Lufthansa could agree to sell its 50 percent stake in tourism firm Thomas Cook to co-owner KarstadtQuelle before Christmas, a German newspaper said on Saturday.

Apple Vacations purchased GWV Vacations, a Boston-based vacation packager that specializes in Cancun, the Dominican Republic, Aruba, Antigua and St. Maarten.

Travelport reached an agreement to acquire and merge with Worldspan in a blockbuster $1.4 billion deal that now must pass muster with antitrust regulators in the U.S. and Europe. The companies hope to get that approval and close the deal in the second or third quarter of 2007.

Brazil’s GOL announced that beginning January 1, commissions paid to travel agents on GOL ticket sales will be cut down to 7 percent for domestic flights and as much as 6 percent for international flights.

Delta Air Lines said last week it listened to a presentation by US Airways on that company’s $8.5 billion takeover offer for Delta, but repeated earlier statements that it intends to emerge from bankruptcy as a stand-alone carrier.

Italy plans to put half of its controlling stake in Alitalia up for sale early next year, opening the way for new owners to try to rescue the loss-making airline, officials said.