The map as king content. Beyond the meme, the numbers suggest that this obsession has mass backup. FlightPath3D, leading flight maps provider in more than 90 airlines, states that 68% of passengers Open the map at some point and that 20% sees it exclusively. On average, users spend 52 minutes in front of the map on backup screens and 18 minutes on synchronized mobile devices. In total, about 400 million passengers used the product last year. The airlines themselves reinforce the idea. Last year, Delta Air Lines launched a new flight map designed for people with low vision. In the statementthe company was categorical: the map is its number one content in Delta Studio, ahead of films, series and games. According to their figures, 45% of customers interact with it on each flight. Also, media specialized in aviation, as paxex.aerothey emphasize that the map is “the most popular content of the IFE (entertainment on board) for a reason”, and that the airlines already experiment with integrating it into other formats: from a persistent side tape on the screen to brief overlays at the end of a movie. Why hook so much? Testimonies point to several keys. For some, the map is a control instrument in the midst of aerial uncertainty: Sunderland, for example, monitors it especially during turbulence to check altitude and speed. For others, it is a light meditation form: seeing slowly advance the plane icon produces calm in an environment saturated with stimuli. “There are map fans,” says Duncan Jackson, president of FlightPath3D. “They love to see where they are, how much is missing, observe the progress of the flight plan. For some it is almost meditative,” duck. An academic study of the University of Lund (Sweden), made in collaboration with Etihad Airwaysreinforces the explanation from the design perspective. In interaction tests with 3D maps prototypes, passengers valued more those interfaces that offered clear signs of navigation and sensation of control, and reported greater orientation with three -dimensional views. Even the choice of command influenced: some users developed better with gyroscope than with tactile controls. In other words: the map experience responds to deep psychological and cognitive needs. Simple map to travel assistant. The fascination is not limited to the luminous point that advances on an ocean. The industry is expanding the concept. FlightPath3D has transformed The map on an interactive platform: now shows previous views of destinations, animated global routes, children’s maps with animals, tourist suggestions and even Uber prices to reach the center once landed. In addition, Cathay Pacific He launched in 2024 “My Journey”an experience that combines an animated journey of the journey with information on services on board and points of interest. For its part, Panasonic Avionics has developed ARCthat integrates data on different plane screens so that the progress of the flight accompanies the passenger even when watching a movie. And in the field of accessibility, Delta has marked a milestone With its high contrast map, extended iconography and suitable palettes for Daltonics, which in the future will incorporate voice narrative with real -time updates. What began as a simple line chart in the eighties has become a sophisticated product that aspires to be inclusive, personalized and profitable for airlines. An obsession with future. The attractiveness of the map is not a passenger fashion. It is explained by the combination of three tendencies: the search for calm in overloaded environments of stimuli, the desire for spatial control and orientation, and the technological evolution of the product itself. In times of excess options – hundred hours of cinema and television in each seat – the map offers something more basic and powerful: the certainty of knowing where we are. As the Washington Post points outfor some travelers looking at the map is as necessary as tieding your belt. And as Delta acknowledgesit is already the star content of your digital offer. Puddy may seem eccentric in Seinfeld, but three decades later, it turns out that he simply advanced to the trend. Image | Freepik Xataka | Ryanair is abandoning small airports in France. There is an unexpected beneficiary: a Spanish airline

