Lufthansa Group has completed the acquisition of a 41% stake in ITA Airways for 325 million euros. The Italian airline has thus joined the Lufthansa network, becoming the fifth airline in the group. The remaining 59% of the shares remain with the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.
German rail logistics operator VTG has completed the acquisition of the remaining shares in Retrack Slovakia from Rail Services Slovakia, becoming its sole owner. The deal also includes Retrack Slovakia’s subsidiaries in the Czech Republic and Hungary.
The construction of the third Ro-PAX ferry for ASCO continues as part of the company’s development strategy aimed at strengthening cargo transportation along the Middle Corridor. The vessel will become an important link in the transport network connecting the East and West. Currently, hull work is 88% complete, engineering – 97%, and procurement – 82%. The main engines, fire extinguishing and fresh water systems, freight elevator, pumps and electrical panels have already been installed. The overall project completion has reached 49%, and the delivery of the vessel is scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
CER Hungary Zrt. has officially accepted the new Transmontana locomotive into service. This is a significant event, as exactly ten years ago the company took delivery of its first locomotive of this model. László Horváth (Chairman of the Board of Directors of CER Cargo Holding and LAC Holding), Sebastian Gyta (CEO of Softronic), Géza Dem (CEO of Széchenyi Funds) and Kálmán Tekse (CEO of Deutsche Leasing) spoke at the ceremony.
A working meeting was held at the border railway stations of Alashankou (PRC) and Dostyk (RK), during which the results of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the field of railway transportation for 2024 were summed up. The parties also preliminary agreed on cargo transportation plans for 2025. The delegation of Kazakhstan was headed by the Managing Director for the Production Process of JSC NC KTZ Bauyrzhan Urynbasarov, and the Chinese delegation was headed by the Deputy General Director of Urumqi Railway LLC Hao Xiaoming.
The global project coordinator of Rail Baltica has submitted a funding application for the latest round of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) programme in the current budget period. The application covers infrastructure development in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for over EUR 325 million. According to Marko Kivila, Interim CEO of RB Rail AS, receiving these funds is critical to accelerating construction and strengthening the Baltic States’ transport connections to the European rail network.
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with the new Chinese Ambassador Han Chunlin, during which they discussed the prospects for the development of bilateral relations. The main topics were trade and economic cooperation, investment, transport and logistics, energy, agro-industrial complex, culture and tourism. Bektenov noted that a trusting dialogue between the leaders of the countries is a key basis for strengthening the partnership.
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges will close 2024 with a total throughput of 278 million tonnes, an increase of 2.3% compared to 2023. The main growth factor was an increase in container traffic by 8.9% in tonnes and 8.1% in TEU. The refrigerated container segment saw an increase of 9.2%, while the port’s share of the Hamburg-Le Havre route increased by 0.7 percentage points to 30.6%. Despite economic instability caused by geopolitical tensions and rising energy prices, the port is showing resilience.
The British government has backed plans to build a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said. According to her, the project will create more than 100,000 jobs and boost the country’s economic growth.
CargoBeamer is expanding its rail network with a new route between Kornwestheim (Germany) and Domodossola (Italy). From 11 February, three weekly connections will operate on this route: from Kornwestheim on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from Domodossola on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The new line will complement the existing Kaldenkirchen – Domodossola route, strengthening the company’s position in the field of environmentally friendly freight transport.
