Start of a major new project at Düsseldorf International: The cornerstone for Hangar 7 was laid. The Air Berlin Group will be using the hangar, which has room for three wide-body aircrafts. This is a major expansion of its service facilities at Germany’s third largest airport.

Brazil’s TAM and TAP Portugal, a member of the Star Alliance, have flown 52,900 passengers since signing a codeshare operational agreement launched in September 2007.

Continental Airlines signed a deal with MLT Vacations to begin operating the airline’s private label vacation packaging service effective Jan. 1, 2009. The agreement moves the private label from Certified Vacations, which operated the brand for 11 years, to MLT.

Mexicana has accepted an invitation to become part of the Oneworld airline alliance. The airline’s low-cost subsidiary, Click Mexicana, will join at the same time as a Oneworld affiliate member.

In response to the high cost of fuel and a shaky economy, Northwest Airlines is raising fuel surcharges and cutting capacity.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for the Latin American aviation industry to redouble its efforts to drive down the accident rate in the region and better coordinate safety regulations in a keynote address delivered by IATA Director General and CEO Giovanni Bisignani at the Wings of Change conference.