EC confirmed it is "assessing" commitments by AA, BA and Iberia meant to allay competitive concerns related to their proposed joint venture. The European Commission in September sent oneworld partners American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia a statement of objections as part of its antitrust investigation. EC also continues "parallel investigations" into cooperation among Star Alliance members and among SkyTeam alliance members.

The Finnish Business Travel Association joined NBTA Europe. "The decision means that all four Nordic regions are now committed to the network," according to an NBTA Europe statement.

Starwood announced plans this year to open 80 to 100 properties, about 70 percent of which would be located outside North America, mainly in Asia-Pacific. Sixty percent will be upper-upscale and luxury brands, according to a statement.

Delta Air Lines completed the integration of the Northwest Airlines reservations system. Described by Delta as "one of the final merger milestones" following its acquisition of Northwest in 2008, the switch involved officially retiring the Northwest flight codes and consumer booking Web site, and moving all Northwest passenger records into its system.

Moscow for the fifth consecutive year had the world's highest average daily hotel rate among major business markets, according to HRG. Based on "a combination of industry intelligence, actual room nights booked and rates paid by its U.K. clients," HRG found that Moscow's leading rate of 13,239 roubles (US$442), despite retreating 5 percent from 2008 as a result of declining demand from the banking and finance sectors, reflected "its maturity as a business destination." It was followed by Abu Dhabi at AED 1,285 (US$350), which jumped from fifth in 2008 despite a 1 percent average rate decline, and New York, which slid to third after experiencing a 23 percent drop in average daily rate. HRG also tracked large annual local-currency declines in Chicago (down 23 percent), Dubai and Dublin (each down 21 percent) and Belfast (down 20 percent). Meanwhile, Manama in Bahrain shot up to the fifth spot overall from 20th a year earlier as demand growth outpaced new supply.

Air Canada this spring plans to launch seven new transborder U.S. routes from Toronto. They include services to Cincinnati; Memphis; Orange County, Calif.; Portland, Maine; Portland, Ore.; San Diego; and Syracuse, N.Y. As previously announced, Air Canada this summer also will add service from Toronto to Athens, Barcelona, Brussels and Copenhagen.