Intelligence – February, 24 2009

Intelligence – February, 24 2009

Continental’s last flight as a SkyTeam alliance member will be Oct. 24, 2009 and its membership in the Star Alliance will begin shortly thereafter…

Hilton HHonors has joined e-Miles where members can earn HHonors points by viewing and responding to advertisements…

American Airlines subsidiary American Eagle plans to start flights between New York (LaGuardia) and Charleston on April 7, 2009, after a 20-year absence in West Virginia…

American Airlines says it plans to cut flying nearly seven percent this year compared to 2008…

Hilton HHonors has teamed up with India’s Kingfisher, Hungary’s Malev and Icelandair. Members of the FFPs of these airlines can now choose to double dip and earn both HHonors points and airline miles for their stays at Hilton Family Hotels…

Southwest Airlines is expanding its California service with five new nonstop flights between San Francisco International Airport and John Wayne Airport in Orange County starting May 9, 2009. This new route expands Southwest’s operations to 362 daily flights within California…

Virgin America will begin serving Orange County, Calif. on April 30, 2009…

IHG plans to open 20 new Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties in Germany by 2016, including the 328-room Holiday Inn Berlin City Centre — Potsdamer Platz, expected to open March 2011, and the 150-room Holiday Inn Express Berlin City Centre — Alexander Platz, scheduled to open March 2010…

Alitalia has been bounced around by suitors like a ball in a pinball machine. Now, Air France-KLM Group has announced plans to purchase a 25 percent stake in the airline. This further cements that Alitalia will remain part of the SkyTeam alliance…

Etihad Airways flew 34 percent more passengers in 2008 than 2007 and the airline now flies to 50 worldwide destinations…

Rumor has it that airBaltic will be ending its partnership with SAS EuroBonus…

Aer Lingus plans to start offering flights between Washington Dulles and Madrid in partnership with United Airlines in March 2010. The flights would be on Aer Lingus planes, but tickets would be sold by both airlines. The Madrid service would be Aer Lingus’ first U.S. route that doesn’t serve an Irish city…

Choice Hotels has added two international airlines to the Choice Privileges program, Czech Airlines and Qantas. Choice Privileges members can earn 250 Czech OK Plus miles per qualifying stay and 600 Qantas Frequent Flyer points per qualifying stay. In addition, members can earn three Frequent Flyer points for every Australian dollar charged to your room for qualifying stays in Australia or 600 Frequent Flyer points at any Choice hotel in New Zealand, Singapore, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, American Samoa and New Caledonia…

Southwest Airlines recently celebrated 30 years in New Orleans. The carrier is now the largest out of New Orleans with the most flights per day, 37. The city was the first destination outside of Texas that was added to the Southwest system…

JetBlue will start service to Montego Bay, Jamaica from New York (JFK) on May 21, 2009…

Yapta.com is now offering airfare savings and award seat availability alerts via the new Twitter feed or traditional email.