Emirates welcomes 100 passenger Aircraft

Emirates Airline has received its 100th passenger aircraft, a long-range Boeing 777-300ER which brings its all wide-body fleet to a total of 111 aircraft, including 11 freighters.

Emirates’ fast-expanding fleet, which has added one new aircraft per month on average, now comprises 53 Boeing 777s: two Boeing 777-200LRs, nine 777-200s, 12 777-300s, and 30 777-300ERs. The airline is set to become the largest Boeing 777 operator in the world with another 45 of this aircraft type on order.

Emirates’ latest Boeing 777-300ER has been designed to provide customers with the greatest travel comforts on long-range journeys. It offers eight luxurious private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat massage seats in Business, intelligent space and ergonomic comfort for 304 Economy class passengers, and ice Digital Widescreen in all classes of

travel with more than 1,000 channels of on-demand entertainment delivered on personal digital TV screens.

The airline is investing hundreds of millions of dollars to introduce the latest in-flight products across its existing and future long-haul fleet.

Emirates has 111 aircraft pending delivery, worth over US$ 30 billion. Its order book includes: 55 Airbus A380s, 45 Boeing 777s and 11 Boeing 747 freighters.

Menzies Aviation continues expansion in Europe

Menzies Aviation announced the purchase of Northport Norway AS and Finnhandling AB from Northport Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary of Finnair. The businesses offer full passenger and ramp handling services at Stockholm and Oslo international airports.

As part of the agreement Menzies will provide the ground handling services for all Finnair flights and will also offer a full handling service to international airlines at both airports. The companies have a total of 25 staff which will transfer to Menzies.

Craig Smyth, Managing Director, Menzies Aviation said: “I am delighted that we have acquired these businesses. This represents further expansion in Scandinavia which we believe to be an attractive market. We are also pleased to be able to develop our relationship with Finnair that we hope to expand. This acquisition represents another significant step in the rapid expansion of Menzies Aviation.”

Jukka Hämäläinen, Managing Director, Northport Oy, said: “The sale is a part of Northport’s restructuring programme. It does not have an immediate effect on Helsinki ground handling activities, but our work to turn the company around continues.”

Facebook's travel application teams with CBS TV Series

Where I’ve Been (WIB), the most popular travel application on the Facebook platform, launched of Where I’ve Been – “The Amazing Race” Edition. This co-branded launch by WIB and CBS comes on the heels of Facebook’s announcement that businesses and organizations will now be able to create profiles, interact and affiliate with Facebook users.

“The Amazing Race” is a reality television show in which pairs of people compete against each other in a race around the world. For CBS, WIB created a map displaying the destinations visited in the 11 previous seasons of “The Amazing Race,” as well as the current locations of this week’s episode.

“International travel and adventure are key brand values for Where I’ve Been, so creating an application for ‘The Amazing Race’s’ Facebook page made synergistic and strategic sense for us,” said Michael Dalesandro, CEO for WIB.
“We see this endeavor as a fantastic example of a co-branded, user-friendly application.”

Users can add “The Amazing Race” Edition map to their Facebook profile, which will appear as a color-coded world map. By clicking on the map within their profile, users will be able to receive up-to-date information on the location of “The Amazing Race” contestants. The free, downloadable map is available today in the application menu on Facebook and on “The Amazing Race’s” Facebook page.

Two new Movenpick luxury cruisers embark on maiden voyage in Egypt

At the beginning of November, the new Movenpick M/S Royal Lily and the refurbished Movenpick M/S Prince Abbas have set to sea. Movenpick’s fleet in Egypt now consists of five luxury cruisers. Like its companions, the Movenpick M/S Royal Lily will sail between Aswan and Luxor, while the Movenpick M/S Prince Abbas will ply the waters of Lake Nasser to cruise between Aswan and Abu Simbel.Nile Exploration Corporation is the owner of both the two new ships and the Movenpick M/S Royal Lotus, which was named the best Nile cruiser by the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism in 2006.

"We are honoured that, thanks to our strong partner Nile Exploration Corporation, we are able to offer our guests new cruise ship opportunities of the very highest standard," says Josef Kufer, Senior Vice President Africa Movenpick Hotels & Resorts. "Our floating boutique hotels are equipped with fewer cabins than usual, thereby allowing our guests to enjoy very spacious rooms, extensive public areas and additional amenities."

"It is a unique experience to discover the enchanting landscape between Aswan and Luxor by a Nile cruiser, and to visit the magnificent temples and tombs of the ancient world," adds Josef Kufer. "Incidentally, certain places of interest can only be reached by ship."

Having been comprehensively refurbished, the historical Movenpick M/S Prince Abbas is also ready to return to water under Movenpick Hotels & Resorts management.

"In Lake Nasser, we are pleased to offer another exceptional destination within Egypt," explains Hubert Klemenz, Vice President Operations & Human Resources Africa. "Our guests can now discover the historical treasures of the Nubians – among them the mighty temple of Abu Simbel with its colossal statue of King Ramses II."

Hospitality eBusiness Strategies Wins Three W3 Awards

NEW YORK, NY, Hospitality eBusiness Strategies, (HeBS), NYC today announced receipt of three W3 Silver Awards for outstanding achievement in website development. The W3 awards are sanctioned and judged by the International Academy of the Visual Arts, consisting of top-tier professionals from media, advertising and marketing firms. The 2007 awards were chosen from a pool of 2,700 entries worldwide.

Silver Winners
• Keys Caribbean Residences, Real Estate Category www.KeysCaribbeanResidences.com
• Keys Caribbean Luxury Home Rentals, Hotel & Lodging Category
www.KeysCaribbean.com
• New Harmony Inn, Hotel & Lodging Category
www.NewHarmonyInn.com

Max Starkov, HeBS president and CEO, “These awards show how important a creative, informative, and visually pleasing website is to a hotel’s marketing and distribution efforts. The award winners and our client hoteliers understand the competitive advantages of a comprehensive, well executed Internet marketing strategy. A powerful web presence enables them to reach out directly to their customers, resulting in increased revenues and above industry average ROIs.”

The hotel website has become the first point of contact with past, present and future customers. In the case of hotel websites that are not developed according to industry’s best practices, this is often the last point of contact with the customer. The above W3 Silver Award winners understand it is no longer sufficient to have just any hotel website. Today’s online travel consumers demand that a hotel website have honest and truthful content, rich media, and interactive features and functionality that guarantee an impeccable user experience.

The W3 Awards honor superior creativity on the web and recognize the individuals behind award winning web sites, web advertising and web marketing programs. W3 is the first major web competition to be accessible to a wide range of agencies from the biggest agencies to the smallest firms.

Jazeera Airways launches flights to the Maldives

Kuwait and Dubai based Jazeera Airways announced today the launch of their non-stop route from Dubai to the Maldives. Attending the media launch event in the Maldives were Jazeera Airways senior officials, members of the Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority, officials from the Maldives Tourism Promotion Board, the Maldives Minister of Tourism and travel agents from Kuwait and Dubai.

Jazeera Airways who operate a fleet of new Airbus A320s, all fitted with signature leather seats, are only the second carrier

to operate non-stop flights to the Maldives from Dubai, which will fly every Sunday and Tuesday.

Low-fares to the Maldives can be booked online at jazeeraairways.com, and customers can also reserve their preferred seats at the time of booking.

AIRPORT NEWS

Belfast City receives Ryanair runway warning

Less than a month after it began operations at George Best Belfast City Airport, low-cost airline Ryanair has warned that it could pull out unless the runway is extended.

Deputy chief executive Michael Cawley says the company’s Belfast flights are contingent on the airport improving its runway so that it is able to land full aeroplanes. At present, Ryanair’s 189-seater planes cannot take-off from the runway at Belfast with more than 140 passengers.

Ryanair operates flights from Belfast to East Midlands, Glasgow, Stansted and Liverpool.

Belfast’s chief executive Brian Ambrose says “We would have room within the existing perimeter of the airfield to extend our existing 1,829m runway by 600m at the Holywood end.”

Greek airport police in cocaine bust

Police at Athens International Airport in Greece have arrested two people, both in their 20s, who were apprehended with 7kg of cocaine in their luggage following a tip-off by Interpol. The man and woman were arrested shortly after arriving on a flight from Amsterdam. The police say the drugs were covered by coffee to mask the smell from sniffer dogs.

