IRELAND
Dublin, the transatlantic specialist
If you think air hub between Europe and North America naturally spring to mind London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Paris CDG. However, another hub is emerging as one of the most important airports on the North Atlantic route: Dublin. Because this airport doesn't just attract hordes of low-cost carriers. Over the years, Ireland's leading airport has become a strategic hub, and it hopes to continue capitalising on this asset.
Dublin now ranks sixth on the North Atlantic axis with 1.6 million passengers. Hence the recent opening of a new infrastructure 16 million specially designed for transfer passengers. Adjacent to pier 4 in terminal 2, the space can accommodate four times as many transfer passengers while reducing transfer times by concentrating all security and immigration formalities in a single step.
Dublin currently has 10 airlines operating 446 weekly flights to 16 destinations in the United States and four destinations in Canada, an average of 64 daily flights. With the opening this year of routes to Montreal, Philadelphia and Seattle, there are now twenty North American destinations with connections to around a hundred European cities. A fast-growing transatlantic route, with the number of seats available - 3.5 million - up 14 % on 2017.
AUSTRIA
Vienna: the best connecting time
25 minutes! This is the official minimum time announced by the Vienna airport authorities for a transfer at the Austrian capital's airport. Although this is one of the shortest waiting times in Europe, it is only guaranteed for flights from Star Alliancewhich includes Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Air Canada and Thai Airways International. To shorten connecting times, the airport offers a shuttle bus service between gates B/C and F/G. Vienna now welcomes almost 25 million passengers per year and grew by 5.5 % in the first six months of the year compared with the same period in 2017. Last year, the airport recorded 6.4 million transfer passengers, almost a quarter of the total.
BUSINESS
Orly Ouest reopens its business centre
Orly Ouest has had its Business area back since this spring. With free access, passengers can use work tables, very high-speed WiFi and electrical sockets for recharging computers and smartphones. The Business areas are accessible from the boarding lounge at Orly West and South and from terminals 2F and 2G at Roissy.
SALON
A new lounge at Rome Fiumicino
Star Alliance inaugurated its seventh exhibition in the world at the airport Rome Fiumicino. Located on the upper level of boarding area D in terminal 3, the lounge can accommodate 130 travellers and has WiFi and numerous sockets for recharging nomadic equipment. Star Alliance is represented in Rome by 17 airlines.
