A U.S. bankruptcy court on Wednesday gave Delta Air Lines the go-ahead to exit Chapter 11 today, ending a year and a half in bankruptcy. “I will sign the confirmation order,” Judge Adlai Hardin said at a hearing in U.S. bankruptcy court in New York.

Continental Airlines posted a higher than expected first-quarter profit helped by fuller planes, higher fares and a slight decline in fuel prices. It was the first time the airline reported a profit in the seasonally weak first quarter since 2001, marking another milestone in the recovery of long-suffering U.S. airlines, which began in earnest last summer.

Iberia said on Friday it required more information from suitor Texas Pacific Group regarding its $4.6 billion bid for the airline, echoing comments it made last week.

Lufthansa finance chief Stephan Gemkow said the airline may achieve its target of 1 billion euros of operating profit a year early in 2007, Euro magazine reported.

Global Aero Logistics, which owns Indianapolis-based ATA Airlines, bought World Air Holdings for $315 million in cash late last week.

Kuoni Switzerland continues to expand its portfolio in the specialist segment and acquired Dorado Latin Tours AG. The travel specialist is one of the leading operators of tours to South America and the Polar regions. There will be no change to the situation of the management and the employees of Dorado Latin Tours, who will continue to develop the company further.