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Freesun News
Magazine for Travel & Tourism Founded in 1982

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N° 297 - January 27, 2006


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AVIATION

BIAC : Strong 2005 results thanks to operational efficiencies and improved retail initiatives
Brussels International Airport Company (BIAC) today released its unaudited annual results, reporting 2005 revenues amounting to €324.6 million, a growth of 6.9% compared to 2004. Operating costs decreased by 2.6%, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization increased by 18.7% amounting to €161.3 million. Read more.

Air France: Un nouveau service pour les adolescents voyageant seuls
À compter du 01 février 2006, la compagnie lance un nouveau service « UM » destiné aux adolescents âgés de 12 à moins de 18 ans voyageant seuls. En savoir plus.

Brussels -- 24 January 2006 --As of today AIR PLUS COMET has appointed Air Agencies as their GSA for Belgium and Luxembourg. Air Plus Comet (A7) has regular flights from Madrid to Lima (LIM), Bogota (BOG) and Santo Domingo (SDQ) .
Their fleet exists out of a Boeing 747-200, 737-300 and an Airbus 310-300.

Confort amélioré à bord des appareils Lufthansa Business Jet - Nouveaux sièges inclinables « Lie-Flat » et divertissement de haute qualité pour un voyage exclusif vers les Etats-Unis
Les passagers voyageant à bord des appareils Lufthansa Business Jet bénéficient d'un confort exceptionnel et de correspondances optimales pour leurs voyages entre l'Europe et les Etats-Unis. A partir de maintenant, les séjours à bord de ces appareils configurés uniquement en Business Class seront encore plus confortables et agréables. Les appareils opérant les liaisons entre Munich et New York/Newark sont en effet équipés de nouveaux sièges « Lie-Flat » dernier cri qui, en position inclinée, offrent une surface quasi horizontale de 2 mètres de long. De plus, tous les appareils Lufthansa Business Jet assurant les liaisons Munich-New York/Newark, Düsseldorf- New York/Newark et Düsseldorf-Chicago sont équipés de nouveaux lecteurs DVD haut de gamme. En savoir plus.

AMSTELVEEN, January 24, 2006 - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will be launching a scheduled service between Amsterdam and Chengdu in Central China effective May 28, 2006. The new roundtrip flight will be operated twice weekly using Boeing 777 200ER equipment. The service will be operated in cooperation with partner China Southern.

Brussels, 20th January 2006 - From the beginning of February till mid April, SN Brussels Airlines will be forced to cancel its direct flights between Brussels and Florence. During this period the city airport of Florence will be closed for all air traffic as a result of the runway works. The daily service to the airport of Bologna is the recommended alternative.

WTTC calls upon Austrian Presidency to withdraw taxing of aviation as a revenue source for EU budget
 London – 23 January 2006 – The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) the global forum for business leaders in the Travel & Tourism industry, today issued a statement calling upon the Austrian Presidency to withdraw plans for raising funds through the taxation of international air travel. Read more.

"Scandinavian Airlines To Fly London City To Stockholm"
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) today announced the further expansion of its UK network, with the launch of a brand new route from London City Airport to the Swedish capital of Stockholm. SAS will be operating the route on an aircraft leased from the Swedish airline Transwede.

Jet Airways India Ltd. and Sahara Airlines Ltd. are pleased to announce the execution of a share purchase agreement for acquisition by Jet Airways India Ltd. of the entire capital of Sahara Airlines Ltd. subject to regulatory approvals.
About Jet Airways (India) Ltd. :
Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 42 classic and next generation Boeing 737-400/700/800/900 aircraft, 3 A340-300 E aircraft and 8 modern ATR72-500 Turboprop aircraft. With an average age of a little over 4.8 years, the airline has one of the youngest aircraft fleet in the world. Approximately 24,000 passengers travel daily on Jet Airways' 290 flights to 48 destinations that span the length and breadth of India and beyond, including Colombo in Sri Lanka, Kathmandu in Nepal, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and London Heathrow, UK. Since inception in May 1993 until end-December 2005, Jet Airways has flown over 58 million passengers.

With its new service to Ostrava in the northeastern Czech Republic, the Austrian Airlines Group will open up another important region in Central Europe on 30 January 2006 to continue with the ongoing expansion of its route network. Within the scope of a code share agreement with Central Connect Airlines, two Vienna-Ostrava-Vienna services a day will now operate from Monday to Friday. Both services will of course be timed to provide perfect connections with the global route network of the Austrian Airlines Group through its Vienna hub. After the capital city Prague, which is already connected with Vienna by up to five Austrian flights a day, the new connection represents the fastest route to the third-largest city in the Czech Republic and its booming hinterland.



