In November 2009 Newsletter newletterFocus

British Airlines announces the sale of Gatwick Airport BA announced October 21st that it has agreed to sell its 100% interest in Gatwick Airport Limited to an entity controlled by Global Infrastructure Partners for £1.51 billion.

Of the sale price, £55 million is conditional on future traffic performance and the buyer’s future capital structure.

Proceeds will be used to primarily repay part of BA’s existing debt.

BAA announced its plans to sell Gatwick in September 2008, before the end of the Competition Commission’s UK airports market investigation.

Colin Matthews, BA’s Chief Executive, said: “Gatwick and its people have long been a central part of BA and we are proud of the airport’s development as one of the world’s leading international airports.

“BA is changing and today’s announcement marks a new beginning for both Gatwick and BA. We wish Gatwick well for the future and are confident that the airport will flourish under new ownership.

“BA will focus on improving Heathrow and our other airports.”

The sale is subject to, among other things, EU merger regulation clearance. Completion of the sale is scheduled for December.

Notes: • Gatwick opened in 1958 and is the busiest single runway airport in the world, handling 32.2 million passengers in the year to September 2009 • Gatwick Airport Limited employs around 2,500 people • Gatwick’s Regulated Asset Base (RAB) at the end of the most recent regulatory period (1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009) was £1.575 billion • BA’s financial advisers on the deal were HSBC and RBS. Legal advisers were Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer and Herbert Smith.

TRAVELCORPORATE Southwest adds more flights in Denver Airline to add 13 more daily flights to its fastest-growing location Southwest Airlines Co. is adding flights and new destinations from Denver, where it has grown rapidly in three years to compete against United and Republic’s Frontier Airlines. Southwest said Thursday, October 21st it would add 13 more daily flights in Den- ver, its fastest-growing location. The discount airline currently operates 112 flights in Denver. That will jump to 127 with the previously announced plans to offer nonstop service to Boston, Spokane, Wash., and Reno, Nev., in January and the flights announced Thursday. Southwest said that beginning in March it will add nonstop service from Denver to Detroit, Hartford, Conn.; Boise, Idaho; Ontario, Calif., and Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C. The airline, which re- cently acquired two more gates at the Denver airport for a total of 12 gates, said it plans to add more flights in May. Southwest pulled out of the old Denver airport years ago, but resumed service to the city in 2006 with 13 daily flights. This year, it made a bid to buy Frontier Airlines out of bankruptcy but withdrew when it could not get an agreement with union pilots over merging the Southwest and Frontier crews. Frontier went instead to Republic Airways Holdings Inc. On Wednesday, Frontier announced it will launch daily nonstop service from Denver to New Orleans and Louisville, Ky., next year.

Bolstered by Growing Global Alliances, Delta Strengthens International Schedules for Summer 2010 October 20th announced a series of schedule enhancements to strengthen its international network for summer 2010. The changes – which will expand service for customers in 17 cities – leverage Delta’s industry-lead- ing joint venture with -KLM, growing alliance relationship with Alaska Air Group and increased fleet flexibility gained from its merger with Northwest.

“No other airline has the alliance partners, fleet flexibility or network breadth to consistently deliver new routes for customers while at the same time being responsible in managing capacity in the face of a global economic recession,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president – Network Planning and Revenue Manage- ment. “As America’s flag carrier to the world, Delta’s 2010 schedule will bring new nonstop service to dozens of communities around the globe, thanks to the strength of our worldwide alliances.”

Delta’s 2010 changes are part of the first fully consolidated schedule published following Delta’s merger with Northwest, allowing the airline to reallocate existing capacity to new routes. Delta also will maintain many of the international route reductions it announced in June in response to decreased global demand.

Delta’s new and expanded nonstop routes for summer 2010 will be focused in three regions: Trans-Pacific, trans-Atlantic and Africa.

