Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12911370" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wizz-air" source="Orion">Wizz Air</keyword> is offering Ukrainians 100,000 free seats from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania to cities in Europe.</li><li>Refugees must book through the company's dedicated rescue website and provide a passport or ID card number.</li></ul><p>Hungarian low-cost carrier <keyword id="12916152" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="wizz" source="Orion">Wizz</keyword> Air is supporting Ukrainians by offering free seats and a cheap "rescue fare."</p><p>On Wednesday, Wizz <a href="https://www.airline-suppliers.com/wizz-air-supports-ukrainian-refugees-100000-free-seats-from-neighbouring-countries-in-march/">announced</a> it wants to help refugees escape the Russian invasion with 100,000 free flights throughout March. According to the airline's <a href="https://wizzair.com/#/rescue">website</a>, seats are available on flights from Ukraine's neighboring countries of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania to any city in continental Europe.</p><p>"Our hearts are with the Ukrainian people during this crisis," Wizz CEO József Váradi said. "We have already seen great <keyword id="12539929" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="humanitarian" source="Orion">humanitarian</keyword> efforts on the ground by our people across the network, and as a company, we wanted to play our part in these efforts. We would be happy to provide a safe and welcoming journey for these refugees."</p><p>Wizz is also selling "rescue fares" for refugees who have already moved away from bordering nations and are stranded in other locations. Ukrainians can book €29.99 ($33.24) tickets on all flights not included in the free seat option, excluding flights to the United Arab Emirates, Iceland, and the Canaries. </p><p>Flights to the three excluded destinations are €69.99 ($77.57). According to Wizz, flights must be booked through its dedicated rescue <a href="https://wizzair.com/#/rescue">website</a> and refugees must provide their Ukrainian passport or ID card number during booking and at check-in.</p><div type="image" title="Wizz Air dedicated website for Ukrainian refugee flight bookings." height="1078" width="2876" msid="89954253" hostid="261"></div><p>Included in the free and reduced fares is one carry-on bag measuring 40x30x20 centimeters. </p><p>"Customers are still encouraged to check our website, as lower fares may be available," Wizz said in a statement. "However, we want to ensure that all Ukrainian refugees have access to affordable <keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">travel</keyword> no matter where they are located during this time of crisis.</p><p>The <keyword id="11893589" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news" source="Orion">news</keyword> comes as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-help-ukrainians-after-russia-launched-invasion-2022-2">humanitarian groups rush to Ukraine's aid</a> amid the ongoing crisis. <a href="https://www.unicefusa.org/?form=FUNGNXBYXDH&amp;utm_campaign=20220223_Emergencies&amp;utm_medium=Organic&amp;utm_source=HelpUkraineFeb2022&amp;utm_content=TakeActionDonateUkraineFeb2022&amp;ms=Organic_PRL_2022_Emergencies_20220223_HelpUkraineFeb2022_TakeActionDonateUkraineFeb2022_none_none&amp;initialms=Organic_PRL_2022_Emergencies_20220223_HelpUkraineFeb2022_TakeActionDonateUkraineFeb2022_none_none">The United Nations Children's Fund</a> has ramped up its programs to help the over 3.4 million people impacted by the Russian invasion, including over 500,00 children. </p><p>The aid includes ferrying safe water to affected areas and placing "health, hygiene, and emergency education supplies as close as possible to communities near the line of contact," UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell said in a <a href="https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/statement-unicef-executive-director-catherine-m-russell-children-ukraine">statement</a>.</p>

A European low-cost airline is offering Ukrainians 100,000 free plane tickets from neighboring countries

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A video appears to show a Ukrainian soldier with an amputated leg being told to get off a Wizzair flight. </li><li>The soldier complained he could not sit down because of his prosthesis, the video caption said. </li></ul><p><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mbbddk/video/7252785318112333074">Wizz Air has apologized after a video</a> appeared to show a Ukrainian soldier with an amputated leg being kicked off a flight while he was traveling to be reunited with his family.</p><p>A passenger on a flight from Tel Aviv, Israel, to Warsaw, Poland, recorded the incident and published a video of it on TikTok on Friday.</p><p>It shows the man, who has not been identified, arguing with the cabin crew about how he is unable to sit down in their chairs because of his prosthesis. The man is wearing a backpack and is on crutches.</p><p>He tells the cabin crew he is flying to Warsaw for treatment and to see his family after fighting in the war in Ukraine, the passenger said in the video caption.</p><p>The soldier also repeatedly asks the WizzAir crew: "How am I going to get home?" before he is escorted off the flight. </p><p>Insider was unable to verify details of the footage. The passenger who posted the video did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.</p><p>In a <a href="https://twitter.com/Kateryna_Kruk/status/1678329487006617601?s=20">statement published on </a>Sunday, the airline apologized for removing the man from the flight, saying: "Safety is our number one priority and it is our crew's responsibility to ensure that all passengers are fit to fly or are accompanied by someone to support them."</p><p>"If there is any indication that a passenger has a medical condition that might put them at risk while flying, we are obligated to deny boarding," the statement added. "In this instance, it was a difficult but necessary decision taken with passenger's safety in mind." </p><p>The airline also said they "provided him with water" while he waited at the airport for further assistance. </p><p>A spokesperson for the company told Insider: "To be clear, we would never discriminate against someone on the grounds of a disability and regularly fly passengers with prosthesis."</p>

Wizz Air apologizes after a video appears to show a Ukrainian soldier with an amputated leg being kicked off a flight

