An abandoned twin-engine aircraft that has been sitting at Seville Airport for at least eight years is being put up for public auction, with bids starting at just €10.

The Piper PA-23 Apache was legally declared abandoned after repeated attempts to locate its owner failed. Spain’s airport and air-navigation manager Aena is now seeking a new owner for the aircraft, although the winning bidder will not be able to fly it away.

The auction price is set at €10, with an additional €0.50 deposit required. The unusually low starting price has attracted public interest since the auction was announced, with Aena receiving numerous enquiries from potential buyers.

Aena said the aircraft has been at Seville Airport since at least 2018. Airport officials made several attempts to contact the owner and published notices in Spain’s Official State Gazette three times to give the owner an opportunity to claim the plane.

No one came forward, leaving the aircraft eligible for auction.

Any individual, company or institution can submit a bid, provided they follow the procedures outlined in the auction’s terms and conditions. The deadline for submitting offers is set out in the tender documents, while the bids will be opened at Seville Airport at a later date.

Despite the aircraft’s aviation history, the new owner should not expect to use it as a means of transport.

Aena told Euronews Travel that the Piper PA-23 Apache is in poor condition and “cannot fly”.

The aircraft was first introduced in the 1950s by Piper Aircraft Corporation and was the American manufacturer’s first twin-engine production aircraft. Built with an all-metal design, the plane could carry up to four people and was considered an affordable option for its era.

The aircraft’s current condition means that the €10 starting price is unlikely to be the final cost for anyone hoping to restore it. Transport, storage, restoration and disposal costs could all add significantly to the expense.

Still, the auction offers the chance to acquire an unusual piece of aviation history for a fraction of the price of even the cheapest working aircraft.

For the eventual winner, the Piper Apache may become a display piece, a restoration project or an aviation-themed curiosity. One thing is certain: despite beginning its next chapter at an airport, this particular aircraft will not be flying its new owner home.

Greek airspace recorded its busiest day on record on Saturday, July 18, as air traffic controllers managed 5,082 scheduled flights, marking a new milestone for the country’s aviation sector during the peak summer travel season.

The Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) said the record was achieved within the ATHINAI Flight Information Region (FIR) and HELLAS Upper Flight Information Region (UIR), surpassing the previous daily high of 4,944 flights recorded on August 10, 2024.

The latest figure also exceeded another milestone reached earlier this month. On July 4, Greek airspace handled 4,925 flights, which had already overtaken the previous record established in August 2025, when 4,916 flights were managed in a single day.

According to the HCAA, air traffic controllers safely coordinated all aircraft movements while complying with national, European and international aviation regulations. The authority said the record-breaking traffic levels were managed without compromising operational safety, highlighting the capacity of Greece’s air navigation system during one of the busiest periods of the year.

The surge in air traffic reflects strong international demand for travel to Greece, one of Europe’s most popular summer tourism destinations. The country experiences a sharp rise in flight activity during July and August as millions of visitors arrive for holidays across its mainland cities and islands.

Air traffic through Greek airspace is also supported by transit flights connecting Europe, the Middle East and other international destinations, making the country’s airspace one of the busiest in the region during the summer months.

The HCAA said current flight-planning data indicates that traffic volumes are expected to continue rising throughout August and into the first half of September. If those forecasts materialise, additional daily records could be set before the end of the peak travel season.

The steady increase in aircraft movements highlights the continued recovery and expansion of the aviation industry, with airlines adding more services to meet strong passenger demand. Airports across Greece have also experienced increased passenger numbers this summer as tourism continues to support the country’s economy.

Managing more than 5,000 flights in a single day places significant demands on air traffic control operations, requiring careful coordination to maintain safe separation between aircraft while minimising delays.

The new record comes after several years of sustained growth in Greek aviation. Since the previous record was established in 2024, flight activity has continued to climb, with each successive peak reflecting rising tourism and expanding airline schedules.

With airlines maintaining busy summer timetables and bookings remaining strong, aviation authorities expect high traffic levels to continue over the coming weeks, reinforcing Greece’s position as one of Europe’s busiest air travel hubs during the holiday season.

Aviation authorities are urging passengers to keep power banks, vapes and other lithium battery-powered devices out of checked luggage after a sharp increase in battery-related incidents raised safety concerns across the airline industry.

The warning comes as millions of travelers head overseas during the busy summer holiday season, prompting regulators and airlines to reinforce rules aimed at reducing the risk of fires caused by lithium batteries.

The British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said lithium batteries now represent the biggest safety risk facing aircraft. Officials reported that the number of battery-powered devices discovered in checked baggage has nearly doubled over the past year, while the average passenger now carries around four lithium-powered devices on every flight.

Lithium batteries are widely used in portable electronics because they store large amounts of energy in compact devices. However, damaged or defective batteries can overheat and ignite, creating fires that are difficult to extinguish. Authorities warn that incidents occurring inside the aircraft cabin can usually be managed by trained crew, but fires in the cargo hold present a much greater danger.

According to the CAA, the UK recorded 316 incidents involving lithium battery-powered devices in checked baggage during 2024. That figure climbed to 643 in 2025, with aviation officials reporting an average of two battery-related incidents every week. Such events can also lead to flight delays or diversions when luggage must be removed before departure.

Recent incidents have highlighted the risks. In May, an easyJet flight traveling from Hurghada, Egypt, to London diverted to Rome after a passenger informed the crew that a portable charger had been packed in checked luggage. Last October, footage circulated online showing flames emerging from an overhead storage compartment on an Air China flight, with reports suggesting a lithium battery was responsible.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) updated its guidance in March, recommending passengers carry no more than two power banks and avoid charging them during flights, whether through onboard power outlets or other methods. The CAA has repeated those recommendations and said many passengers remain unaware of the regulations.

Travelers are also advised to completely switch off laptops before placing them in checked baggage.

Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, described lithium battery incidents as an increasing challenge for the aviation sector.

“Whilst pilots and cabin crew are trained to deal with any situation the best outcome is always prevention, which starts when passengers pack their bags,” he said.

Airlines around the world have introduced stricter rules in response. Carriers including Qantas, Emirates, Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have banned the use of power banks during flights or prohibited charging them onboard. Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Eurowings and SWISS, has also tightened its policies by limiting the number of power banks passengers may carry and requiring them to be kept on their person or in easily accessible locations during the flight. Türkiye also introduced updated regulations earlier this year following ICAO’s revised guidance.