A rate conflict that leaves other airlines hole

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The IAG group airline takes advantage Ryanair’s withdrawal to expand your offer in the archipelago 5% during the winter season. The measure includes 116 additional flights and the change to planes with greater capacity on its Canary Routes. The perfect opportunity. Only 24 hours after Ryanair announced The cut Of 400,000 squares in the Canary Islands for its conflict with the Aena Rates, Iberia Express has taken the opposite step. The company will add about 30,000 additional seats Between October 2025 and January 2026, which represents an increase of 5% compared to the initially scheduled. 30,000 extra places. The plan includes 116 additional flights and more than 150 aircraft changes for others of greater capacity, mainly A321neo models. Tenerife Norte will be the great beneficiary with more than 15,000 additional places and up to 8 daily frequencies with Madrid, precisely the airport most hit by Ryanair’s withdrawal. Gran Canaria adds almost 8,300 more seats and will operate 10 daily frequencies with the capital, while the rest of the islands total 4,500 additional places among all. Beyond opportunism. The airline assures that the movement is not just reagent. “This increase in capacity in the Canary Islands reflects the firm commitment we have acquired with the islands since the beginning of our operations,” says Isabel Rodríguez, commercial director of Iberia Express. The company emphasizes that optimizes the use of its fleet to take advantage of the fact that around 21% of its Canarian passengers fly in connection with other destinations through Madrid. THE PRICE WAR. To accompany the increase in capacity, Iberia Express has launched its ‘Express Days’ campaign with prices from 13 euros for Canarian residents and from 20 euros for the rest of the passengers on the Madrid-Gran Canaria route. A strategy that seeks to stimulate demand after summer peak months and compete directly with cheap flights that characterized Ryanair’s offer. The fight between Ryanair and Aena. Ryanair’s decision to reduce 400,000 places in the Canary Islands is part of a broader offensive. The Irish airline will eliminate one million seats in regional airports and will cancel 36 direct routes in Your tension escalation with Aena For airport rates. The cuts include the complete closure of its base in Santiago de Compostela, the suspension of all flights to Vigo since January 2026 and the end of the operations in Tenerife Norte, precisely where Iberia Express now concentrates its greatest reinforcement. The justification of the tariff war. Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, has attributed These measures to the 6.62% increase in airport rates that AENA will apply. “We cannot justify a continuous investment in airports whose growth is blocked by excessive and uncommunchanting rates,” Wilson said. For his part, Aena responded hard, accusing Ryanair of practicing “Phariseism, bad education and blackmail” through its president, Maurici Lucena. With the withdrawal of Ryanair, key connections disappear and a capacity hole is generated than other airlines, such as Iberia Express, are willing to fill. Cover image | Gabor Koszegi In Xataka | Lack of a hole, prize on the payroll: Ryanair will upload the prize for employees who discover too large handbags

Why the airlines continue to force us to put the airplane mode in 2025

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“Please be sure to put your electronic devices in airplane mode Before takeoff. If your device does not have a plane mode, bring it completely during the flight. ” Something similar to this message is reproduced thousands of times every day in the world and, although not everyone pays attention, a usual gesture when sitting on the plane is to connect the plane mode. 25 years after birth The plane mode, although the message continues to reproduce, it is no longer mandatory to put the mobile in plane mode. However, there are pilots who continue to defend their use for a reason: their comfort. It made sense. The airplane mode was born as a result of a concern: the possible electromagnetic interference that electronic devices could cause in both communication and navigation systems in airplanes. It was a possibility, like the one that existed of light fourth to gasoline in gas stationsbut the chances of a catastrophic failure They were very low. However, to mitigate any potential risk and guarantee safety, the measure of prohibiting the use of electronic devices during certain phases of the flight was adopted. Fiction has contributed to still thinking that something can go wrong, such as the moment of ‘The Simpsons‘In which Bart is playing with a Game boythe hostess asks him to turn it off and, in doing so, the plane begins to plumn). As these devices advanced and added more networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and more powerful connections, the “plane mode” was adopted that disable these transmissions. And, as the main motivation of this function was its use in commercial flights, the name and icon of the plane was consolidated although its use was recommended in other environments such as hospitals or the aforementioned gas stations. 2014 and 5G. After implanted and turned into A standard for several devicesin 2014 things began to change. In September, the European agency EASA He gave the passengers free to use their electronic devices without plane mode. That most lax attitude left the ball on the roof of the airlines, which could maintain or not the mandatory use of the airplane mode and, in fact, many have adopted internal Wi-Fi systems that allow them to earn more money. One of the famous Extras of the companies. Asterisk. While the plane is not going to fall, the use of this way is still promoted for a very specific reason: the crew comfort and controllers. These years, in well -known blogs such as’Ask The Pilotor like Some pilots commentAviation experts have appeared that comment that the way to prevent an annoying buzzing for communications is recommended. And it is logical. As Comment The pilot Rafa San Julián, from Iberia, the aircraft teams are “much more protected than formerly and are much less vulnerable.” Now, the plane mode is still recommended for a very specific reason: technology and Power of mobile networks It advances every few years and “it cannot be predicted if these interference will occur with the new equipment. Therefore, as a safety measure, it is requested that the mobiles put in plane mode so that they do not emit with the same power with which they would issue without that mode,” he says. Concern by the way 5g. And block with what Boeing detected a few years ago. FAA, which is the US aviation agency, He issued Directives warning about possible 5G signal interference in band C (3.7 to 3.98 GHz in the US) Be too close of the frequency used by the radio heights of Boeing and Airbus aircraft (4.2 to 4.4 GHz). These radio altimeters are essential in landing maneuvers and in other systems such as soil proximity notice. The concern would affect airplanes such as Boeing 737, 747, 777 and 787, and would force pilots to perform landing maneuvers in safe and more manual mode. However, no serious accidents or incidents have been reported due to this interference and, if They have canceled or delayed flightsit was due to an increase in caution. In fact, FAA itself command Shortly after a message of tranquility. That distance of 0.22 GHz It is enough As if there are no interference, but at that time it was not more caught. Fly calm. Therefore, not remove the plane mode during a flight will not make the plane fall, but it can generate a buzz or White noise In communications, being annoying for pilots and controllers. Activate it is a good idea to save battery and so that if you are going through a country without roaming and remotely get coverage, do not charge you five euros for downloading a WhatsApp message. Images | Nejc SokličXataka In Xataka | Why more and more pilots use the continuous descent maneuver in the airplanes when it comes to landing