BAA sells its Australian airport holdings

Above: Melbourne Airport - BAA has sold its near 20% stake

Australian investment company Hastings Fund Management has acquired BAA's interests in six Australian airports for a consideration of US$725 million (A$775 million).

The sale includes a 19.8% interest in Melbourne and Launceston, a 15% stake in Perth, and 10% of shares in three Northern Territory airports.

BAA says the sale represents a continuation of its strategy to dispose of non-core international assets following its acquisition last year by Grupo Ferrovial.

Proceeds of the sale will be used to repay debt.

Union threatens Christmas chaos for BAA

Unite, the union that represents around 6,000 BAA security, administrative and maintenance staff at BAA’s seven airports in the UK, is threatening industrial action in the weeks leading up to the Christmas holiday period. The union is opposed to BAA’s decision to close its final salary pension scheme to new employees from the beginning of December.

Unite has formed a committee to oppose the move and has called for a vote on industrial action, which is likely to take place at the end of the month.

Christmas is traditionally one of the busiest periods for BAA’s UK airports, but the airport operator has refused to comment on the matter until the ballot results are known.

If union members vote in favour of strike action, Unite will have 28 days time in which to take industrial action.

China to be first with 100% electronic ticketing?

Above: Receipt for electronic flight ticket - an increasingly familiar sight in China

China is expected to become the first country to use only electronic air tickets on both domestic and international routes by the end of this year.

Paper airline tickets will soon be phased out of the Chinese domestic market, and the International Air Transport Association will stop offering paper tickets for international routes to Chinese travel agencies this coming Monday (12 November).

The China Air Transport Association (CATA) stopped providing paper flight tickets in October 2006, as a response to a call by the IATA to popularise e-tickets.

While most passengers have yet to become accustomed to e-tickets, some says they had already benefited from it.

“I like e-tickets because they save the trouble of having to wait for the tickets to be delivered to me, because I travel a lot,” says Li Yi, 28, a software salesman. “And I won’t worry even if I lose it.”

According to IATA’s plan, all airlines around the world will stop using paper tickets by 1 June 2008, which will save the industry about US$2.5 billion annually.

IATA launched its drive for e-ticketing more than three years ago, and now 84% of travellers on IATA carriers fly without paper tickets.

Silver Diner plans airport restaurant programme

Silver Diner is planning a series of restaurant installations at US airports


Restaurant chain Silver Diner will open its first airport outlet at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport next week.

The diner chain will open a 560m² restaurant in BWI’s Southwest A/B terminal, one of the largest airport restaurants in the US. The 18-year-old company will offer guaranteed 10-minute service, electronic flight screens in the restaurant, prepared meals and the ability to pre-order a meal online or at airport kiosks.

Silver Diner says the US$3.5 million BWI location will serve as a prototype for its plans to introduce restaurants at other airports in 2008, including Philadelphia International and Pittsburgh International Airport.

Tbilisi opens rail link to city

Georgian officials have opened a new railway station at Tbilisi International Airport, which connects the airport to the city’s central railway station. The 100-passenger capacity electric train will take 20 minutes to complete the journey, and will operate at 40-minute intervals.

Officials claim the rail link will halve the journey time from the centre of Tbilisi.

The railway line was constructed by Transmsheni, following a tender and was designed by Delta-Project - 2000

Rostock-Laage expands to 24-hour service

German regional Rostock-Laage Airport has gone into 24-hour service. Expanded service will benefit both civil and charter flights, while airlines will be able to station their aircraft as well as personnel at the airport.

Qatar Airways Prepares For Dubai Air Show And World Travel Market

Doha-Based Airline Participates At Two Leading Travel Industry Events

Dubai Air Show Attracts Global Aviation Industry Figures

London Show Welcomes Travel Industry Elite From Around The World

Doha, QATAR - Qatar Airways is gearing up for two key travel industry events next week by participating at the prestigious Dubai Air Show and World Travel Market being staged in London.

Chairman of Qatar's Civil Aviation Authority, Abdul Aziz Al Nuaimi, will head a delegation, including Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, Akbar Al Baker, from Doha to the Dubai Air Show, where the airline will have a dedicated chalet together with a stand in the exhibition hall.

The Dubai Air Show, now in its 10th year, takes place at Dubai International Airport between November 11 - 15 and will feature static displays of commercial and military aircraft, together with aerial displays. Tens of thousands of visitors from around the world are expected at the five-day event, one of the most prestigious in the aviation industry calendar.

The airline will showcase its fine hospitality with a luxurious chalet draped in its burgundy corporate colours. The airline's award-winning lie-flat First Class seat-cum-bed and two Business Class seats will be on display at Qatar Airways' exhibition stand.

World Travel Market is one of the industry's premier travel trade events bringing together airlines, hotels, car rental companies, tourist boards and cruise lines for four days of business.

Qatar Airways Airbus A340-600

Qatar Airways will be showcasing a mock-up of its unique First Class lounge which is fitted onboard the carrier's long-range Airbus A340-600 aircraft, currently used on flights between Doha and both London Heathrow and Washington DC.

Al Baker said both events were highly important for Qatar Airways to maintain its high profile across the travel industry.

"Dubai Air Show and World Travel Market are key events where we have traditionally enjoyed our participation - and this year is no exception as we are again privileged to be taking part in such prestigious shows," he said.

"We look forward to a highly productive week to build and renew business partnerships, welcoming visitors to our chalet and exhibition stands at both events."

Qatar Airways currently operates a modern fleet of 58 all-Airbus aircraft to 79 destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Far East, Indian subcontinent and North America. The highlight of this year's expansion has been the launch of flights to New York (Newark) and Washington DC - the airline's first move into the North American market.

With a growing international network, more travellers have an opportunity to use Qatar Airways' Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport, exclusively for departing First and Business Class passengers.

The Premium Terminal features facilities including a spa, jacuzzi, exclusive duty free shopping, business centre and fine dining restaurants. Built in just nine months, the US$90 million terminal is the world's first commercial passenger building dedicated to First and Business Class passengers and offers departing and transit passengers an excellent opportunity to relax and unwind prior to their flight.

Brits consider their partner the most essential travel item

Cheapflights.co.uk poll results are out for their latest probe of the British public psyche – asking travellers ‘What’s your most essential travel item?’. 33% of respondents cited that they couldn’t travel without their partner, preferring to find a familiar face next to them when they wake up in hotel rooms abroad.

Intellect was not far behind romance, with just over a quarter of respondents, 27%, making sure they pack a good book with them before embarking on their travels. Taking condoms abroad rolls in at third place with 18% of people safely preparing themselves in the event of joining the mile high club en-route.

Cleanliness and tools for barricading out unnecessary noises make up the final three items – wash kits (10%), iPods (8%) and sleeping pills (4%) are must haves for a total of 22% of those polled. It can only be hoped that the 4% who take sleeping pills only need them on the flight and not when they arrive at their destination!

Francesca Ecsery, General Manager of Cheapflights.co.uk, comments “In an era when technology is at the forefront of daily life, it is good to see that iPods are taking a back seat to romance and good books when Brits go abroad”.

Second European Development Days focus on climate change

The second edition of "European Development Days" has opened in Lisbon with the impact of climate change on developing countries top of the agenda. Around 1000 decision-makers and stakeholders on development issues are set to attend the 3-day event in the Portuguese capital. This year’s forum aims to focus on climate change issues and how to respond to the needs of already vulnerable countries hardest hit by the impacts of climate change. On Thursday, speakers and participants will address the linkage between climate change, poverty and migration and examine how developing nations can best adapt.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said: "Climate change is the greatest challenge of our generation. Developed countries have a special responsibility to take the lead in cutting emissions and pushing a comprehensive, global agreement on future climate action, in the UN framework. Last week in Lisbon, we launched the International Carbon Action Partnership, an initiative of pioneers from around the world to develop a global carbon market. Focusing the second edition of the European Development Days on climate change stresses this sense of global responsibility in tackling this issue. We are determined to help developing countries to face the impact of climate change on the environment and on human and social development."

European Commissioner for Development and humanitarian aid Louis Michel will be present throughout the three-day event in Lisbon. Commissioner Michel said: "Nobody does more for developing countries than Europe. We are on track with scaling up development assistance, we are making it more effective together with the Member States and we strive to ensure other EU policies like trade and environment more coherent with development goals. All this effort could go to waste if we do not act on climate change. This is the biggest single challenge which we need to tackle together with our partners in developing countries."