<ul class="summary-list"><li>An airline rescued an Airbus plane stranded in Ukraine for seven months in a daring mission. </li><li>Flightradar24 data appeared to show the WizzAir jet flying at 10,000 feet with its transponder off.</li></ul><p>An airline rescued one of its planes stranded in Ukraine in a daring escape that involved flying at a low altitude and turning off its transponder, data suggests.</p><p>Budapest-based Wizz Air repatriated one of four Airbus jets that have been stranded in the country since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February.</p><p>Data from <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ha-lws#2d72b930">Flightrader24</a> showed that the Airbus A320 flew from Lviv in western Ukraine to Katowice in neighboring Poland on Tuesday. The jet was flying at 10,000 feet when it eventually reappeared on radar as it entered Polish airspace after appearing to switch off its tracking system.</p><p><a href="https://safeairspace.net/ukraine/">Ukraine's airspace has been largely closed</a> to passenger jets <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-russia-attack-empty-airspace-flightradar-2022-2">since Russia's invasion</a>, as have a number of its airports, leaving four Wizz Air jets stranded for nearly seven months.</p><p>Flying at a low altitude may have helped the jet avoid being detected by radar or anti-aircraft missiles.</p><p>An airline spokesperson told Insider: "Wizz Air confirms that, following an in-depth risk assessment and thorough preparation, its one aircraft based in Lviv departed from Danylo Halytskyi International Airport and successfully landed in Katowice on 13 Sep 2022."</p><p>The rescue mission marks the first step in Wizz's <a href="https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/112985-wizz-air-to-extract-four-aircraft-grounded-in-ukraine#:~:text=Budget%20carriers%20Wizz%20Air%20and,airspace%20following%20the%20Russian%20attack.">plans to rescue its jets</a>. The airline didn't comment on plans to liberate the remaining three Airbus planes that are still stuck in Kyiv.</p><p>Wizz Air is one of several airlines and leasing companies whose jets remain stranded in Ukraine and Russia. Global market leader AerCap <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/hundreds-russia-plane-leases-be-axed-after-eu-sanctions-2022-02-28/">has 152 planes trapped</a> in Russia and Ukraine, according to aviation consultancy IBA.</p><p>The airline has long expressed a desire to start flying again to both Ukrainian and Russian cities. In March it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/wizz-air-offering-100000-free-seats-fleeing-ukrainian-refugees-russia-2022-3">offered 100,000 free tickets</a> to Ukrainians in neighboring countries. </p><p>Last month the airline <a href="https://gulfnews.com/business/aviation/wizz-air-abu-dhabi-suspends-plans-to-resume-russian-flights-1.90022162">told Gulf News</a> that it planned to return to Russia with an Abu Dhabi to Moscow route in October, before backpedaling <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/wizz-airs-abu-dhabi-venture-suspends-plans-resume-russian-flights-2022-08-19/">citing</a> "industry supply chain limitations." </p>

An airline rescued 1 of its 4 Airbus planes stranded in Ukraine in a daring stealth mission at low altitude

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A Jet2 plane made an emergency landing in Greece on Tuesday on a flight from England to Turkey.</li><li>A passenger told Birmingham Live that a flight attendant said the pilot had fainted.</li></ul><p>A jet made an emergency landing after a pilot was said to have fainted at 30,000 feet, with the co-pilot taking over in the cockpit, according to reports.</p><p><a href="https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/jet2-drama-pilot-faints-birmingham-24854391">Birmingham Live reported</a> that a Jet2 flight from Birmingham, England bound for Antalya, Turkey was forced to make an emergency landing in Thessaloniki, Greece, on Tuesday after a passenger was told the pilot passed out in an ordeal that began with a bout of turbulence.</p><p>"While we were all [seated] we noticed something was going on at the front of the plane," the unnamed passenger told Birmingham Live. "We thought someone had hurt themselves in the toilet while experiencing turbulence. We were told we were landing in Greece due to a medical emergency on board. We weren't told what part."</p><p>The passenger added: "People were worried as we'd just been through turbulence and we didn't know what was happening." </p><p>The traveler told Birmingham Live their arrival was delayed by eight hours, during which time their family of four received vouchers worth €60 ($59.79) for meals. They said they would not receive compensation as Jet2 doesn't cover delays caused by a medical emergency.  </p><p>A Jet2 spokesperson told Insider: "Flight LS1239 from Birmingham to Antalya diverted to Thessaloniki Airport as a precautionary measure on Tuesday (August 23) due to one of the pilots feeling unwell. A replacement crew were flown to Thessaloniki so that we could get customers on their way to Antalya that same evening."</p><p>"We communicated this to our customers as soon as possible, and our teams worked extremely hard to look after everyone. We would like to apologise to anyone affected by this unforeseen delay."</p><p>Pilot welfare is increasingly coming into focus as shortages grip the industry and test their endurance.</p><p>Last week, the Aviation Herald <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ethiopian-flight-missed-descent-after-pilots-fell-asleep-report-2022-8?r=US&amp;IR=T">reported</a> that an Ethiopian Airlines flight missed its descent after both pilots fell asleep in the air.</p><p>Other airlines such as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/regulators-investigate-wizz-airline-ceo-dismissed-pilot-fatigue-amid-cancellations-2022-6?r=US&amp;IR=T">WizzAir</a> have been investigated by regulators amid fears they are encouraging pilots to fly while tired and take on extra trips.</p>

Jet made an emergency landing after flight attendants told passengers that the pilot had fainted, report says

