Barbados tourism officials have denied allegations that the agency has been paying Continental Airlines to continue its air service to the island. The airline announced last week that it will be dropping its weekly connection from New Jersey to Bridgetown after just two years on the route. The announcement came after the service between Newark and Barbados was cut over the past six months to just one weekly flight. The airline had initially maintained a four flight weekly schedule with support from the local tourism agency which spent at least $2 million marketing the service and destination. The communiqué from the airline said the decision was jointly agreed between Continental and the Barbados Tourism Authority (BTA).

Air Costa Rica and Air Panama have joined together to open two new routes this month between the Costa Rican capital of San Jose and two popular destinations in Panama, the tourist island of Bocas del Doro and the border city of David. The new flights, which now operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, mark the beginning of a new tourism strategy to encourage packages that feature destinations in several Central American countries.

Airline industry estimates indicate a need for up to 10,000 new pilots in China through 2010 –making it one of the fastest-growing markets for the type of flight training United provides. The certificates issued grant approval for United Airlines to provide "type rating" training on the B757 and A320 fleet types. UA can pursue additional fleet type certificates from the CAAC as training demand warrants. The Chinese airlines join the ranks of Air Force One and passenger and cargo airlines from Europe, Asia and the Americas in sending their pilots for training at UA´s Denver facility. Additionally, United will soon begin training with general aviation manufacturer Eclipse Aviation for the pilots of its Eclipse 500 Very Light Jet, the first-ever contract of its kind. The companies expect the first Eclipse 500 pilot to be trained in spring of 2006.

Lufthansa is soaring to new heights. With an annual total of 51.3 million passengers, 653,980 operated flights and a passenger load factor of 75.0 percent, the Lufthansa Group achieved three new records in 2005. Targeted capacity expansion and successful sales management delivered growth and boosted passenger load factor in all traffic regions.

Delta Air Lines are launching the largest expansion into Mexico in the company´s history. Subject to Mexican government approvals, Delta plans to offer customers flights on 12 new nonstop routes between the United States and Mexico by June, including the airline´s first-ever service to Merida.

Peruvian authorities have suspended operations of the state-owned airline, TANS Peru, after “a series of serious events that have put safety in danger,” an official said Saturday. Roberto Rodriguez, director of the country´s civil aviation office, told Radioprogramas radio that his agency on Monday would begin an investigation of the airline´s operations to determine if it should be allowed to fly again.