Check in to Finnair
Finland's national carrier Finnair is introducing check-in by mobile phone from tomorrow for members of its frequent flyer scheme.
The service will be for services leaving from Helsinki and Stockholm but not for connecting flights. Passengers with only hand baggage who use the new service will be able to by-pass the usual check-in procedures.
SN Airholding II
The negotiators for SN Airholding II and Virgin Express plc are expected to finalise and sign their agreement next Tuesday (October 5th) to place Brussels-based low cost carrier Virgin Express and SN Brussels Airlines under common ownership.
The deal will give SN Airholding 100% of Virgin Express and 92% of the full service airline. In return Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Sky Investment will have a 29.9% stake in SN Airholding.
Occupancy down
Occupancy rates in London hotels fell by 1.4% in August to 79.4%, according to figures from PKF hotel consultants. But both average room rate and room yield rose over the same period. The room rate was up by 6.2% to £89.57 and the yield by 4.7% to £71.15.
Alex Clarke, hotel consultant at PKF, said the drop in occupancy was “very disappointing” but said he expected to see occupancy pick up in the coming months.
Hilton Stands Firm
Hilton International announced that it will “cut ties” with any distributors that operates misleading prices or misrepresents the company's products. The company said some current practices confused customers and limited choice in booking hotels.
David Michels, ceo of the Hilton Group, said in future the hotel chain would only work with authorised distributors which adhered to its rules.
The first agency to sign up to Hilton's new conditions were las.minute.com