Lufthansa’s passenger numbers declined in the first three months of 2009 under the impact of the downswing and the persistently difficult economic situation. The biggest German airline failed in the circumstances to match the previous year’s record figures.

The performance of the nation’s leading air carriers improved for the first time in five years, according to the 19th annual national Airline Quality Rating. The industry improved in all four major elements of the AQR: on-time performance, baggage handling, denied boarding and customer complaints.

Tom Nutley, former chairman of Reed Travel Exhibitions, has joined the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) as head of industry liaisons. He will help coordinate City Break, the tourism industry exhibition in Gothenburg, Sweden, which this year is managed by ETOA in a new partnership arrangement with RTE. The collaboration is particularly significant as City Break came into being under the stewardship of Nutley, and is now in its fourth year.

Congrex has announced the decision to extend its established venue sourcing capabilities for world-wide venue sourcing and selection to additional operational locations. This service utilises Congrex’s extensive knowledge of venues world-wide, offering guaranteed best-venue solutions within 24 hours.

Continental Airlines reported a March consolidated (mainline plus regional) load factor of 79.4 percent, 2.9 points below the March 2008 consolidated load factor, and a mainline load factor of 79.9 percent, 2.7 points below the March 2008 mainline load factor.

According to a survey conducted by El Dorado Spa Resorts & Hotels and Azul Hotels by Karisma, 96 percent of guests traveling to areas such as Riviera Maya report feeling comfortable and completely safe during their vacations whereas 100 percent of guests felt safe while on-site at the destination’s resorts.