Business travel

TER Mobile, the application launched by the SNCF in June 2010, is making its debut on the Blackberry platform on 2 February, to improve business travel.

Toulouse airport this week published a flattering report for 2011, marked by record passenger numbers, which should pave the way for an ambitious 2012 thanks to the new Air France and EasyJet bases.

On Thursday, the SNCF group published its sales figures for 2011: €32.6 billion, an increase (+7.2%) on 2010.

The huge strike planned for 30 January in Belgium will completely suspend Thalys traffic from Sunday evening.

The IHG Group will soon inaugurate its second Qatari establishment in Doha: the InterContinental Doha The City is due to open its doors in March 2012 in an attractive area for business travellers.

On Wednesday, Vancouver airport unveiled a vast, ten-year, $1.8 billion renovation plan.

The dispute which has been raging between Iberia and its staff for several weeks now seems to have finally come to an end: the airline announced on 25 January that it had reached an agreement which should put an end to the strike action.

EasyJet has signed an agreement with American Express Global Business Travel, which should enable the low-cost airline to strengthen its position in the business customer market.

The record results recorded in 2011 have prompted Nice airport to set its sights high: plans for a third terminal were unveiled on Monday morning, and could be completed by 2018.

On 23 January, SITA and Orange Business Services unveiled their latest advances in contactless technology (Near Field Communication, NFC), which should soon make it possible to radically change screening procedures for greater simplicity and security. According to SITA, the use of mobile phones during boarding should become the norm within six years.

Vueling has just unveiled its new application for Android-based smartphones. Travellers can now purchase tickets from their phone.

Indonesia has recently welcomed the Crowne Plaza brand's second establishment, based in the heart of the business district in central Java.

Five Belgian establishments in the Thon group specialising in business customers have just joined the Great Hotel of the World MICE network, thanks to the quality of their facilities for business customers.

Iberia is to launch a new combined air and bus service to serve more destinations. The airline has signed an agreement with a Spanish bus company to offer an intermodal service that is unprecedented in Europe.

Lufthansa will be offering a programme of flights from Montpellier for the first time. The German airline will operate one flight a week to Munich from March 2012.

Strasbourg airport will soon be welcoming a new airline: Vueling will be making its debut at the Alsace hub in April.

Melia is planning to establish a third hotel on the UK market, with the opening of an Innside property in Manchester.

"Very good results": this is how the Balladins group looks back on the past year, highlighting a sharp rise in sales (+19.2%), achieved while maintaining the brand's image.

CityJet is preparing to launch a new route between Brest and London City airport. Air France's Irish subsidiary will operate two flights a week from 30 March.