Aeroflot summed up traffic and capacity statistics for January 2013

Moscow, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — JSC “Aeroflot – Russian Airlines” summed up traffic and capacity statistics for January 2013. In January 2013 passenger traffic increased by 19.1% against January 2012 and totaled 1,395.7 ths passengers. International passenger traffic rose by 22.0% (+155.9 ths passengers) reaching 863.1 ths passengers. The number of passengers served on domestic lines was 532.6… Read the full press release

British Airways marks 10 years at London City Airport

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — British Airways marks 10 years at London City Airport in March with a year-long party for customers, colleagues and charity. The celebrations begin on March 27 with a birthday party at the Museum of London Docklands, hosted by football legend Gary Lineker and Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG), parent… Read the full press release

Shannon Airport welcomed four new board directors

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ —  The Chairman and management of Shannon Airport Authority have welcomed the appointment of four new members to the board of the SAA. The new appointees are US based public policy consultant and transport expert Kathryn O’Leary Higgins, Managing Director of Clare FM and Tipp FM radio stations Liam O’Shea and Shannon… Read the full press release

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA, AIRPORT OFFICIALS UNVEIL STATE-OF-THE-ART AIRCRAFT GATES AT LAX’S NEW TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa was joined today by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and Singapore Airlines executives to unveil the north concourse and three gates of the New Tom Bradley International Terminal (New TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The gates are the first of 18 to be built… Read the full press release

SAS and Swissport International signed Letter of Intent: Swissport to take over SAS Ground Handling

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Swissport International Ltd. (Swissport) and Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS) today announced they have signed a Letter of Intent. The letter creates the basis for continued negotiations between the two companies, aiming at an agreement to transfer full ownership of SAS’ Ground Handling in Denmark, Sweden and Norway to Swissport. As a first… Read the full press release

PATA: 2012 Was a Record Year for Asia/Pacific Tourism

BANGKOK, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Asia and the Pacific continued as a hot spot for international tourism in 2012, attracting what is expected to be in excess of 350 million international visitor arrivals, expanding its collective inbound count by more than 5% and generating more than 18 million additional foreign visits, year-on-year. This is according to… Read the full press release

Rate Remains Key Driver of Growth for Hotels in 2013

NEW YORK, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — While demand for hotel rooms continues to see moderate growth across all segments , average daily rate (ADR) continues to be the main driver of growth for hotels in 2013, according to data from the February 2013 TravelClick North American Hospitality Review (NAHR). “Based on TravelClick data, while committed occupancy… Read the full press release

LATAM Airlines Group chooses oneworld as its global alliance

Brazil’s TAM to leave Star for oneworld in early 2014 LAN Colombia to join oneworld too, building on LAN group’s 13-year membership of alliance Business as usual for customers meantime, with seamless transition promised Latin America’s top airline group strengthens oneworld’s status as global first choice alliance 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — LATAM Airlines Group today confirmed its selection of oneworld® as… Read the full press release

The U.S. Travel Association Applauds House Bill to Fund Government

Legislation Requires Staffing to Facilitate International Travelers Washington, D.C. 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ —  The U.S. Travel Association today applauded the House for approving a six-month stopgap spending bill to keep the government operating past March 27 and require Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to maintain its staffing levels from the end of fiscal 2012. “We applaud… Read the full press release

Royal Jet Establishes Operational Base at Al Bateen Executive Airport

MoU Between Royal Jet and Abu Dhabi Airports Company Supports Double Digit Industry Growth Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Royal Jet and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will effectively facilitate the expansion of operations into the Al Bateen Executive Airport by the Abu Dhabi-based international luxury… Read the full press release

The free online access provided by Finavia at Helsinki Airport increases in popularity every year

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — “The number of users in the wireless network has increased massively in the last 12 months. In January 2013, the number of users was 168% higher than in January 2012,” says Ville Haapasaari, Airport Director. Compared to the figures in January 2009, the increase is even more extensive: the user volume is now… Read the full press release