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus Continued Bolstered by Growing Global Alliances, Delta Strengthens International Schedules for Summer 2010

*Effective dates denote first U.S. departures **Subject to foreign government approval

Trans-Pacific By June 2010, Delta will add new nonstop routes from its primary U.S.-to-Asia gateways in Detroit and Seattle and realign flights at its -Narita hub to better match capacity to demand.

From Detroit, Delta will introduce new nonstop service to Seoul-Incheon and Hong Kong and expand service between Detroit and Shanghai. Delta has continued to position Detroit as a major gateway to Asia thanks to its strategic geographic position for millions of customers who travel between the U.S. East Coast and Asia. De- troit offers customers 477 peak-day departures to more than 130 nonstop destinations.

At Seattle, Delta’s Asian expansion is powered by its partnership with Alaska Air Group. New nonstop flights from Seattle to Beijing and Osaka will be timed for convenient connections with Delta and Alaska’s 267 com- bined daily departures to 64 destinations from Seattle/Tacoma, and will complement Delta’s existing daily ser- vice to Tokyo-Narita. Delta and Alaska offer customers reciprocal codeshare, lounge and frequent flyer benefits to make it easier to connect between the airlines’ domestic and international networks at Seattle.

At Tokyo-Narita Delta will resume seasonal nonstop service between Tokyo and Salt Lake City (operating five times weekly); resume three weekly summer flights between Tokyo and Atlanta to complement daily year-round service; expand capacity between Tokyo and New York-JFK with the upgrade of 777-200 to 747-400 ; and expand service between Tokyo and with four additional weekly 777-200 flights to complement daily year-round service. With these changes, Delta will offer Narita customers more than 25 daily departures to more than 20 nonstop destinations.

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus Continued Bolstered by Growing Global Alliances, Delta Strengthens International Schedules for Summer 2010

“Delta is committed to providing customers with convenient options between the most popular business and leisure destinations across Asia and our global network, connecting Asia to more points in the U.S. and beyond than any U.S. carrier,” Hauenstein said. “Since Delta’s first flight to Asia in 1987, we have become the region’s premier U.S. airline through organic growth and our merger with Northwest. Delta’s tailored customer experi- ence on our more than 500 weekly flights throughout Asia includes regional foods and in-flight service repre- sentatives who provide language translations.”

Trans-Atlantic Joint Venture By June 2010, the Delta-Air France-KLM joint venture will reintroduce seasonal service on more than a dozen trans-Atlantic routes and will launch new nonstop service between New York-JFK and Co- penhagen, Denmark and Stockholm, Sweden. Seasonal reintroductions include additional daily flights between joint venture hubs and added service to meet seasonal demand on routes such as Atlanta to Athens; Atlanta to Venice; New York-JFK to Zurich; and Detroit to Rome. (A complete list of Delta’s summer 2010 seasonal service is available at http://news. delta.com/index.php?DB=mr4enh_delta&s=11.)

Delta’s new service between JFK and Copenhagen will be the only nonstop flight between the two cities, filling a gap to the largest travel market from JFK without nonstop service. Stockholm, which is among the largest travel markets to and from New York, also will benefit from its only nonstop service to JFK.

In total, the Delta-Air France-KLM joint venture will offer the industry’s leading trans-Atlantic flight schedule for summer 2010 with approximately 25 percent of the total trans-Atlantic market.

“By integrating our trans-Atlantic operations, Air France, KLM and Delta give passengers what they wish: More choice, more frequencies, more convenient flight schedules and better customer services. By optimizing the use of our pooled resources, this joint venture helps us weather the current economic situation and protect our prod- uct offering,” said Bruno Matheu, executive vice president – Marketing, Revenue Management and Network, Air France-KLM.

Since beginning a dramatic restructuring of its international network in 2005, Delta has grown from approximately 45 daily round-trip U.S. to Europe flights in summer 2005 to more than 100 daily flights scheduled by the Delta-Air France- KLM joint venture for summer 2010. Each new route capitalizes on the strength of the joint ven- ture by allowing the three airlines to share costs and revenues and more effectively market the service to a broader base of customers.

