Business travel

Late morning on Thursday 12 June, Bordeaux-Mérignac airport became the sixth French destination to be served by Turkish Airlines. Four flights a week will be operated between Gironde and Istanbul.

Aigle Azur is preparing to inaugurate a new check-in area at Orly airport in Paris, with a view to simplifying and speeding up the passenger experience.

We already knew that luxury hotels have a taste for star chefs, willingly entrusting the supervision of their kitchens to Alain Ducasse, Joël Robuchon and others. Nobu Hotel is a two-in-one affair, combining the aura of celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa, a pioneer of Asian fusion cuisine, with the seductive power of exclusive boutique hotels. The cast is rounded off by the Rockwell Group on the design side and Robert de Niro on the glamour side, an old friend of the Japanese chef and shareholder in Nobu Hospitality.

Brussels Midi station is home to a new Air&Rail terminal inaugurated by Air France-KLM. 

EasyJet has published a study into the habits of European air travellers, and their preferred seat location according to their profile. The results show that window seats are more attractive to European passengers.

Business travellers are increasingly using their mobile devices to book their hotel rooms during business trips. HRS Corporate doubled the number of bookings made via smartphones and tablets in 2013 to 12% of transactions.

The AFTM (Association Française des Travel Managers) and the GBTA (Global Business Travel Association) are joining forces to make their voices heard in the debate that has been raging for several months between taxis and chauffeur-driven vehicles (VTCs). The two associations are determined to raise awareness of the issues facing business travellers and their travel managers, in particular MP Thomas Thévenoud, who is in charge of the "Taxis - VTC" consultation mission.

The legendary Parisian swimming pool has been restored to its former glamour, transformed into a 124-room MGallery hotel. The renovation highlights both its Art Deco past and its avant-garde, arty feel.

EasyJet carried some 12 million business travellers over the last 12 months: a record performance for the airline, which validates the positioning adopted by the airline over the last four years in the corporate segment.

The opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Residences Dubai - Al Barsha marks the brand's arrival in a major new business destination.

Enterprise has just formalised new partnerships with a number of key players in the European business travel industry, including American Express Travel and BCD Travel, two Travel Management Companies (TMCs) that are key players in the business travel sector.

SriLankan Airlines officially joined the oneworld alliance on 1 May 2014.

Qatar Airways has just partially lifted the veil on the new facilities planned on board its A380s, in particular the lounge dedicated to First and Business classes.  

The Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Pangyo hotel has just opened its doors in the heart of Korea's new technology hub.

The National Council of the SNPL National union voted by more than 95% to lift the strike notice, which was due to disrupt Air France operations from 3 May. 

The Starwood group will be opening two new hotels in July: Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre and the Westin Bahrain City Centre will add 460 rooms to the American hotelier's offering in Manama, the kingdom's capital.

The Dubai-based airline will be launching a daily flight between the emirate and the European capital at the beginning of September.

This summer, Eurostar's Business Premier passengers can look forward to a new gastronomic offering. On the menu: a revised breakfast, seasonal dishes and a wine list.