Air Canada Expanding Service To US
Air Canada plans to add services to seven more US cities, fortifying its Toronto hub and strengthening its position as North America's leading transborder carrier. Beginning April 6 and continuing on through June 17, the carrier will inaugurate daily service between Toronto and Orange County (Santa Ana) and San Diego, CA; Portland, OR; Memphis; Cincinnati; Portland, ME; and Syracuse, NY.
Air Canada is also adding international destinations from Toronto to Athens, Barcelona, and Copenhagen; as well as same-plane, direct service to Brussels through Montreal.
Air France-KLM Extends Amadeus Contract
The Air France - KLM airline group has agreed to extend its full content agreement with Amadeus until December 2013. The agreement guarantees Amadeus travel agents worldwide access to the entire range of fares, schedules and inventory relating to more than 74.8 million seats and 90.000 flights operated annually by Air France and KLM. The agreement includes the content of subsidiary airlines Martinair and VLM.
AirPlus Survey Measures Gap In Expense Management Practices
Only 39 percent of companies have one comprehensive policy and one comprehensive platform for processing business travel expenses and reimbursements, according to a survey conducted by AirPlus International and reported in its January issue of The Wire. Twenty-four percent of the responding companies say they have several policies and multiple platforms; an equal number say they do have one comprehensive policy but still have multiple platforms. Thirteen percent have neither standardized policies nor a single comprehensive platform.
The respondent companies aren't entirely missing the best practices boat, adds the AirPlus report. While only 42 percent link their booking data to an expense management tool, 79 percent do integrate data from their corporate cards.
AirTran Will Link Grand Rapids To BWI & MCO In May
AirTran Airways plans to begin daily nonstop service between Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, MI, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) and Orlando International (MCO) airports in early May. The service is being provided in partnership with the Regional Air Alliance of West Michigan.
Amadeus Unveils Ability To Compare Fares And Associated Conditions Of Sale
Amadeus has launched Agent Fare Families, a new option within its Master Pricer portfolio, making it easier for travel agents to compare airlines' fares and their associated conditions online. The solution permits travel agencies to group together fares with similar conditions, but offered by different airlines, into categories or fare families. Amadeus points out that the Fare Families solution also improves an agency's chances of upselling to higher fares with more flexible conditions.
For instance, non-refundable fares can be grouped together in one family; fares which are refundable but with a penalty can be grouped into a different family; and fully flexible fares can be displayed in a third family. And so on and so forth, up to 6 categories.
Travel agencies decide and design how the fare families are constructed and can give more visibility to specific air content.
American Express BT Introduces aXcentis Management Program For SMEs
American Express Business Travel has launched aXcentis, a turnkey solution offering end-to-end capabilities and enhanced services for small and mid-sized companies - those with up to $10 million in annual travel spending. aXcentis is part of an enhanced suite of services and new capabilities designed to address the evolution of small to mid-sized company needs for sophisticated managed travel programs at a reasonable cost," explains John Berkley, vice president of the company's US mid-market segment.
aXcentis brand and offering is being rolled out in six key markets including the US, Canada and Australia. In the UK, the Nordic region and France a similar platform, called aXcent, is being launched.
In many cases, aXcentis clients and prospects will not have dedicated internal travel departments, says Berkley. Some never did; others were abandoned "with the Great Recession." But now those companies are beginning to travel again, albeit with now-familiar spending constraints, corporate CFOs "want to understand these expenditures more than ever." The pressure is being intensified, he continues, by the fact that an increasing number of companies have gone global.
aXcentis will focus on developing a travel program strategy, "recycling" unused travel purchases, and using benchmarking and performance measurement techniques. One automated suite will include pre-trip auditor and authorization tools to support travel policy as well as traveler tracking tools to help companies identify where their travelers are at all times. The new suite of solutions will also involve American Express's extended partnership with Concur, which was also announced this past week.