DESTINATIONS

Thailand To Host Global SPA & Wellness Conference 2006 
Thailand’s outstanding health and wellness facilities will gain global exposure when the International Spa & Wellness Conference and Exhibition is held at Bangkok’s Queen Sirikit ... Read more.

Suriname zeer geschikt voor de 50+ markt
Een reis naar Suriname is zeer interessant voor de actieve 50+ reiziger. Het klimaat is aangenaam, men spreekt er Nederlands en de jungle expedities zijn erg goed te doen voor de fitte 50 plusser. In het Amazone-gebied kan men verblijven in het dorp Palumeu bij de Indianen. Men maakt tijdens het verblijf kennis met de lokale bevolking en de traditionele cultuur, die nog steeds in stand gehouden wordt. Lees meer.

Actief op safari in Kenia!
De 'traditionele toeristensafari' gaat meestal per jeep of per minibus. Onder goede begeleiding is het echter ook mogelijk om het contact met de natuur op een nog directere manier te beleven: per mountainbike of zelfs te voet! Lees meer.

Zuid-Tirol biedt een stijlvolle interpretatie van wellness
Het kuur- en spaoord Meran/Merano heeft een lange traditie die teruggaat tot Keizer Karel. In december 2005 gingen de 'Therme Meran' open, een
hedendaagse interpretatie van wat wellness en spa in de 21ste eeuw betekenen, met bijzondere aandacht voor wat de lokale cultuur en natuur in Zuid-Tirol te bieden heeft. Therme Meran zijn zonder meer een nieuwe aantrekkingspool voor Zuid-Tirol, de noordelijkste provincie van Italië. Lees meer.

En 2005, la ville de Paris a accueilli 15,3 millions de touristes (contre 15,2 millions en 2004) pour 33,6 millions de nuitées (+7%), selon l'Observatoire économique de l'Office du Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris.

L'Irlande au salon des vacances de Bruxelles
Le Salon des vacances est l'occasion rêvée pour découvrir l'Irlande sur le sol belge. Une vingtaine d'exposants* seront présents sur les 220m2 du stand de l'Irlande et vous informeront sur les vols, les ferries, les possibilités de nuitées et les activités dans les différentes régions. Faites plus ample connaissance avec la légendaire hospitalité des bars irlandais, buvez une 'stout' et goûtez les délicieuses bouchées irlandaises. Le groupe de danse Planxty O'Rourke qui viendra spécialement d'Irlande et qui s'y produit régulièrement sur scène, vous mettra déjà dans l'ambiance. Pendant le week-end, le groupe 'Snakes in Exile' jouera également de la musique traditionnelle irlandaise. En savoir plus.

PATA's Top Five Winners For Third Quarter 2005
BANGKOK, January 23, 2006 - The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has published its comprehensive and comparative listing of Asia Pacific destination performance for third quarter 2005. Read more.



Nouvelles d'Allemagne
Hommage à Jean-Sébastien Bach
L'Allemagne aussi honore Mozart
Le Naheland en fête tout au long de l'année
Chefs d'œuvres de la peinture française à Bonn
Dresde fête son 800ème anniversaire
En savoir plus.




FAIRS



Internationaal Vakantiesalon Antwerpen werwacht grote opkomst
De organisatoren van het Internationaal Vakantiesalon Antwerpen bevinden zich in de laatste rechte lijn voor aanvang van de beurs. Wanneer het salon op zaterdag 28 januari as. de deuren opent, wordt het startschot gegeven voor 6 dagen boordevol waardevolle informatie voor de vakantieganger, met een hoofdrol voor gastland Zuid-Afrika. Lees meer.

Fiona Jeffery has been promoted from Group Exhibition Director to Managing Director of World Travel Market.


HOTELS

Shangri-La Acquires Historic Palais In Prime Paris Location For Its First European Hotel
Shangri-La Asia, parent company of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel group, has acquired the historic palais of Prince Roland Bonaparte with plans to convert it to the Shangri-La Hotel, Paris in late 2008, marking the group's European debut. The Bonaparte family mansion in Paris' 16th arrondissement will be converted into the capital's first luxury hotel fully owned and operated by an Asian hotel group. Read more.