With the bird between Galicia and Madrid cut by the fires, someone has taken advantage of it to earn money: the airlines

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Spain burns. And Zamora, León and Ourense are taking the worst part. The number of spotlights and their virulence is such that it has forced to cut the circulation of high speed between Zamora and Galicia. Some roads are cut. Renfe does not offer a solution. And, in the background, the airlines win. Cut. Rail traffic between Zamora and Galicia is cut. Renfe has confirmed today that trains will not circulate again in what remains during the day and there is not a single glimpse of hope that The situation can be reversed in the short term. In the Last DGT updatethere are six lonely cut roads and two in Zamora. None of them correspond to the great highways such as A-6, A-66 or A-52 that structure the northwest of the country. Despite this, Renfe does not offer a bus alternative to those who cover Madrid-Zamora or Zamora-Madrid by train, only open section in the high-speed Galician corridor. What can the traveler do? Those who had a high speed ticket in the Galician corridor have three options. The first is evident, do only the section between Madrid and Zamora and then take a bus or a car to Galicia. The second is to perform the entire road tour. The fastest road is obviously the plane. Prohibitive prices. But those who are obliged to travel will find exorbitant prices to cover the distance that Madrid separates from Galicia. Especially if the traveler travels from Galician lands to Madrid. In that case, if you are in a hurry, you will have to assume the expense of more than 300 euros per ticket. Using the Skyscanner search engine, which offers all available flights and allows you to filter for price, schedule and time spent, we have sought what options are available in the short term, simulating the situation in which those who have to travel irremediably and have already hired a train will be found, trying to endure until the last moment. The results are as follows. Options with direct flight between Vigo and Madrid for Tuesday, August 19 Vigo-Madrid. Travel the August 19 between Vigo and Madrid It already costs at least 350 euros. At the moment, there are 14 alternatives available but only two of them offer a direct flight. In the week, the options relax their prices but it is still necessary to spend 237 euros if we want to travel on August 20 and between 130 and 114 euros if we want to fly between Wednesday and Friday. The cheapest ticket between Santiago de Compostela and Madrid is to make a 18 -hour scale in Seville Santiago de Compostela-Madrid. Perspectives are not much better Between Santiago de Compostela and Madrid. Making the trip tomorrow costs 331 euros. On Wednesday the price of the cheapest ticket is 299 euros and Wednesday is 231 euros. On Friday they fall below the border of 200 euros but only momentarily. The weekend is firing again above 200 euros. There is another cheaper option but, obviously, totally advisable. The cheapest flight between Santiago de Compostela and Madrid costs 249 euros and a scale of more than 15 hours in Seville. Same situation for Wednesday (with almost 22 -hour scale in Malaga) or for Thursday (this time with a stop in Barcelona). Cheaper options to fly between A Coruña and Madrid tomorrow, August 19 A Coruña-Madrid. On direct flights, The cheapest flying alternative Between Galicia and Madrid he is in A Coruña. Leaving from this airport, the ticket for tomorrow, August 19 costs 272 euros late at night. If we wanted to leave early in the morning, the border of the 300 euros is exceeded. Of course, unlike the previous cases, the rest of the week can be traveling for less than 150 euros. Almost an oasis watching the rest of Galician alternatives. Among the Madrid-Galicia flights, Vigo is the most expensive journey And from Madrid? The options from the capital are not so bleeding for the traveler’s pocket. Facing tomorrow, August 19, the tickets between Madrid and A Coruña They are below 100 euros and the rest of the week in half of this price. Similar situation will be those who travel To Santiago de Compostela. Vigo, again, is the most expensive option. In this case, the cheapest price from one day to another is 142 euros. If you want to travel in the morning, you have to pay more than 200 euros. Of course, prices the rest of the week move between 50 and 40 euros. Although there are no clear data that confirms it, everything indicates that prices from Madrid are not so high because the march of travelers from the capital is motivated by a holiday getaway that can be postponed and, nevertheless, the flow between Galicia and Madrid may be motivated by a return to the office, which entails less flexible plans. Not only Renfe. The pressure on short -term flights and the fall in later days shows that travelers are waiting until the last moment to confirm an alternative to the reserves of their trains but is also motivated by an offer that has been reduced. The voice of Galicia He pointed out a few weeks ago that Iberia had reduced her daily offer in the Galician corridor in 80 seats. To this movement we must add the Partial output of Ryanair This same year of Galician airports, offering 61% less trips in Vigo and 28% less in Santiago de Compostela. This reduction in the offer and the most expensive prices have led to a reduction in the number of passengers. In A Coruña, the number of passengers flewing at the Galician airport until last July was 0.3% higher than 2024, According to AENA data. However, the figure fell 6.5% in Vigo and 12.4% in Santiago de Compostela. Photo | Ume In Xataka | The megaindios of Ourense, Zamora and León have paralyzed the Galician bird. It is the nth setback in a horrible year for Renfe