A meetings management package includes a self-service booking tool for smaller meetings and access to a meetings desk of experts to assist with larger meetings. (As with travel, most SMEs in the loser spend ranges do not have dedicated meetings departments or meeting manager positions, says Beckley.)
American Express BT Ties Into Concur's T&E Technology
American Express Business Travel and Concur have forged a global agreement that offers clients one comprehensive corporate T&E management program - payment, travel management and expense management. As part of this relationship, the companies will create a joint product council which will develop new functionality and services exclusively available to companies using this end-to-end program.
The end-to-end approach leverages American Express Business Travel's global purchasing power for airfare, hotels and car rentals with Concur's technology to help clients manage T&E spending and gain access to a broad array of travel and expense data. Companies can also enjoy the added benefit of American Express Business Travel's Advisory Services to help clients through the implementation process and accelerate adoption.
This extends the successful relationship Concur currently has with American Express through the agreement previously announced with global commercial card.
Amtrak Eyes Fast Tracks, Most Funded By $8 Billion In Federal Grants
Approximately $4.5 million of the $8 billion awarded by the US government for intercity passenger rail service will support improvements to 13 current Amtrak routes as well as others still in the planning stages, according to its president and CEO, Joseph Boardman. Nearly $500 million will go to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor (NEC); that will be added to the $700 million already allocated.
Also among the funded new projects are an extension of Amtrak's Downeaster Service to Brunswick, ME, and the development of the Ohio "3-C" corridor, connecting Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati. Another $3.5 billion is earmarked for new, dedicated high speed rail systems in California and Florida.
Amtrak itself will pay for and perform a high-speed improvement study to determine what infrastructure upgrades (to tracks, bridges, signal systems, grade crossing warnings and stations) would be needed to allow 110 mph service on the Norfolk Southern-owned rail corridor between Kalamazoo and Detroit. Amtrak trains currently operate at 79 mph over the rail line between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, just west of Detroit. Boardman says Amtrak owns the rail line west of Kalamazoo to Porter, IN, and recently increased speeds from 79 mph to 95 mph; tests of speeds up to 110 mph are scheduled by mid-2010. Two of the three Amtrak routes serving Michigan - Wolverine (Chicago-Pontiac) and Blue Water (Chicago-Port Huron) - operate over this section of track.
ANA Plans Expansion Of International Operations
Despite the "the lethargic nature of the economic recovery," ANA Group says it will expand in 2010 in response to anticipated capacity increases at Tokyo's Haneda and Narita airports, the scheduled delivery of Boeing 787, an Open Skies between Japan and the US. Subject to regulatory approval, ANA says it will:
* increase the frequency of service from Narita to Ho Chi Minh City and Hangzhou, plus use a larger aircraft on its Narita-Qingdao route.
* launch a Narita-to-Munich route on July 1.
* expand international routes from Haneda, starting with the introduction of service to Taipei and increasing the frequency of service to Seoul, Shanghai and Beijing during the day.
ANA also says it is considering night-time operation for routes to the West Coast of the United States.
Avis Budget Cuts 20,000 Toyotas From Fleet, Says It Can Still Meet Demand
Avis Budget Group says it has removed approximately 20,000 cars from its corporate fleet in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico as a result of the Toyota recall. Nevertheless, says the company, it is confident it will be able to meet demand. It has also reassured its customers that it believes "all of the Toyotas in our fleet are safe."
"Toyotas represent only a small percentage of our overall fleet," says a company spokesman, "so we expect to be able to fulfill all projected customer demand and customers can make reservations with complete confidence for any rental occasion."
Further the company says it is "important to note that the safety problems that have led to Toyota's recall of certain vehicles are believed to arise out of usage over time ... Given the regular maintenance and the low mileage of our overall fleet," the Avis Budget fleet is considered safe.
Toyota models affected by the recall are Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, Rav4, Sequoia, Tundra and Pontiac Vibe. Not affected: Camry Hybrid, FJ Cruiser, Prius, Sienna, Venza, Yaris and 4Runner.