In September, the European Commission proposed a Global Alliance specific to climate change. The aim is to encourage adaptation measures, reduce emissions from deforestation, take advantage of the global carbon market and help developing countries be better prepared for natural disasters.

DEVDAYs 2007 takes place in the run up to the EU-Africa Summit on 8-9 December and the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali from 14 December.

Cape Town welcomes the first group of Scandinavian tourists

Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU) welcomes today (8 November 2007) the first group of nearly 300 Scandinavian tourists flying in on MyTravel Airways – a Scandinavian charter airline based in Copenhagen, Denmark. The inaugural charter flight lands at Cape Town International Airport on Thursday 8 November.

This inaugural flight is expected to touch down at 13:00 and marks the first of 11 charter flights scheduled every second week from November 2007 to March 2008. The flights are excellent news for Cape Town and the Western Cape with 3,500 tourists from Scandinavia expected over the next five months.

According to Calvyn Gilfellan, CTRU’s Acting CEO: “I am very excited about this venture, the result of two years’ planning with our tourism partners. It underlines our goal in growing and maximising Cape Town and the Western Cape as a winning destination brand. By boosting our region’s true economic potential, this project fits perfectly with our readiness planning for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.”

The announcement follows closely on news that the Western Cape has once again proved it is a premier international tourism destination. According to SA Tourism’s 2006 full year tourism report, the Western Cape achieved 1 737 937 international arrivals representing a record-breaking 9.19% growth from the previous year. There was also a 17.2% growth in Total Foreign Direct Spend from R16.9 billion in 2005 to R19.8 billion in 2006.

Each MyTravel Airways flight will bring in an estimated 300 Scandinavian visitors who will spend two weeks experiencing Cape Town, the Cape Winelands and the Cape Garden Route. While in South Africa, the visitors will be hosted by Your Africa, a local tour operator.

Chris Iuel, general manager in charge of marketing for Your Africa says: “This charter project is an incredibly positive development out of the Scandinavian market. MyTravel Airways expects every departure to travel with 80 to 100% occupancy and does not plan projects like this as a once-off, but takes a long-term view on this venture. Their aim is to look at expanding the project in 2008 and 2009.”

New Director Raises Profile of IATA's Environment Programme

GENEVA- The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced the appointment of Paul Steele to direct its environment initiatives effective
1 December 2007. Steele joins IATA from WWF International where he served for six years as the organisation's Chief Operating Officer.

Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of IATA welcomed the appointment, "Air transport takes its environmental responsibility seriously. Alongside safety and security it is a pillar on which we have built a great global industry. Despite our good track record, air transport's carbon footprint is growing. That is not acceptable. Our vision is for air transport to achieve carbon neutral growth in the medium-term, on the way to a carbon emission free future. I am pleased that this vision has impressed Paul Steele who comes to us with a strong track record and solid environmental credentials gained at WWF and elsewhere. He will lead our team in turning the vision into reality."

Paul Steele said, "Business must be actively engaged in building a sustainable future for our planet. Air transport faces many environmental opportunities. The combination of more effective operations, efficient infrastructure, best practices and investment in new technology can pave the way to a greener future. We can only tackle this global issue by using the effective leadership of an organisation like IATA. I look forward to my new and challenging role."

IATA's vision is based on a four-pillar strategy:

1. 1. Investment in new technology
2. 2. Environmentally efficient infrastructure
3. 3. Improved operations based on industry best practice
4. 4. Economic measures that provide effective incentives to improve environmental performance

"The US$132 billion fuel bill that airlines pay is the biggest green incentive of any industry to reduce its carbon footprint," said Bisignani. "Last year IATA's efforts to reduce this yielded up to 15 million tonnes in CO2 savings. I am counting on Paul to challenge us to produce even better results and to broaden our environmental perspective to all areas of the industry—from better ground facilities to more effective air traffic management. Green business is good business."

US Airline Execs Worry Over Oil Price

Reuters-Prospects of USD$100-a-barrel oil sent shares of US airlines tumbling on Wednesday, renewing talk in the industry of mergers and ticket price increases as a way to hold onto profit margins.

The oil spike comes as a softening US economy begins to threaten an industry only just recovering from years of cutthroat competition and a series of bankruptcies.

"I'm not certain that where we are today is a business that can handle USD$100-a-barrel oil," US Airways Group Chief Executive Doug Parker said at a Wall Street investor conference on Wednesday.

"We've been through a painful restructuring since 2001, but we're still not fixed," said Parker.

The chief financial officer of American Airlines stressed that higher ticket prices were necessary to compensate for soaring oil.

"We've got to find a way to pass on fuel expenses to our customers," CFO Tom Horton said at the same conference. "We're going to need to keep driving costs down in order to compensate for the fuel-revenue disconnect."

The price of NYMEX crude oil futures -- directly related to the price of jet fuel -- notched a record high above USD$98.50 on Wednesday.

Northwest Airlines' chief financial officer said forecasting companies were looking at oil costing anywhere between USD$70 and USD$110 per barrel next year.

"The key for us is continued capacity discipline," said Northwest CFO Dave Davis, referring to the number of seats the airline sells, as it tries to balance costs and revenue.

Fuel rivals labor costs as airlines' biggest expense. Since 2006, carriers have offset that cost by reducing the number of seats for sale and raising fares.

But if economic weakness crimps demand, airlines must consider mergers as a way to pull capacity from their systems, said Parker, the most visible advocate for industry consolidation.

Parker, who engineered the 2005 merger of US Airways and America West, failed this year in his attempt to merge US Airways with Delta Air Lines.

Delta rejected the US Airways bid, saying it had more long-term value as a stand-alone airline. But as oil prices continue to rise and the US economy shows signs of slowing, airline leaders have shown renewed interest in consolidation.

"We do believe the right transaction for Delta would add tremendous value within the industry," said Ed Bastian, Delta's chief financial officer, at the investor conference. "If there was to be a consolidating environment, Delta has the strong hand there, and views itself as a natural acquirer, not a seller."

At the same event, Continental Airlines Chief Financial Officer Jeff Misner said Continental would not likely be the one that started the merger wave.

"Continental will not be left behind," said Misner. "We just don't necessarily have the ability to start the dominoes falling."

Continental has an unusual obstacle to consolidation -- rival Northwest holds a "golden share" in Continental that gives it the right to block mergers involving the Houston-based carrier in a shareholder vote.

The unusual relationship dates back to 2001 when Northwest agreed to sell its shares in Continental after it was sued for anti-competitive behavior by the US Department of Justice.

Misner said, however, that Continental is better positioned than most to cope with expensive fuel. Continental's relatively young fleet of more fuel-efficient planes would cushion the company from the blow of higher fuel prices, Misner said.

"It's still cheaper to fly today than it is to drive," he said.

Largest convention of the global travel industry looks at the future of travel

As a think tank of the travel industry the ITB Berlin Convention Market Trends & Innovations has become an important part of the ITB Berlin. At the last ITB Berlin the leading convention of the travel industry in Europe registered a record attendance. A total of 9,000 trade visitors from around the world took part, an increase of 25 per cent over last year. From 5 to 8 March the ITB Berlin Convention Market Trends & Innovations will take place for the fifth time, with leading figures discussing the latest topics. Representatives of the worldwide travel industry will meet on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds to debate issues concerning the future of travel at this four-day convention.

ITB Future Day attended by leading figures

On Wednesday, 5 March 2008 the ITB Future Day begins, with distinguished guests discussing the latest topics. There will be leading figures taking part from the beginning, among them keynote speakers Dr. Asfa-Wossen Asserate, Prince of Ethiopia, author and management consultant for Africa and the Middle East, and Philip C. Wolf from PhoCusWright.

A panel under the same heading will devote itself to a current and much-discussed trend, “The new luxury markets”.

Guests who have registered their attendance to date include Prof. Thomas Druyen, from the Sigmund Freud Private University in Vienna, Klaus-Dieter Koch, founder and owner of Trust Brand Strategy Consultants, and Jurgen Maier from American Express. This is the first time that the ITB Berlin Convention Market Trends & Innovations will include the topic of cruises in its programme. It represents a genuine boom market, as according to a DRV survey, in 2006 the German cruise market alone grew by 11.2 per cent. The same organisation forecasts a further sales increase in 2007. The presentation by IPK International and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) of the latest data forecasting worldwide travel trends is a long-established event at the ITB Berlin, and an indispensable source of information for tourism industry decision-makers.