Justice allows airlines what Spain wants to fine. And who is winning is Ryanair

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The Superior Court of Justice of Madrid He has precautionary suspended sanctions of 179 million euros that consumption imposed to five airlines receivable the hand luggage. Companies will continue to invoice these services as an extra, at least until there is a final sentence. Why is it important. This judicial decision comes in full clash between Spanish and European regulations. Spain considers these practices illegal and sanctions them. The European Union Council expressly supports them. However, the latter has not yet been translated into current law, for the moment The European Parliament wants to restore its gratuity And then the inter -institutional negotiation will arrive. In figures. Ryanair and Norwegian have achieved precautionary measures contributing 110 and 1.8 million bank guarantees respectively. The magistrates argue that the fines are “very high” and their anticipated payment would cause “difficulties to the Treasury” of the airlines. This does not mean in any case that the court considers the fine illegitimate, only there are reasons to suspend it while judging. Ryanair heads the sanctions with 107 million, followed by Vueling (39.3), Easyjet (29,1), Norwegian (1.6) and Volotea (1,2). The total fine amounts to 179 million euros. The context. The EU Council reforms in June the European regulations for expressly allow collection by cabin suitcaseslimiting free luggage to packages of 40x30x15 centimeters. This reform, of course, must still be ratified by the European Parliament. But the European Parliament Transportation Commission this week approved a opposite proposal: That each passenger can wear a small bag and suitcase without additional cost. Between the lines. The European Commission has already opened a procedure against Spain for possible irregularities in these sanctions. Meanwhile, airlines press to maintain their freedom of rates. It is a clash between two ways of understanding the business of flying: Ryanair disaggregates everything that can be reduced to the basic ticket and fill the airplanes, something that explains its good profitability. Legislators want a basic ticket to include certain services that cannot be disaggregated. The only thing that all parts seem to coincide is to allow a small bag or backpack for free (40x30x15 cm). It is the minimum difference between plane traveling and traveling by subway. And now what. The proposal of the Parliament must go through the plenary in July and negotiate with the Member States. Until then, the airlines will maintain their current policies, which are also now backed by the Spanish judicial decision. Minister Pablo Bustinduy is confident that the position of the European Parliament prevails. The airlines, meanwhile, have won judicial legitimacy to continue charging hand luggage as extra. Outstanding image | In Xataka | The great secret of Ryanair’s success is that he does not earn money to fly: he does so squeezing you in everything else