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/burgas-airport-bulgaria-sept-9-2015-633569378?src=jhb-z10oCZMp92PeKNRolA-1-2">Miglena Pencheva/shutterstock</a></span></p><p class="caption">WizzAir is a low-cost budget airline in the vein of RyanAir or Spirit Airlines.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Over the last year, I have<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/harrison-jacobs">traveled the world for Business Insider</a>, visiting more than 20 countries by way of more than 30 flights.</strong></li><li><strong>In that time, I've flown economy with dozens of different airlines, including major US airlines like<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/united" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United</a>, flag carriers like Egypt Air and Air Astana, and budget airlines like Vueling, RyanAir, and Scoot.</strong></li><li><strong>After a year of flying, I've found that my least favorite airline has been WizzAir. Though I got a cheap $89 ticket, I ended up spending over $125 in fees. Check-in and customer service were both frustrating experiences.</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit BusinessInsider.com for more stories</a>.</strong></li></ul><div data-piano-inline-content-wrapper=""><p>In my year of<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/harrison-jacobs">traveling the world for Business Insider</a>, I've visited more than 20 countries and have been on dozens of flights, including major US airlines, budget airlines, and flag carriers.</p><p>In just the last year, I've flown United Airlines, Emirates Airlines, China Southern Airlines, AirAsia, Scoot Airlines, Air Astana, Vueling, XL Airlines, Egypt Air, Kenya Airways, and WizzAir, to name a new.</p></div><p>My least favorite of the bunch, without a doubt, was WizzAir. It's a low-cost budget airline in the vein of RyanAir or Spirit Airlines.</p><p><keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Travel">Travel</keyword>ing on a budget last summer, I booked an $89 ticket from Sofia, Bulgaria to Lisbon, Portugal. That was, by far, the cheapest airfare price for the timeframe I was looking to travel.</p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-airline-emirates-service-plane-timeliness-entertainment-food-2019-4" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I've taken more than 30 flights over the past year as I've traveled the world, and one airline has the best entertainment system, the friendliest staff, and the best service</a></em></p><p>When it comes to airlines like WizzAir, I find that I - and, in all likelihood, many of my fellow passengers - tend to know what I'm getting myself into. On some level, I expect to be nickel-and-dimed.</p><p>But WizzAir takes it a step further. It has more than half a dozen hidden fees, some of which are impossible to avoid. There's the <a href="https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/prices-discounts/all-services-fees#/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">seat selection fee</a><span> </span>(up to $56, depending on the seat); its call center fee ($68 just to call customer service); its priority boarding fee ($5-$28 to board first and guarantee your carry-on luggage a spot); and its "Fare Lock" fee ($3.40 to "lock in" the airfare price you see online). Then there's a checked bag fee (unfortunately standard for many airlines these days) that cost me $63 for a 23-kilogram bag.</p><p>There's also no avoiding the "administration fee" of $18.50.</p><p>I made a rookie mistake flying WizzAir: attempting to check-in at the airport. WizzAir hit me with a $34 fee to print my boarding pass. </p><p>In my mind, this was the most egregious of fees. I understand that many budget airlines do this to cut down on the number of employees they have to have at the airport to check in passengers. In some ways, it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is charging the fee to a passenger who has already paid for a checked bag and, thus, has to go to the check-in counter regardless.</p><p>On top of that, after waiting in a 30-minute line to get to the check-in counter, customer service reps had me pay the boarding pass fee at another counter, which required waiting on another line. Then I had to return to the check-in line. I nearly missed my flight.</p><p>Even if you do remember to check-in online, if the WizzAir app malfunctions, as happened to a luxury travel blogger at Jet-Settera, along with six other passengers on her flight, you will <a href="https://www.jet-settera.com/wizzair-review-worst-airline-europe/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">be forced to pay the fee.</a></p><p>When I was on the flight two hours later, I was unsurprised to find that snacks and meals cost extra - but WizzAir wouldn't even provide a cup of water for free. I bought a $3 bottle of water.</p><p>By the end of the flight, I had spent $126.50 on fees and extras for an $89 flight. It wasn't so cheap after all.</p><p>Having gone through that experience, I would rather have booked a flight on a mainstream airline for $250 or even $300 to avoid the aggravating experience of flying through WizzAir. </p><p>As I <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cheap-flights-not-cheap-with-fees-2018-8">wrote back in August</a> when I took the flight, those extra fees that WizzAir racked up are the entire point of their business model.</p><p>"Ancillary revenue" - how budget airlines refer to all the charges on top of the base fare - made up 39% of WizzAir's revenue in 2016. <span>For Ryanair and Jet2.com, it was 27% and 26% respectively, <a href="http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/holidays/article-5347875/How-beat-rip-flight-charges.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">according to IdeaWorksCompany</a>.</span></p><p>On the bright side, the flight was safe and I got there on time.</p><p>Business Insider reached out to WizzAir for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vegan-restaurant-college-kid-chef-fried-chicken-brooklyn-nyc-2019-3">Meet the 22-year-old college kid with her own vegan restaurant</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

I've taken more than 30 flights over the past year as I've traveled the world for work, and there's one airline I would never fly again - and it comes down to the fees

