Business Travel Tips

Another all-business-class carrier, Silverjet, suspended operations.

The British carrier, which operates flights from New York Liberty International to Dubai and London Luton, in a statement says it ceased the operations because it had not received the $25.1 million it believed was coming from Viceroy Holdings, an international luxury development fund based in the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
The statement adds the airline is working actively with new investors who are prepared to inject new funds so it can recommence operations.

With Silverjet ceasing the operations the era of all-Business Class service from the United States to London may be at an end.

Members of SkyMiles, the Delta Air Lines frequent flyer program, will be able to earn 200 miles a day when renting vehicles from Advantage Rent A Car.

Offers apply to one driver, 25-years or older. Valid at U.S. locations only. Expiring date: July 13, ‘08.

Offer details are available at www.advantage.com/delta.

Continental Airlines announced its paperless boarding card program, started in Houston last year, is now available for flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport, Boston Logan International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Through this paperless system Continental sends to passengers’ cell phones, PDAs and other hand-held devices SMS messages containing boarding information.

In the SMS messages will be displayed an encrypted bar code along with passenger and flight information. The bar code will then be scanned by TSA officials and airline ticket checkers.

To take advantage of this system, passengers must be flying to a domestic destination. (source)

According to a report by International Air Transport Association (IATA), global first class and business class traffic in March was down 3.9 per cent from the same month the prior year, the biggest monthly decline since 2003.

This Premium traffic, was down 5.2 per cent within North America and 10.7 per cent down within Europe for the year through March from the same period last year.

An opposite trend was noticed for Middle East, Far East and Africa.

According to IATA, the decline reflected a sharp slowdown in financial sector activity and a weakening U.S. economy.
“Given the importance of premium passengers for airline profitability, the absolute decline in numbers is bad news, particularly since the price of jet fuel rose 70 per cent over the year to March,” said the IATA report. (source)

According to a survey sponsored by travel specialist Amadeus and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), very few businesses have incorporated new mobile services into their corporate travel programmes.

The study, which polled 100 corporate travel managers and technology experts worldwide on their views of how mobile IT is impacting the sector, shows 80 per cent of businesses are aware of the benefits of the use of mobile IT, from increases in productivity of travelers, to improvements in safety and tracking of staff.

However, despite the businesses believe mobile technology will increase productivity and support corporate policy compliance, they have made little progress in implementing changes to their infrastructure.

According to the report, one of the chief benefits of mobile technology felt by the respondents was tracking and communication of travelers for security purposes. (source)