Automated boarding pass scanners introduced in Copenhagen Airport

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — It will be easier and faster to get to the security screening area when Copenhagen Airport introduces automated boarding pass scanners. The goal is to increase passenger satisfaction as well as capacity. In future, passengers at Copenhagen Airport will go trough a so-called e-gate before entering the security screening area; manual boarding… Read the full press release

Norwegian reports positive traffic results in February

2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Norwegian (NAS) today reported February’s traffic results. The company continued its passenger growth in February. The company carried 1,254,643 passengers, an increase of 9 percent compared to February last year. Due to last year’s leap year, this February had one less travel day. The same number of travel days this year would… Read the full press release

Jet Airways introduces a range of initiatives to celebrate ‘International Women’s Day’

Honours 3 NGOs with unique In-Flight collection drive 2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — In keeping with its tradition of celebrating International Women’s day and as part of its JetViva initiative, Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, is set to honour the efforts of non-profit organizations, aimed at the welfare of the girl child and women in society…. Read the full press release

Palm Springs, California – Desert Living Home Spring Show Comes to Convention Center

Eco-Friendly Products, How-to Seminars and Home Improvement Tips Palm Springs, Calif. 2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — With spring cleaning season just around the corner, residents and visitors can work on their home projects and shop at the semi-annual Desert Living Home Show scheduled Friday, March 8 through Sunday, March 10 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The… Read the full press release

The Pan European Network Service (PENS) is now the operational for inter-centre coordination in Europe

Brussels, Belgium, 2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Pan European Network Service (PENS) is now the operational network for the exchange of coordination messages between the Air Traffic Control (ATC) Centres of NATS in Swanwick (UK) and the Maastricht Upper Area Centre (MUAC) in the Netherlands. PENS allows ATC Centres to exchange flight information data securely and efficiently… Read the full press release

CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT RECORDS HALF-YEAR PROFIT

2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — CIAL Chief Executive Jim Boult says though the net profit after tax is 7.5 per cent down on the previous half year, earnings before interest costs, tax depreciation and amortisation (“EBITDA”) – the company’s key operational financial performance measure – at $33.1m, was 5.2% ahead of the same period last year. Total… Read the full press release

Early booking urged by Virgin Trains to guarantee a seat for Easter travel

2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Route improvement works by our colleagues at Network Rail mean alterations to many Virgin Trains services over the Easter weekend.  Trains will be busy and journey times longer than usual. People intending to travel should book early and reserve a seat. Improvements will be made at a number of locations. A large… Read the full press release

World Committee on Tourism Ethics praises growing private sector commitment

2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Twelfth Meeting of the World Committee on Tourism Ethics commended the UNWTO Private Sector Commitment to the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism Initiative and praised the growing number of signatory businesses who pledged to uphold responsible conduct in the tourism sector (Madrid, Spain, 4-5 March). As the body responsible for… Read the full press release

Etihad Airways and airberlin align maintenance operations in Chicago

2013-03-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Etihad Airways has opened a line maintenance base at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, the UAE flag carrier’s seventh outside Abu Dhabi and its first in the United States. The new facility is equipped with the latest technology and will perform all scheduled and non-scheduled line maintenance for Etihad Airways’ daily Boeing 777… Read the full press release

IATA: Passenger Demand Uptick Continues in 2013

Geneva, 2013-03-05 — /travelprnews.com/ —  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released global air travel demand statistics for January showing a continuation of the uptick in passenger travel that began at the end of 2012. Overall, demand was up 2.7% on the previous January which is slightly ahead of the 2.2% expansion in capacity. Load factors… Read the full press release

WTTC Regional Summit to take place in Korea due to Asia’s growing status as a global powerhouse in Travel & Tourism

