Air Berlin is validating new noise abatement approach procedures as part of a joint research project conducted by the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS) and Fraport AG. On 6th September one of Air Berlin’s Boeing 737-700s will be carrying out 13 different approaches at the DLR research airport at Braunschweig-Wolfsburg, while noise measurements are recorded on the ground.

Finnair's Asian traffic grew in August by nearly 9%, measured in passenger
kilometres, compared with last year. Passenger numbers also grew to the same  extent.

The Swissôtels in Moscow, Osaka and Singapore are expecting a very special guest from Switzerland during September and October 2010: Irma Dütsch, the chef honoured with a Michelin star, the Clé d’Or and 18 GaultMillau points, will be treating guests to her special creations for a few days. The deluxe hotels playing host to her have put together a rich programme of events with a Swiss touch to complement the culinary activities of the renowned chef.

Avis car rental has become a partner in the BalticMiles loyalty programme of the Latvian national airline airBaltic.

Closer cooperation between Lufthansa and Germanwings and a comprehensive package of measures will provide additional travel benefits for the customers of both airlines.

In September, Finnair is launching a search for four Quality Hunters,
independent advisors whose task is to travel to various destinations in Europe, Asia and the US to investigate the elements that determine quality in travel.

Ryanair has officially opened its newest base at Barcelona El Prat with 8 based aircraft, 23 low fare routes and 2.5m passenger p.a. which will help reverse declining traffic at El Prat airport which fell by 3m passengers in 2009. Ryanair’s El Prat routes will sustain over 2,500 local jobs as well as 400 direct Ryanair jobs among pilots, cabin crew and engineers.

SAS and Star Alliance have launched the new Brazil air pass, which allows travel to 45 destinations in Brazil. The routing can be freely selected and needs to cover between four and nine flight coupons. Each city may be visited only once, although connecting flights through the same airport are permitted.

The Rixos Premium Belek, Antalya on the Turkish Riviera has been chosen to host Europe’s most important travel and tourism awards. The continent’s leading travel companies, operators and destinations are battling it out to be crowned the best of them all.

Passengers’ favourite menus on board in September and October

Virgin Blue Holdings Limited and Etihad Airways have signed an agreement establishing a commercial partnership that will enable Virgin Blue’s international arm, V Australia, to launch direct services to Abu Dhabi in 2011 and the two airlines offer a joint network of more than 100 destinations from October 1, 2010.

Iberia has posted its results for the first half of 2010, showing a loss of 20.9 million euros, which represented an 87.4% improvement over the airline's performance in the same period of 2009. In the second quarter the company racked up a net profit of 31.1 million euros, as compared to the loss of 72.8 million posted in the same quarter last year.

Boeing Training & Flight Services has started 787 Dreamliner flight certification training following the provisional approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for Boeing’s Seattle-based 787 flight training devices. As part of flight training, pilots train on a 787 flat panel training device and a 787 full-flight simulator. Both devices are manufactured by Thales.

United Airlines and Continental Airlines friday announced they have been notified by the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) of the termination of its Hart-Scott-Rodino Act review and the closing of its investigation of the airlines' pending merger.

The Boeing Company said friday august 27 that it now expects delivery of the first 787 in the middle of the first quarter 2011.

Southwest Airlines and Continental Airlines confirmed that they entered into a lease providing Southwest Airlines access to 36 Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) slots which are currently held by Continental.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced international scheduled traffic statistics for July which showed continued strengthening of demand for both passenger and cargo traffic. Compared to July 2009, international passenger demand was up 9.2% while international scheduled freight traffic showed a 22.7% improvement.

AEROGAL, Ecuador’s leading airline, has unveiled their new Airbus A320-200 at a ceremony in Quito, Ecuador. The new Airbus aircraft, the first of three to be delivered in 2010, marks the start of AEROGAL’s fleet renewal program.

New figures show that this summer too SAS is once  again Europe's most punctual airline, after coming in as Europe's most  punctual airline in 2009 as well. For the month of July, SAS was also  the world's most punctual airline amongst all major airlines and for  May, June and July, SAS' punctuality was superior to any other major
airline in Europe.

AVIAREPS AG, the multi-national affiliated group specializing in aviation and tourism management (not to be confused with UK-based Aviareps Plc.), recently acquired the majority interest of the reputable tourism marketing company CircleSolution Consultants Ltd., to strengthen its market position in the United Kingdom. As part of the alliance, the subsidiary based in London will act in the market under the new name AVIACIRCLE, Ltd and provide integrated tourism and airline sales representation, marketing and public relations services.

Al Jaber Aviation (AJA) has become the first Middle East customer to offer an Airbus aircraft for VVIP charter flights, following the delivery of its first A318 Elite. It has a further three A318 Elites and two Airbus Corporate Jetliners (ACJs) on order, which will make it the largest operator of Airbus corporate jets in the region.

The Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference is pleased to announce that Arild Hovland, Senior Vice President of Business Development of The Rezidor Hotel Group, has been selected as the 2010 Leadership Award recipient.

Oasis Travels LLc has been nominated Passenger General Sales Agent for the Air Berlin Goup for the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Oasis Travels LLc is a company fully owned by the Sharaf Group of companies.

At the Sea of Galilee next to the Jordan River did twelve men and women establish the first kibbutz, which was named Degania. The year was 1910. These young Zionists emigrated from east Europe and were inspired by socialistic ideas, ”after each persons needs by his/her means”. They created a collective agriculturalcommunity with the ideas of common ownership, responsibility and decision-making.