Triple Airline Miles or Double Hilton HHonors Points When You Stay At Conrad Hotels
Brussels, 20 January 2006 - Conrad Hotels has launched two outstanding new winter promotions which offer guests the opportunity to earn triple Miles or double HHonors points with stays at all Conrad hotels until 31 March 2006. Read more.

The new Radisson SAS Hotel, Birmingham opened on January 16th, 2006 in the city's newest landmark building, bringing to ten the total of Radisson SAS hotels in the UK. The first class 211-room hotel is spread over the first 18 floors of the 39-storey, 400ft Beetham Tower a stunning curved structure sheathed in turquoise and clear glass and the tallest residential building in the UK outside London


Hilton Hotels Corporation extends World's greatest hotel name to create luxury brand line: The Waldorf=Astoria Collection
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., January 17, 2006 -- Hilton Hotels Corporation has announced that the company is introducing a new luxury hotel line that will extend the cachet of New York's legendary Waldorf=Astoria® hotel. Read more. 


ORGANIZATIONS

PATA's Top Five Winners for Q3 2005
25 Jan 06 -- The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has published its comprehensive and comparative listing of Asia Pacific destination performance for third quarter 2005. Read more.

International Tourism Up By 5.5% To 808 Million Arrivals in 2005

MADRID, 24 January 2006– In 2005 international tourism sustained the sharp upturn that began in 2004 in spite of the various tragic events it had to contend. According to preliminary results presented today by the United Nations specialized agency, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) the number of international tourist arrivals recorded worldwide grew by 5.5% and exceeded 800 million for the first time ever.
Read more.


Tourism Must Be Prepared For Avian Flu, Says UNWTO Special Advisor  
   
24 Jan 06 -- Tourism has to be ready to participate in the international fight to contain the effects of avian flu given the potentially serious threat it poses to the travel industry, Geoffrey Lipman, Special Advisor to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General, told the Exclusive Travel Conference in Athens last weekend. Read more.

American Travel Industry Applauds New Initiatives Announced By Secretaries Rice And Chertoff
“Recognition of Travel Industry’s Importance Economically and in Public Diplomacy Efforts”
WASHINGTON, DC --  Key travel industry leaders applauded today’s announcement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff for a joint effort to promote open doors to the U.S. while maintaining secure borders. Read more.


TECHNOLOGY

ATLANTA, Jan. 25 -- Leading travel technology provider Worldspan, L.P. announced today that Spanish low-cost carrier, Air Madrid, now distributes its fares through the Worldspan global distribution system (GDS).
The Madrid-based carrier has signed a participation agreement with Worldspan to make its fares available at the highest booking level, Worldspan Airline Source(R). As well as distributing Air Madrid fares to a worldwide customer base, Worldspan will also provide e-ticketing capability for the airline, saving both time and money for travel agents and travelers.

Travel agencies connected to Amadeus can book Vueling flights through the Amadeus System

Vilvoorde, Belgium, 23 January, 2006-. Spain's new-generation carrier Vueling and Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel industry, have signed an agreement whereby the carrier will distribute its products through the Amadeus System. This partnership is part of an expansion plan launched by Vueling, which relies on Amadeus as a complementary channel to reach travel agents and increase its commercial penetration in our countries and other European markets where it currently operates - Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Italy and Portugal.
Under the terms of this agreement, effective 1 January, the travel agencies connected to Amadeus in the Benelux countries and the 75,000 travel agents connected to the Amadeus System worldwide can book and sell seats with Vueling.

Fujifilm annonce le nouveau FINEPIX V10.

Le FUJIFILM V10 est doté de la Real Photo Technology de FUJIFILM, et un écran LCD 3” qui permet agréablement une prise de vue , ainsi que le visionnement des images.
Le FINEPIX V10 est pourvu du SUPER CCD HR de 5.1 mégapixels ainsi que d'un zoom optique 3x.
En savoir plus.



TOUROPERATORS

TUI AG, the world's leading tourism and shipping group, extends its Executive Committee. At today's meeting, the Supervisory Board approved the appointment of Adolf Adrion (Shipping), Christoph R. Müller (Flight Operations) and Karl J. Pojer (Hotels & Resorts) as divisional directors to the Group's Executive Committee with immediate effect. "The renewed increase in the importance of shipping due to the successful takeover of CP Ships will be reflected by the appointment of a second divisional director.
In the tourism division, all key elements of our value chain are now represented in the Executive Committee", says TUI's CEO Dr. Michael Frenzel. As before, the Executive Committee also comprises Dr. Volker Böttcher (Tourism Central Europe), Eric Debry (Tourism Western Europe), Peter Rothwell (Tourism Northern Europe) and Michael Behrendt (Shipping).
In addition, there will be a modification of responsibilities within TUI's Executive Board. In future Sebastian Ebel will be in charge of Group Controlling, apart from IT, Central Purchasing and Destination Management.

