Burgas may not be Bulgaria‘s capital, but Eurovision Song Contest fans travelling to the Black Sea city in May 2027 will have several ways of getting there. The city has its own international airport, direct railway connections with Sofia and Plovdiv, long-distance buses and good road links to the rest of Bulgaria and neighbouring Turkey.
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European airport passenger traffic dips for first time since COVID recovery as disruptions mount
For the first time since Europe’s air travel rebound began in April 2021, passenger traffic at European airports fell by 0.7% in April compared to last year, according to Airport Council International Europe (ACI Europe)’s latest report. The decline, though small, underscores growing challenges for travellers, from geopolitical tensions to industrial action and border control…
Brussels Airlines has fuel for at least next 4 to 6 weeks
Brussels Airlines has received assurances from its fuel suppliers that kerosene deliveries are secured for the next four to six weeks, CEO Dorothea von Boxberg announced on Wednesday. The airline has hedged 80% of its kerosene, locking in prices and shielding itself from recent price spikes. This strategy provides a competitive edge, particularly over United…
Belgium 16th safest country in 2025
Belgium has been ranked among the world’s 20 safest countries for 2025, according to the latest edition of the Global Peace Index (GPI). The country placed 16th overall, achieving a score of 1.492 out of 5, where lower scores indicate higher levels of peace.
Board of Directors of NMBS / SNCB awards MR30 / AM30 contract to CAF and orders first trains
“Following a European public procurement procedure launched in 2022 for the purchase of new multiple units, the Board of Directors of NMBS / SNCB decided this Friday to award the framework agreement to the manufacturer CAF“, a press release says.
NMBS / SNCB to order 180 CAF Civity trains, including battery-powered sets
The Board of Directors of the National Railway Company of Belgium, the NMBS / SNCB, is set to award the contract for the new MR30 / AM30 trains to manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from the Basque Country in Spain, Thibault Lapers‘ mobilithib blog has learned from a source.
BELGIUM | Council of State backs NMBS / SNCB’s choice of Spanish CAF for multi-billion train order
The Council of State has dismissed an appeal by Siemens and rejected a request from NGOs, clearing the way for Belgian state railway NMBS / SNCB to move forward with its plans to order hundreds of new trainsets from Spanish manufacturer CAF. A ruling on a parallel case brought by French rival Alstom is still…
SICILY | Catania
March 2025. We’re embarking on a train trip to Sicily. We fly from Brussels Airport to Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport with ITA Airways. Then we take an Intercity Notte sleeper train by Trenitalia from Roma Termini Railway Station across Italy to Syracuse. Yes, the train is loaded on a ferry to cross the…
NMBS / SNCB’s AM30 / MR30 order faces political and legal headwinds as costs of delay mount
The Belgian national rail operator NMBS / SNCB is under mounting pressure over its planned order of new trains from Spanish manufacturer Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), as political debate, legal challenges and international criticism threaten to delay the procurement.
AUSTRIA | Introducing Vienna, hosting the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest
Austria’s capital Vienna (Wien) has been selected by host broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to host the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in May 2026.