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Chubykin Arkady/Shutterstock</span></p><p class="caption">Don't make this mistake.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>I recently booked a cheap flight from Sofia, Bulgaria to Lisbon, Portugal for a bargain airfare of $89 on WizzAir, the budget Hungarian airline.</strong></li><li><strong>But, after booking, I found that was charged fee after fee that ended up costing more than my entire flight ticket, including fees for baggage, administration, airport check-in, and an in-flight meal.</strong></li><li><strong>All in all, I ended up spending $126.50 on fees for a $89 flight. My mistake is a major warning to those booking cheap airfare on budget airlines.</strong></li></ul><p>You'd think after visiting 30-plus countries I wouldn't fall for the easiest grift in <keyword id="6354692" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Travel">travel</keyword>. But, we all make mistakes.</p><p>On a recent trip, I was heading from Sofia, Bulgaria to Lisbon, Portugal.</p><p>Traveling on a budget, I decided to book a cheap flight on one of the more popular budget airlines to emerge in recent years, WizzAir. It had, by far, the cheapest airfare price for the timeframe I was looking to travel, no doubt because many of the 139 cities that the Hungarian airline services are smaller, lesser-known places like Sofia.</p><p>The total cost of the airfare was $89 - a steal, in my opinion. But that was before the fees started rolling in. </p><p>Now, I'm used to budget airlines nickel-and-diming you for everything under the sun. It's expected.</p><p>Like Neo in the Matrix, I dodged WizzAir's <a href="https://wizzair.com/en-gb/information-and-services/prices-discounts/all-services-fees#/">seat selection fee</a> (up to $56, depending on the seat), its call center fee ($68), its priority boarding fee ($5-$28 to board first and guarantee your carry-on luggage a spot), and its "Fare Lock" fee ($3.40 to "lock in" the airfare price you see online). But that's where my luck ran out.</p><p>I had to check a bag, which is admittedly a standard fee these days for most airlines. Because my bag was above 23 kilograms, it cost me $63.</p><p>Next, there was the "administration fee." I have no idea what it it for, but it is unavoidable: $18.50.</p><p>When I got to the airport, I was hit with what must be their real cash cow fee: airport check-in. Having forgotten the golden rule of budget airlines (A.C.B., or Always Check-in Beforehand), WizzAir hit me with a $34 fee to <em>print</em> <em>my boarding pass</em>. </p><p>In my mind, this was the most egregious of fees. I understand that many budget airlines do this to cut down on the number of employees they have to have at the airport to check-in passengers. In some ways, it makes sense. What doesn't make sense is charging the fee to a passenger who has already paid for a checked bag and, thus, has to go to the check-in counter regardless. </p><p>But, I suspect, the check-in fee isn't about efficiency, but making money.</p><p>Travel journalist Wade Shepard of Vagabond Journey <a href="https://www.vagabondjourney.com/wizz-air-scam-being-cheated-by-the-worlds-worst-airline/">wrote in April of getting hit</a> with the fee. What astounded him was that, by his count, at least 17 of the 60 passengers on his flight had to pay the fee. Meanwhile, a luxury travel blogger at Jet-Settera said that she, along with six other passengers, <a href="https://www.jet-settera.com/wizzair-review-worst-airline-europe/">were forced to pay the fee</a> after the WizzAir app malfunctioned, despite checking in online. </p><p>At least I wasn't the only fool.</p><p>The final fees came when I got on the plane. Because paying the check-in fee had taken so long, I hadn't had time to grab a snack or a drink before my four-hour flight. And I was starving. I ended up paying $8 for WizzAir's sandwich and soup combo, honestly a pretty fairly priced in-flight meal.</p><p>Two hours later, when I was parched, I bought a $3 bottle of water. How is it legal for airlines to not provide drinking water in-flight?</p><p>I ended up spending $126.50 in fees and extra services for my $89 flight. Not such a cheap flight anymore, huh?</p><p>WizzAir, RyanAir, Spirit Airlines, and other budget airlines' entire business model is based around these fees racking up for passengers.</p><p>"Ancillary revenue," how budget airlines refer to all the charges on top of the base fare, made up 39% of WizzAir's revenue in 2016. <span>For Ryanair and Jet2.com, it was 27% and 26% respectively, <a href="http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/holidays/article-5347875/How-beat-rip-flight-charges.html">according to IdeaWorksCompany</a>.</span></p><p><span>If you are booking in the US, it's a bit easier to avoid budget airlines' fees. As of 2011, airlines in the US <a href="https://www.travelersunited.org/policy-columns/full-fare-advertising-rule-airlines/">are required to advertise their "full-fare</a>" for tickets, including all taxes and fees. The rule, established by the Department of <keyword id="34991" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="transportation">Transportation</keyword>, was enacted to create more transparency around airfare pricing. However, it appears that the Trump Administration <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/23/17156340/airlines-trump-administration-hidden-fees">may be rolling back the rule</a>. </span><span></span></p><p><span>As the WizzAir flight was in Europe, it wasn't subject to "full-fare advertising." But, as all the potential fees are listed on WizzAir's site, I don't know if it would have been in violation even if it was in the US. What I do know, however, is that WizzAir doesn't advertise those fees when you are booking the flight, particularly the airport check-in fee. It's likely other budget airlines don't either.<br /></span></p><p><span>All of which is to say: watch out.</span></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/klm-royal-dutch-airlines-ceo-talks-ryanair-low-cost-carriers-pieter-elbers-flight-plane-2017-11">How a top airline has responded to the surging popularity of budget airlines like Ryanair</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