airlines that throw the towel

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The arrival of AVE Ha Galicia has completely changed flights between Santiago de Compostela and Madrid. The increase in frequencies and the possibility of reaching the city in three hours has made the train a more than attractive option to travel in the day. That has its direct consequences on the plane: less squares and more expensive. Four more times. Right now, traveling from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid and returning in the day is up to four times more expensive by plane than by train. According to The voice of Galiciaflying with Iberia early in the morning from Galicia and returning the next day, also early in the morning, you can shoot at 480 euros. However, going out with Avlo at 5:47 hours and returning to Santiago at 10:19 p.m. on the last train that leaves Madrid to Galicia costs about 123 euro. That is, choosing the plane would be up to four times more expensive than traveling by train. Not only in the short term. In Xataka We wanted to check if the situation is repeated in the long term. Using the flight comparator Skyscanner To find the cheapest combinations and look for the lowest pricing days, we have gone to Tuesday, July 15. That day, go by plane From Galicia to Madrid with departure early in the morning and further at night, at least 217 euros is always combined with Iberia and Ryanair. Of course, we would arrive at least at 11:35 to Madrid. To arrive an hour earlier to the capital you have to disburse 311 euros if you travel with Iberia and 395 euros if it is done with Vueling. Nor is it cheap for those who work in Madrid and want to enjoy the weekend in Galicia. Thento leave Monday early in the morning and return on Friday at the last minute costs a minimum of 169 euros (combining Ryanair and Iberia). If we fly alone with Iberia, it’s 240 euros. Day and back comparison on the day by plane and train And by train? With an eye on the long term, go and return in the day by train from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid costs on Tuesday, July 15, 76.40 euros, both trips with avlo. If we chose to leave a Monday early and return Friday in the late afternoon, everything stays at 98 euros. That is, the round trip on the day is much cheaper by train (76.40 euros compared to the, minimum, 217 euros) but it is also cheaper if we choose to spend the whole week in Madrid and travel to Galicia on the weekend, with options that are at least 71 euros cheaper. Comparison Airplane and train on Monday and return on Friday What happened? In The voice of Galicia They explain that the price of traveling with Iberia has triggered because they have delegated the service on Air Nostrum, which use aircraft with 80 less seats, which significantly reduces the offer of seats by plane. This makes them more expensive and, they emphasize, more complicated to get. In Santiago de Compostela they do not understand the change. Carlos García, from Civic Forum, points to the local newspaper that “it is not understood that Iberia’s first flight with Madrid, which was going to the flag every day, become operated by Air Nostrum (…) We are paying the most expensive locations than ever. “ Two business models. To the reduction in the places offered that the plane has lost competitiveness of schedules in front of the train, especially for those who aspire to spend a work day in Madrid in a timely manner but want to return to Galicia that same day. Right now, the first flight that lands in Madrid from Santiago de Compostela does so at 10:35 am, when the working day is already well advanced. To this you have to add the time of displacement From the plane touches land until you arrive from Barajas to the city. And the time in advance that must be used to get to the airport adds to the last flight of Iberia leave at 19:50, significantly reducing the possibility of taking advantage of the full day. The train, however, comes out and reaches the city itself. It has an exit from Santiago de Compostela before six in the morning, arriving in Madrid before nine. That is, more than an hour and a half before (to which the subsequent displacement must be added). Although the last avlo leaves at 8:23 p.m., it is also more competitive because it requires less logistics to arrive. More competitive. Although the plane, in theory, takes an hour and a half less than a journey, the train has become the ideal means of transport for those who aspire to have a work day in Madrid and return that same day. If the time spent to get to the airport is added, pass the security control and embark, the three hours of train are already compensated. And, in addition, they allow you to take better advantage of time on board if we need an internet connection because, although they continue to have connection problems, On the plane it is completely disconnected If you want to work with some fluidity. Cases that are repeated. The Santiago de Compostela-Madrid case is another example of how high speed can be eaten to the plane. The reduction of seats and the renunciation of trips early in the morning reflects how airlines have thrown the towel on this concrete route. At least to look for that “worker” audience. In China they have experienced a very similar case With their high -speed trains that, despite having routes of more than 1,000 kilometers away, have caused airlines to ask for help because they have fewer and fewer travelers. Good Internet connections and the possibility of reaching the center of cities have caused passengers to prioritize this option in front of the plane. Photo | Miguel Ángel Sanz and Nelson Silva In Xataka … Read more

