Business travel

The European Union has updated its blacklist of airlines banned from European skies to include seven Angolan airlines.

Marriott has revealed that 500 million customers who booked a hotel with the former Starwood group had their data hacked.

While Le Figaro reports that Joon is likely to disappear, Air France-KLM denies that its new-generation airline will be shut down.

Blacklane and Shangri-La have just announced a new partnership enabling members of the hotel group's loyalty programme to collect points when they book a chauffeur-driven car.

BCD Travel has teamed up with the Lufthansa Group for a pilot booking project using the new New Distribution Capability standard.

One of Europe's pioneering Airbus A380 carriers, Air France has announced that it will be drastically reducing its fleet of superjumbos from next year. A handful of routes will continue to be served by the giant of the skies, first and foremost New York.

The airline is encouraging innovative companies through the launch of a new subsidiary, the BigBlank start-up studio.

Korean Air is launching a loyalty programme for European SMEs, called Kalbiz, offering business class upgrades.

With a global offering since the acquisition of NH Hotels, the Thai group Minor Hotels has a number of projects in the pipeline, notably for its Anantara luxury brand.

The almost certain departure of Qatar Airways from the oneworld alliance, the announced departure of China Southern from SkyTeam, and other possible developments: this is a time of major upheaval in the world of airline alliances.

Regus is opening a new site in Lille - its fifth - in the heart of Lille Flandres station, a strategic hub for business travellers.

Powwownow recently published a study comparing the business facilities at the world's 50 busiest airports. The telecommunications company drew up a list of hubs offering an ideal location for travellers wishing to work while waiting for their flight.

Emirates will be joining the Worldwide by easyJet network in the coming months, connecting the Dubai-based airline's network to London's Gatwick hub.

Other times, other stars: after the designer hotels of the last decade, it is now the footballers who are coming into play, like Cristiano Ronaldo with the Pestana CR7 brand, or establishments right in the heart of the stadiums.

Since October, Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker has been threatening to divorce himself from the Oneworld alliance. His departure would pave the way for the possible creation of a new alliance, under the aegis of the Qatari airline. A new offer for the business world?

A merger between the Logis and Citotel networks, a new name and a new brand strategy for the SEH group, now known as The Originals: the independent hotel sector is strengthening its offering.

With oil prices remaining at high levels, several CEOs are beginning to announce that their respective airlines will not be able to meet their profitability targets without a serious re-evaluation of their air fares. So 2019 could be a heavy year for travel companies...

Franck Monsauret, Head of Uber for Business in France, explains the timetable for the launch in France of the brand new Uber Rewards and Uber Eats for Business services, which have just been launched in the United States.

Since the beginning of November, Star Alliance has been trialling a new service for business travellers visiting the alliance's lounges: virtual reality headsets are available in terminal 1 at Paris-CDG.

Present in the United States and Europe with prestigious hotels such as the Carlysle in New York and now the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, the American chain Rosewood Hotels & Resorts has this year stepped up its presence in Asia.