Les promotions Thomas Cook
Hotlist Thomas Cook en Avion
Hotlist Thomas Cook en Voiture
Hotlist Thomas Cook Citytrips

Grazende bisons en dravende struisvogels...
5 februari : Summum informatiedag naast dierenpark Emmen
Amsterdam, januari 2006 - Summum Reizen, organisator van veelzijdige en comfortabele groepsreizen naar prachtige bestemmingen wereldwijd, organiseert op zondag 5 februari een gratis informatiedag naast Dierenpark Emmen. Op loopafstand van elanden, bizons, giraffen en struisvogels krijg je hier professioneel advies over alle reizen uit het pakket van Summum. Er worden presentaties vertoond van zes reizen van Summum, er liggen fotoboeken ter inzage en de landendeskundigen en reisbegeleiders geven toelichting, advies en antwoord op al je vragen. Dansen ze in Buenos Aires ècht tango op straat? Hoe vind je de weg in een souk in Marokko? In welk land maak je de meeste kans de 'big five' tegen te komen op safari?
Lees meer.

La newsletter Thomas Cook du 25 janvier 2005:
- Des séjours à Marrakech pour les vacances de février
- Les bons plans neige : la semaine à partir de 175 !
- Les offres "réservez tôt, payez moins" sur les séjours en liberté France et Europe
- Les promotions de nos partenaires
- Les billets d'avion et avion + hôtel
En savoir plus.


VARIOUS

"Bird Flu Affecting Adventure"
Figures released today by Guerba, one of the UK's leading travel adventure companies, reveal that bird flu appears to be having an impact on bookings of adventure holidays Asia and the Far East. As a result travellers have focused their interest on Latin America, which has so far remained untouched by the outbreak.

Fabergé - Espace culturel ING - Bruxelles > 05.02 2006
Afin de satisfaire les nombreux visiteurs qui souhaitent admirer les célèbres œufs ainsi que les autres joyaux avant leurs départs, Europalia et ING ont décidé de maintenir l’exposition ouverte le 01-02-04-05 février, de 10h à 21h.Ne manquez pas cette occasion de contempler les chefs d’œuvres du joaillier préféré des tsars à l’Espace Culturel ING, place royale 6 – 1000 Bruxelles

La Belgique et la Russie côte à côte dans l’espace le 21 et 22 février.
D’après les cosmonautes russes, l’œuvre de l’homme la mieux visible depuis l’espace pendant la nuit serait la Belgique éclairée. Afin de faire briller encore plus intensément les lumières russes au sein de notre pays, le festival Europalia en collaboration avec Belspo, organise une rencontre entre le cosmonaute Sergueï Zaliotine, commandant de bord du vaisseau Odissea et notre compatriote l’astronaute Frank Dewinne.
Au cours de cette conférence, ces deux grands habitués des étoiles approfondiront le rêve commun des belges et des russes de conquérir l’espace et débâteront sur la présence de l’homme dans celui-ci.

CWT Business Travel Indicator reveals optimism about business travel growth around the globe in 2006

PARIS (JANUARY 23, 2006) - Whether you are a business traveler from New York City, Rio de Janeiro, London, or Beijing, you have more in common than not with your flying brethren across the globe. Security lines and flight delays top the list as the events that most negatively affect travel. And, the majority of business travelers do not want cell phone use allowed in-flight. As for travel managers, they say expectations from top management are cost savings and globalization of the travel program. Read more.

Une fois pensionné, le Belge a surtout l'intention de voyager ! Dans le monde, c'est le Belge qui part le plus longtemps en vacances
Bruxelles, le 20 janvier 2006 - Un Belge sur deux aimerait plus que tout entreprendre des voyages, une fois pensionné. Comparé au reste du monde, nous sommes parmi les retraités ceux dont les vacances durent le plus longtemps : 45 jours en moyenne, alors que le Belge actif y consacre 25 jours, ce qui le place à la seconde place après les Français. Telles sont certaines des conclusions issues du deuxième Baromètre Pension d'AXA, pour lequel le bureau d'études Significant GfK a mené une enquête indépendante auprès de 6915 personnes, actives et pensionnées, dans 11 pays. En savoir plus.



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