As Ryanair eliminates its airport check-in counters, the low-cost carrier is also charging a fee to check in online. The airline’s airport check-in elimination is scheduled to take place in three phases.

The leisure travel industry continues to be hit hard by the impacts of the recession. According to a Prophis eResearch March 2009 survey of U.S. online adults, about two in five (37 percent) indicate that they are spending about the same on personal travel as they did one year ago. However, 27 percent indicate that they are currently spending much less than a year ago while only 5 percent say they are spending much more.

Southwest CEO Gary Kelly says the airline is sticking to its no-hidden-fees mantra. But the carrier would consider charging for extra services through its website. Southwest is looking to increase revenue by charging for items such as onboard Wi-Fi, and possibly in-flight food.

While praising the Obama administration for new actions designed to restore confidence and liquidity in small-business lending, ASTA reiterated an earlier call for a program to allow the Small Business Administration (SBA) to lend directly to small businesses.

Following Air France-KLM’s announcement on Jan. 12 and the approval of the competition authorities, the Air France-KLM Group has completed its acquisition of a 25 percent stake in Alitalia through the subscription to a reserved capital increase for an amount of some 323 million euros.

For the week ending Feb. 18, Hawaii hotel occupancy figures stood at 75 percent, down 2 percentage points from the same period last year. Average room rates for the state, however, were significantly lower, sinking 12.5 percent, to $180, compared with 2008.