Live Updates
Bernd Bauer, CEO Edelweiss will leave Lufthansa Group
Bernd Bauer, CEO of Edelweiss, will leave the Lufthansa Group as of 1 October 2026. He began his aviation career in 1994 at Crossair and held various leadership positions at SWISS from 2002 onwards before becoming CEO of Edelweiss in 2014.
From 2022 to 2025, he also served as CEO of Lufthansa’s leisure airline Discover Airlines, successfully positioning the young airline in the German private travel and tourism market.
New CEO for Lufthansa City Airline
Michael Kircher will become the new CEO and Accountable Manager of Lufthansa City Airlines as of 1 November 2026. In addition, he will assume the role of Co-Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation GmbH. He will succeed Peter Albers, who—as planned for some time—will focus entirely on his role as a captain with Lufthansa Airlines.
Michael Kircher joins Lufthansa City Airlines from Austrian Airlines, where he currently serves as Nominated Person Crew Training and Head of Training, as well as a captain on the Airbus A320 family. He also temporarily assumed the role of Accountable Manager at Austrian Airlines on an interim basis.
New COO at Eurowings
Matthias Spohr will succeed Edi Wolfensberger as COO of Eurowings as of 1 October 2026.
He led Lufthansa Aviation Training since 2021. He has held various management positions within the Lufthansa Group since 2013. Among other roles, he served as Head of Fleet at Germanwings and subsequently headed flight operations at Eurowings. Matthias Spohr holds an instructor license for the Airbus A320 family. In addition to his management responsibilities, he currently flies as a captain for Lufthansa Airlines.
A decision on the appointment of a successor at Lufthansa Aviation Training will be made as soon as possible.
New CEO of Edelweiss Airline
Edi Wolfensberger will become the new CEO of the Swiss leisure airline Edelweiss as of 1 October 2026. He will succeed Bernd Bauer, who is leaving the Lufthansa Group. Edi Wolfensberger has served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Eurowings to date.
The Swiss national began his career in the aviation industry in 2008 at Swiss International Air Lines. In the years that followed, he held numerous leadership positions at various Group companies. For example, he served as Managing Director of Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland and as COO and Accountable Manager of Belgian airline Brussels Airlines.
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 Puts Macau at the Center of Asia's Cocktail Scene
Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 concluded at Wynn Palace on July 28, with more than 1,000 bartenders, hospitality professionals, and international media gathering in Macau for one of the region's leading beverage industry events.
Held for the second consecutive year at Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace, the six-day program featured industry roundtables, guest bar takeovers, collaborative dining experiences, and the annual awards ceremony recognizing Asia's top bars. Events also showcased cocktail culture from cities including Shanghai, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Goa, alongside collaborations with internationally recognized chefs.
The event reflects Macau's growing role as a regional hub for food and beverage tourism while reinforcing its status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. Beyond the awards, the program emphasized professional collaboration, cultural exchange, and innovation across Asia's evolving hospitality industry.
UAE Flight Updates Today: Etihad and Air Arabia Cancel Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Routes on July 31
Travellers flying to and from the UAE on Friday, July 31, should check their flight status before leaving for the airport after Etihad Airways and Air Arabia cancelled several services to Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia due to operational reasons.
Affected Etihad flights include routes between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, while Air Arabia suspended selected services from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi to Kuwait, Bahrain and Abha. Emirates and flydubai continue to operate their schedules without major disruptions. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has extended the suspension of passenger flights to Bahrain, Erbil and Kuwait through July 31.
Airlines across the region remain on heightened alert as Middle East security tensions continue, with some flights taking longer due to revised flight paths that avoid restricted airspace. Passengers are advised to verify the latest schedule updates directly with their airline before travelling.
If playback is interrupted, you can restart it.
Travel News Live follows breaking developments from airlines, tourism, destinations, hotels, cruises, governments and the global travel industry.
This page is updated throughout the day as news breaks.