I used a top budget airline to score a cheap flight, but the fact I ended up spending more on fees than airfare shows how budget airlines win

<ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>There are seven main <keyword id="12132952" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="canary-islands" source="Orion">Canary Islands</keyword>, and some are easier and less costly to reach than others.</strong></li><li><strong>Here's how to get to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, La Palma, El Hierro, Fuerteventura, La Gomera, and Lanzarote.</strong></li></ul><p>With laid-back island vibes that infuse aspects of Caribbean, Latin, Spanish, and European culture alongside a myriad of natural wonders, and a location closer to Morocco than Spain, the Canary Islands are one of Europe's best-kept secrets.</p><p>I've been visiting the Canaries regularly from my home base in Madrid for the past 15 years. When the cold chill rolls around each November, I start plotting: Which island will I escape to this winter? And with year-round warm temperatures, sunny rays, and no rainy season, I often find my way back to the Canary Islands in spring and summer, too.</p><p>As such, some islands within this remote archipelago can be easier to get to than others. Here are my best tips for ensuring a seamless getaway.</p><h2>Getting to the Canary Islands</h2><div type="image" title="Roads leading to a cruise ship in port in Tenerife, Canary Islands" height="3840" width="5119" msid="90060597" hostid="261"></div><p>It's most affordable to fly to the four largest Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. Flights to these islands operate not only from Madrid and other Spanish cities on airlines like Iberia/Iberia Express and Air Europa but also from various cities all over Europe on airlines including Air France, Aer Lingus, and British Airways. </p><p>Low-cost carriers such as Ryanair, Vueling, Jet2, Eurowings, Wizzair, and easyJet fly to the Canaries from many Spanish and European hubs, though they often come with added fees that may negate the cheap cost when considered cumulatively.</p><p><keyword id="11896628" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="travel" source="Orion">Travel</keyword> to the smaller islands of La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro can be slightly more complicated and take longer.</p><p>If you'd like to island hop, once here, you may fly between the Canary Islands on airlines such as the local Binter Canarias, as well as Air Europa and CanaryFly. Another option is to take a ferry, which you can do with the local companies, Fred Olsen and Armas.</p><p>Because the Canary Islands are located near Africa — just west of Morocco, and Western Sahara — and not Spain, nonstop flights from the Spanish mainland take close to three hours. From London or Paris, you might be flying for five or six hours.</p><p>Here's a more detailed look at getting to each island:</p><div type="image" title="The beach and waterfront area with mountains in the back in Tenerife, Canary Islands" height="3840" width="5119" msid="90060599" hostid="261"></div><h3>Tenerife</h3><p>Each of the main Canary Islands has an airport, except for Tenerife, which has two. <a href="https://www.aena.es/en/tenerife-norte-ciudad-de-la-laguna.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Tenerife North</a> (TFN) is usually used by locals, as many people reside in the island's capital, Santa Cruz, which isn't far from that airport. <a href="https://www.aena.es/en/tenerife-sur.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Tenerife South</a> (TFS) is often used by tourists closer to the sunny resorts south of the island.</p><p>Tenerife is the easiest island to reach for US visitors, with <a href="https://united.elfm.net/c/196318/302886/4704?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.united.com%2Fen-us%2Fnew-routes" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">United Airlines</a> launching a nonstop flight from Newark (EWR) to Tenerife South (TFS) starting June 9, 2022. This flight is expected to operate three times weekly.</p><h3>Gran Canaria </h3><p>Midway between the white-sand beaches of the south and the island's capital of Las Palmas in the north, <a href="https://www.aena.es/en/gran-canaria.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Gran Canaria Airport</a> (LPA) is easy to reach from places like Germany, the UK, Italy, and other European countries.</p><h3>Fuerteventura</h3><p>Located near the island's capital of Puerto del Rosario, and not too far from the beaches of the Costa Calma, <a href="https://www.aena.es/en/fuerteventura.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Fuerteventura Airport</a> (FUE) is in the middle of this long island, about equidistant from the resort towns of Corralejo and El Cotillo in the north and Jandia in the south.</p><h3>Lanzarote</h3><p>Near the island's capital of Arrecife, <a href="https://www.aena.es/en/cesar-manrique-lanzarote.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport</a> (ACE) is named after the island's most celebrated artist. You can reach this island from almost 80 <keyword id="12273770" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="destinations" source="Orion">destinations</keyword> nonstop on more than 40 airlines.</p><h3>La Palma</h3><p>You can fly to <a href="https://www.aena.es/en/la-palma.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">La Palma</a> (SPC) from only nine destinations on nine airlines. They are three destinations in Germany, one each in Paris, Zurich, and Amsterdam, and three cities in Spain: Madrid, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, and Tenerife (TFN). The airport is a 10-minute drive from the island's capital, Santa Cruz de la Palma.</p><h3>La Gomera</h3><p><a href="https://www.aena.es/en/la-gomera.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">La Gomera Airport</a> (GMZ) is served by just one airline flying to two destinations: Binter Canarias flying to/from Tenerife (TFN) or Gran Canaria (LPA), with the frequency of these flights increasing or decreasing based on seasonal demand. My preferred way to reach La Gomera, however, is on the fast ferry from Tenerife, which takes just 50 minutes — and you can bring your car, too.</p><h3>El Hierro</h3><p>El Hierro sits the farthest west and is the most difficult to reach. Get to <a href="https://www.aena.es/en/el-hierro.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">El Hierro Airport</a> (VDE) by flying Binter Canarias or CanaryFly from Tenerife (TFN) or Gran Canaria (LPA).</p><h2>Getting around the Canary Islands</h2><div type="image" title="A winding road on El Hierro, Canary Islands" height="4756" width="6341" msid="90060600" hostid="261"></div><h3>Car rental in the Canary Islands</h3><p>A car rental in the Canaries is essential, especially for those wanting to leave the hotel and explore. You may rent cars at airports, hotels, or freestanding locations in resort towns. </p><p>International car-rental companies found on the islands include Hertz and Avis or consider using <a href="https://www.pluscar-tenerife.com/booking.php?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">Plus Car</a>, a local favorite I love to rent from thanks to low prices and friendly customer service. <a href="https://www.orlandorc.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored nofollow sponsored">Orlando Rent-a-Car</a> is another car-rental option with a large presence on all of the islands except for El Hierro.</p><p>Most of the Canary Islands have decent highways and paved roads, but you may need to go off-road to visit remote beaches or far-flung destinations, so make sure to check with your car-rental provider that doing so is permitted.</p><p>Like much of Europe, most rental cars in the Canary Islands are manual transmission, but it is possible to rent automatic cars, albeit at a higher price.</p><h3>Taxis and buses on the Canary Islands</h3><div type="image" title="A bus driving through the mountains in Canary Islands" height="4906" width="6542" msid="90060601" hostid="261"></div><p>If you don't rent a car, there are taxi stands in some towns and resort communities. Taxis often have fixed prices for specific routes, though rates can be high, sometimes even more expensive than a days-long car rental. Many taxi drivers don't speak English, either. There are no ride-hailing services such as Uber on any of the islands.</p><p>While taking the bus is safe and cheap, it's not usually the quickest or most convenient way to get around, so I highly recommend renting a car.</p><p>If you do take the bus, make sure to check schedules and know that services are typically reduced and minimal on Sundays and holidays. While the Spanish term for "bus" is technically autobús, Canarian locals refer to buses as guaguas.</p><p>Each island has a different company of public buses, and drivers don't typically speak English. </p><p><strong>Here are the municipal bus lines by island: </strong></p><p>Tenerife: <a href="https://titsa.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">TITSA, Transportes Interurbanos de Tenerife</a></p><p>Gran Canaria: <a href="https://www.guaguas.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Guaguas Municipales</a></p><p>Lanzarote: <a href="https://arrecifebus.com/index.php?lang=en" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Intercity Bus</a></p><p>La Gomera: <a href="https://www.guaguagomera.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Guagua Gomera</a></p><p>El Hierro: <a href="https://transhierro.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">TransHierro</a></p><p>La Palma: <a href="https://www.tilp.es/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">TILP, Transportes Insular La Palma</a></p><p>Fuerteventura: <a href="https://tiadhe.com/en/home/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">Tiadhe </a></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-traveling-to-canary-islands-spain" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>View Insider's comprehensive guide to visiting the Canary Islands</em></a></p>

