The European Union´s second-highest court threw out on Tuesday a challenge from easyJet to the merger of Air France and KLM, backing a decision by EU regulators to let the deal go through. British low-cost carrier easyJet was seeking to get the European Court of First Instance to annul the European Commission´s decision in February 2004 to approve the merger of Air France and KLM.

Virgin Atlantic Limited witnessed a significant increase in the number of business travelers helped to boost profits and achieve record sales in the last financial year. During fiscal year 2005-2006, which ended February 28, Virgin Atlantic recorded revenues of £1.91 billion, up 17 percent on the previous year (£1.63 billion).

GOL, Brazil´s low-cost, low-fare airline, has received “Melhores e Maiores 2006” award in the transportation sector. This award is organized by the leading business magazine in Brazil, EXAME, ranking the best and largest companies in the country each year. In 2004, GOL had received the same award, and, additionally, was named Company of the Year by EXAME.

LAN Argentina announced that it will begin operating the Miami-Buenos Aires route on August 15 with a nonstop flight that departs from Ezeiza airport in Buenos Aires at night and arrives at Miami International Airport the following morning. The flight will in turn depart Miami the same morning and touch down in Buenos Aires at the following morning.

Caribbean Star Airlines announced last week it has postponed plans to offer new service to and from Curacao. The move comes as the carrier refocuses and expands its efforts toward achieving Category One status under the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA). All Caribbean Star passengers ticketed and confirmed for postponed travel to or from Curacao are eligible for full refunds of all ticket charges. To claim compensation, Caribbean Star customers must send their tickets via regular mail to the following address:

The European Union has banned three more airlines from operating in the 25 nation bloc and put restrictions on a fourth, updating its blacklist of carriers to try to boost safety in European skies. The executive European Commission said on Tuesday Suriname-based Blue Wing and Kyrgyzstan´s Sky Gate International would be banned from operating in the EU.