Business travel

The management of Wow Air has just announced the end of operations for the airline. The long-haul low-cost carrier, based in Iceland, is cancelling all its flights.

Uber has announced the acquisition of Careem, its VTC competitor in the Middle East. The deal, valued at $3.1 billion, is due to be finalised in the first quarter of 2020.

Cathay Pacific has confirmed the acquisition of low-cost carrier Hong Kong Express for $270 million. This takeover, which will take effect at the end of the year, will enable the Hong Kong carrier to completely dominate air transport in the former British colony.

Javier Roig, Finnair's Director for France and Southern Europe, looks back on a positive 2018 for the airline, and what to expect in the coming months, particularly in terms of the network.

The IWG Group, world leader in business centres, is continuing to expand its network, with a new Spaces coworking centre at La Défense, new brands being rolled out in France and the Regus brand being opened up to franchising.

Faced with financial difficulties, Jet Airways has grounded two thirds of its aircraft. Flights to Paris, Amsterdam and London have been spared for the time being. The company and the Indian government are looking for investors...

After being postponed three times since October 2018, the official opening of New Istanbul Airport has been set for 5 and 6 April. Europe's largest airport will be fully operational on the morning of 7 April.

Lufthansa has just announced the launch of a new route to the French market. The airline is preparing to link Strasbourg to Munich, with five flights a week.

Coincidentally - or not - Swiss and British Airways have almost simultaneously announced the launch of new high-contribution products, as has Finnair with a new Premium Eco class.

1,2,3,4: this is the new name given by Aéroports de Paris to the venerable Orly airport. Behind the disappearance of the Sud and Ouest names lies an ambitious strategy to reposition the hub as the economic centre of southern Ile-de-France. Orly is thus regaining its letters of nobility...

TUI, the world leader in leisure tourism, is to sell Corsair to the investor Intro Aviation. This takeover should have no impact on the development of the airline specialising in flights to Réunion and the French West Indies.

French customs have begun a strike which is disrupting Eurostar operations. The rail company is advising passengers to postpone their journey.

Train operators Eurostar and Virgin Trains have signed a partnership agreement to offer a joint service to the MICE market in order to attract more events to the UK.

Best Western is continuing to expand in France with the opening of 18 hotels in 2018, as well as the arrival of new brands. The group of independent hotels aims to cover all hotel segments, from budget to lifestyle and luxury.

Lyon Airport unveiled its new recruit, "Stan", on 14 March. Designed by Stanley Robotics, Stan is being presented as a world first in an outdoor car park.

After Brussels, Blue Valet is continuing its international expansion by setting up its valet parking services in Madrid and Barcelona.

Three Yotelpad establishments are expected to open in Switzerland in 2020, bringing the new brand to the European market. 

Rail Baltica is the next major rail infrastructure project in northern Europe, which will link the capitals of the Baltic States and Poland via a network of high-speed lines and connect them to the rest of continental Europe.

The accident involving the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 is disrupting the entire air transport industry. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has decided to ban the Boeing 737-8 MAX and 737-9 MAX. The United States finally followed suit on Wednesday.

Nextdoor is changing its name to Wojo, with the aim of becoming the European leader in coworking. Backed by Accor and Bouygues Immobilier, Wojo will be based in the hotel group's establishments.