Business travel

The announcement, then the formal denial by the Air France-KLM group of a 49% stake in Malaysia Airlines has put the fate of the Malaysian national airline, one of the largest in South-East Asia, back in the spotlight.

The upmarket Radisson brand has announced the takeover of a hotel in Saint-Denis de La Réunion. Currently under construction, it will open its doors in 2020.

The Four Seasons Madrid is due to open in spring, just a stone's throw from the Puerta del Sol, in a vast luxury complex created by the renovation of several prestigious buildings.

Air Tahiti Nui's performance is all the more remarkable given that the airline is facing unprecedented competition. Backed by a renewed fleet, the Polynesian carrier is even planning to make its schedule even denser.

It's official since January 23, and passengers will be able to take advantage of it from February 4: Business is being extended to the domestic network as well as to short-haul flights operated by Air France to neighbouring countries.

The day of protests on 24 January will once again affect RATP's operations, with disruptions expected on Friday.

Wuhan, capital of Hubei province in Central China, has been cut off from the rest of the world since 23 January due to the coronavirus that has been detected there. All land and air links have been suspended until further notice. In France, where three cases have been detected, surveillance and repatriation measures are being organised.

It's an event that has become rarer in recent years: Royal Air Maroc is the first airline from the Maghreb to officially join an alliance. What's more, it is the first since 2014 to join oneworld.

The Lufthansa group has joined forces with Google Cloud to provide its passengers with a more reliable information system and better coordination of routing options in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

A Nice-Bahrain route will be inaugurated on 2 July, with two flights a week. This seasonal service will be operated by A321Neo.

The airport in the south of France has passed the ten million passenger mark for the first time, recording one of the strongest growth rates of any major French airport. According to the airport's management, 2020 should set a new record.

With the arrival of summer, Qatar Airways will be launching flights on the Lyon-Doha route. This will be the second daily flight from Lyon to the Persian Gulf, after Emirates.

Accor intends to strengthen its position as European leader by developing its luxury and premium offer, as well as lifestyle, with a new brand on the continent: Mondrian.

The Adagio long-stay brand has opened seven new residences in 2019, including 4 in France, but is above all stepping up its international expansion.

Air France is introducing redesigned cabins for its B777-300 aircraft serving destinations in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean regions.

According to data from consultancy firm ForwardKeys, global air traffic in terms of passenger journeys rose by 4.5% in 2019, but by only 3.7% in Europe. It even fell by 2.4% in the Middle East.

Flybe, the UK's largest airline with regional connections to more than 70 UK and European airports, was saved at the last minute by the British government, which could not allow the carrier to disappear.

Thursday 16 January marks the official opening of the new Air France lounge at Orly airport, in Terminal 3. This 720 sq. metre space includes a champagne bar and a coworking area.

At CES 2020 in Las Vegas, Delta presented its latest technological innovations for passengers, particularly business travellers.

Doha International Airport posted excellent results in 2019. Despite the uncertainties at the start of 2020 in the Persian Gulf, Doha should continue to assert its position in the region.