p9 news feb27 25/2/09 15:16 Page 9
ttglive.com
news
JTA upgrades its
booking system
FLIGHT consolidator JTA is preparing to launch
its new search system which it claims will be
easier and quicker to use.
The new system is on track to go live in early
March and Wayne Darrock, JTA managing
director, said: “As part of our new and refreshed
website all our agents will be able to improve the
way they make flight bookings.
“In addition we will continually develop more
features so the job of making reservations, giving
confirmations and managing bookings becomes
more straightforward and professional.”
The new system will also allow agents more
flexibility to control commission levels, and flight
details and fares will be more clearly displayed.
Astraeus now ‘rock solid’
Aircraft leasing firm claims reversal of its fortunes will emulate
Latin hotels
the return to popularity of its rock star pilot. By Chris Gray
ASTRAEUS made a surprise appear- said Fulgani, who added that model
target the UK
ance at the Brit Awards last week would be the basis of the company’s
when one of its aircraft was shown return to profitability this year.
touching down as Iron Maiden won an He admitted that confidence in the
A NEW service representing premium hotels in award for best live act. business may have been hit by its with-
Latin America is available to help UK agents Singer Bruce Dickinson (above), a drawal from its traditional markets,
tailor-make trips to the region. pilot with the company, is flying his but insisted the new model was not a
Branding Latin America Hotels UK features a band on a world tour on one of the retreat: “We have changed the
range of small boutique and luxury hotels company’s nine Boeing aircraft. Mario Fulgani business. It’s not a retrenchment.”
wanting to enter the UK market. And Astraeus chief executive Mario Fulgani said the Iceland Express
Its mission is to work with agents and operators Fulgani claimed his employee’s band’s return to model worked because it cut the costs and risks
to drive sales and also on public relations and mainstream popularity would be mirrored by for a start-up airline, as it did not have to invest
promotional events. Astraeus’s revival this year. in its own aircraft or crew, leaving it to concen-
Rodolfo Milesi, Branding Latin America Group Astraeus now solely leases aircraft and crew trate on sales and marketing.
founder, said: “We are expanding our business to airlines including BMI, Ghana International He added that Astraeus was already in talks
beyond PR. Airlines, and no-frills airline Iceland Express with overseas airlines and at least one UK
“To represent the best hotels of the region will after it stopped operating charter and scheduled organisation about new no-frills operations.
be a key part of our awareness-building strategy flights last year. Other airline experts were sceptical about the
in the UK.” Iceland Express was a “virtual airline” because potential. One no-frills executive said there was
Claudia Morales, for- its entire programme was operated by Astraeus, no present market for start-up airlines.
mer executive director of
the British Argentine
Chamber of Commerce,
has been appointed man-
Boss confident of
The company made a £9.5 million operating
loss in 2006, and a £6.4 million loss in 2007.
aging director of Brand-
ing Latin America Hotels. a return to profit
However, Fulgani said Astraeus had made an
operating profit in every month since May 2008
She said it will work to when it started its new business model. This
promote the interests of ASTRAEUS will make an operating profit of would not be enough to make a full-year profit in
hoteliers in the region “several millions” in its first full financial year 2008, but 2009 would be profitable, he claimed.
who may not be able to since changing its business model, chief Astraeus reported net liabilities of £22 million
afford to come to the UK executive Mario Fulgani has claimed. in its full-year 2007 accounts, but Fulgani said
themselves due to the He predicted the results for January to support from its owner, Icelandic entrepreneur
economic downturn. December this year when the company would Palmi Haraldsson, meant it had enough finance
have had a full 12 months of trading as a leasing- to continue while profits built up again.
■ More at branding- only company, after scrapping its charter and
latinamerica.com Rodolfo Milesi and Claudia Morales scheduled operations in 2008. ■ Air news, p30
27.02.2009 09
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