This week's news in brief: HRG's new African partner, a new Gatwick bidder, SWISS's fleet renewal plans, Hyatt's expansion hopes, Ryanair on the DAA and finally Accor's plans for the Middle East
HRG adds new African partner
Hogg Robinson Group has signed up a new African partner in Benin.
O-Voyages, part of the Olizair Group, become the travel management company's 27th partner in the continent.
The agency, which specialises in airline representation and consulting, is already HRG's partner in Côte D'Ivoire.
Bernard Takpin, O-VOYAGES Benin's managing director, said: "Combining the global expertise of HRG with our extensive local knowledge brings many opportunities for us and for our clients."
David Radcliffe, HRG's ceo, said: "Africa is growing in importance to our multinational clients and to have a presence in Benin enhances our well established and excellent reputation on the African continent."
www.hrg.com
Terra Firma plans Gatwick bid
Terra Firma, the London-based private equity firm founded by Guy Hands, is planning to make a bid for Gatwick Airport.
BAA, owners of seven UK airports including Gatwick, was ordered to sell off the property last month by the Competition Commission.
Despite falling passenger numbers, the airport is expected to fetch up to £2bn.
Bids for the airport were due to close yesterday (April 27) but BAA declined to say which companies had lodged offers.
www.baa.com www.terrafirma.com
SWISS to spend £625.6m on fleet renewal
SWISS has unveiled plans to renew its short haul fleet to the tune of a £625.6m (€697.1m).
From 2014, the Lufthansa-owned carrier will begin replacing its 20-strong fleet of Avro RJ100s with 20 Bombardier's CSeries aircraft.
SWISS hopes to complete the programme within two years and said the CSeries was chosen for its lower operating costs, CO2 emissions and engine noise.
The CSeries fleet will use 25% less fuel than the current Avro RJ100 fleet resulting in a 90,000 tonne reduction in CO2 per year.
SWISS claim this is equivalent to 7,000 flights between London City Airport and Zurich.
Ten more CSeries aircraft will be added after 2016 to allow for route expansion, SWISS said.
www.swiss.com
Hyatt to open 35 hotels by the end of 2010
Report by Felicity Cousins
Hyatt plans to open 13 more properties this year, including the much-anticipated Andaz Wall Street in August with a further 22 hotels opening in 2010.
The first to open will be the Park Hyatt Jeddah in May, followed by the Andaz Wall Street and Hyatt Regency hotels in Hong Kong, Phuket and Pune in the summer.
Autumn and winter openings include the Hyatt Abu Dhabi at Capital Centre, Grand Hyatt Macau, Hyatt Regency Beijing, Grand Hyatt Goa, the Andaz Fifth Avenue and the Hyatt Regency Beijing.
The hotel group has already opened six properties this year, the latest being the Hyatt Regency Ekaterinburg.
Andrew Ashmore, vp sales and marketing Hyatt International, EMEA, said Hyatt was looking to introduce its "select service" brand of Hyatt Place hotels to the UK.
www.hyatt.com
Ryanair calls for DAA "regulatory gaming" investigation
Ryanair has urged Irish regulators to launch an investigation into the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).
Europe's largest low cost carrier said the DAA's finances showed it was "gaming" the regulatory system.
Ryanair accused the DAA of forecasting losses and declining traffic at the same time as looking to increase passenger charges as part of the current regulatory review of airport charges.
"This is the sort of regulatory gaming which has been ended in the UK thanks to the Competition Commission's decision to force the break up of the BAA airport monopoly," Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary said.
Mr O'Leary called on Ireland's Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to investigate.
www.ryanair.com
Accor announces hotel expansion plan in Middle East
Hotel group Accor is set to triple its Middle Eastern portfolio by 2013, with a focus on the budget market.
Accor said it was reacting to the poor business conditions affecting its up- and mid-range hotels and the resulting 9.6% fall in first quarter sales.
But the group, which operates Sofitel, Novotel and Ibis, is looking to increase its offering in the Middle East from 19 hotels to 24 by 2011, and 65 by 2013.
Philippe Baretaud, Accor's director of development for the Middle East, said the group would focus on Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
Mr Baretaud said a deal to build a Sofitel luxury hotel in Damascus by 2010 was likely. Accor's first Ibis hotel in Jordan will open by the end of this year.
www.accor.com