Sabre renews content deal with Lufthansa
The Sabre Travel Network has renewed its full content deal with German national carrier Lufthansa.
Under the deal, Sabre will become a Lufthansa "preferred GDS" with all standard fares and inventory available worldwide to Sabre-linked agents.
* American Airlines has ended its stand off with Sabre and agreed to sign a new five-year distribution agreement.
London hotels still booming
London hotels enjoyed their highest ever room rate in July, according to new figures from consultant PKF.
Room yield for the month was £113.32, a "staggering" increase of 34.4% on the figure for July 2005 and 29.9% higher than for July 2004.
The daily room rate rose by 18.1% from £108.28 to £127.84 awhile occupancy increased from 77.8% to 88.6%
Figures in July 2005 were briefly affected by the London terrorist bombings on the 7th of the month.
Delta gets green light for Gatwick-New York service
Delta Air Lines has been given the go ahead by the US Department of Transportation to sell tickets for its new London Gatwick-New York JFK service.
The daily service is due to start on November 15.
IATA revises forecast
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revised its predicted air industry losses for 2006, saying the figure was now likely to be around $1.7bn rather than the $3bn originally forecast.
The first figure was based partly on the increasing cost of fuel but IATA said that "stronger than anticipated economic growth" has boosted airline revenues.
The Association said it expected European airlines to make a $1.8bn profit.
Giovanni Bisignani, its director general said: "Strong growth in premium traffic is the positive spin-off from a stronger European economy. And double-digit growth in Asia-Europe markets contributed significantly."
70% of tickets will be electronic by end of year – Amadeus
Leading GDS Amadeus said it expects that by the end of 2006, 70% of the tickets it issues will be e-tickets. The current figure is 64.5%.
It said that enabled e-ticketing for 153 airlines in 138 countries, including 39 airlines this year and with a further 20 by the end of 2006.
MAXjet to launch Las Vegas service
MAXjet, the all-business class transatlantic service, is to launch a London Stansted-Las Vegas service on November 2.
The flights will be twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.
MAXjet ceo Gary Rogliano said: "The UK is the second largest market to visit Las Vegas and we are responding to customer demand for an affordable non-stop business class service from London.
"The addition of this new route also means that connections to and from US west coast are now much easier."
AND some of the major stories which broke while BTE took its summer break:
HRG buys Polish partner
The Hogg Robinson Group (HRG) bought its Polish partner BTI Polska.
The agency was founded in 1984 and operated with the then BTI group for 12 years.
The acquisition comes after HRG bought its partners in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The company will now trade as HRG Polska and its founder, Katarzyna Hryniewicz will continue as managing director.
David Radcliffe, HRG's ceo, said: "Coming soon after our Czech and Slovakian acquisitions, this is yet another example of our commitment to having a strong presence in all the key driver and growth markets worldwide.
"Eastern Europe is becoming an increasingly important market and having a strong presence in Poland is essential for us."
…and also Ian Flint and Associates
HRG also bought Ian Flint and Associates, a leading UK-based consultancy. Mr Flint founder of the company was appointed HRG's head of global consulting.
Mr Flint, who has more than 30 years' experience in the travel industry, founded his consultancy in 1989.
Air Berlin takes over dba
German low cost carrier Air Berlin took over rival airline dba, the former BA subsidiary.
Joachim Hunold, Air Berlin's ceo, said the dba was his airline's "dream partner" and the acquisition was designed to "secure Air Berlin's growth."
It is the second largest carrier in Germany after Lufthansa.
The takeover has yet to be approved by the German authorities.
* see new jobs on BTE's recruitment site www.businesstraveljobs.com