Environmental protection in the hotel sector

Hospitality Day on Thursday, 6 March 2008 is a firm fixture on the convention calendar at the ITB Berlin. How “brands as destinations“ are affecting the hotel business is one of the issues hotly debated by trade experts, as are the environmental concepts of this sector. Welf Ebeling, Executive Vice President and COO of The Leading Hotels will chair the discussion on “Green Hotels“. Equally controversial are the panel discussion topics “Hotel and service design“ and ”Hotels under cost pressure“. Hotel experts, management consultants and international auditors such as Deloitte will be debating the issue of “Hotel benchmarking”.

Key air transport topics

The ITB Aviation Day is recognised as the leading event for the global air transport industry. On Friday, 7 March 2008 corporate executives will discuss key air transport topics. The question of “Is air transport a climate killer?” is a highly controversial issue, as there is currently an intense debate on the role of air transport and its effects on our climate. To date Andrew Harrison, CEO easyJet and Dr. Janina Scheelhaase from the German Aerospace Center have agreed to attend. The programme item “EU-US Open Skies over the North Atlantic“ is no less fascinating. Representatives of the three large carriers have agreed to attend: Marnix Fruitema, CEO Air France-KLM Europe, Karl-Ulrich Garnadt, Area Manager Lufthansa and Pat Gaffey, Area General Manager British Airways. The discussion will be chaired by Dr. Pablo Mendes de Leon of Leiden University. A competent panel of experts will also be examining the air transport market in Russia. Finally, audiences will no doubt be awaiting the speaker of Virgin Galactic, who will be talking about space flight.

ITB Business Travel Days and PhoCusWright@ITB

The ITB Business Travel Days will also be taking place alongside the forums mentioned above. This event has firmly established itself at the ITB as a platform for business travel managers, and offers practical workshops, national forums, and a suppliers’ day. The same can be said of PhoCusWright@ITB. This leading travel technology conference organised by a leading US consultancy takes place on Thursday, 6 March 2008.

The ITB Berlin will take place from Wednesday, 5 March to Sunday, 9 March 2008, and the ITB Berlin Convention Market Trends & Innovations will be held from Wednesday, 5 March to Saturday, 8 March 2008. The period from the Wednesday to the Friday is reserved for trade visitors. Next year Messe Berlin will be celebrating a premiere by holding the ITB Asia, which debuts in Singapore from 22 to 24 October 2008.

Cathay To Buy 17 Boeings For USD$5.2 Bln

Reuters-Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said on Thursday it would buy 17 Boeing jets for USD$5.2 billion at list prices.

The order includes seven 777-300 ERs and ten 747-8 freighters. The aircraft are intended to replenish and expand the fleet capacity of Cathay, which is growing with the region's booming aviation market.

Virgin Atlantic launches onboard carbon offset scheme

Air passengers will be able to offset their travel during a flight as Virgin Atlantic introduces a Gold Standard Carbon Offset Scheme. The airline has partnered with myclimate to offer the scheme which is now available onboard and online, and will benefit projects in India and Indonesia.

Endorsed by 49 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) worldwide including many environmental groups, Gold Standard credits are independently validated, adhere to best practice methodology and only support renewable energy or energy efficiency technologies (no tree planting or gas flaring).

Virgin Atlantic is the only airline to commit to Gold Standard projects because it believes that this is the only offset standard that guarantees a positive additional impact on the local communities and the environment.

Virgin Atlantic has also calculated exactly how much carbon is produced for each of its flights and had this verified through Greenhouse gas verification company, CICS. The airline then calculated how much this would equate to for each passenger by taking into account the different weights of equipment and seats in each class of travel, and also the amount of cargo on each route. So Upper Class passengers pay more than Premium economy and Economy passengers because their seat and Inflight Entertainment monitors are significantly heavier.

Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic commented: “Virgin Atlantic is offering the world’s first ever scheme enabling passengers to offset their air travel during their flight. This effective carbon offsetting option is unique as it supports only Gold Standard projects. We hope our passengers will be keen to become members of our Gold Standard Mile High Offset Club!”

myclimate are a Swiss based charity, whose vision is to find innovative solutions to climate change and to promote clean energy solutions particularly in developing countries.

One of the projects is based in India, with the money going towards supporting a power plant that runs on farming waste, such as sugar cane husks, turning them into electricity for the local community. The other main project is a hydropower plant in Indonesia, where the money is going towards rebuilding of the plant, which will employ and provide new skills to the local community, as well as providing a source of clean and reliable electricity for them.

In addition to buying offsets onboard, passengers can buy carbon offsets for their flights on the airline website when they book their tickets or any time they choose.

Jasmine Hyman, Marketing Director of the Gold Standard added: “The Gold Standard Foundation commends Virgin Atlantic's stringent and sincere climate programme. From cradle to grave, the Virgin Atlantic approach adheres to rigorous environmental standards and a strong commitment to sustainable development.”

Emirates marks another record half-year

UBAI, U.A.E., 7th November 2007 – Emirates Airline has announced another record performance for the first six months of its current financial year 2007-08 ending 30th September 2007, with net profits of Dhs 2.36 billion (US$ 643 million) up 99 per cent compared to Dhs 1.18 billion (US$ 323 million) for the same period last year.

The results reflect a strong revenue performance largely driven by higher passenger demand, combined with higher yields. Net margin was 13.7 per cent compared to 8.7 per cent for the corresponding period last year.

H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Emirates’ Chairman and Chief Executive said: "Emirates has delivered another excellent performance which reflects healthy demand for our products and services. We have expanded our route network with new large capacity, fuel-efficient aircraft, and have continued to invest in a high quality product for our customers. These investments, matched with robust global demand for air travel, are paying off.

“Looking at the next six months, fuel costs remain a serious challenge for us with the price of crude oil now heading towards US$100 per barrel. There is also continued uncertainty surrounding the impact of recent credit issues in the financial markets on passenger demand. However, I remain confident that Emirates is well positioned to address these challenges and continue our profitable growth.”

Emirates' operating revenue at Dhs 16.96 billion (US$ 4.62 billion), was up 25.8 per cent compared to Dhs 13.48 billion (US$ 3.67 billion) during the corresponding period last year.

Passenger revenue recorded a growth of 30.5 per cent at Dhs 13.1 billion (US$ 3.56 billion), with passengers carried increasing by 1.9 million or 23 per cent to 10.3 million, compared to 8.4 million for the first half-year of 2006-07. Seat factor improved to 79.7 per cent for the period, on 17 per cent higher seat capacity in terms of available seat kilometers.

Emirates SkyCargo performed well against a subdued global airfreight market, posting a revenue increase of 13 per cent to Dhs 3.0 billion (US$ 822 million), with cargo tonnage up by 10 per cent to 637,000 tonnes, compared with 577,000 tonnes for the same period last year. Cargo contributed about 19 per cent of the airline’s total transport revenue.

Operating costs were higher by 19.3 per cent whilst Airline unit cost per available tonne kilometre increased by 4.8 per cent to 134 fils. Fuel costs for the first six months remained the top expenditure item accounting for 27.8 per cent of total operating costs.

Emirates’ cash position, including held to maturity investments and capital guaranteed notes, on 30th September 2007 was healthy at Dhs 11.7 billion (US$ 3.2 billion), compared to Dhs 11.5 billion (US$ 3.1 billion) six months earlier. This was after paying dividends pertaining to the past financial year of Dhs 400 million (US$ 109 million) to the shareholder, and funding capital outflows of around Dhs 2.3 billion (US$ 621 million) that included aircraft pre-delivery payments and other capital items.

Since April 2007, Emirates has launched passenger services to five new destinations - Venice, Newcastle, Sao Paulo, Toronto and Ahmedabad, bringing its global network to 97 cities on six continents, including 10 cargo-only destinations. The airline will soon commence operations to Houston from 3rd December. In addition to new destinations, Emirates has also increased the frequency of passenger services and added capacity with larger aircraft to many of its existing destinations during the half year.

