catalan way

Spanair calls for voluntary bankruptcy and prepares the mass layoff of its 2,065 workers

January 30, 2012 10:39 PM | CNA

The Catalan airline has a debt of €474 million; €260 million of which is with its shareholders and the remaining €214 millions with providers, airports and social security. The Catalan Government has invested €140 million in the airline, split in loans given to the company and in Spanair’s capital. Spanair stopped all its activity on Friday evening because it could not find any additional funding. All the more than 12,000 Spanair passengers passing through Catalonia over the weekend found an alternative flight using other airlines.

Valls welcomes the annual Catalan gastronomic tradition of the ‘Calçotada’

January 30, 2012 07:47 PM | CNA / Sara Gómez

Among the many culinary traditions Catalonia can boast about, the ‘Calçotada’ is one of the most beloved among Catalans. People from all over the territory and in particular those from southern towns such as Valls, eat ‘calçots’ (similar to green onions) with family and friends in special get togethers for the next three months. On January 29th the season kicked off with a festival that brought together 30,000 people.

Spanair cancels all its flights and stops its activity for financial reasons

January 28, 2012 12:31 AM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

Due to the impossibility of finding extra capital, the Barcelona-based airline’s board has taken the decision to cancel all its flights and to suspend the company’s activity. Negotiations with Qatar Airways broke down, which forced Spanair’s board to analyse the company’s viability. The Catalan Government, which partially owns the airline, has refused to invest more money in the company, and thus Spanair stopped flying. Passengers will be refunded and will be able to buy discounted tickets with other airlines.

Final countdown to the world’s main mobile phone and technology congress

January 26, 2012 11:54 PM | CNA / Jordi Pueyo i Busquets

This year's edition Mobile World Congress will be the first after Barcelona was officially declared the Mobile World Capital, and the organising city of this annual event until at least 2018. The MWC will start on February 27th with the motto “Redefining mobile”. More than 1,400 companies will be present and organisers expect to break last year’s records. There will also be three times more Catalan companies.

Hollywood nominates two films produced by Catalan companies for the Oscars

January 24, 2012 09:59 PM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

Woody Allen’s ‘Midnight in Paris’ produced by the Catalan company Mediapro and the Catalan Public Television Broadcaster, has been nominated for Best Movie, Best Director, Best Art Direction and Best Adapted Script and has already won a Golden Globe. The film ‘Chico y Rita’ has been nominated Best Animated Feature. The movie was developed in the Catalan capital by Barcelona-based Javier Mariscal. However, the Catalan film ‘Pa Negre' has not been nominated in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

New talents and world renowned designers in the 9th edition of the 080 Barcelona Fashion Week

January 24, 2012 08:32 PM | CNA/ Joan Serra Mingot

Barcelona’s independent fashion fair kicks off this week, running from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th. The fall-winter 2012/2013 collections of prestigious brands and designers such as Desigual, Pierre Cardin or Mango will be presented in the centre of Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter in the Plaça del Rei (King’s Square) and the Saló del Tinell, inside the former King’s Palace.

Theatre masters Flotats and Espert relive drama of exiled Catalan intellectuals through their letters

January 24, 2012 06:13 PM | CNA / Marina Puy

‘L’exili’ (The Exile) is part of Barcelona-based Teatre Lliure’s series “Cartes lliures” (Free Letters) directed by Pau Carrió. The series focuses on the correspondence of Catalan intellectuals, and each “chapter” has a theme. The veteran theatre actors Núria Espert and Josep Maria Flotats, who are considered to be two of the best actors in Catalonia, perform in that focusing on the exile. They read on stage the letters of intellectuals who were obliged to leave Catalonia because of the Spanish Civil War.

The privatisation of Barcelona El Prat and Madrid Barajas airports halted by the new Spanish Government

January 23, 2012 11:10 PM | CNA / Gaspar Pericay Coll

The participation of the Catalan business community and local governments in the management of Barcelona’s Airport has been halted. This has been a long-term claim by many in Catalonia, as they believe that the centralised management of the airports has clearly benefited Madrid over Barcelona. The new Spanish Minister for Public Works and Transport announced the decision to cancel the tender process to privatise the management of Spain’s two main airports, Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat. The reasons for the decision have been put down to a negative time for the markets and a desire for the value of the assets to increase in the future.