News in brief from Hillgate Travel and thetrainline.com, JAL and Aegean Airlines
Hillgate renews thetrainline.com contract
Hillgate Travel has renewed an agreement integrating thetrainline.com into its online self booking tool (SBT).
The independent UK-based travel management company (TMC) will continue to use thetrainline.com's API interface to integrate all rail content into its FreeWay SBT.
The £1m contract, to last a further three years, will give Hillgate's agents access to thetrainline.com's ‘Ticket on Departure', new payment facilities and clear fare display.
Hillgate said its SBT could save corporate customers an average of 43%.
www.hillgatetravel.com www.thetrainline.com
JAL reports ¥84.2bn loss
The JAL Group has blamed a ¥84.2bn operating loss in the first quarter on the swine flu pandemic and the economic downturn.
The figure is in stark contrast to the ¥3.4bn income achieved in the same period last year.
The airline group said operating conditions were "starkly harsher" in the three months to June compared to the same period last year.
Business and first class traffic were both down due to cutbacks by corporates looking to save on travel spend.
As a result airline operating revenue in Q1 fell by ¥137.2bn to ¥290.9bn a year ago, a drop of around 50%.
www.jal.com
Aegean to move to Heathrow
Aegean Airlines will move its two daily non-stop flights to London Heathrow from Stansted this October.
From October 25 the routes will be served using new A321 offering two classes.
Aegean said its Heathrow departure and arrival times were aimed at both business and leisure travellers.
The airline said its goal was to develop partnerships with other Star Alliance members following its integration into the alliance next year.
The flights leave Athens at 0910 and 2020 each day. The return flights leave Heathrow at 1245 and 1720.
www.aegeanair.com