AAV News in Brief 26 March 2026

DFS Aviation Services advances airspace modernisation in Athens: DFS Aviation Services, together with the airport’s operator company Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA) and the Hellenic Air Navigation Service Provider (HASP), continues its journey for the complete redesign of the Athens TMA and the development and implementation of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) flight procedures for Athens International Airport. In September 2023, DFS Aviation Services was awarded a contract by Athens International Airport S.A. (AIA) to provide consulting services to the Hellenic Air Navigation Service Provider (HASP). The project focuses on the redesign of the Terminal Manoeuvring Area (TMA) for Athens and the development of advanced PBN flight procedures to enhance operational efficiency and airspace capacity. The airspace modernisation project of the Athens TMA progressed in two key phases. The first phase, which was successfully completed in March 2024, involved the development and implementation of Performance Based Navigation (PBN) procedures within the existing TMA, delivered in under six months and then in regular operation. The second phase focuses on a complete redesign of the Athens TMA to enable parallel independent runway operations, increase capacity, reduce delays, lower controller and pilot workload, and improve the environmental footprint while maintaining high safety standards. Travelex pilots new innovative mobile store at Zurich Airport: Travelex has introduced a new flexible mobile store, bringing travel money closer to customers in high-traffic areas of airports. Travelex’s next-generation Nomad concept has been designed with convenience and accessibility at its core and is currently being piloted at Zurich Airport. Nomad offers the same in-store capabilities as a larger traditional fixed retail location, including a wide range of currencies and high visibility digital signage. “Travelex is proud to pioneer our latest on-the-move mobile travel money store concept, catering to our customers’ expectations for a convenient, accessible and secure experience,” said Philip Bowcock, Travelex’s Chief Executive Officer. “Travelex’s Nomad ensures we are at the forefront of accessibility to better serve our airport customers whilst meeting a wide range of travel money requirements. We’re excited to partner with Zurich airport and have already seen great success on Nomad’s roll out,” Bowcock added. The Nomad store offers several innovative design features, including a retractable screen that increases visibility of the store, displaying exchange rates and promotions. When in closed position, the store is small and secure enough to be left in airside locations outside of trading hours; with its simple pop-up system, it can then be ready to trade in minutes. The Nomad store can also be combined with other Travelex assets including ATMs and fixed store locations to create expanded, semi-permanent stores during peak trading periods. These semi-permanent stores ensure vacant airport retail units are leveraged when available but can also be quickly converted back to mobile stores when permanent retail space isn’t required. Government approves incentive programme for Riga Airport: The Cabinet of Ministers approved a new incentive programme for Riga Airport, aimed at supporting airlines in expanding their route networks from Riga and increasing passenger volumes, thereby strengthening Latvia’s international connectivity in an increasingly competitive aviation market. The approved amendments to Cabinet Regulation No. 111 “Regulations on Charges for Services Provided at the Aerodrome of SJSC Riga International Airport” improve the existing traffic development programme by adapting it to current market conditions, the rising regional competition, and the strategic development goals of Riga Airport. While passenger numbers at Riga Airport are gradually recovering, the aviation sector continues to face structural challenges. Due to geopolitical disruptions, total passenger volumes have not returned to 2019 levels, mainly because of a significant decline in transit and transfer traffic, which cannot currently be fully restored. At the same time, the point-to-point passenger segment shows positive dynamics, exceeding 2019 levels by 6% since the beginning of the year and by as much as 11% in March. “The enhanced incentive programme is essential for Riga Airport to adapt to the new realities of the aviation industry. While the direct passenger segment continues to perform well, the decline in transit traffic due to geopolitical factors is significantly affecting overall growth. The new framework will enable more targeted development of the route network and strengthen Riga’s role as a regional aviation hub,” said Laila Odiņa, Chairperson of the Board of Riga Airport. The amendments refine the Airport charges framework by introducing more flexible conditions for applying incentives to support the development of new routes and passenger growth, while maintaining transparency principles. This ensures a balance between the Airport’s development needs and the interests of its users – the airlines. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Matt Driskill at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Head of Sales Sally Passey at [email protected]