Free training in Spain for truck drivers
Freight transport in Spain is facing a growing shortage of professional drivers, with over 20,000 vacancies and a third of the current 390,000 drivers nearing retirement within the next ten years. The situation also affects passenger transport, with 2,300 bus driver positions to be filled. To counter this crisis, the Spanish hauliers’ association Fenadismer, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, relaunched a free training programme for the unemployed in March.
New container train between China and Germany
The new China-Europe-Express rail service has been inaugurated at the German port of Wilhelmshaven, directly connecting Ningbo, China’s busiest port, with JadeWeserPort, Germany’s only deep-water container terminal. The maritime leg ensures a travel time of 26 days without intermediate stops. For inland European transport, TFG Transfracht offers six feeder trains and nine direct weekly departures, while DB Cargo Eurasia provides a direct rail link between Wilhelmshaven and the Václav terminal in Hungary.
Spirit Airlines emerges from bankruptcy with new investments
American airline Spirit Airlines has completed its bankruptcy proceedings, reducing debt and increasing financial flexibility. The company received a capital injection of $350 million from existing investors to support new initiatives and expand its offerings with premium services. Spirit had declared bankruptcy in November 2024 to restructure $1.6 billion in debt after losing customers drawn to the base fares of major airlines. The crisis was exacerbated by an engine defect that grounded part of the fleet and rising labour costs. The US bankruptcy court approved the exit from protection last month.
Portuguese government postpones TAP sale
The sale of a stake in Portuguese flag carrier TAP will be delayed by several months due to the political crisis pushing the country towards early elections. The minority government led by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has called for a vote of confidence, which it is likely to lose following the opposition’s announcement of its intention to reject it. A defeat in Parliament would lead to the government’s collapse and new elections expected in May. In such a case, the executive would remain in office only for routine administration, ruling out TAP’s privatisation. The sale process, initially planned for March with a 49% stake to be sold, would therefore be postponed until a new government is in place.
Ayvens signs agreement with EIB for electric vehicles
Ayvens and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have signed a new financing agreement to expand the fleet of electric light commercial vehicles in Europe. The deal includes a €350 million loan from the EIB, matched by an equivalent co-investment from Ayvens, to introduce 19,000 electric vehicles over the next three years, mainly in Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. This is the first green loan granted by the EIB for this sector, as part of a climate action initiative aimed at facilitating businesses’ transition to electric mobility.