BTC, ITM Schedule Inaugural Solutions Group Meeting For London Show
Business Travel Coalition (BTC) and the Institute of Travel & Meetings UK & Ireland (ITM) have finalized details of their inaugural Industry Solutions Group (ISG) meeting to be held at the Business Travel & Meetings Show on February 9 at Earls Court 2 in London. ISG members, who include corporate travel buyers, travel management companies, technology providers, association executives, airlines and other distribution participants, will meet to consider impacts from airline unbundling and to develop a peer-reviewed industry position paper for publication in early April.
"Unbundling in itself is not an issue, but the method by which it is implemented, and the potential pitfalls to business travel buyers and intermediaries, are considerable unless there's a thoughtful industry-level plan," says BTC Chairman Kevin Mitchell, who will also lead a keynote session on the history of unbundling.
CARINO Unveils Codified Brand Standards, Sets 3-phase Rollout
CARINO Hotels and Resorts Worldwide unveiled its new brand standards strategy at its annual global conference, held last week in New York City. The new standards parameters have been in the works for five months, according to Ed Socorro, vice president of advertising and marketing, and will be implemented in three phases "to ensure our member hotels have plenty of time to embrace the program and establish the infrastructure."
CARINO also displayed enhancements to SalesConnect 2.0TM, its web-based database of corporate, leisure and group account information. Services previously completed via emails, such as tradeshow information and registration, have been merged into an intuitive seamless Internet module to ease access to information and registration for any CARINO events.
Carlson Wagonlit Survey Reveals Continued Focus On Saving Travel Dollars
Travel managers will remain focused on savings in 2010, according to the results of a survey conducted by Carlson Wagonlit Travel among 169 travel managers worldwide. When asked to prioritize a list of focus areas for this year, at least half replied that it would be optimizing hotel spend, improving traveler compliance, optimizing simple bookings, and driving air and ground transportation savings.
Further consolidating the travel program and developing key performance indicators came next for more than one-third of those surveyed. Thirty-four percent said they'd be optimizing travel policy; 33 percent, enhancing the traveler experience; and 32 percent, tackling meetings and events. Safety and security was a top concern among 26 percent of the respondents; making their travel programs more environmentally friendly, 13 percent.
The full CWT report, titled "Travel Management Priorities for 2010: Decisive Opportunities for Success," also offers a full range of best practices for deriving greater value from managed travel programs.
Choice On Track To Open 2 Hotels In Jacmel, Haiti
Choice Hotels International says it remains on track to open two properties in Jacmel, Haiti, and is now sending supplies to the property slated to open as a Comfort Inn hotel later this year. In addition to the relief efforts Choice announced earlier this month, the company is sending relief supplies, including food, water, fuel, soap and laundry detergent, directly to its Comfort Inn conversion property.
"The hotel did not experience structural damage in the earthquake.
Earlier this month, Choice Hotels announced plans to open a 32-room Comfort Inn hotel and a 120-room Ascend Collection member hotel. The properties will be the first Choice-brand hotels for Haiti and the first global hotel brand for the island in more than a decade. The hotels, owned by New York-based SIMACT, will be located on Haiti's southern coast in Jacmel, known as the island's cultural hub thanks to its vibrant arts, music and film festivals.
Concur, Amadeus Sharing Key Technologies To Broaden Global Client Bases
Amadeus and Concur have entered into a long-term alliance to bring several of their key technologies together. The combination will allow each to offer global markets a broadened range of capabilities within an end-to-end travel and expense management solution. When the integration is complete later this year, customers will be able to select the integrated solution that best suits their unique requirements.
Amadeus' core distribution technology, including its low fare search and ticket change technology, will be integrated into Concur's Cliqbook Travel. It is the first time the GDS has provided its capabilities to an online system, according to Stewart Alvarez, Amadeus' vice president of strategic planning and business development.
