The International Air Transport Association (IATA) said international scheduled traffic results for November showing 8.2 percent year-on-year passenger traffic growth and a 5.4 percent increase for freight. Passenger load factor for November averaged 75.6 percent while the freight load factor stood at 55.2 percent for the month. But traffic growth in November slowed from the 10 percent increase recorded in the passenger business and the 14.5 percent growth in freight in October.
The European Investment Bank agreed to provide an $8 million line of credit to the Development Bank of St. Kitts and Nevis to ensure continued availability of public and private sector finance during the financial crisis. The European Investment Bank’s line of credit will promote growth, employment, competitiveness and economic diversification on the Saint Kitts and Nevis.
In an update on the island’s tourism infrastructure and attractions following the November hurricane which devastated the island, Sen. Allen Chastanet, St. Lucia’s minister of tourism and civil aviation, said St. Lucia will continue to work on an earlier-announced 25-year economic development plan to improve infrastructure weaknesses highlighted by the storm, including a new terminal at Hewanorra Airport.
Expedia, Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Mobiata, creator of mobile travel applications including FlightTrack. The deal marks Expedia's most significant investment to date in addressing the mobile travel market, and accelerates the company's ability to enable mobile travel shopping and booking across multiple platforms.
Viking Airlines has successfully filed for bankruptcy protection in Sweden as it seeks to refinance ahead of a planned re-launch in March. The Swedish-based carrier is in talks with investors and creditors after filing for protection in late November. Travel Weekly understands a court in Stockholm granted the request at the end of last week.
Priceline.com said that the average Christmas-time air fare booked by its customers is $422, based on all tickets purchased between Nov. 3 and Dec. 2. At this time last year, the average Christmas fare booked by priceline.com customers was $431.