Emirates’ current fleet size is 111, comprising 29 Airbus A330-200s, 30 Boeing 777-300ERs, two Boeing 777-200LRs, 12 Boeing 777-300s, nine Boeing 777-200s, 10 Airbus 340-500s, eight Airbus A340-300s, and 11 freighters – eight Boeing 747Fs and three Airbus A310Fs.

AIPORT NEWS

Toulouse flourishes during ‘Grands Travaux’

Above: Toulouse-Blagnac Airport is in the midst of a major construction programme to accommodate 8.5 million passengers per year by 2015

Toulouse-Blagnac Airport in southwestern France welcomed nearly 4.7 million passengers during the first nine months of the year, up 4% compared with the same period in 2006. Traffic grew by 5.1% in September to 555,581 passengers.

Around 60% of the passengers flying via Toulouse in September flew on domestic routes within France. However, international traffic grew faster (by 6.3%), while domestic traffic grew by 4.7%.

Toulouse is in the midst of a major construction programme to accommodate 8.5 million passengers per year by 2015. The US$125 million (Euro 85 million) ‘Grands Travaux’ extension project involves the building of a new terminal (Hall D) and the refurbishment of Hall B, including the creation of a new 650m² shopping area.

The new terminal building (right) will have 12 check-in desks and eight customs inspection points. A new 1,600m² shopping area will be available to passengers once they have passed the security check. The terminal will feature wooden ceilings, marble and granite floors and indirect lighting. Hall D will also include five departing lounges, which will be added as passenger demand increases. The first phase of Hall D is scheduled for completion in spring 2009.

Meanwhile, Toulouse is also set to grow this winter as the number of seats is due to rise by 6.7% compared to last year’s winter timetable. The airport attributes this growth to the opening of three new destinations and increased frequency of flights to existing destinations.

Uzbekistan’s Navoi opens for international flights

Navoi Airport Uzbekistan has been upgraded to accept international flights. Salohiddin Nurimov, head of the Navoi Agency of Air Communication, says Navoi will play an important role in raising the economic potential of the region and the country as a whole. The first international flight was a service between Andijan, Navoi and Moscow, and regular flights have also begun between Navoi and Tashkent.

Dubai plans world’s best facilities for special needs

Right: Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport has unveiled plans to become the world’s friendliest airport for people with special needs. Chief executive Paul Griffiths says the airport is rolling out an internal awareness campaign and training courses for frontline staff as part of its strategy to facilitate easy movement of people with different kinds of special needs.

Griffiths has promised that new facilities to cater to people with special needs, such as lower check-in counters, will be installed at the airport.

He announced the plans at a meeting attended by Khalid Al Halyan, vice-president, Internal Audit Unit of Dubai Airports, and Wafa Bin Suleiman, head of the Department for Special Needs of the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Social Affairs.

Veterans campaign for Indy name change

Above: Set for a name change? The new terminal at Indianapolis International Airport is due for completion in 12 months

A group of retired soldiers and airmen are campaigning to rename the new , which is due to open a major new terminal development in November 2008.

The Indianapolis airport was named after World War I hero H. Weir Cook in 1944, but it was changed to Indianapolis International in the 1970s to identify the facility more closely with the city.

The group of veterans claim to have gathered nearly 1,000 signatures supporting the change and plan to meet with city leaders before the end of the year to discuss their plan.

Passengers rise, but cargo falls at Macao

Passenger numbers so far this year at Macao International Airport (right) have risen to 4.57 million passengers, a year-on-year rise of 11%. There were 44,235 take-offs and touchdowns in the first 10 months of the year, up 5% on the same period of 2006.

Though passenger levels are strong, the airport suffered a 19% year-on-year drop in cargo in the first 10 months, to 148,666 tonnes. Airport managers blame this decline on strong competition from the nearby Pearl River Delta region.

LAX awards latest sound proofing contract

Officials at Los Angles International Airport have awarded a US$515,900 contract to AMD Construction Group to install sound insulation modifications on 50 homes adjacent to the airport.

A total of more than 8,200 residences in the Los Angeles communities of Westchester, Play del Rey and South Los Angeles are included in the airport’s residential soundproofing programme.

Contractors typically install double-paned windows, solid-core doors, fireplace doors and dampers, attic baffles, insulation and heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) to reduce noise levels within the homes.

LAX says the latest contract brings to almost 6,000 the number of homes being treated or completed under the programme. The remaining 2,308 homes are either in the design phase, awaiting design, or the owners have not responded or have declined to participate in the programme.

Landmark wins Hyderabad bookstore contract

GMR Hyderabad International Airport has awarded a three-year retail bookstore contract to Landmark at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad, on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Landmark will set up the stores in the new airport’s domestic departure and arrival halls before 31 December.

The stores will cover an area of 80m² and must be ready to commence business by 1 February 2008 and will offer newspapers, magazines, books, music and movies.

Hermes reports rising Cyprus traffic

Cyprus airport operator Hermes Airports recorded a 3.94% increase in passenger traffic at the island’s two airports of Larnaca and Paphos in October, compared with the same month last year.

Passenger traffic at Larnaca increased by 5.27% to 565,000 passengers, while Paphos saw the number of passengers grow by 0.54%, to more than 210,000 passengers.

Passenger traffic for the year to date is up 3.59% on 2006 levels, says Jenni Fernando, marketing manager for Hermes Airports.

Airport Terminal Services trials eTug in St Louis

Airport Terminal Services (ATS) from St Louis, Missouri has agreed to test a new ‘eTug’ electric baggage truck on a 30-day trial. Already in service with Allegiant Airlines, the new eTug truck features a standard rear inching switch and can be charged directly from a 110v plug.

LAX tenders for terminal design bids

Right: Due for completion in January 2012, LAX's Midfield Concourse will feature a people mover connecting it to the Bradley terminal

A tender has been launched for the design of the new US$1.2 billion Midfield Concourse and an expanded Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport.

The Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners say they are seeking an architect to design a facility that tourists find welcoming.

Due for completion in January 2012, the Midfield Concourse will have up to 10 gates capable of handling mega-size aircraft, such as the Airbus A380 and the Boeing 787. An underground walkway equipped with a people mover will connect the new facility to the Bradley terminal.

Left: The winning architect must develop a design that tourists find welcoming

“The tunnel and the design of the midfield terminal must be done in a way that is not just visually appealing, but that lets the traveller feel like they have arrived once they get off the plane and won’t have to go through another onerous journey just to get to the Bradley terminal,” says airport commissioner Fernando Torres-Gil.

The project to modernise the Bradley terminal is running nearly US$94 million over budget, following the discovery of fuel-contaminated soil, underground storm drains and utility lines at the site. Dave Shuter, deputy executive director of Los Angeles World Airports, which oversees LAX, says the Bradley terminal project remains on schedule for completion in February 2010.

Barcelona readies Terminal South

Above: Barcelona Airport has enjoyed double digit growth so far this year

Barcelona Airport handled 3.1 million passengers in September, an 11% rise over the same month in 2006. During the first nine months of the year, Barcelona increased its passenger throughput by 10.3% to 25.1 million passengers. The double-digit growth secures Barcelona’s position as Spain’s second largest airport after Madrid Barajas.

Spanish airport operator AENA is currently undertaking an ambitious expansion programme at Barcelona Airport, dubbed the ‘Barcelona Plan’. The plan aims to ensure sustainable growth of at least 8% per year to 55 million passengers.

AENA aims to develop Barcelona Airport into an intercontinental transfer hub with at least 30% of traffic accounted for by transit passengers. To attract more airlines and passengers, it is improving its passenger and luggage transfer process, minimising in-transit congestion at the airport and reducing connecting times.

Right: Artist's impression of Barcelona's new ATC tower

Plan Barcelona includes the construction of a new terminal (Terminal South), scheduled for inauguration in 2008. The new terminal will triple the size of the airport’s passenger waiting and baggage reclaim areas, while the retail area will be four times larger.

Terminal South will combine checking-in, shopping, boarding and an ‘intermodal lobby’ under one roof. The intermodal lobby offers passengers, employees and visitors a choice of ground transportation options to continue their journey.

Although the Barcelona Plan is not yet complete, AENA is already studying future expansion options. One of these is the construction of a new satellite building connected to the South Terminal, which would increase Barcelona’s annual capacity to 70 million passengers.