2013-03-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is holding its regional Asia Summit in Korea in September, in recognition of the recent acceleration of Travel & Tourism in the region and the industry’s positive impact on global GDP and employment. The WTTC Asia Summit will take place in Seoul from 10th-11th September…. Read the full press release

IATA: Balancing Risk and Regulation – A Pragmatic Approach to Aviation Security

New York, 2013-03-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called upon governments to work with industry to develop a pragmatic approach to keeping aviation secure by balancing risk and regulation. “We have a big responsibility—keeping more than 3 billion air travelers, nearly 50 million tonnes of freight and the world’s economies securely connected… Read the full press release

Leaders of the Complete Visitor Economy to Convene at PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok

Bangkok, 2013-03-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Leaders of the Complete Visitor Economy will gather for the 2013 PATA Annual Summit (2013PAS) in Bangkok, April 25-28, 2013. The PATA Youth Forum will commence on Thursday, April 25, followed by the one-day summit on Friday April 26, and the PATA Board meetings and AGM on April 27-28 respectively. Under… Read the full press release

Homewood Suites by Hilton Reaches 35,000 Suite Milestone with Opening of Homewood Suites Orlando Airport

Award-Winning Brand Leads Extended-Stay Category Offering Guests Top Value and Home-like Experience MCLEAN, Va., 2013-03-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Homewood Suites by Hilton, the international brand of upscale, all-suite, residential-style hotels, celebrated the opening of its 35,000th suite with the debut of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Orlando Airport.  With more than 315-plus properties across North America, Homewood… Read the full press release

Qatar Tourism Authority to showcase Qatar’s finest at ITB Berlin, 6-10 March 2013

Largest Qatar hospitality institutions to participate – Souq Waqif, Diplomatic Club, Katara Hospitality, Katara Cultural Village, Ministry of Culture Arts & Heritage, and QMA      Major tour operators and tourism companies to share pavilion – Regency Holidays, Discover Qatar, Qatar International Adventures, Qatar International Tours, Gulf Adventures Tourism    18 Qatar Hotels to attend… Read the full press release

NEW WORLD HOTELS UNVEIL STYLISH NEW LOOKS WITH USD72 MILLION RENOVATIONS

Guests to celebrate with “Bonus Stay” and “Weekend Welcome” 2013-03-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — New World Hotels in Manila, Shanghai and Dalian introduce new facilities showcasing the group’s design philosophy of distinctive surroundings, which are elegant, yet crisp and thoughtful in their execution.  The comprehensive USD72 million renovation programme, with the goal of creating venues that allow… Read the full press release

New Low-Cost European Carrier Volotea Chooses Travelport E-Ticket Technologies to Expand Reach and Revenue

Atlanta, 2013-03-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces a new long-term IT services agreement with Volotea, the new low-cost European carrier headquartered in Barcelona, Spain. Volotea, which commenced operations in April 2012, is the newest participant in Travelport’s electronic ticket database hosting service, and has also joined… Read the full press release

Loews Hotels & Resorts and DRW Trading Group Hold Ceremonial Groundbreaking for Loews Chicago Hotel

NEW YORK, NY, 2013-03-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Loews Hotels & Resorts, a wholly owned-subsidiary of Loews Corporation (NYSE: L), today  (March 1, 2013) held a ceremonial groundbreaking in Chicago on the site where the company will open the Loews Chicago Hotel in 2015. Jonathan M. Tisch, Chairman of Loews Hotels & Resorts and President and CEO of… Read the full press release

Gartner Report Evaluates Concur’s Use of the Nexus of Forces In Travel Expense Management

Concur’s Perfect Trip vision cited as example of how the nexus could impact travel expense management technologies Redmond, Wash., 2013-03-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — Concur (NASDAQ: CNQR), a leading provider of integrated travel and expense management solutions, today announced the availability of a complimentary Gartner report “Evaluating Concur’s Use of  the Nexus of Forces in Travel Expense Management”. This report, made available… Read the full press release