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Air Berlin is examining whether the global distribution systems acted unlawfully by applying the new German departure tax to bookings with the carrier before giving its authorization, it said on Wednesday. The German government announced the unpopular tax on Sept. 1 and caused further consternation in the country’s travel industry by saying it would apply immediately to bookings for departure after Jan. 1, 2011.

Around 95 percent of Lufthansa's corporate clients in Germany have signed the controversial contracts introduced by the airline earlier this year, the head of one of the country's largest travel management companies told BTN on Tuesday. 

Problems emerged for two Eastern European flag carriers last week, with Hungary's national airline accepting a 5.7 billion forint (US$26 million) emergency government loan and Czech Airlines (CSA) scrapping five routes.

Air France refused to comment Friday on this week's report that it is considering launching a low-cost subsidiary to be called Air France Express, most likely next year.

Long-haul travelers will bear more of the brunt of an air departure tax voted through by the German cabinet Wednesday than was originally thought. Last month, a widely leaked draft of the legislation said the levy would be €13 for journeys of up to 2,550 kilometers and €26 on flights above that limit. However, today's final regulation has revised the scheme to €8 for flights within Europe, €25 to medium-haul destinations and €45 to long-haul destinations.

Amadeus has taken major steps in the internationalization of European rail distribution after achieving three separate breakthroughs with French national rail network SNCF, the travel technology company's head of rail told BTN on Tuesday. 

Hotels in several major European cities saw room rate growth in July, while London hotels reached record occupancy levels, according to the HotStats European Chain Hotels Market Review released on Monday by TRI Hospitality Consulting.

French-based hotel group Accor on Thursday reported strong corporate bookings for September, as it unveiled a doubling in profits for the first half of 2010. Also reporting first-half figures on Thursday, Avis Europe said it moved back into the black after successfully pushing up average rental rates.

The 5 percent hotel room tax that the municipality of Cologne plans to introduce by year-end will not be recoverable, as previously reported by BTN due to erroneous information provided to a travel taxation expert who then told it to BTN on Monday.

Air France KLM withdrew a controversial merchant fee surcharge on card payments through Swedish travel agents on July 27, BTN learned on Tuesday, because Sweden introduced legislation on Aug. 1 that made the practice illegal.