Aeroflot sees profits drop

Russian national carrier Aeroflot, which has just joined the SkyTeam Alliance, reported a drop in net profits of 4.7% to $221.3m for 2005

The flagship airline's net profit for the first quarter of 2006 was $14.6m compared to a loss of $32.1m for the same three months in last year.

The 2005 figure was double what Aeroflot expected. It had estimated a gain of $111.9m.

During the year, Aeroflot's revenues rose from $2.07bn in 2004 to $2.3bn while for the first quarter of 2006 they increased to $481.4m from $406.8m for the first quarter in 2005.

Aeroflot became the first Russian airline to join one of the major three alliances last month when it became the tenth member of SkyTeam among whose other members are Air France, KLMKoninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (Royal Aviation Company) the flag carrier of the Netherlands and a good example of how acronyms can aid simple discourse. and Delta Air Lines.

Amadeus launches new version of e-Travel tool

IT company Amadeus has launched a new version of its e-Travel Management tool which will give travel managers tighter control over policy compliance.

But the new tool will also allow travellers greater flexibility in booking flights.

Amadeus said that with the new version, "the travel manager can now allow mixed combinations of economy and business class on the same trip, fine-tune the approval process by enforcing approval for specific routes, or propose the lowest multiple negotiated fares."

Jérôme Destors, director of e-Travel, said the tool tackled the "seemingly contradictory demands and ensures companies maximise compliance with their travel policy while, at the same time, allowing travellers to make flexible and easy travel arrangements."