Intelligence – November, 20 2007

Intelligence – November, 20 2007

United Mileage Plus members can now earn and redeem miles on all TAM and TAM Mercosur operated flights and TAM Fidelidade members can now earn and redeem miles on United, Ted and United Express operated flights. TAM has more than 4.3 million members worldwide …

Virgin America reports better than expected business and expects to turn a profit before the five years originally envisioned. The airline expects to serve as many as 10 cities by August 2008 …

Beginning March 29, 2008, Northwest will commence nonstop service between Portland and Amsterdam …

The partnership between Air Canada Aeroplan and Bell Canada will not be renewed upon its Jan. 18, 2008 expiry. Aeroplan states it is working on a telecommunications partner to replace Bell Canada …

Alaska Airlines will begin year-round nonstop flights between Anchorage and Honolulu on Dec. 9, 2007 …

Hawaiian Airlines has been approved to launch nonstop flights between Honolulu and Manila in March 2008 …

The bidding wars for Aeromexico have ended. Banamex, a Citigroup subsidiary, is buying a controlling stake in Aeromexico from the Mexican government for $249 million. Mexicana was one of the suitors, offering $200 million. Banamex announced plans to invest $240 million over the first 90 days of ownership. Aeromexico, a member of the SkyTeam alliance, flies to more than 40 cities in Mexico, U.S. and Europe …

EgyptAir will become a full Star Alliance member within the next year and a half, adding nine airports to the Star Alliance network …

Hilton has opened its first Homewood Suite by Hilton hotel in Mexico in Torreon, in Coahuila state …

Holiday Inn has announced a group-wide rebranding of the Holiday Inn brand family (Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Express by Holiday Inn) to be complete by the end of 2010. Along with a new look for the bathrooms, fresh sheets and more, customers can expect to pay three percent more for stays …

Best Western now has a hotel at Dulles Airport located in Sterling, Va. featuring 122 guest rooms …

The Dallas Morning News quotes Southwest Airlines’ CEO, Gary Kelly, as saying that the airline does not plan to add any cities in 2008, “unless an unexpected opportunity arises” …

Effective March 30, 2008, Turkish Airlines will no longer participate in the American AAdvantage program. March 29, 2008 will be the last date to earn miles on Turkish Airlines flights and the last date to book and ticket AAdvantage award tickets on Turkish Airlines. Once an award is ticketed, travel must be completed by March 29, 2009 …

Virgin Atlantic has launched twice-weekly flights between London (Gatwick) and Kingston, Jamaica. It is the eighth Caribbean destination for Virgin Atlantic …

InterContinental Hotel Group has announced the opening of its first hotel in Denmark. The Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers will open in late summer 2009, with 365 guest rooms …

United Airlines will launch nonstop service between Denver and London (Heathrow) on March 30, 2008. With this new service, customers can now fly nonstop to London Heathrow from any of United’s five hubs located across the United States.