airlines are not profitable on a 1,300 km trip

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Usain Bolt bending seven rivals, letting go in the last 15 meters and, despite everything, running faster of what no human had done until then. Is there any better metaphor to explain the launch of Chinese high speed trains? That year, while Usain Bolt flew inside the nestthe stadium in which the Beijing Olympic GamesChina took the opportunity to show the world that it was already a modern country. And part of that modernity passed, of course, through high -speed lines that came into operation that same year. 17 years later, China is the First country in the world With more kilometers on high -speed roads. Like Bolt in 2008, growth has run at such a devilish speed that it has left powers such as France, Japan and, Spain, because We are the second country in the world with more kilometers of high speed. In less than two decades, the impact of Chinese high speed has been very high. The railway framework in a country of the size of China is very important for long displacements. And, for the moment, they are convincing people. So much that their airlines have given an alarm voice: the train is stealing customers. Better by train While Europe is still trying to bet on the train but the low flight prices are still competitive enough to opt for them mostly when it comes to making a long journey, the incorporation of bullet trains in China has completely changed the way of understanding trips in the Asian country. At the end of 2024 They presented their most advanced traincapable of reaching 450 km/h. CR450AF is only the last example of Chinese development. This year it should come into operation on the high -speed roads already built, so its maximum speed will be 350 km/h. However, the intention is to have finished in 2027 the railways that will hold the more than 400 km/h mentioned. Then, travelers will have one more reason to opt for the train on the Beijing-Shangai route, a journey to which according to South China Morning Post 52 million passengers were uploaded last year, for just 8.6 million travelers that the airlines added. This figure served at the service to grow 3.62% in its income, until adding more than 42,000 million yuan (about 5.8 billion dollars). And net earnings increased by 10%, raising to 12.8 billion yuan (near 1.8 billion dollars). Traffic is so intense that 100 trains circulate daily between both cities. To understand why the train has triumphed in front of the plane, you just have to understand its figures. Just over 1,300 kilometers separate Beijing from Shanghai but the current Chinese train is able to reduce that distance to four hours and 18 minutes of journey. In the worst case, adding all the stops, the trip stays in less than eight hours. At the high frequency and reduced time of the journey, we must add that, according to SCMP For many it is essential to stay connected while traveling. While in a plane it is impossible to maintain this digital connection (At least for the moment)on the train it seems to be assured. In fact, if something made us clear to us Beijing Winter Olympic Games The latter was one of the great concerns. They highlight in the environment that the Chinese Air Transport Association defines as “eroded” the competition between both means of transport that are seeing how even the upper classes are opting for the train. China Eastern Airlines and Air China have recently linked forces, with the aim of sealing this passenger leak. Both companies total 55 flights between cities and had one of their most faithful groups in the upper class. However, leaving and arriving from the city center and the punctuality of the train (in addition to connectivity) is attracting more and more customers. Airlines have tried to stop this offering their clients facilities to change flight schedule or even putting limousines to bring them closer to the center of the cities. Airlines warn that if this does not work, they will have no choice but to lower prices but maintaining the line is, less and less viable. On the other side of the railway currency, SCMP It also emphasizes that the success of the line between Beijing and Shanghai is not repeated in much of the country where the interior lines are deficit. Something that as Spaniards already sounds more? Photo | N509FZ In Xataka | China has the “most difficult in the world” railway tunnel: 34 kilometers crossing a hostile mountain

The airlines will always let you carry a parachute inside the plane. The only problem is that it is useless

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There was a time when Mounting by plane was a luxury. Today, experience is more similar to that of tin. In addition, the organization It is not the most optimal And, although it is very safe, the anxiety to fly It can cause some passengers to consider measures as extreme as that of carrying their own parachutes. The short answer is: you can. The long one: you can, but with enough restrictions and reasons why it will never be part of the usual safety equipment on board. It is not realistic. Looking for information on the matter, it is curious that the first responses allude to commercial airplanes do not need parachutes because they are very safe and it is not necessary that the passage jump from the vehicle running. Inquiring a little more, we can find perfectly logical reasons why neither the crew carries parachute (no matter how much they have seen in some films). The first thing is that the height at which a commercial plane flies is very, very high. Jumping from about 10 kilometers high is not only risky, although the user has an oxygen mask: the temperature is so low that the remedy can be worse than the disease. In addition to the height, he plays against speed, also being high and turning the jump into something very dangerous. Well, and the pressure that can cause a loss of consciousness. AND Not to mention sparkling the cabin To throw us … Bad idea. To get an idea, a commercial flight is going to between 10,000 and 12,000 meters of altitude, already speeds between 800 and 950 km/h. On a flight prepared to jump in parachute, normal It is that the altitude is between 3,000 and 4,000 meters, with exceptions to a couple of more meters. And the speed is about 200 km/h. Jumping from a commercial plane on if it has a problem would cause, surely, the engines swallow us. And if we jumped from the tail door, the easiest thing is that we end up spoiled against the rear rotor or so unbalanced by aerodynamics that we do not know where we have to throw to act the parachute. It is still a backpack To bill. Those are the reasons why commercial airplanes do not carry parachute, but, as we said, we can carry a parachute in a plane of this type. And the airlines treat it as one more lump. Thus, a parachute (which is folded is camping backpack) has as a piece of luggage. In some airlines, we could not enter with the parachute and with a normal backpack, for example. But it could always be billed. And with restrictions. Now, it is not as easy as saying “ok, because I have only the parachute because I don’t need more luggage.” It is not so simple because they must be packed very precisely, the bag must be special for this type of elements and there can be no more clothes or any type of personal article. If the parachute has some safety element such as a smoke boat, it will not be allowed either. And if they have gas cylinders, pyrotechnic elements or any other type of prohibited article, more of the same. The airlines themselves They contemplate The possibility of carrying this type of luggage whenever what we have commented is met: “The bags and cases of sports teams should not contain clothes or other personal items. They should only be used to transport sports equipment. The entire team must be safely packed in a special container for paratrooper equipment or in a resistant bag, or canvas, for sports articles. ” Go with the lesson learned. Now, although the airlines allow and transportation administrations also They contemplateit is possible that we have to explain what we carry. Therefore, a couple of recommendations are: Pack the article separately to facilitate your inspection if necessary. Keep a copy of the authorities regulation so that the airport/airline staff not familiar with the issue has more information about it. And, as the team is very likely to attract attention, the recommendation It is that you arrive with a few minutes – more – in advance in case it is time to pass a control. If many times I have had to explain in the control that what I carry to take photos with my analog camera are reels that can be damaged in the scanner … as if to explain why I go with a parachute. And be careful, as many times in these cases, it is always better to go caught. Such as the TSA (the security body in the transport of the United States) Comment In this regard: “The final decision on whether an article is allowed through the control post corresponds to the TSA officer.” Images | Adam Reeder, Hunini, In Xataka | The crazy history of the airline that has operated for 34 years without success: it has not yet managed to climb a single passenger

The airlines that most canceled flights over 2024, exhibited in this graphic

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You reserve a flight, you make plans and, suddenly, you receive the worst Notification on mobile: Your flight has been canceled. It is not as common as delays or endless queuesbut when it happens, it can ruin a trip in a moment. For aeronautics, 2024 was a complex year due to errors such as Crowdstrike that demonstrated the Fragility of airports around the worldbut also to adverse weather situations and even geopolitical incidents. And in this graphic of Visual Capitalist The 15 airlines with more cancellations are exhibited during 2024: The data. Canceling a flight is not easy, so it is something that companies do not do not be totally necessary. They have to deal with the expenses of the passage (such as claims), but also with the expenses in airports for occupying the terminal, among others. There must be a reason for weight as a climatological issue, concern for security or some technical problem in the ship that pushes the company to make that decision. They can also be administrative errors such as schedules, maintenance delays or lack of personnel. Very located. As can be seen, most airlines are headquarters and operate mainly in the regions of Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. On the list only two European and one American sneak. In addition, although Chinese companies are not those that lead the list, the number of travelers who move and the flight cancellation rate is quite significant. Perspective. Now, the graph must be accompanied by a table in which it clarifies what is the cancellation rate. In it, the total flights of each company and cancellations are exposed to obtain a percentage. First of all, here we leave the table: company Region country Flights cancellation rate Dana Air Middle East and Africa Nigeria 2,396 33.9% Lion Air Asia-Pacific Indonesia 125,550 16.7% Wings Air Asia-Pacific Indonesia 62,176 16.3% Air Austral Middle East and Africa France 7,628 14.9% Chongquing Airlines Asia-Pacific China 57,868 14.8% OPE AIR JET Asia-Pacific Indonesia 89,453 14.7% Air Seychelles Middle East and Africa Seychelles 16,069 10.1% Batik Air Asia-Pacific Indonesia 97,320 9.4% Winair Latin America Netherlands 25,802 6.3% Cape Air North America USA 83,101 6.1% Kenya Airways Middle East and Africa Kenya 46,578 4.9% Ural Airlines Europe Russia 61.021 4.8% Shenzhen Airlines Asia-Pacific China 277,688 4.6% China Air Asia-Pacific China 612.920 4.1% It is what allows to see more clearly the impact of the 813 canceled flights of Dana Air compared to the 2,396 total flights in front of those of a giant as an Chinese Air that “only” canceled 25,359 flights of a total of 612,920. It is still a burial, but it is not such a significant percentage of the total. Specific challenges. Now, what are these cancellations, especially some as striking as those of Dana Air? Two factors come into play here: the specific challenges and those that are common. In the case of the African company, the thing comes from afar. In July 2022, its air transport license was paralyzed by regulators due to financial problems and security concerns. They returned to operations a few months later, but in February 2023, the six aircraft of their fleet were held on land due to problems with maintenance. And, in 2024, a incident On the Lagos track he raised concerns about the security measures of the airline, reasuring the suspension of his licenses. In the case of the Russian Ural Airlines, the cancellations are due to the fact that it was that year in which the European Union He added to the list of sanctions due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. And others more common. Apart from the unforeseen events, sanctions and negligence on the part of the companies, we see that small airlines have many problems to maintain their travel calendar. The funny thing is that there is a simple and understandable explanation for travelers: those that cover Indonesia, for example, must deal with the challenge of operating in archipelagos with more than 17,000 islands in which extreme climatic conditions are frequent. In the case of the Cape Air (American) and Winair (Dutch), the explanation is also logical: they fly to complex areas of the Caribbean. Winair’s case is logical because it has a fleet of only eight planes and flies, above all, between destinations of the Sotavento Islands of the Minors, home of one of the most dangerous airports in the world, the Juliana Princess. By zones. Beyond the cancellations of the airlines that track from Ciriumthe data of the difference between territories with China at the head is interesting, more than one point of difference from the second, which is Latin America: Region Total flights canceled rate Asia-Pacific 12,489,263 315,317 2.52% Latin America 2,898,438 42,407 1.46% North America 9,925,300 135,744 1.37% Europe 8,529,261 90,134 1.06 Middle East and Africa 2,758,152 26,793 0.97% In the end, the data is there and, although there are reasons for flight cancellation that are understandable due to maintaining the passage, when it touches us it is not a dish of good taste. In Xataka | There are people getting free flights and money at the expense of airlines. Your superpower: be very patient

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