Barcelona Hotel Group, a financial investment group, and Dow Hotel Company LLC have signed a letter of intent to acquire and operate hotels. Under terms of the agreement, Dow will become a Strategic Alliance Member and co-invest with affiliates of Barcelona to acquire first-class, full-service hotels over the next 12 to 18 months.
United Airlines and US Airways said that once again they are discussing a merger, although it might probably take weeks before one is announced and it is far from a done deal. The talks are the latest in the money-losing aviation industry’s efforts to consolidate in order to speed its return to profitability.
Uruguayan regional airline Pluna SA has confirmed the purchase of another seven CRJ 900 aircraft from Canada’s Bombardier, Inc. at a cost of “nearly” $200 million, which will bring its total fleet to 14 of these aircraft.
Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines have agreed on a new takeover deadline of April 30, pushed back from the previous target date of April 12.
Air France has just signed a code-share agreement with Vietnam Airlines that, as of July 3, will let its customers fly nonstop from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City three times a week.
British Airways and Iberia have signed a merger agreement in accordance with a memorandum of understanding signed in November. The merger is expected to be completed in late 2010. The new company will be one of the world’s largest airline groups with 408 aircraft flying to 200 destinations and carrying more than 58 million passengers per year.