At the same time, travel bookings made through Amadeus eTravel Management (AeTM) will be accepted into the Concur Expense system.
From a Concur perspective, the partnership is especially valuable in the European and Asian markets, explains Mike Hilton, the executive vice president of worldwide marketing. "Amadeus is the leading solution in the UK and Asia Pacific; we have a lot of mutual customers, so in those markets it's the combination of the two that is especially attractive."
On Amadeus' part, the agreement is the latest move in its strategy to create a global and end-to-end travel and spend story for its global customer segment.
Continental Increasing US-Heathrow Flights, All With Flat-bed Seats
Continental Airlines says it will increase its schedule of flights between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and London/Heathrow, during 2010. A fourth daily service to the route will be added in March and a fifth in October, bringing Continental's total number of daily departures to Heathrow to seven, including its twice-daily service from Houston.
In addition, Continental announced that effective June 1, all aircraft scheduled for Heathrow flights will feature new, flat bed seats in BusinessFirst.
Cvent Plans To Hire 130 To Meet Rapidly Expanding Client Base
Cvent says it plans to double it office capacity and hire 130 new employees in 2010 in order to serve the 3,500 new contracts it acquired in 2009 across its four divisions. The McLean, VA-based company says its employee base has increased last year by 25 percent to 500 worldwide, mainly in its product development and client services divisions.
Delta Reveals $1 Billion Plan To Upgrade Fleet And Services
Delta Air Lines says it will invest $1 billion, or about $300 million per year, through mid-2013 to improve the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Planned enhancements include:
*Installation of full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite on 90 trans-oceanic aircraft, including 14 Boeing 767-400ERs, 52 Boeing 767-300ERs, 16 Boeing 747-400s and eight Boeing 777-200ERs. Upon completion, each of these fleets will have full flat bed seats on all aircraft.
*Addition of in-seat audio and video on demand throughout Economy Class on 16 Boeing 747-400 and 52 Boeing 767-300ER aircraft.
*Addition of First Class cabins to 66 CRJ-700 aircraft operated by Delta Connection carriers ASA, Comair and SkyWest, bringing the number of regional aircraft with First Class seating to 219.
*Completion of the modification of 269 pre-merger Northwest aircraft to feature Delta's signature blue leather seats, updated lighting and enhanced cabin amenities such as increased overhead bin space on pre-merger Northwest 757-200s.
*Installation of winglets on more than 170 Boeing 767-300ER, 757-200 and 737-800 aircraft to extend aircraft range and improve fuel efficiency by as much as 5 percent.
*Renovation and expansion of Delta's Los Angeles Sky Club lounge, and introduction of new Sky Club locations in Seattle, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
Enterprise Says 4% Of Its Brands' Fleets Hit By Toyota Recall
Enterprise Holdings says it removed all of the Toyota and Pontiac Vibe vehicles from its fleet, immediately after they were identified for recall and suspension of sales due to potential problems with sticking accelerator pedals. The affected vehicles represent about 4 percent of the fleet of the Alamo, Enterprise and National brand fleets.
The three Enterprise brands also suspended sales of the affected models and will not put new Toyota vehicles into service until the situation is corrected, according to Matt Darrah, executive vice president of North American operations for Enterprise Holding. "The safety of our customers is our number one concern," he adds, "so we are acting out of an abundance of caution to remove the affected vehicles from our fleet until Toyota has identified a remedy for the issue," said Matt Darrah, Executive Vice President-North American Operations for Enterprise Holdings.
"We recognize that these actions will inconvenience a number of our current rental customers and may impact the availability of vehicles in the coming weeks," he continue. "We are moving as quickly as possible to minimize any disruption to our customers."
Toyota models affected by the recall are Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, Rav4, Sequoia, Tundra and Pontiac Vibe. Not affected: Camry Hybrid, FJ Cruiser, Prius, Sienna, Venza, Yaris and 4Runner.
