Alitalia's losses shoot up
Alitalia's net loss for 2006 rose to €625.6m after the airline's board decided to write €197m off the value of its fleet.
The 2006 figures compare badly with the loss of €405.2m announced earlier this year and the €167.8m loss in 2005.
The Italian airline said its operating loss for the year was €465m, compared to €47m in 2005.
A statement by Alitalia said the losses for 2006 added to those of €147.5m for the first quarter of 2007 exceeded one third of the company capital.
The carrier was now calling a meeting of shareholders for June 26 to "take decisions" regarding the figures.
Alitalia said 2006 had been "characterised by serious and growing problems of a complex nature."
It cited the increase in fuel prices which rose by 16%, the "sharp rise in competitive pressure from low-cost carriers on the domestic and international markets", and "clashes with trade unions which led to repeated disruptions of operations, especially regarding regularity and commercial reliability, caused revenue losses in 2006 estimated at €100m."
Austrian introduces jet service
A new service to take its business class passengers by private jet to its hub in Vienna has been introduced by Austrian Airlines.
Travellers on long haul flights out of the Austrian capital can book a private jet "from anywhere in Europe" with charter service JetAlliance.
Dr Josef Burger, the airline's chief commercial officer, said the new service, Austrian Business Jet was a "broadening of our feeder system, primarily for destinations which have yet not been opened by us or are not operated with high frequencies."
Location key for business travellers
A hotel's location, not its brand, is the key issue for business travellers, according to a new survey.
The poll of 1,600 UK travellers by Utell Hotels and Resorts, part of Pegasus Solutions, found that location was the prime concern of 84%.
Travellers said hotels must be close either to transport facilities or to the business meeting.
Its Utell Us 2007 survey also found that 36% of business travellers wanted an easy reservation process.
The survey also found that 92% of travellers thought the hotel brand was the least important when choosing accommodation.
There was also a trend for travellers to stay in independent hotels with 15% picking such accommodation.
Peter Fitzgerald, president of Utell Hotels and Resorts, said: "The Utell Us survey demonstrates that UK consumers want originality and choice in their accommodation as well as flexibility and security in how they book."
CSA cuts losses
Czech Airlines CSA made a net loss of €14m (CZK396.9m) in 2006, a slight improvement of €3.5m (CZK100m) on the loss for the previous year.
Operating revenues for 2006 were €832m (CZK23.56bn), a year to year increase of 6.3% but operating expenses also increased by 3.5% to €833m (CZK23.56bn).
Radomír Lašák, CSA's president, said: "In 2006, we had to generate an additional CZK700m (€25m) in revenues, compared to 2005.
"These were additional costs related to aircraft financing and increased salaries. This year, we have to do even better by at least another 700 million crowns, which we will once again need to cover similar unavoidable expenses."
On The Move
Hart to take over as Hilton ceo
Matthew Hart, president and chief operating officer for Hilton Hotels Corporation, will take over as its ceo next January 1.
He succeeds Steve Bollenbach who is retiring in December.
Mr Hart, who will remain president, joined the hotel group in1996 and has been involved in several strategic acquisitions including Hilton International which re-united the two Hilton chains.
He also launched the company's new luxury brand, the Waldorf Astoria Collection.
After his retirement as ceo, Mr Bollenbach will continue as co-chairman of Hilton Hotels.
Howes promoted at Booking.com
Rachel Howes has been appointed the new UK managing director of hotel booking agency Booking.com.
She joined the company, formerly known as Active Hotels, three years ago as sales manager for its German market and has since held various management roles.
She joined her current company after eight years with GTA.
Ms Howes will be based in Booking.com's Cambridge offices.
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