Arinc wins Changi check-in contract

Above: Singapore Changi Airport has chosen SITA to upgrade its check-in and baggage handling systems


Annapolis-based Arinc has won a contract from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) to provide all new passenger handling systems for Singapore Changi Airport. Arinc will install its iMUSE common-use check-in technology and Baglink baggage source message delivery system at all three main terminals, including the new Terminal 3, which is scheduled to open early next year.

“This is a very strategic contract for Arinc, because Changi Airport is renowned globally as one of the world’s best and most efficient airports,” says Randy Pizzi, Arinc vice-president and managing director, Asia/Pacific.

Changi is served by 80 airlines operating 4,220 weekly scheduled flights to more than 190 destinations in 59 countries.

“The opening of Terminal 3 next year will strengthen Singapore’s established position as an air hub,” says Foo Sek Min, director of airport management for CAAS. “We believe Arinc’s common-use platform for check-in and boarding processing systems at Changi across Terminals 1, 2, and 3 will provide flexibility for airlines to operate from any of the three terminals.”

Bahrain traffic rises ahead of expansion

Above: Work will begin next year on a massive expansion project at Bahrain International Airport

Bahrain International Airport saw passenger traffic rise by 5% in the first nine months of the year, compared with the same period last year. Civil Aviation Affairs assistant under-secretary Ahmed Nemat Ali says the number of passengers handled by the airport will reach about eight million by the end of 2007.

Work on Bahrain International Airport’s massive expansion project is due to begin next year. It will more than double the size of the terminal building, increase the number of aircraft stands from 46 to 64 and double the number of bridges from seven to 14. The work, which is due to be completed in 2010, is expected to raise capacity to 15 million passengers a year.

Right: Passenger traffic is up 5% so far this year at the airport

The expansion will enable the airport to handle up to 64 aircraft at any given time, increasing baggage handling capacity from 3,000 bags per hour at present to 15,000 bags. The number of check-in counters will increase from 40 to 80.

Seven additional gates will accommodate five Code E type aircraft (Airbus A330 or A340 and Boeing 747 or 777), one Code C type aircraft (A320 and Boeing 737) as well as one Code F, new large aircraft (Airbus A-380).

About 40 airlines, including charter flights and cargo carriers, currently operate at the airport.

JAL reveals Mt. Fuji plans

Above: Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport takes shape ready for opening in spring of 2009


Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced plans to operate flights to Fukuoka and Sapporo from the US$428 million (¥49 billion) Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport, which is scheduled to open for business in the spring of 2009.

The airport will offer convenient access to the Tomei Expressway and it is about 40 minutes by car from Shizuoka city and about 50 minutes from Hamanatsu – the two main cities of the prefecture.

JAL plans to offer a daily service to Fukuoka in Kyushu, and a thrice daily service to Sapporo in Hokkaido from the new airport. The airline is currently assessing the potential passenger demand on these new routes using Mt Fuji Shizuoka Airport to determine the type of aircraft to operate, and the possibility of launching additional flights or routes.

Upon completion, the airport is expected to offer not only domestic flights, but also short- and medium-distance international flights, mainly to China, South Korea, Taiwan and other Asian countries.

The new Mt. Fuji Shizuoka Airport in Shizuoka Prefecture, with its population of some 3.8 million, is famous for both its scenic beauty, which includes Mt. Fuji, and well-known for its agricultural and marine products, including green tea and fruit.

LAN Signs For USD$5 Bln Of Boeing Planes

Reuters - Chile's LAN Airlines has finalized agreements to take delivery of more than USD$5 billion worth of the planemaker's new wide-body planes.

LAN, one of the biggest airlines in Latin America with affiliates in Ecuador, Peru and Argentina, is to get 32 of Boeing's lightweight 787 Dreamliner planes plus four of the larger 777 freighters.

The Santiago-based carrier, which has been increasing its international service in recent years, ordered 26 787s in July, marking the largest order for the new plane from Latin America.

Boeing said on Monday the airline will lease six additional 787s from International Lease Finance.

LAN has also committed to acquiring four 777 freighters, two directly from Boeing and two to be leased from GECAS, General Electric's plane-leasing unit, Boeing said.

The order for 26 Dreamliners, consisting of a mix of 787-8s and 787-9s, is worth about USD$4.5 billion at list prices. The two 777 freighters together are valued at about USD$500 million.

LAN Says High Oil Prices Have Not Hurt Yet

Surging oil prices have not yet hurt Chile's LAN Airlines, but if oil rises above USD$110 a barrel, it would be cause for concern, the company's president and chief operating officer said on Tuesday.

A relatively young fleet and a fuel surcharge has helped the airline recover about 70 percent of the increase in oil prices, Ignacio Cueto said in an interview. LAN has about 30 percent of its fuel consumption hedged, he said.

"We try to pass on the price as much as possible," Cueto said. "But every day it gets more difficult."

Oil leaped more than USD$3 a barrel to a record high of USD$97 on Tuesday, closing in on the USD$100 mark, as a weak US dollar and tight fuel stocks prompted buying by investors.

If oil rises above USD$110 a barrel, it would be "chaotic" for the airline industry and could begin to have an impact the wider economy, he said.

Cueto said Brazil remains the airline's logical area for expansion, but the country's 20 percent limit on foreign ownership is a hindrance.

Brazilian authorities have become more receptive but still do not share LAN's vision of "open skies" in South America, he said.

Rolls-Royce Wins USD$800 Mln ILFC Contract

Reuters-Rolls-Royce announced an USD$800 million order for engines from International Lease Finance Corp (ILFC) on Wednesday to power the newest Airbus plane, the A350 XWB.

The Trent XWB engine will power a fleet of 20 aircraft due for delivery to ILFC starting in April 2014, Rolls-Royce said in a statement.

Rolls said the XWB engine would be rated at 74,000 to 92,000 pounds of thrust, slightly lower than originally planned, with final design configuration expected in mid-2008.

The A350 XWB, or extra wide body, will seat 275 to 350 passengers and is Airbus's twin-engined, mid-sized answer to Boeing's 787.

The 787 is the fastest selling new Boeing airliner in history and grabbed a chunk of the middle market as Airbus devoted much of its attention to finishing work on the A380 superjumbo.

ILFC boss Steven Udvar-Hazy, who has ordered 74 Boeing 787s, was a vocal critic of earlier proposed versions of the A350 before Airbus revamped the design and offered the XWB.

ILFC, a unit of American International Group, is the world's largest plane lessor by fleet value.

It agreed to buy 20 of the A350 XWBs last month after a year of negotiations to replace a deal for 16 of an earlier proposed version of the A350.

Aerospace firms are expected to announce further plane and engine deals at the Dubai air show which opens on Sunday. One of the industry's largest biennial events, contracts worth USD$21 billion were announced when it was last held in 2005.

EC adopts new proposals to protect citizens against terrorism

The European Commission adopted a new package of proposals aimed at improving the EU’s capabilities in the fight against terrorism. The package contains a series of proposals dealing with the criminalization of terrorist training, recruitment and public provocation to commit terrorist offences, the prevention of the use of explosives by terrorists and the use of airline passenger information in law enforcement investigations. It also contains a report on the implementation of one of the key legal instruments of the EU’s counter terrorism arsenal.

Announcing the adoption of the new measures, Vice-President Franco Frattini, said that, “terrorism remains a threat to the political foundations of the European Union as well as to the life and well-being of our citizens”.

The territory of the Union was violently attacked in Madrid (March 2004) and in London (July 2005). Many other plots were recently foiled, in Austria, in Denmark, in France, in Germany and in the UK.

He added that “none of our fellow citizens is immune from this threat and terrorism may also strike at European citizens and interests abroad. Terrorists will strike whenever, wherever and with whatever means to make the most impact”.

He went on to say that “we cannot be complacent, we have to continue striking the right balance between being aware of the threat and taking adequate and proportionate measures, both at European and national level, to prevent it. Our goal remains preserving the right balance between the fundamental right to security of citizens, the right to life and the other fundamental rights of individuals, including privacy and procedural rights.”

Dealing with those who support terrorism

The Commission proposes amending the Framework Decision on combating terrorism making public provocation to commit a terrorist offence, recruitment and training for terrorism punishable behaviour, also when committed through the Internet. The proposal aims to equip our legal systems across the EU with the adequate tools to bring to justice the criminals who spread violent propaganda providing terrorism tactics and instructions on how to manufacture and use bombs or explosives to provoke others to commit terrorist acts. The new legislation will make it easier for law enforcement authorities to get cooperation from internet service providers, to prevent crimes and identify criminals while , at the same time, ensuring that persona data remain well protected and fundamental rights safeguarded.