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus Continued Bolstered by Growing Global Alliances, Delta Strengthens International Schedules for Summer 2010

Africa Building on its position as the only U.S. carrier operating flights toAfrica, Delta will continue its expansion into fast-growing African markets for summer 2010. The airline will complement existing JFK-Accra, Ghana ser- vice with new nonstop 767-300 flights from Atlanta, and will replace existing one-stop -200 service between Abuja, Nigeria and JFK with nonstop flights operated with -300 aircraft.

Delta intends to serve as many as 10 African destinations from the United States next summer, including flights to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea; Monrovia, Liberia; Nairobi, Kenya; and Luanda, Angola, each of which are pend- ing U.S. and foreign government approvals. Delta has aircraft ready to serve each of these markets as soon as it receives the necessary approvals.

“Traffic between the United States and Africa is projected to grow more than 5 percent annually through 2027,” Hauenstein said. “With demand for travel to Africa spread across the United States, Delta is uniquely posi- tioned to continue to collect this growing base of traffic through the world’s largest passenger hub in Atlanta, as well as via the top U.S. market in New York.”

Delta’s African expansion trims several hours off average travel times between the U.S. and Africa, a signifi- cant benefit for customers.

Customer experience Customers on the new flights will have the opportunity to experience Delta’s award-winning BusinessElite ser- vice, including innovative food offerings from celebrity chef Michelle Bernstein and original wine selections cho- sen by Delta’s Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson. BusinessElite also features on-demand personal in-seat entertainment boasting more than 20 first-run and popular classic movies, a variety ofTV programs, thousands of music titles and a suite of video games.

Routes operated with Delta’s new -200LR aircraft offer BusinessElite customers a fully flat, six-foot, three-inch bed in a one-two-one configuration, which provides every customer with direct aisle access. With next summer’s schedule, Delta’s fleet of 777-200LR aircraft will be operated on its longest flights, including At- lanta to Dubai; Atlanta to Tel Aviv; Atlanta to Johannesburg; Los Angeles to Tokyo-Narita; Los Angeles to Syd- ney; and Detroit to Hong Kong. Summer 2010 will mark the first time the 777-200LR has flown in scheduled service from Tokyo-Narita with service to Atlanta and Los Angeles.

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus San Fran named best US city by Conde Nast Traveler

San Francisco was named the best U.S. city to visit for the 17th year in a row in Conde Nast Traveler maga- zine’s 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards.

The awards appear in the magazine’s November issue, ranking the best cities, cruise lines, airlines, hotels and resorts worldwide based on responses from 25,000 readers in the Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey.

Charleston, S.C., took the No. 2 spot on the U.S. cities list, followed by Santa Fe, N.M. In the category of top islands in North America, Kiawah, S.C., was first, followed by Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, and Nantucket, Mass. Top islands in the Caribbean/Atlantic were Bermuda, St. John and St. Barts.

Italy swept the top three spots for top cities in Europe: Florence, Rome and Venice. Virgin America was named the best U.S. domestic airline for the second year in a row with JetBlue Airways at No. 2 and Midwest in third place.

Singapore Airlines won top spot for international route airline, a category it has won for 21 of the past 22 years. took second place in the global airline category, followed by a tie for third place between Virgin Atlan- tic and .

Conde Nast Traveler introduced a new cruise category in the Readers’ Choice Awards this year for mega- ship cruise lines, with Celebrity coming in first, followed by Disney and Cunard. In the category of large ships, Crystal, Regent Seven Seas and Cunard took the top three spots, while in the small ship category, Sea Cloud, Yachts of Seabourn and Regent Seven Seas were the winners.

Winners in top car rental agencies were Hertz, Enterprise and Avis.