GlobalStar Adds Netherlands' Global Business Travel To Network
Globe Business Travel, a part of The Netherlands' second largest travel organization, has signed on as GlobalStar Travel Management's new exclusive partner for that nation. The decision was based on globalStar's abilty to provide a multinational solution as well as deliver personalized services and avoid call center configurations, according to Global BT's general manager, Birgit Puntman.
Though a part of the OAD Group, Global BT is fully independent and privately owned. It has eight offices throughout The Netherlands.
Grass Roots Predicts Unchanged Budgets In UK Meetings Market
The UK's Grass Roots agency reports that meeting and events budgets are largely holding steady in 2010, with the possibility of an upturn at the end of the year. The conclusion is drawn from in-depth case studies and a survey among the agency's corporate clients, plus data from more than 140 industry associations, trade bodies and commercial companies.
Findings from the report show there are signs of growth in the meetings market, forecasting an upturn in events particularly in the last quarter of 2010. However, this figure will be 25% down on the industry peak of 2008. "A number of the events that were cancelled in 2009 will now take place in 2010," says Nick Bender, head of global events. "Agents and venues will have to target their clients carefully in 2010. In 2009 they turned to government business but given the stark warnings about reigning in public spending this sector may not prove as reliable this year."
Hertz Stops Renting Recalled Toyotas, Expects 'Minimal Disruptions'
Hertz says it has stopped renting vehicles named in Toyota's voluntary recall, and is working closely with the company to make repairs "as quickly as possible." It also notes that several Toyota models in its rental fleet are not included in the recall.
The company expect to have "minimal operational disruptions," says Chairman and CEO Mark P. Frissora, adding "We are taking action so there can be no question about the safety of our customers and the cars we rent."
Toyota models affected by the recall are Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Highlander, Matrix, Rav4, Sequoia, Tundra and Pontiac Vibe. Not affected: Camry Hybrid, FJ Cruiser, Prius, Sienna, Venza, Yaris and 4Runner.
IATA: Asian Airlines Outpacing North America In Regional Travel
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that the intra-regional travel in the Asia-Pacific region eclipsed the North America market in 2009, 647 million to 638 million. The figures include both domestic travel and continuing travel from international routes. Moreover, despite the fact that they are facing some of the same economic challenges, "Asia-Pacific's prospects are improving faster than other regions," says Giovanni Bisignani, IATA's director general and CEO. "The global air transport industry will triple in size when Asians travel as much as those in the US."
Speaking at the Singapore Air Show Aviation Leadership Summit, Bisignani noted that the Asia-Pacific region is home to two of the world's top five airlines in terms of profitability as well as to the world's two biggest growth markets - India and China.
Icelandair Revises Summer Schedule From Minneapolis & Toronto
Icelandair has revised its US and Canadian flight schedules based on projected demand for Summer 2010. Changes will include an additional flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul, starting June 13 and running through August 28. Sunday flights from Toronto will now move to Mondays for the same period. The airline says it will continue to monitor operations in order to "best serve the needs of its passengers."
JetBlue Activates In ARC
JetBlue went live in ARC over this past weekend, transitioning to a reservations system that will enable industry standard electronic ticketing, plus standard reporting and settlement practices for agency transactions. Under the terms of its contract, all ARC agents are automatically appointed as agents of JetBlue unless specifically advised to the contrary by the carrier. JetBlue accepts American Express, Diners Club International, Discover, MasterCard, UATP, Visa and Cash as valid forms of payment.
Lanyon Unveils Sourcing Solution For Long-term Stays
Lanyon Inc. will make its Engagement & Project Sourcing(tm), a corporate sourcing solution to address the $50 billion global market for mid- to long-term stays, available to corporate travel buyers on February 15. Features include:
*side-by-side evaluation of rates and amenities across all hotel and corporate apartment offers.
*display of a corporation's existing preferred transient hotel and their negotiated rates, so as to support maximum leverage.