Here are the best ways to get to and around each of the 7 main Canary Islands

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Eric Gaillard</span></p><p class="caption">An&#xa0;Emirates&#xa0;Airbus&#xa0;A380-800 plane at Nice International airport.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>Over the last year, I have<span> </span><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/harrison-jacobs">traveled the world for Business Insider</a>, visiting more than 20 countries by way of more than 30 flights.</strong></li><li><strong>In that time, I've flown economy with dozens of different airlines, including major US airlines like <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/united" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United</a>, flag carriers like Egypt Air and Air Astana, and budget airlines like Vueling, RyanAir, and Scoot.</strong></li><li><strong>After a year of flying, I've found that my favorite airline I've flown has been Emirates Airlines, thanks to its roomy planes, excellent service and entertainment options, and good food. It tends to be slightly more expensive than other options, but I've found that the comfort is worth it.</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</strong></li></ul><p>In my year of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/harrison-jacobs">traveling the world for Business Insider</a>, I've visited more than 20 countries and have been on dozens of flights, including major US airlines, budget airlines, and flag carriers.</p><p>In just the last year, I've flown United Airlines, Emirates Airlines, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, AirAsia, Scoot Airlines, Air Astana, Vueling, XL Airlines, Egypt Air, Etihad Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Kenya Airways, Precision Air, Air France, Austrian Airlines, Ural Airlines, Tus Air, Cobalt Air, and WizzAir, among others. </p><p>My favorite of the bunch, without a doubt, was Emirates Airlines. </p><p>For me, a great flight comes down to a few simple things: helpful and friendly service, timeliness, and new planes. While many airlines I flew over the last year matched up in one or more of those areas, only Emirates delivered across the board.</p><p>To start with, Emirates' fleet is made up exclusively of Airbus A380s - the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/emirates-airline-airbus-a380-economy-class-review-new-york-dubai-2018-11">largest and most expensive commercial</a> airliner in history - and Boeing 777s. The airline's average plane age is only <a href="https://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Emirates.htm">6.2 years old</a>, according to AirFleets. That means no matter what route you are on, you are flying on a relatively new and roomy plane. </p><p>Both flights I took on Emirates were on A380s, leaving me with tons of legroom for an economy flight. The added benefit: Because the plane is so large - it can hold up to 800 people - the plane was only half full, which meant there was an empty seat next to me.</p><h2>The staff is friendly and helpful</h2><p>On both my flights, the flight attendants were always willing to help. In particular, on my second flight (<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/business-class-flight-review-emirates-airbus-a380-dubai-to-new-york-2019-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">my first time trying out business class</a>), the flight attendants<span> came around to offer things I didn't even know I wanted. More than that, though, they were personable. They took the time to chat with passengers and get to know them. It made the flight fun in a way I'd never experienced before.</span></p><p><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer</span></p><p class="caption">An onboard bar of an Airbus A380.</p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p>While Emirates is <a href="https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business/aviation/on-time-emirates-second-most-punctual-airline-in-mideast-1">ranked only 19th in the world</a> in punctuality among mainstream airlines, it is currently ranked second in the Middle East - and it's improving. It ranked fourth last year. I experienced no late arrivals during my flights.</p><h2>The in-flight entertainment system is top-notch</h2><p>Meanwhile, the proprietary entertainment system, nicknamed ICE, was excellent. The entertainment options were extensive. There are over 1,800 channels of movies, television, and games, including most "Marvel," "Jurassic Park," and "Mission Impossible" films. There were also films from just about every world region, as well as the information channel with the latest headlines and articles from BBC News.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/harrisonxjacobs/">Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider</a></span></p><p class="caption">The entertainment system has over 1,800 channels.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Emirates consistently <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/emirates-has-best-in-flight-entertainment-2014-12">wins best in-flight entertainment system</a> year after year. It makes sense why when you use it.</p><h2>Emirates doesn't skimp on service</h2><p>The only downside of the airline was the food. It's certainly not the best I've had on an airplane. That still goes to Japan Airlines, which provided tasty, fresh Japanese food.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/harrisonxjacobs/">Harrison Jacobs/Business Insider</a></span></p><p class="caption">A meal on an Emirates economy class flight from New York to Dubai.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>That being said, with airline after airline cutting back on meals and other goodies, Emirates goes a long way to show respect to its customers by not skimping on meals and handing out goodies like eye masks, headphones, earplugs, and socks on long-haul flights.</p><p>Prior to flying Emirates, I wondered what the big fuss was. Now that I've flown it twice, there's no airline I'd be more stoked to fly again. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/doomsday-prepper-million-dollar-condo-converted-missile-silo-2019-3">Take a look inside a $3 million doomsday condo that can sustain 75 people for 5 years</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

I've taken more than 30 flights over the past year as I've traveled the world, and one airline has the best entertainment system, the friendliest staff, and the best service

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>British Airways</span></p><p class="caption">British Airways Airbus and Embraer jet at London City Airport.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li><strong>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/united-kingdom" target="_blank" rel="noopener">United Kingdom</a>'s decision to leave the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/european-union" target="_blank" rel="noopener">European Union</a> on March 29, 2019, will likely have a major effect on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/airlines" target="_blank" rel="noopener">airlines</a> such as <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/british-airways" target="_blank" rel="noopener">British Airways</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/virgin-atlantic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virgin Atlantic</a>. </strong></li><li><strong>The <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/uk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UK</a> and the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/eu" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EU</a> may be able to strike a deal ahead of <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/brexit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brexit</a> to preserve existing aviation agreements with a transitional period to negotiate new ones.</strong></li><li><strong>But such a deal is not guaranteed.</strong></li><li><strong>Credit rating agency <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/moodys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Moody's</a> has identified five major risks for airlines if there is a no-deal Brexit. </strong></li></ul><p>The UK will leave the European Union on March 29, 2019. How Britain will exit the EU, hence the term <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/brexit-insider" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brexit</a>, will be a major determinant on the long and short-term effect it will have on the nation's airlines. </p><p>If things go well for the UK, there will be a deal struck between it and the EU to preserve existing economic and air transport agreements along with a transitional period to negotiate new ones. </p><p>This, according to Credit rating agency Moody's, remains the most likely course of action. </p><p>"Our base case scenario is that the UK and EU will reach an agreement," Jeanine Arnold, Moody's vice president and senior credit officer, told Business Insider.</p><p>But, if things go awry, the UK may experience a Brexit in which the country is forced to break away from the EU without a withdrawal deal in place. </p><p>Should there be a no-deal Brexit, Moody's has identified five main risks for airlines.</p><p>The first risk for UK airlines is the immediate loss of flying privileges to and within Europe. EU airlines would lose their ability to operate to the UK. According to the agency, the probability of such an occurrence is possible with short-term credit impact on airlines "severe but temporary." However, the disruption to operations could last a few days to a few weeks. </p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-dashes-hopes-of-breakthrough-to-solve-brexit-crisis-2018-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Theresa May dashes hopes of Brexit deal 'breakthrough' as EU leaders refuse to renegotiate</a></em>.</p><p>"Say, if there's no flying for two weeks while they sort out a bare-bones agreement, the likes of the British Airways, EasyJet, and WizzAir have significant liquidity reserve and I think they would be able to sustain no flying," Arnold said.  </p><p>In the long run, this scenario is likely to result in more restrictive traffic rights which will have a modest effect on airlines in that they will have to adjust their flight schedules and route networks.</p><p>The second risk is the loss of traffic rights to countries where UK airlines rely upon EU negotiated multilateral aviation agreements for access. Countries that fall into this category include the United States, Canada, Brazil, Israel, Georgia, Jordan, Moldova, and Morocco. </p><p>For British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, trans-Atlantic flying is perhaps their most important market segment, Arnold explained. </p><p>Should such a scenario take place, the short-term effect would be severe. </p><p>However, Moody's says it is highly unlikely this will happen. The UK has already agreed to new bilateral air transport agreements with the US and Canada. </p><p>The third risk identified by Moody's is the failure of airlines to meet EU ownership requirements. The EU stipulates that European airlines must maintain their main place of business in an EU member country and by more than 50% owned by either EU nations or citizens. </p><p>Airlines based in the UK with UK ownership will no longer satisfy the EU requirement.  As a result, offending airlines will have to modify their equity ownership structure and establish local subsidiaries within Europe.</p><p>Failure to fulfill this requirement could lead to the loss of an airline's operating license and the ability to fly.  </p><p>According to Moody's, it is possible such a risk may materialize, but the effect on airlines in the short-run will be moderate. </p><p>The fourth risk for airlines is the loss of safety certifications for UK airlines and their staff. Analysis from Moody's indicates this risk is unlikely to materialize. This is because the EU already has a system in place to vet foreign airlines. Considering the fact the UK airlines already conform to EU standards, getting approval should not be a problem. </p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-survives-vote-of-no-confidence-conservative-party-2018-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Theresa May survives Conservative Party no-confidence vote</a></em>.</p><p>The fifth and final risk for airlines identified by Moody's is the weaker macroeconomic conditions caused by Brexit. </p><p>According to Arnold, this is the most likely of the five scenarios identified by the agency to actually cause the most significant impact on an airline's credit ratings. </p><p>Deteriorating Gross Domestic Product and the devaluation of the British Pound represent the weakening of the overall economy.</p><p>"We've already seen the Sterling fall in value and we're not even at Brexit," Arnold said. </p><p>Even though having planes grounded is severe, its damage to the business is temporary, the analyst explained. </p><p>However, currency devaluation and falling GDP will likely lead to a sustained fall in demand for UK customers. </p><p>UK flyers who find their buying power in the US diminished by the falling value of the Pound Sterling may choose to stay at home or travel in Europe, Arnold said.</p><p>This would threaten the well-being of British Airways's and Virgin Atlantic's highly profitable trans-Atlantic business. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/craig-barrett-jackson-auction-rotunda-car-collection-expensive-private-garages-2018-10">Craig Jackson of Barrett-Jackson Auction Company has one of the world's most expensive private garages - take a look inside</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

