TAP Air Portugal has announced the suspension of 93% of its international operations, effective February 18 to March 30, above the 73% reduction previously forecast. TAP chairman of the Board of Directors, Miguel Frasquilho and the chairman of the Executive Committee, Ramiro Sequeira, said that, given the new restrictions and “a further drop in demand,” TAP decided “to suspend 93% of the total of its operation.” As a result, TAP anticipates to lay off 458 pilots. TAP will maintain most domestic flights such as connections between Lisbon, Porto, Madeira and the Azores, and destinations with large Portuguese communities. <br/>
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Austrian Airlines announced it will be building its summer flight program around the island and Greece. Presenting their flight schedule for the summer in Vienna on Thursday, Austrian Airlines said it is anticipating increased demand for holiday travel, focusing on tourist destinations in Greece and Cyprus. The airline also hopes to add destinations in Italy, Spain, and Turkey. Presenting its flight schedule, the airline said it would be flying up to 16 times a week to Larnaca and 10 times to Crete. Flights to the Greek islands of Ko, Mikonos and Rhodes are also on the agenda, as are packages to Mallorca, Ibiza and the Canary Islands. The airline hopes to squeeze in around 150 flights to tourist destinations during the peak summer season when COVID-19 vaccinated tourists are expected to travel. Austrian Airlines CCO Michael Trestl said: “We are expecting increased demand in the tourism sector in summer and are therefore increasing our offer to vacation destinations by up to 20% from July”.<br/>
Croatia Airlines plans to re-establish a flight from Zagreb to Sarajevo, and later to Vienna, after temporarily suspending both routes in January after the Christmas and New Year holidays. As stated, the Croatia Airlines plane will fly from Zagreb to Sarajevo again from February 28, and to Vienna from March 3. The flight to the capital of BiH will take place twice a week, every Thursday and Sunday. Flights to Vienna will be only on Wednesdays, once a week. Passengers will travel on these flights with a turbojet aircraft Dash 8 of Croatia Airlines.<br/>
ANA is looking to spread its wings with online sales of its in-flight meals. The ongoing pandemic has taken a toll on travel, spurring the airline to explore meal preparation for those who want to “savor a little taste of travel.” In the past, its online retail products comprised mostly souvenirs. But in the face of dire business challenges, the airline launched three types of in-flight meals in December, including Japanese- and Western-style dishes, and items targeting children. After a few days online, 1,000 sets of meals — with a dozen servings per meal and costs ranging from about $68 to $86 — sold out.<br/>