Iberia has launched a special offer for flights from Munich, Frankfurt and Berlin to Barcelona, under code-sharing with the Barcelona-based, low-cost airline Clickair.

Third weekly return flight to operate on Wednesday, starting April 11th.

British Airways will spend GBP100 million pounds (USD$190 million) revamping its business class cabins and installing wider beds, its latest salvo in a battle with Virgin Atlantic to woo high-paying passengers.

Low-cost airline easyJet posted a 56 percent jump in annual profits on Tuesday and said it would expand its fleet with more Airbus planes as strong demand offsets high fuel costs.

U.S.-based companies, although still largely reliant on in-house systems for expense management, increasingly are turning away from their homegrown systems in favor of automated, vendor-purchased solutions. While expense solutions in many companies remain tied to other internal software systems, such as SAP and other enterprise resource providers, technological advances in online expense tools have driven down costs and facilitated compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley reporting requirements.

With rising prices in air, hotel and car rental spending forecasted for 2007, the cost of a domestic trip that includes all three components will increase approximately $46, or 4.5 percent, while a trip taken internationally will increase $180, or 4.6 percent, from 2006, American Express Business Travel said in its industry forecast for 2007, released late last month. Meanwhile, the travel and card services company saw a third-quarter earnings rise, showing a gain of more than two million cardholders, double-digit percentage T&E spending growth and continued business travel restructuring. Overall, the quarter yielded an 11 percent income hike from continuing operations over the previous year.

Air Canada last month began unbundling flight options through its Web site, allowing travelers to customize bookings by "buying added services or, conversely, to save money by declining benefits normally included in their selected fare type."

Italian flag-carrier Alitalia has got three months to rectify its financial situation before it is forced to declare bankruptcy. Under EU law no state is able to aid an airline even though complaints that the Italian government’s hand-out last year was considered state aid was overruled.

Delta Air Lines today announced its intention to be the first U.S. carrier to offer lie-flat seats for international business class travel. The carrier will have new lie-flat sleeper suites beginning in 2008, with the delivery of two new long-range Boeing 777s, which at first will serve its longest haul routes. Delta then will install the suites on all of its 777s and 767s by 2010.

Warden Message: U.S. Embassy reports possible closure of borders, airports during elections

From news reports: Thousands of passengers were stranded as a strike organized by several rail-workers' unions halted most train traffic in Bangladesh Tuesday.

This Travel Warning is being updated to alert American citizens that, due to ongoing security concerns in Nepal, the U.S. Embassy has been granted ordered departure status. Family members and non-emergency American employees have been ordered to depart Nepal. American citizens are urged to evaluate their personal security posture and consider departing in light of the information noted below. American citizens also are advised that His Majesty's Government of Nepal continues to use curfews to control the growing number of large and widespread demonstrations. The Department of State urges American citizens to defer travel to Nepal. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued on April 12, 2006.

Three bombs rocked the Egyptian resort city of Dahab at the height of the tourist season Monday night, killing at least 18 people and wounding more 150 at just one hotel, according to police and the doctor who runs Egypt's Sinai Peninsula rescue squad.

How do I keep from getting sick while travelling?

Europe's biggest low-cost airline, Ryanair, has admitted that it is in effect based in Britain, prompting senior regulatory figures to call for it to be brought under the wing of British safety authorities.

Finnair has begun installing more spacious and comfortable business class seats throughout its long-haul fleet. The Helsinki-based airline has already fitted the new lie-flat style seating to a couple of its seven-strong fleet of MD-11 tri-jets.

In November 2004, fighting between Ivorian government forces and the New Forces resulted in the deaths of French peacekeepers and an American citizen. The French reaction precipitated widespread rioting, looting, and violence in Abidjan and elsewhere. This violence was directed primarily against the French, but other expatriate and some Ivorian individuals, homes, and businesses were affected. Elections did not take place at the end of October 2005 as scheduled, and after protracted negotiations, the president's term was extended to the end of October 2006. In December 2005, a coalition government, which included the New Forces, was formed and tasked with advancing the peace process and facilitating elections by October 2006.

MARCH 06, 2006 -- Corporate booking tool providers last month introduced several features to improve European self-booking, including the inclusion of more rail content—generally a must-have in Europe. Other features include booking screens that display both air and rail options on the same route, consumer-site-style screens with options prioritized by price, one-way airfares and such tool administration enhancements as profile integration.

MARCH 06, 2006 -- Fresh figures show corporate air spending rising on both sides of the Atlantic, as businesses step up the number of flights employees take and pay a higher price per ticket, especially on long-haul routes.

CHICAGO, Illinois (Reuters) -- U.S. online travel agencies like Expedia and Orbitz are increasingly setting their sights overseas, especially in Europe where vacations are longer, as U.S. demand rises more slowly.

Sporadic and unpredictable clashes between protestors and police and military units have occurred throughout Addis over the past couple of days. Dozens of casualties have been reported. Impromptu roadblocks have been set up and fires ignited at major intersections. General strikes are possible throughout the next week.

From news sources: An intercity train and truck collided in the eastern Netherlands, injuring 30 passengers.

Canadians are advised against travel to San Andrés and Providencia Islands in Colombia, where Beta's strong winds and heavy rains have already caused damage to buildings.[Full Story]

NEW DELHI (AP) _ At least 10 people were feared killed in a powerful explosion that rocked central New Delhi on Saturday, television reports said. Minutes later, two more explosions shook the city, officials said. At least 40 injured people were hospitalized after the first explosion, in the crowded Paharganj neighborhood of the Indian capital, New Delhi Television said. Vir Singh, a spokesman for the city's fire department, confirmed there also had been explosions near the main market in Sarojini Nagar, a crowded south New Delhi neighborhood, and on a bus in the Govindpuri neighborhood. He had no further details on those blasts.

Canadians are advised against non-essential travel to Varadero, the city of Havana, the provinces of Matanzas westward through Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud) in Cuba. Canadians are also advised against non-essential travel to the Yucatan region in eastern Mexico, including Cancun.

Official Travel Advice: U.S. warns its nationals to avoid travel to Cuba because of threat posed by Hurricane Wilma

When it comes to air travel surveys, there's only issue that really matters -- which is the world's best airline?

Official Travel Advice: U.S. warns of flooding, landslides in El Salvador

South Asia: Update: Massive earthquake buries villages, collapses buildings

VANCOUVER, Canada (CNN) -- Most people do not change their bed sheets every evening, but at hotels business travelers expect fresh linen every night -- a practice that takes its toll on the environment.