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

Arkansas: Race to Hot Springs for the 39th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism

2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Have you waited until the last minute to register for the 39th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism? This IS the last minute! Early Bird registration for the event ends today. Don’t miss your chance to save your spot for $30 off the price at the door. Why should you go? There are… Read the full press release

CATSA videos provide March break travel tips

OTTAWA, 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Counting the days until you take off on your March break vacation? Here are a few tips from the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to help you prepare so you can get through security screening as quickly and effortlessly as possible. At home Before arriving to the airport know what’s allowed in your… Read the full press release

Pet Scam Involving False SFO E-mail address

Airport warns of e-mail scam using fake SFO account SAN FRANCISCO, 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is alerting the public to a pet scam which may use a false e-mail address claiming to represent SFO. The pet scam, which recently has involved the “Yorkie” breed of dogs, often begins on websites… Read the full press release

LAX MODERNIZATION UPDATE: ACCESS TO TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL IMPACTED BY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Los Angeles, 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Construction continues on several projects in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) – all part of the ongoing $4.1-billion airport modernization program.  The latest impact to travelers will be the closures of both crosswalks on the Lower/Arrivals Level from Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT) to… Read the full press release

San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau Announces New Senior Sales Managers

2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau’s (SACVB) Sandy Bench, Alysia Roden and Troy Love have been promoted to Senior Sales Managers. Sandra J. Bench, CMP, CTA has been with the SACVB for six years. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Sandy had a successful career as a meeting planner where she… Read the full press release

CAA publishes advice to DfT on the UK’s terminal air navigation services market

2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today (Thursday 28 February 2013) published its advice to the Department for Transport (DfT) on how the market for terminal air navigation services at the UK’s largest airports is currently working. The advice was requested by the Secretary of State for Transport in March 2012,… Read the full press release

Lufthansa takes delivery of first A320 with sharklets

Extended wingtips reduce fuel consumption by up to four per cent. 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Lufthansa pilots have today picked up the airline’s first Airbus A320 equipped with 2.4 metre-high extended wingtips in Hamburg Finkenwerder. Known as sharklets, the blended wingtips are designed to cut fuel consumption by one to four per cent, depending on the… Read the full press release

Helsinki Airport – Travelling gets smoother: Five new automated border control gates

Helsinki Airport gets five new automatic border control gates for departing passengers. 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — The total of 15 automated border control gates for departing passengers make travelling smoother and reduce queuing. The gates at Helsinki Airport create the longest row of such gates in Europe. There are 15 more automated border control gates for… Read the full press release

CTC appoints Robert Mercure to its Board of Directors

Newcomer brings vast experience in the hotel industry at home and abroad to the boardroom table. 2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Robert Mercure, a man with hotels in his blood, is the latest addition to the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC)’s Board of Directors. Mercure comes from a family with a long tradition in the Canadian hotel industry: he is the… Read the full press release

SWISS to modify its international surcharge

2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — SWISS is adjusting the international surcharge (formerly known as the fuel surcharge) for its intercontinental flights with effect from 8 March. The increase will apply to all tickets for intercontinental air travel originating in Switzerland in all seating classes. At the same time, SWISS is abolishing its international surcharge on tickets for… Read the full press release