Cathay Pacific Asia Miles is a new transfer partner with American Express Membership Rewards–1,000 Membership Rewards points equals 750 Asia Miles. …

Southwest Airlines will begin nonstop service between Boston (Logan) and Nashville starting Aug. 12, 2012. … United now serves Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport from San Francisco with daily nonstop service. …

Virgin America has received DOT approval to launch nonstop service between San Francisco and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport with the new service expected to begin later this summer. …

Etihad Airways has purchased a 2.987 percent stake in Ireland’s Aer Lingus. … Southwest Rapid Rewards members can now earn points for watching, reading and responding to targeted advertising through their new partner, e-Miles. Visit www.e-miles.com/swapartner to enroll. …

Hawaiian Airlines is set to begin three times per week service in November 2012 between Honolulu and Sapporo, Japan (New Chitose Airport on the island of Hokkaido), pending Japanese government approval. …

Etihad Guest and Royal Air Maroc Safar Flyer are now reciprocal earn and burn partners. …

Virgin Atlantic is discontinuing flights to Kenya. The last flight from London to Nairobi is set for Sept. 23 and the last flight from Nairobi will be Sept. 24. …

JetBlue has hinted in an email that more award options are going to be available starting sometime this year including flights within JetBlue vacation packages, flights with new airline partners and on products in JetBlue’s online mall. …

United Airlines will launch service between Denver and Tokyo Narita on March 31, 2013. …

Jet Airways Jet Privilege now partners with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and members can earn up to 500 miles per stay. Members can also now earn miles when subscribing to India Today, up to 1,250 miles for a five-year subscription. …

Wyndham Hotel Group is growing by 20 hotels with an agreement with Hospitality Properties Trust to brand the hotels as Wyndham Hotels and Resorts (four properties) and Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham properties. Locations include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Omaha, Salt Lake City and others and the newly branded hotels will open by the third quarter of this year. …

Aegean Airlines Miles&Bonus members can now earn award miles on purchases at Hellenic Duty Free Shops–one euro earns two miles. Members can also redeem award miles at the duty free shops–200 award miles equals one euro for purchases when displaying your Miles&Bonus card for the cashier. …

Aerolineas Argentinas–with flights to 33 destinations within Argentina–will join the SkyTeam global alliance this fall. …

Czech OK Plus is a new earn and burn partner with Saudi Airlines Alfursan. …

Southwest Airlines is hoping to expand Houston Hobby Airport to include a new five-gate international facility for flights to destinations such as Mexico, the Caribbean and cities in Central and South America. …

The Shangri-La hotel group is looking to open new hotels in Canada, mainland China, India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Turkey and the United Kingdom. …

United MileagePlus and Avianca LifeMiles now have a reciprocal earn and burn frequent flyer program partnership.