International mining group Rio Tinto signed a global contract with the oneworld airline alliance, according to a oneworld statement. Oneworld indicated that U.K.-based Rio Tinto--which has "a significant worldwide travel spend"--is working with member airlines in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Oneworld also claimed to be the first global airline partnership "to enable corporate customers to complete contracts electronically"--saving up to "US$1,000"--as Rio Tinto completed its deal by collecting electronic signatures from its procurement office in Brisbane, its travel purchasing department in Paris and various oneworld sales executives.

The Association of Corporate Travel Executives through 21 December will accept applications for its open executive director position. Rearden Commerce vice president Tony D'Astolfo is chairing a candidate review committee of both buyers and suppliers from various regions tasked with presenting final candidates to ACTE's executive committee. The association's board of directors expects to approve a new executive director during the first quarter. ACTE indicated that the appointed person would likely initiate his or her term in April.

GlobalStar Travel Management added to its network Oman's Travel Point, Bahrain's Dadabhai Travel and Kazakhstan's Shakh Travel. Egypt's Royal Manta Travel joined in September.

Brazilian airline Gol announced expanded distribution relationships with Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport. The carrier said it would use Travelport's interline ticketing capabilities in part to accommodate codeshare and interline agreements. A Travelport spokeswoman said the global distribution system content agreement in place with Gol since 2006 "remains unchanged." Gol's Amadeus distribution agreement was extended beyond Brazil to enable the airline to "select the markets in which Amadeus travel agency subscribers will be able to issue Gol (and Gol's partners') electronic tickets," according to an Amadeus spokeswoman. Meanwhile, Gol and Sabre Travel Network in August expanded their distribution arrangement from a regional to a global scope, and Gol upgraded its Sabre connectivity level to provide agents "real-time access" to the carrier's inventory system. According to a Gol representative, "there is no GDS provider with Gol's full content."

Air France on 1 April 2010 will introduce a redesigned product for European flights, including a "basic" offering with nonrefundable fares and a "premium" service "for those traveling for business who are looking for flexible fares and additional service." The redesign eliminates on short- and medium-haul routes the carrier's Affaires high-end cabin. Air France said the change would improve operating profits by €500 million (US$754 million) by increasing seats per flight and cutting costs.