Practical action to enhance the security of explosives

Attacks such as the Madrid bombings were carried out using commercially available explosives. More can be done to prevent the use of such explosives, chemical precursors and detonators by terrorists. Under impulsion of the Commission, a group of experts – involving all the relevant civil society stakeholders – investigated the issue and recommended a list of 47 action points now endorsed by the Commission in the form of an action plan tackling the different angles of the issue. The action plan aims to enhance the security of explosives, calling, among other, for the establishment of rapid alert systems on lost and stolen explosives and suspicious transactions, a network of

European bomb-disposal experts, the development of an explosive forensic capability in Europol, research on security of explosives and detonators as well as schemes for the vetting of personnel involved in the industry.

Establishing an EU-wide system for the exchange of Passenger Name Records (PNR)

The Commission proposes that air carriers make available PNR data for flights coming to or leaving the EU (in and outbound EU flights) to specialized national units carrying out risk assessments and law enforcement and counter terrorism missions. The conception and planning of terrorist attacks involves traveling by air. Members of radical groups fly to meet and obtain both guidance and training abroad. Providing law enforcement agencies in the EU the possibility of obtaining advance passenger information and analyzing it is an important tool to detect terrorist travel and disrupt future plots. The use of this tool can, however, only be effective if it is fully respectful of the fundamental right of data protection and citizen given all due guarantees.

Second report on the implementation of the Framework Decision on combating terrorism

A report on the implementation of this key instrument of the EU’s arsenal of counter-terrorism legislation is also presented. This report includes information on the situation in the Member States that joined the Union in 2004 and 2007. Despite progress since the first report the lack of correct transposition of the EU norms is still disappointing.

Communication updating on Commission's activities in the field of Counter Terrorism

The package is completed by a communication setting the scene for EU action in this field and placing the proposals presented in the framework of the EU Counter Terrorism Strategy. Terrorism remains a long-term, multifaceted and complex threat requiring EU action addressing all its aspects – prevention, protection, prosecution and responding if an attack occurs. EU action adds value by providing adequate tools to Member States and addressing cross border issues and common interests across the EU. European action must both seek to protect EU citizens and go hand in hand with respecting fundamental rights.

Pisa Forum forecasts another record year for world tourism

Rising fuel prices, exchange rate fluctuations, increased taxation related to air travel, and continued threats to travellers’ health, safety and security… These are just a few of the challenges that have faced the global tourism industry in 2007.

Yet, over the first eight months of the year, outbound travel rose by between 5-6% worldwide in terms of trip volume, resulting in what is expected to be the fourth consecutive year of sustained growth. And this trend is forecast to continue in 2008, albeit at a slightly slower rate (+4-5%).

This was one of the main messages to come out of the three days of presentations and intensive discussions between world tourism experts gathered in Pisa from 24-26 October for the 15th World Travel Monitor Forum. The meeting, more commonly known as the Pisa Forum, and which was once again sponsored by ITB Berlin, was as usual organised by IPK International, founders and producers of the World Travel Monitor survey, in co-operation with the European Travel Commission.

The growth, which is above that forecast for 2007 12 months ago in Pisa, owes much to the healthy global economy, said Rolf Freitag, President & CEO of IPK International, as well as a robust air transport sector, and an increasing resilience to negative events and developments. Although the weakness of the US dollar, for example, has had an impact on travel from the USA and other dollar-lined markets, it has not affected overall trends.

Other important contributing factors cited by participants at the Pisa Forum include the expansion and spread of low-cost/low-fare airline services – almost all regions of the world are now benefiting from the trend – and significant increases in outbound travel from emerging markets and less traditional European source countries.

“The average growth in world tourism demand clearly masks some wide variations from one region and source country to another,” said Freitag. European outbound trips increased by 3% from January through August 2007 – led by Spain (+11%), Russia (+10%) and Italy (+7%) – with Norway, Ireland, Sweden and France also achieving above average growth rates.

Nevertheless, Europe’s most important outbound travel markets, Germany and the UK, have turned in disappointing performances this year so far, and are not expected to show much improvement before the end of 2007. In Germany’s case, the market’s sluggish performance was attributed by Pisa participants to uncertainties over employment prospects, together with the negative impact of the three percentage point rise in VAT at the start of the year.

Stagnation in the UK market, on the other hand, is blamed on the government’s decision to sharply increase the Air Passenger Duty, as well as a possible saturation in demand for secondary short breaks using low-cost carriers, and increased hassles associated with travel through UK airports as a result of stepped-up security and immigration checks. However, as representatives of the USA, Canada and, e.g. Kenya in Pisa confirmed, while total trip volume has stagnated, demand from the UK for long-haul destinations has recorded a healthy increase.

To put things into perspective, outbound travel from the USA increased by just 1% through the month of August, according to official data from the US Department of Commerce – due in no small part to the weak dollar – while the growth for some Asian and Latin American markets exceeded 20% (in terms of either expenditure and/or trip volume).

South Korea, India, Brazil and China led the growth from emerging markets, although a number of other developing economies have confirmed their growth potential. By way of example, the World Tourism Organization cited the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Malaysia and Indonesia.

In line with the increase in low-cost/low-fare airline services, low-fare traffic demand has risen sharply this year. In Europe alone, following a 15% increase in demand for low-fare trips in 2006, the first eight months of 2007 saw a further 17% growth – to 39% of total airline trips. This goes a long way to explaining the continued strong boom in short city breaks in 2007 which, alongside touring trips, have been the fastest growth sector of the market this year so far.

Nearly 40% of all European trips – up 13% on 2006 – are now booked at least partially online, while travel agents’ share of total bookings has slipped by a further one percentage point to 25%. Close to 60% of all trips are also packaged – ie they include both transport and accommodation – even if they are self-packaged online. In line with forecasts made at the Pisa Forum in November 2006, consumers are demanding more and more control when making their travel arrangements, and this is likely to stimulate online booking further.

Prospects for 2008 remain bullish, although the Pisa Forum concluded that the US market would show decreasing consumer confidence as a result of the subprime crisis, and that the impact of the credit crunch may impact on European travel demand as well.

“Other characteristics of the changing market include a stronger focus on hospitality, authenticity and tradition, as well as increasing demand for uniqueness, individuality, nature-based tourism and sustainability. Quality is now the buzzword, replacing ‘cheap is chic’,” said Freitag.

Climate change is emerging as important issue, although there is no evidence that it has had a negative impact on demand until now, the Pisa Forum agreed. But this could change in the future, although the tourism industry’s potential to adapt to the new threat and introduce effective mitigation policies remains high.

A full analysis of the opportunities and threats identified by the Pisa Forum participants, as well as detailed information on trends in different regions of the world, will be available from the ITB/IPK World Travel Trends report, to be published in November.

Will travelers stop flying due to the challanges in air travel?

Despite the highest load factors in history and a summer travel season that saw one-quarter of all domestic flights delayed, more than half of air passengers don't expect to encounter problems with their flight experience, according to Travelocity's most recent air travel survey. With a busy holiday travel season and unpredictable winter weather ahead, air passengers still plan to take to the skies but may need to formulate a more realistic picture when it comes to their journeys.

Travelocity’s poll of more than 1,300 travelers shows consumer expectations are often out of line with airline policies when something goes wrong. When asked what they considered an “excessive” amount of time to be held up on the tarmac, 55 percent said 30 minutes would be excessive; the vast majority (95 percent) after waiting an hour, but only a few airlines make any promise of compensation for grounded flights – and then only after several hours.

The vast majority of respondents also expect some type of reimbursement when more than a two-hour delay or cancellation occurs, an expectation that’s often not met by the airlines, especially in the case of winter weather.

When weather is a factor in delays, airlines offer nothing beyond assistance in rebooking on a later flight – which may be a challenge due to extremely full flights.

"There can be a disconnect between what travelers expect and what they actually get for compensation when trips don't go smoothly," says Amy Ziff, Travelocity's editor-at-large. "The best way to avoid frustration during travel is to have realistic expectations."