*integration of rich media content to support the decision-making process.
*assurance that agreed rates and terms are correctly loaded into the GDS and are actually available to be booked.
*internal ratings system to capture the performance of specific properties.
Lanyon is planning a webinar, titled "Missing: 50% of Your Hotel Spend," concurrent with the launch.
Lufthansa Increases Service To Africa With Brussels Airlines Codeshare
Lufthansa customers can now book codeshare flights with Brussels Airlines to four more destinations in Africa: Passengers can thus fly with the Belgian carrier from Berlin-Tegel, Hamburg, Hanover, Frankfurt, Munich, Nuremberg and Stuttgart through Brussels directly to the African capitals of Conakry (Guinea), Freetown (Sierra Leone), Kigali (Rwanda) and Luanda (Angola).
Lufthansa currently operates its own flights to 17 destinations in Africa, including its own twice-weekly service to Luanda from Frankfurt.
Names In The News Benchmark Hospitality International has named Maria Corona director of sales for Marenas Resort, in Sunny Isles Beach, just north of Miami. Corona was previously senior sales manager for One Bal Harbour Resort & Spa.
CARINO Hotels and Resorts Worldwide has announced the strategic appointment of Jane E. Colby as executive director of development. Colby will lead and drive all development opportunities in the North and South Americas. A seasoned sales professional and leader with over 14 years experience in management within the hospitality industry, she has been employed with Hilton International, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide and Kimpton Hotels. She also has an extensive background with contract management and negotiation.
MEDEX Global Group has added three new regional directors to its sales team, as it moves to target specific industries and locations. John Pugh will service the western United States, including Alaska and Hawaii; Stephen Rullo will be responsible for US agency for international development (USAID) and non-governmental organization (NGO) sales. Chip Sousa will manage sales in MEDEX's scholastic division. Pugh comes to MEDEX from Shepell-fgi, a provider of global employee assistance program services, He has expertise in more than 25 different countries. Rullo most recently served as a director of sales within WellPoint's Consumer Health Solutions business unit. His travels have taken him to Canada, China, Germany, Mexico, Singapore, Vietnam and the United Kingdom. Sousa has more than 10 years of experience in health and financial services, the last six years, as an account executive at Aetna Student Health.
Marriott ExecuStay has announced that Greg Landis has assumed the role of federal government sales manager for the Washington, D.C. market, including parts of Maryland and Virginia. In addition to sales, he will be responsible for business development, brand awareness and market share growth. Landis comes to Marriott with more than 15 years of sales experience, most recently as an account executive with Oakwood Worldwide.
NBTA Europe has announced the first three appointments to its Advisory Board: Torbjorn Erling, global meetings and travel manager for Sweden's IKEA Group; France's Yann Le Goff, sourcing director for Sidel, the subsidiary of Tetra Laval Group; and Floyd Widener, Carlson Wagonlit Travel's vice president of sales and global program management in EMEA. The will join the chairman of the board, UK-based Caroline Strachan, global category lead for Astra Zeneca.
Southwest Airlines' directors have appointed Doug Brooks, chairman, president, and CEO of Brinker International, to the Board, effective February 15. Brinker's portfolio includes Chili's Grill & Bar, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, and Maggiano's Little Italy. Brooks will initially serve for a term lasting until the company's next annual shareholders' meeting, scheduled for May 2010.
The Balboa Bay Club & Resort in Newport Beach, CA, has appointed Terri Reid its new executive director of sales and marketing. Reid has 26 years experience in the luxury hospitality and travel industry, including posts in Hawaii and Australia as well as California.
The Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa in Santa Ana, CA, has appointed Steven DeFelice to director of sales and marketing. He will be responsible for managing the resorts marketing and sales efforts including advertising, brand management, sales, promotions and public relations. DeFelice comes to the Tamaya with more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, most recently at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, TX.