In the category of top hotels in the United States, the 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, Ky., took top honors, followed by The Peninsula in Chicago and the Mandarin Oriental in Boston. For top small hotels in the U.S., Blantyre in Lenox, Mass., was No. 1. Second-place winner was The Swag, located in the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, just outside of Waynesville and about an hour from Asheville. Third place went to Tu Tu’ Tun Lodge, in Gold Beach, Ore.

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus Southwest Airlines debuts ‘Green Plane’ with environmentally friendly interior materials

October 21st Southwest Airlines announced at its annual Media Day a “green plane,” an innovative idea that marries efficiency, environmentally responsible products, Customer comfort, and reduced waste and weight. This plane, a -700, will serve as a test environment for new environmentally responsible materials and Customer comfort products.

It is a flying testament to the airline’s philosophy that environmental decisions make good business sense. All of the initiatives being tested on this Green Plane, when combined, will equate to a weight savings of almost five pounds per seat, thus saving fuel and reducing emissions, along with adding recyclable elements to the cabin interior and reducing waste.

“Southwest is committed to continuing to lead the industry in emissions reductions through fuel efficiency. Efficiency in fuel consumption benefits our Company as well as the environment, and this has been part of our business model since the beginning,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chair- man, President, and CEO. “As we look to the future, we know climate change remains of vital importance to our industry, our Company, and our Customers, so Southwest works hard every day in every area to be a responsible steward of the environment.” Southwest has designated one aircraft to serve as a test for eco-friendly products, which include:

• InterfaceFLOR Carpet - this carpet reduces labor and material costs because it is installed in sections, thus eliminating the need for total replacement of areas such as aisles, where Southwest currently uses one single piece of carpet. The 100 percent recyclable carpet is returned to the manufacturer at the end of its service life and completely re-manufactured into new carpet; the process is completely carbon neutral. • Seat covers - two new products that will be tested on the aircraft seats, offering more than twice the durability than the current leather seats as well as a weight savings of almost two pounds per seat. • On one side of the aisle, e-Leather is an eco-friendly, lightweight and scuff resistant man-made alternative to traditional leather. It is made from recycled materials that have been discarded by the leather industry. It is then upgraded utilizing eco-friendly technology, resulting in composition leather, a man-made material. • On the other side of the aisle, IZIT Leather, a new breed of premium leather alternative, is an evolutionary step beyond calf skin that offers a lightweight product that is both economical and durable, but with the genu- ine appearance and touch of luxurious leather. • Life Vest Pouch - more environmentally friendly because it offers a weight savings of one pound per passen- ger, replacing the current metal container with lighter durable canvas. The smaller pouch also creates more room under the seat for carryon items and offers productivity improvements due to design change. • Foam Fill - A lighter weight fill from Garnier PURtec in the back of the seats that reduces weight while provid- ing increased Customer comfort. • Passenger Seat Rub Strips - switching from plastic to aluminum will help with durability, which reduces waste, as well as being recyclable.

“Southwest is proud to lead the aviation industry in environmental stewardship and honored to be working with these eco-friendly vendors and our partners at Boeing,” Kelly says. “We are excited to test their forward- thinking products and expect these green products to not only help the environment, but also create a fuel and materials cost saving for Southwest.” November 2009 Newsletter InFocus Crowne Plaza Prepares for a Chainwide Makeover

What do you think about InterContinental’s Crowne Plaza chain? Think it needs some help?

Well, InterContinental Hotels Group thinks it does - especially as other upscale chains such as Marriott’s Re- naissance and Starwood’s Sheraton undergo chain-wide revamps.

According to UK-based Marketing Week, IHG’s testing various changes at unspecified Crowne Plaza hotels in the USA to determine the best way to improve the chain. IHG’s paying close attention to public spaces and hotel menus, according to the article. It’s also testing new ways of offering room service, the story says.

IHG’s marketing chief, Tom Seddon, told Marketing Week that they want to differentiate Crowne Plaza from their upscale hotel rivals and make the chain better for business travelers.

