Business travel

Brussels Airlines will launch a new route between Brussels and Accra on 26 October. The service to the Ghanaian capital reflects the airline's growing presence in Africa, particularly in the West of the continent. 

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is proposing to introduce a global standard for cabin baggage dimensions, to be known as "IATA Cabin OK" for easier identification.

Thai Airways is going through a pivotal period, with a restructuring plan designed to put the airline's finances on a sounder footing. Several European destinations have seen the Thai carrier cut back. Jean-Michel Nasse, the airline's Passage France Sales Director, takes a look at Thai's strategy, its situation on the French market, and the role of business travel on the network. 

Zipcar launches the Zipcar Pro offer, adapting carsharing to business customers through dedicated solutions and tariffs. 

Alitalia presented its new look in Rome on Thursday. The Italian airline, partly owned by the giant Etihad, intends to move upmarket by promoting Italian elegance on board its aircraft. The integration of Wi-Fi is also part of this new strategy. 

On 14 September, Brussels Airlines will set off for its new destination: Bremen. This will be the first direct service between the two airports. 

Taxi journeys between Paris and Orly and Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airports will soon be subject to a flat-rate fare: a measure that should satisfy many French and foreign business travellers, and which is part of an overall change in the pricing framework, driven by the government.

Since the end of April, Montpellier airport has been offering free, unlimited access to the Wi-Fi network.

Air China is launching its second daily service between Beijing and Paris-Charles de Gaulle at the beginning of June. The Chinese airline, which is a member of the Star Alliance, is thus reaffirming its growth ambitions in the European market. 

The new CEO of Malaysia Airlines, Christoph Mueller, has just told Reuters that the restructuring of Malaysia Airlines is not a simple "patch-up" but a "quasi-creation on a new basis".

On Thursday, Singapore Airlines presented its Premium Economy and in particular the new seats which will soon equip the airline's new class, as well as the services which will be offered to business travellers. Two years of work - and an investment of 80 million dollars - will have been necessary to design this new offer.

Even before the Ritz and Crillon, its oldest palaces, reopen in sublime style, a host of new hotels are preparing to conquer Paris.

The global hotel industry is taking a contemporary look at its future, launching a flurry of new brands with an avant-garde flavour.

Lufthansa has equipped half of its long-haul fleet with the new Premium Economy cabin, and expects to have completed this fitting on all long-haul aircraft by autumn 2015.

Can today's business traveller do without an Internet connection, even if only for a few hours? Given the efforts made by airlines to provide WiFi on board their aircraft, it would appear not!

The SNCF has just unveiled two new offers aimed at business travel customers: the Fréquence 25 season ticket, and the SNCF Pro Contract for SMEs, VSEs and self-employed professionals. These two solutions will be available from 12 May. 

The major hotel companies are now working with the architectural elite to build the most prestigious venues. From Madrid to Dubai, London to Shanghai, the phenomenon is growing, transforming the landscape of our cities and the traveller's experience.

The 27th edition of the Freddie Awardsthe benchmark for frequent flyer programmes, has crowned Air France's Flying Blue and Le Club Accorhotels as the best in the European market. The two programmes succeed SAS's EuroBonus and the IHG Rewards Club respectively.