Warwick Denver Hotel has announced that Paola Venturini Hubert has joined the hotel sales team as senior corporate group sales manager. She has represented hotels in London and in Buenos Aires before relocating to Denver, and is fluent in English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese.
OpenSkies Now On Facebook
OpenSkies has launched its official Facebook fan page. In addition to garnering customer feedback, the page will be sued to announce promotions and launch a series of contests with seats to Paris as the prizes.
Porter Airlines Adds Sudbury, ON, To Network
Porter Airlines is introducing year-round flights between Sudbury, in northern Ontario, and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, beginning March 31, with one daily non-stop roundtrip flight. Porter will be the only carrier offering service between the two airports.
"Northern Ontario is an important region for us. We are experiencing great success in Thunder Bay, and are looking forward to a similar result in Sudbury." says Robert Deluce, the airline's president and CEO. Historically, Sudbury's economic base has been in mining and two international companies - Brazil's Vale and the Swiss company Xtrata - have operations there. But employment in the region is now outpaced by education, health care, public administration, retailing, tourism and mining equipment.
Porter currently serves Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax, St. John's, Thunder Bay, New York (Newark), Chicago (Midway), Boston (Logan), and has seasonal flights to Mt. Tremblant, Que. and Myrtle Beach, SC.
Republic Advances Integration Of Frontier & Midwest As Menke Plans Exit
Republic Airways Holdings has announced that Sean Menke, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Republic's branded operations, has made the personal decision to resign from the organization effective at the end of the first quarter. Menke was president and CEO of Frontier Airlines before it was acquired by Republic. His decision marks the next phase of the integration of Denver-based Frontier and Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines into the Republic organization, with the consolidation of all executive management functions in Indianapolis.
Frontier and Midwest comprise Republic's branded operations. Republic expects to complete the integration of the branded operations by the end of the second quarter of this year. That will be concurrent with other service improvements planned for the two airlines. Three new Airbus A320 jets and seven new Embraer 190 aircraft will be acquired during the first half of the year, allowing the carriers to expand service to new destinations and increase frequencies on current routes in both Denver and Milwaukee. The two airlines also plan to move to a common reservations system, which will significantly enhance the booking and check-in procedures.
Signature Ignores Fuel Volume, Aircraft Size In New Loyalty Program
Signature Flight Support has unveiled a three-tiered customer relationship program, Signature Status, which provides escalating benefits as their percentage of visits to Signature facilities increases. Since the program is not based on fuel volumes, the size of the aircraft and subsequent uplift of fuel will not have an impact. The program is limited to turbine-powered aircraft flying on IFR flight rules and benefits are available at all Signature-branded facilities in the United States.
Member benefits include services such as guaranteed crew cars, preferred ramp parking, priority daytime hangarage, GPU startup discounts, complimentary Hertz #1 Gold(r) membership and Signature QuickTurn(tm) services.
Sonesta Maps Six-month Expansion Plan
Sonesta International says it expects to add seven new hotels (an additional 1,080 rooms) to its portfolio in the first six months of this year. Two of the seven - the Sonesta Hotel Cusco (Peru) and the Sonesta Hotel Orlando Downtown - opened last month. The grand opening of Le Royale Sharm El Sheikh is planned for this month in Egypt, and Sonesta Hotel Barranquilla is planned for March in Colombia. By July, the company expects to have also opened hotels in Rosario and Ushuaie in Argentina, and in Cartagena, Colombia.
Southwest's Booking & Check-in App Available Free
DING!, Southwest Airlines' first app for iPhone and iPod - for booking, check-in, check flight status and viewing flight schedules - is now available free from the App Store.
SuperShuttle's Revamped Web Site Separates Corporate Accounts
SuperShuttle has launched its new web site, now offering personal registration pages for corporate accounts. The site also has an enhanced "Where's My Van?" tracking system and offers the ability to book a round trip. The ground transportation service offers travelers in more than 50 cities shared rides to local airports from their homes, offices and hotels.