An analyst explains the greatest risks to UK airlines if a Brexit deal falls apart

<ul><li><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Etihad</span></p><p class="caption">Etihad Airbus A380</p></div><p></p></div></div><strong>Etihad Aviation Group holds equity stakes in seven airlines around the world.</strong></li><li><strong>Two of them, Air Berlin and Alitalia, are now bankrupt.</strong></li><li><strong>The CEO behind the strategy has left Etihad.</strong></li><li><strong>However, some investments have paid off.</strong></li></ul><p>Etihad's grand plan for global domination looks to be in deep trouble.</p><p>In July, the Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates-based aviation giant announced a staggering $1.87 billion loss for 2016. This, after posting a $103 million profit the previous year.</p><p>Etihad blames $808 million of losses on financial exposure to partner airlines such as Air Berlin and Alitalia.</p><p>Now, things have gone from bad to worse.</p><p>On Tuesday, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/air-berlin-administration-insolvent-2017-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Air Berlin entered into administration</a>, declaring itself insolvent and initiating a major restructuring. Air Berlin's financial implosion happened just three months after Alitalia's bankruptcy in May.</p><p>Together, Etihad's total financial exposure to the two troubled European carriers edges north of $4.5 billion.</p><p>"Etihad had a very ambitious and creative, but very risky strategy which was to invest in airlines in different countries to gain a proxy presence as an airline group, and two of its riskiest investments was Air Berlin and Alitalia," Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst for Atmosphere Research Group, told Business Insider.</p><p>In July, the chief architect of the plan, former Etihad CEO James Hogan, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/etihad-ceo-james-hogan-quit-company-2017-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">exited the company he helped build</a>. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2>Going global </h2><p>Over the past few years, Etihad embarked on an equity-acquisition spree that has seen the carrier take substantial ownership stakes in a series of "partner airlines." This includes 49% of Alitalia, 29.2% of Air Berlin, 49% of Air Serbia, 24% of Jet Airways, 21.8% of Virgin Australia, 40% of Air Seychelles, 49.8% of Niki, and 33% of Swiss-based Etihad Regional. However, Etihad sold its stake in Etihad Regional in July.<br /><br />Last September, these partner airlines along with Etihad Airways and its accompanying subsidiaries were reconfigured to form Etihad Aviation Group.<br /><br />In theory, Hogan's partnership concept makes a tremendous amount of sense. Investing in or taking over struggling airlines in advantageous markets for pennies on the dollar while simultaneously growing Etihad's global reach is strategically sound. This approach also allows Etihad to enter potentially hostile markets free of political opposition and without the need to launch an operation from scratch.<br /><br /><span>In practice, the partnership strategy is much more complex. Some have worked out well for Etihad. For instance, Air Serbia has relaunched and become a solid feeder into the Etihad network. The investment in Jet Airways has helped Etihad unlock the potentially lucrative Indian market. While Virgin Australia has become a viable competitor for Qantas.</span><br /><br /><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p><p class="caption">Air Serbia Airbus A330.</p></div><p></p></div></div>At the same time, Germany's Air Berlin and Italy's national carrier, Alitalia, have not fared so well. Both airlines were acquired to help Etihad increase its reach into the prized European and transatlantic markets, and to a certain extent, they have done exactly that. Operationally, however, Air Berlin and Alitalia have continued to bleed money.</span><br /><br /><span>On the face of it, the $2.35 billion Alitalia investment seemed like a solid deal. For the cost of a few Airbus A380 superjumbos, the company acquired a major airline with a fleet of 100 planes, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/etihad-airways-ceo-james-hogan-interview-2015-12" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hogan told Business Insider in 2015.</a></span></p><p>The same goes for the Air Berlin deal. </p><p>"Air Berlin, on paper, looked like it would be very beneficial for Etihad," Harteveldt said. "It gave Etihad access to a major European market that's arguably the strongest in terms of economic strength and demand for air travel."</p><p>So what happened?<br /><br /><span>"These two investments have turned out to be sort of Etihad biting off more than it can chew," Airways senior business analyst Vinay Bhaskara told Business Insider.</span></p><h2><span>What went wrong</span></h2><p>According to Bhaskara, there are two types of reclamation projects that tend to succeed in the airline industry. The first is an airline that is underperforming simply because it is "making boneheaded strategic errors" to the point at which the airline is essentially its own worst enemy. These are easier to fix because they tend to be in good markets with good fundamentals. Thus, a management change should do the trick, Bhaskara said. Jet Airways falls into this category.<br /><br /><span><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span><br /><br /><span>The second is an underperforming airline that is government owned or struggling with an incredible amount of internal dysfunction. These turnarounds can be successful if an outside force such as Etihad is "handed the keys to the kingdom" to tear down and rebuild the airline after making wholesale changes. This is exactly what Etihad was able to do at Air Serbia, Bhaskara added.</span><br /><br /><span>Technically, Air Berlin and Alitalia should have gone into this second category. But Etihad was never given the chance to implement the same type of full rebuild as Air Serbia.