Delta Air Lines is working on a fleetwide rollout of inflight Internet access across its mainline domestic network through a partnership with Aircell. The companies plan to outfit more than 330 aircraft for wireless broadband by summer 2009, representing the largest rollout of inflight Internet to date. The service is expected to appear on some of Delta's 133-aircraft fleet of MD88/90s later this year. Aircell said the service will cost customers $9.95 on flights lasting three hours or less and $12.95 on flights more than three hours.
British Airways, Iberia Plan Merger AgreementBritish Airways and Iberia disclosed plans for an "all-share merger," though the carriers need "several months" and regulatory approval before a final transaction. British Airways, which recently upped its 9 percent stake in Iberia to 13.15 percent, said the carriers plan to create a single holding company "with a unified management structure," while maintaining the separate brand identities of each carrier.
TSA Loosens Registered Traveler ReinsThe U.S. Transportation Security Administration last month dropped its 20-airport cap on Registered Traveler national programs, its $28 fee for conducting enrollee threat assessments and its background check requirements. Loosening its oversight of the program as it shifts from "pilot" mode, TSA also said Registered Traveler suppliers within the next 12 months can structure their own commercial relationships for accepting competitors' cards at airport security checkpoints. Meanwhile, TSA suspended new enrollments in Verified Identity Pass' Clear Registered Traveler program after a company laptop containing records of 33,000 customers went missing from San Francisco International Airport on July 26. Clear found the laptop, but must undergo an independent audit before it can resume enrollments.
CWT Acquires Regional Agency Piedmont TravelCarlson Wagonlit Travel late last month agreed to acquire Greenville, S.C.-based regional travel management company Piedmont Travel for an undisclosed amount. CWT said Piedmont handled $36 million in air volume in 2007. Piedmont processed 33,668 ARC transactions and $28.8 million in ARC sales in 2006, according to BTN's
2007 Business Travel Survey, the last year Piedmont participated.
Egencia Opens Three New Points of SaleEgencia, formerly Expedia Corporate Travel, late last month announced the launch of local fulfillment services in Australia, Ireland and the Netherlands, giving the company 12 points of sale. Australia is Egencia's second Asia/Pacific point of sale, joining China.
Marriott To Upgrade Onsite Hotel TechnologyMarriott International, through an agreement with AT&T, will install converged networks for voice and data transmission in new properties and retrofit the networks into existing properties. The service merges multiple technology applications—including guest wired and wireless Internet access, such communications services as video on demand and voice-over-Internet telephony, and staff communications tools—onto a single managed LAN service-provider model. Marriott already has a prototype of the model at its recently opened Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.