This week BTE reports some provocative views on Open Skies from Amsterdam, a profits warning from a major UK travel management company and encouraging moves in Brussels to provide Europe with a much needed Single Sky.
The profits warning from Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), following on its interim management statement in January confirms the company's diagnosis that the year has seen some weakening of demand in some sectors, namely events and among the SMEs.
HRG's announcement follows remarks last week from Paul Hargreaves, head of business travel in the UK for American Express Business Travel that in the early part of the year, there had been some softening of demand.
This is still not enough to be sure, let alone certain that the UK and then probably Europe is heading for a recession.
This may not be the same for America where the dark clouds are gathering in greater number and a greater number of "expert" analysts are prepared to forecast a major slowdown.
But even from the States the word is not all bad. At the recent National Business Travel Association (NBTA) forum in New York, analysts confidently predicted that any downturn would be short lived and that business travel was not in for a rough ride lasting years.
It might be slightly different in aviation where airlines are having to cope with phenomenal price rises for fuel which must undermine their business plans.
But hotels, car rental and rail are not reporting, in any great measure, a downturn nor, far more importantly, do companies seem to be scaling back their travelling.
So far, so good - but we also need to keep our fingers crossed.
Stanley Slaughter
Editor
Business Travel Europe