</span><br /><br /><span>With Alitalia, Etihad brought in new management, revamped its product, and improved its service. Many of the old problems that plagued the "Old Alitalia," however, still plague the "New Alitalia" today. Bhaskara said one of the major issues the airline ran into was the powerful labor unions that prevented Etihad from making drastic changes that could have made the airline profitable.</span></p><p>In April, <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-alitalia-restructuring-idUSKBN17Q26W" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alitalia entered into administration after workers rejected a management</a> restructuring plan that would have cut salaries and jobs at the airline. </p><p>According to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/43179318-d1aa-11e5-92a1-c5e23ef99c77" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Financial Times</a>, the last time Alitalia generated an annual profit was in 2002 - one year before the founding of Etihad Airways.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Andreas Wiese / airberlin</span></p><p class="caption">Air Berlin Airbus A330.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The Air Berlin situation is slightly different than Alitalia, but equally dysfunctional. </p><h2>Air Berlin's downfall</h2><p>According to Harteveldt, Air Berlin faced a myriad of issues ranging from a delayed airport to a disjointed product strategy. </p><p>First, the airport. Even though Berlin is one of the largest and most important cities in Europe, it doesn't actually have a world class airport. </p><p>The state-of-the-art Berlin Brandenburg Airport was scheduled to open in 2010. However, persistent delays have now pushed that day to as late as 2020. </p><p>As a result, Air Berlin hasn't been able to develop the mega hub it had hoped for in its home town. Instead, it has to settle for a smaller hub in Dusseldorf. However, that pales in comparison to the hubs Lufthansa has in larger markets like Frankfurt and Munich, Harteveldt told us.</p><p>At the same time, Air Berlin has been facing stiff competition from low-cost carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, WizzAir, and other carriers.</p><p>And then there was the airlines own "basket case" business strategy.</p><p>"Air Berlin just didn't have a clear strategy," Harteveldt said. "It was a low cost, bare bones airline for its short haul European flights, but it tried to be a traditional full-service airline on its long-haul flights." </p><p>"It didn't accomplish either objective very well," the analyst added. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Airbus/Etihad</span></p></div><p></p></div></div>Even though the labor situation at Air Berlin was less contentious than Alitalia, it was still an issue that plagued the airline. </p><p>"In Europe, airlines are high profile industries that are highly unionized and the unions work very hard to protect their workers' jobs," Harteveldt said. "Compared to the United States, for example, it very difficult for an airline in Europe to gain the labor efficiency that it needs whether that be wages or productivity or anything else."</p><p>So where does that leave Air Berlin?</p><h2>What's next for Etihad's partners</h2><p>While Etihad is willing to explore commercial opportunities with the airline, it has made it clear that after $2.3 billion in investment its coffers are now off limits to Air Berlin.</p><p>"You can hear the sound of Etihad wiping its hands of Air Berlin all the way from Abu Dhabi to California," Harteveldt said. </p><p>Although Harteveldt believes the Alitalia will likely fly on, the analyst thinks Air Berlin is effectively done as an airline. However, Bhaskara believes it's still too early to say whether Air Berlin's fate is sealed. </p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Thomson Reuters</span></p><p class="caption">An Alitalia crew member walks past Alitalia employees who take part in a strike at Fiumicino international airport in Rome</p></div><p></p></div></div>Air Berlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann has spoken out publicly to ensure his customers that the airline's flights will operate as usual with the help of a bridging loan worth $176 million. </p><p>At the end of the day, all is not lost for the Etihad partner airline strategy. </p><p>"In some cases, it looks like Etihad bet on some winning horses," Harteveldt said. "Alitalia is still on the track and so we can't call that race yet." </p><p>While it seems like the Etihad partnership strategy will probably live on to fight another day, Air Berlin and Alitalia have proven to be two very painful and expensive speed bumps along the way. </p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/etihad-41k-airline-ticket-the-residence-first-class-price-cost-tour-abu-dhabi-nyc-2017-2">This $41K plane ticket comes with a shower, bed, and butler service</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

You Searched For "wizzair" and got 10 results

A European low-cost airline is offering Ukrainians 100,000 free plane tickets from neighboring countries

Taylor Rains

Wizz Air apologizes after a video appears to show a Ukrainian soldier with an amputated leg being kicked off a flight

Sophia Ankel

An airline rescued 1 of its 4 Airbus planes stranded in Ukraine in a daring stealth mission at low altitude

Ryan Hogg

Jet made an emergency landing after flight attendants told passengers that the pilot had fainted, report says

Ryan Hogg

I've taken more than 30 flights over the past year as I've traveled the world for work, and there's one airline I would never fly again - and it comes down to the fees

Harrison Jacobs

I used a top budget airline to score a cheap flight, but the fact I ended up spending more on fees than airfare shows how budget airlines win

Harrison Jacobs

Here are the best ways to get to and around each of the 7 main Canary Islands

Lori Zaino

I've taken more than 30 flights over the past year as I've traveled the world, and one airline has the best entertainment system, the friendliest staff, and the best service

Harrison Jacobs

An analyst explains the greatest risks to UK airlines if a Brexit deal falls apart

Benjamin Zhang

Etihad's grand plan to dominate global aviation may be in deep trouble

Benjamin Zhang

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides