Ohrid targets more Albanian travellers

GLOBAL AVIATION NEWS

Airbus terminates Qatar order

Airbus has raised the stakes in a dispute with major customer Qatar Airways over grounded and undelivered A350 jets by announcing it had revoked a separate contract for 50 smaller A321neo jets the airline plans to use for new routes. The move widens a dispute that moved closer towards a rare courtroom clash, with a procedural hearing over Qatar's claim for more than $600 million in compensation over A350 flaws pencilled in for the week of April 26 in London. Airbus revealed it was walking away from the contract for A321neos in skeletal arguments presented during a scheduling session over the A350 dispute at a division of Britain's High Court. "We confirm we did terminate the contract for 50 A321s with Qatar Airways in accordance with our rights", an Airbus spokesman said following a filing setting out provisional arguments. Qatar Airways is expected to fight the A321neo contract's termination, having said it plans to take delivery of the jets even though it is refusing to take more A350s until a dispute over surface erosion on the larger planes has been resolved. The airline said in a court filing that it was "working through the practical consequences" of the A321 decision, adding that Airbus was not entitled to declare a "cross-default" on the basis of Qatar's refusal to take more A350s in the main dispute. Qatar Airways had no immediate comment on the A321neo contract, which has its roots in an order 10 years ago worth $4.6 billion at list prices, originally for a smaller version. Qatar Airways has said the A321s will help it launch flights to new markets where there is currently not enough demand for larger aircraft, but which are out of reach of smaller A320s. Qatar's first A321neo is due to be delivered in February 2023, according to the airline filing. Industry experts say the hot-selling model can easily be resold, in contrast with a drop in demand for big jets like the A350, worsened by the pandemic.

Ohrid targets more Albanian travellers

NEWS FLASH

Operator TAV Macedonia is looking to attract more passengers from neighbouring Albania to use its services at Ohrid Airport. The company's management met with tour operators and agencies in Elbasan in central Albania and has urged for the introduction of a shuttle bus service between the city and St Paul the Apostle Airport. The two are some sixty kilometres apart. "Ohrid Airport is really close to Elbasan, only an hour and a half by car, and yet the two cities do not have regular bus lines. Albania, especially Elbasan, is within our catchment area and holds great potential for Ohrid Airport", TAV Macedonia Airports Coordinator, Nejat Kurt, said. Ohrid Airport has seen its passenger numbers soar during the first quarter of the year, with figures up 63%. During the summer season, it is served by Wizz Air, Edelweiss, Germania Flug, Pegasus, Onur Air, Corendon Airlines, Brussels Airlines, TUIFly, Nordica, Enter Air, LOT and Helvetic, with Eurowings to launch operations later this month.

Comments

Anonymous10:56
No wonder Macedonia relies on Albanian travellers to boost its numbers. TIA airport is already surpassing ZAG when it comes to figures and has twice as much traffic as both SKP and OHD.
Good move from TAV, I must say. The airport will become even more popular for Albanians.
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Anonymous11:53
And Tirana is only 45 minutes to Elbasan, so it might be a catchment area too.
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Anonymous12:34
there is no bus to Ohrid town even
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Anonymous12:51
60 km apart and you need one hour and a half...
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Anonymous11:54
Good thing Balkan airports consider the power of their catchment areas.
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Anonymous04:36
Are there pax numbers for ohrid or skopje yet ?
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