Business Travel News - Global Travel News

GDSs Bringing Automated Air Ticket Repricing To Europe

2009-07-16

Global distribution system providers this summer are expanding the deployments of their automated air ticket repricing technologies across Europe. The technology reduces typical agent refund, exchange and reissue times from as many as 30 minutes to less than five, as it eliminates most manual processes like agent checks of fare restrictions, ticket eligibility and airline requirements.

BA Considering Business Class Cut

2009-07-15

British Airways is considering reducing its Club World cabin on two dozen Boeing 747s after chief executive Willie Walsh warned that the downturn in business-class trafficâand the price travelers are prepared to pay for itâmay be permanent.

U.S. Limits Immunity For Continental, Star Carriers On Some EU Routes

2009-07-15

The U.S. Department of Transportation in a final decision late last week approved Continental Airlines' request to join the Star Alliance as an antitrust-immune member and form a transatlantic joint venture with Air Canada, Lufthansa and United Airlines. The final decision makes some concessions to the U.S. Justice Department, which in the course of weeks of delays sought to limit the degree of cooperation tentatively approved in April.

J.P. Morgan Offers Baltic, Nordic Countries Payable and Receivable Services

2009-07-15

J.P. Morgan Treasury Services, the commercial payment arm of JPMorgan Chase, on Wednesday announced it has expanded its payables and receivables capabilities in Europe's Baltic and Nordic regions.

London Hotel Occupancy Flat Following Room Rate Crash

2009-07-15

The recession-led crash in hotel rates may be coming to an end in London, according to latest figures from hospitality benchmarking company STR Global.

Alliances Consolidating Within European Airport Terminals

2009-07-15

In the latest example of consolidation by each of the three global airline alliances into single terminals, all members of Oneworld will operate exclusively from Terminal 2 at Helsinki Airport starting Aug. 5. The collocation will be completed by local flag-carrier Finnair shifting its domestic flights across from T1.

World Wildlife Fund UK To Urge Business To Cut Flying By 20 Percent

2009-07-15

The conservation charity WWF-UKâformerly Worldwide Fund for Natureâwill launch next week a campaign called One in Five, aimed at helping British businesses and government agencies reduce their flying by 20 percent within five years.

German Hoteliers Score Europe's Lowest RevPAR Declines

2009-07-08

Hotels in five German cities outperformed the rest of Europe in the May 2009 European Hotel Review, a joint project of Smith Travel Research Global and Fairmas that was released on Wednesday.

Travelport, Air Berlin Renew Partnership As Preferred Fares Ire Provides Opportunity

2009-07-08

German low-fare carrier Air Berlin and global distribution system provider Travelport announced the renewal of their full-content distribution agreement earlier this week. A couple of years ago, this would have been of little interest to corporate travel buyers because Air Berlin was predominantly a leisure airline and Travelport had minuscule marketshare in Germany. However, the situation has since changed significantly, with both parties picking up corporate business. Air Berlin head of corporate sales Susanne Hoehenberger said her airline has increased its corporate contracts from 493 in 2007 to 900 today, while Travelport, although still small, claims its marketshare has broken into double digits for the first time.

Star Alliance Pushes For Antitrust Ruling As AA Knocks DOJ

2009-07-08

Continental Airlines and its Star Alliance partners-to-be this week countered U.S. Department of Justice criticism of their antitrust immunity application and requested prompt finalization of April's tentative approval.