News in brief from KLM, Supranational, Sabre, Air Malta and Brussels Airlines
KLM pilots to handle baggage
Dutch airline KLM has asked its under-employed pilots to take on other duties, the Financial Times reported this week.
According to the report, the coming season brings with it a need for more ground staff. In a bid to save money, KLM has offered the voluntary scheme to around 2,000 pilots who would normally fly from Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
Possible jobs include "baggage recovery agents" and "hospitality agents". Pilots can also operate the terminal to aircraft bridge or help passengers with heavy luggage.
Around 100 pilots are understood to have volunteered. Pilots will be paid their normal salary whether they participate or not.
Business travellers are "spoiled brats" says hotel consortium
The hotel consortium Supranational has described business travellers as "spoiled brats" who demand "more for less".
Despite the slur, Supranational's managing director Niels Pedersen warned hoteliers they must "say yes to everything" or risk losing business.
He said: "There is a genuine risk that corporate guests who are in any way disappointed will simply discredit the hotel among office colleagues and all bookings could go elsewhere.
"Hotels must refocus internal training and check that staff attitudes are transformed from ‘this is what we offer' to ‘what do you want from us'."
Supranational suggested hoteliers offer better meal flexibility, complaint handling, hygiene and damage repair.
Sabre's Synxis portfolio hits 10,000
SynXis, the Sabre Holdings hotel distribution and marketing business, has surpassed 10,000 properties using its RedX Distribution Management System.
More than 1,600 properties were added in the last six months, Sabre said.
Synxis has recently opened new in Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai and Australia, serving new customers including the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Relais and Chateaux, Granvia Hotels, Meritus Hotels and Resorts, Woodfin Hotels and Kerzman.
Air Malta expands Brussels Airlines code share
Air Malta has extended its code share agreement with Brussels Airlines, allowing passengers to connect destinations through Brussels International airport.
Air Malta will use its code on flights operated by Brussels Airlines to Copenhagen and Toulouse as well as on the route Brussels-Catania-Brussels.
The code share has also been upgraded to allow each carrier wider access to the other's seat inventory.
Dr Brock Friesen, Air Malta's chief officer commercial, said: "We are continuously enhancing the network of destinations offered to and from Malta. 60% of our flights are now code-shared giving additional benefits to our passengers whilst increasing accessibility to Malta to easier connections."
Both Air Malta and Brussels Airlines said they intend to further increase co-operation if suitable connecting points in Brussels become available.
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