star

Lufthansa is terminating passenger flights with its Junkers Ju 52 in an effort to reduce financial losses associated with operation of the historic trimotor. The airline has until now subsidised its vintage aircraft foundation, Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung, with a single-digit million euro sum every year. This allowed the 83-year-old aircraft to be used for seasonal sightseeing flights with fare-paying passengers in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. Lufthansa says that it had no prospect of operating the Ju 52 in an economically viable manner and is thus evaluating "alternative" options. While continuing to fly the 16-seat aircraft for flypasts at air shows and other public events is an option, the airline says "a decision has not yet been made". <br/>

South African Airways has suspended its 3X-weekly service to Blantyre, Malawi, after the South African aviation regulator found what it described as serious safety risks at Blantyre Chileka International. Blantyre is the second city of the small southern African state. The airline initially suspended flights Jan 18 and said Jan 22 the suspension would continue at least through Jan 23. Following a base inspection of SAA’s Blantyre operations, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) said it had found defects that potentially put lives at risk. “The finding raised against the national carrier primarily relates to the inadequacy of aviation infrastructure facilities and related emergency support services offered at Chileka International, one of the two Malawian bases utilised by SAA,” SACAA said. <br/>