“While customers tell us they like the product, we think we can be more different,” Seddon told Marketing Week. “One of the key insights is there is a whole group of people that don’t see business travel as a chore. We want to do more to bring more interest and enjoyment to the stay.”

The article does not say which Crowne Plaza hotels have been chosen for the pilot.

InterContinental is in the later stages of completing a $1 billion overhaul of its biggest chain, Holiday Inn. That overhaul is due to be completed in about a year.

TravelFocus Tip of the Month: ? Have you noticed this on your itinerary and wondered what it was for?

Please verify flight times prior to departure DAL LAS FT WORTH, TX February 4 Other Thursday (DFW)

Status Confirmed Confirmation

Information THANK YOU FOR USING TRAVELFOCUS

Answer: It is a system generated retention line used to store the reservation in our system for up to 90 days from the date of travel. This way, we can access the reservation (if necessary) once travel is complete.

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus TravelFocus Preferred Hotel Spotlight W Atlanta Buckhead TravelFocus Preferred Rate: $205 In the city’s most sought-ever address, you’re always welcome to call W Atlanta - Buckhead home where the heart is, with indulgences in retail therapy, an education in gastronomy, the call of the nightlife and Southern livin’ at your doorstep. If that’s not enough to sweep you off your feet, step into our exterior glass elevator and be whisked from ground to rooftop in an exhilarating ride featuring panoramic views of Atlanta. P.A.W. - Pets Are Welcome™

Woof/Meow! Who loves your pet?

The W Atlanta Buckhead thinks the furry friend you love should travel in luxury with you. That’s why Pets Are Welcome™ at W Atlanta-Buckhead.

The following services are available for your four-legged friend at W Atlanta- Buckhead:

• Custom Pet Bed • Food and Water Bowls with Floor Mat • Pet Toy • Litter Box • Litter and Scoop (For Cats) • Turndown Treat • Clean-up bags • Dog-Walking Service • Pet-in-room door sign

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus Delta’s merge with Northwest; Continental moves to Star Alliance Delta Airlines says that it’s on track to fully integrate by the end of the year–and that in- cludes flying under one operating certificate, the key bit of government-issued authority. Generally speaking, the merger has gone smoothly enough, but it looks as if Delta has pooched one of the easiest parts of the in- tegration. Effective with the “winter” schedule that begins on Oct. 24, Delta will rebrand Northwest’s operations with Delta’s DL code and new flight numbers.

The changes have been loaded into reservation computers, but Delta hasn’t bothered to alert travelers yet. Not even by the cheapest, easiest method: an explanatory page on the Delta.com and/or NWA.com Web sites. For its part, Delta insists the code and numbering changes “will be a smooth process for customers who will receive notification of flight changes through the normal channels.” It doesn’t say what those normal channels are.

MILES & POINTS: Continental morphs OnePass to sync with Star Alliance ’ switch to the Star Alliance on Oct. 27 has already resulted in a substantial number of route changes as the new kid in Star severs connections to SkyTeam hubs. But Continental has also unveiled a wide-ranging series of changes to its OnePass program.

Look for some reduced fees (no same-day ticket charges for Platinum Elite members or $100 co-pays on up- grades from B class tickets) and relaxed rules (no Saturday-stay requirement on awards), a simplified reward chart (but slightly higher prices to places like Hawaii), a reduction of some bonuses (Y class fares will now earn only 1.5 elite-qualification points instead of 2 points) and improvement in some earnings (all fares now qualify for full elite mileage credit). And, naturally, earnings and awards partners will shift: Out are SkyTeam airlines, in are Star carriers. The changes will be phased in during the rest of the year.

Dallas: 800.627.2987 Chicago: 800.821.1932

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus Dallas: (800)627-2987 Chicago: (800)821-1932

Dallas: (800)627-2987 Chicago: (800)821-1932

November 2009 Newsletter InFocus