Though 94 percent expect beverage service if a flight sits on the tarmac for an excessive amount of time and 87 percent expect to return to the gate, the definition of “excessive” varies from airline to airline. Last winter, travelers in both Denver and Austin were held on grounded flights for more than eight hours with deteriorating conditions. Since the incidents, some airlines have implemented strict guidelines for how long a flight can be held on the tarmac before returning to the gate. Knowing the various airline policies helps travelers decide what carrier to choose when they book their winter travel.

"With airlines having cut costs and reduced budgets, it means that travelers can't expect generous make-good offers from airlines anymore. Travelers should also know what they can do to thwart the problems that today's air travel can present," says Ziff.

Besides delays and cancellations, the Travelocity survey found that airline personnel attitudes have a big impact on their flight experience. Fifty-nine percent say airline personnel are less attentive than they used to be. Why does it matter? Because 63 percent said they will avoid using a given airline due to rude personnel if they have a comparable choice elsewhere.

Other Travel Convenience Stats:

• Forty percent of respondents said waiting a long time for luggage is the most frustrating aspect of air travel, even more so than plans not going smoothly and encountering rude passengers or airport employees.
• The largest group of respondents said getting their preferred “seat type” was the most important factor in having an enjoyable flight.
• One in 10 said a polite crew is THE most important factor for an enjoyable flight, while one in five said a “less than cordial” crew is the most bothersome aspect, even over annoying neighbors or a bad seat.

All in all, while travel volumes are a clear indication that people are continuing to travel in the near future, there is a lot of opportunity for improvement. With that in mind and the high peak holiday period approaching, Ziff recommends several ways to avoid and cope with potential delays:

• Avoid traveling at peak times when airports tend to be most crowded. Book your flights for as early in the day as possible to reduce the odds of being delayed by an inbound flight.
• If booking a connecting flight, leave plenty of time between flights and try to stay on the same carrier if possible. With lots of unexpected schedule changes occurring, it may be more difficult to coordinate between two different airlines.
• Pick your seat during the booking process to help ensure you get your seat preference. But it's also critical to check in early – online check in from home allows you to check in up to 24 hours in advance.
• Carry on snacks / drinks in case you’re stuck on the tarmac (liquids can be brought on the plane if purchased inside the terminal).
• Take extra work and / or plenty of reading to help pass the time.
• Bring additional medication in case you need it due to longer delays.
• Try to avoid scheduling meetings tightly around your arrival time.
• Bring a list of emergency phone numbers with you, and make sure your cell phone and computer are fully charged.

The Travelocity poll conducted from Sept. 27, 2007 – Oct. 2, 2007 consisted of responses from 1,319 Travelocity members. The survey was conducted to obtain information from travelers who booked air travel in the last 12 months.

Singapore concludes air transport agreement with Canada

Singapore and Canada have initiated a new air transport agreement, following bilateral air services consultations in Ottawa, Canada from 30 October to 1 November 2007 in Ottawa, Canada. Under the new bilateral agreement, Singapore carriers are allowed to operate passenger and all-cargo flights as frequently as desired between Singapore and Canada, via selected intermediate points.

In addition, they may code-share either with one another, with any Canadian or third country airlines. Code-sharing enables an airline to market its partner airlines’ flights as its own, and offers an additional means for airlines to serve a market without having to deploy its own aircraft. Canadian carriers enjoy similar traffic rights and code-share privileges under the reciprocal arrangement.

“This new agreement represents a significant step in further strengthening the bilateral relations between Singapore and Canada. It demonstrates our two countries’ commitment to pursue a common goal of achieving a more liberal aviation framework in the global aviation arena,” said Mr Lim Kim Choon, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, who led the Singapore delegation in the negotiations.

He added “I am confident this agreement would be a bridge to promote greater tourism, trade and investment flows between Singapore and Canada.”

Singapore Airlines currently operates 6 weekly passenger flights between Singapore and Vancouver via Seoul.

London-Dubai premium air traffic set for steep climb

Nearly 400,000 people fly annually in business class cabins between London and Dubai, but that number is likely to increase dramatically as Dubai continues to position itself as a global commercial and tourism capital. The market response to Silverjet, the region’s all-business class airline offering a private jet experience scheduled to service the London-Dubai route, has already been exceptionally positive, according to the company’s senior management.

“Dubai has truly placed itself at the centre of the world’s aviation sector, and we believe Silverjet’s offering can contribute significantly to that ongoing success story,” said Katherine Gershon, Director of Sales and Marketing for Silverjet, the world’s only all-business airline to fly a non-transatlantic route when it begins its daily Dubai-London service on November 19.

“At Silverjet, we know that there is a rapidly expanding segment of both business and leisure travellers in London and Dubai who expect more of their airlines. They want luxury, affordability, convenience and hospitality, and increasingly, they have little tolerance for ever bigger airports, ever longer queues, and ever declining standards.”

The airline will offer a private terminal experience at both ends of its service and will be the only commercial carrier to use the private Executive Terminal at Dubai International Airport. The airline has confirmed that its London-Dubai fares will be on average less than half the price of competitor fares.

Silverjet currently offers a twice-daily service between London and New York, and its London-Dubai service will operate daily from 19 November.

For its existing London-New York route, Silverjet said passenger numbers almost doubled in six months and increased by 38 per cent since September of this year. The airline’s revenue seats flown increased to 6,782 in October of this year, as opposed to 3,628 in May and 4,916 in September of this year. The airline was the first in history to reach 80 per cent load factors within 7 months of launch.

Silverjet's service from Dubai will launch on 19 November and will fly from the Executive Terminal at Dubai International Airport to its Private Terminal at London Luton Airport. It said it was encouraged by forward bookings and the travel trade reaction to the service in the UK and the United Arab Emirates.

Jet Airways receive top award at WTA

Travel agents worldwide have voted Jet Airways ‘India’s Leading Airline’ at the 14th Annual World Travel Awards. The awards were announced on November 2, 2007, at the World Travel Awards Asia, Australasia & Indian Ocean ceremony, held at the Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore, India.

Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as the "Travel industry's equivalent to the Oscars", the World Travel Awards are the most comprehensive and prestigious awards program in the global travel industry today. Conceived in 1993, these awards seek to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the world's travel and tourism industry. The World Travel Awards are especially coveted as, uniquely, the votes are cast globally by fellow professionals.

The glittering ceremony, marked by glamour, joy and excitement in equal measure, was an unprecedented success with over 200 travel professionals, VIPs and media from 16 countries in attendance.

Distinguished guests among the audience included Captain C.P Krishnan Nair, Chairman of The Leela Palaces Hotels Resorts, Hon. Dr. Mahamood Shougee, Maldivian Minister of Tourism & Civil Aviation, as well as Vikram Oberoi, Joint Managing Director of The Oberoi Group.

According to Mr. Gaurang Shetty, Vice-President - Marketing, Jet Airways, who received the award on the airline’s behalf, “Jet Airways has always striven to set, and maintain, high standards in the Indian aviation industry and this award from our global travel trade partners is a realisation of our efforts.”

Surf is up at Virgin Atlantic as BA bans surfboards

Virgin Atlantic, one of the world’s leading long-haul airlines, has come to the aid of sports travellers by announcing that they can take one piece of sporting equipment in addition to their checked baggage allowance. The announcement comes after rival carrier, British Airways, decided to ban surfboards and other sporting equipment, such as pole vaults and javelins, in the cargo hold on its flights from 6th November 2007.

This means that, as long as the equipment complies with size and weight allowances, Virgin Atlantic travellers can check in to the hold of the aircraft their diving equipment, golf equipment, fishing equipment, hang gliders, snow skis, surfboards, windsurfing boards, booms and sails, bicycles, paragliders, canoes and kayaks - all free of charge. Sporting wheelchairs are also considered sports equipment.

Paul Dickinson, Sales and Marketing Director, Virgin Atlantic, said:

"Virgin Atlantic continues to be the airline for sports enthusiasts unlike others who are doing everything they can to prevent the gold medallists of the future transporting their equipment. Our new sports equipment policy enables all sports travellers, whether Olympic teams or not, to enjoy their journey throughout."

The sporting equipment can weigh no more than 32kg, unless with prior consent. If the sports equipment weighs more than 32kg, the item will be treated as two pieces of checked baggage, excess baggage charges will then apply. Sporting equipment weighing more than 45kg will need to be transported as cargo and cannot be accepted as checked baggage. Larger dimensions are allowed for surf boards.