After reporting the largest monthly drop since 2003 in international premium air traffic for March, the International Air Transport Association said April international premium ticket volumes rebounded by growing 6.4 percent year-over-year. Nevertheless, IATA said "the underlying picture for business travel shows a further slowdown, more or less a halt in growth, following growth of 2.4 percent in 2007." It cited the weakened U.S. economy, a 6 percent cut in North American premium travel during March and April, and "substantially" slower business activity in Japan and parts of Europe. Noting "brisk" premium passenger traffic on transatlantic routes, IATA said that "U.S. exports are booming as a result of continued robust growth in Europe and the weak dollar, which has supported U.S.-originating business travel."

MasterCard as of 21 June will suspend cross-border interchange fees on its MasterCard and Maestro cards in the European Economic Area to avoid European Commission fines. The Commission last December ruled that the fees, in addition to standard interchange which continues to apply to all transactions, violated EC rules on "restrictive business practices." MasterCard said it would continue to appeal the ruling. EC in March also began investigating Visa's interchange fees.

The U.K.'s Ministry of Defence launched its online booking system for 300,000 MoD personnel in Britain and overseas. IT firm Capgemini UK plc serves as the system integrator, supported by Hogg Robinson Group and subcontractors Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Cognos and KDS.

Radius named Sabre veteran Christopher Vasiliou as its new president and CEO, effective 14 July. Vasiliou most recently oversaw strategy, joint ventures, alliances and direct distribution for Sabre's Asia Pacific division, and previously served stints as Travelocity's COO and as a Sabre Travel Network senior vice president. He replaces interim CEO Allan Slan, who has led Radius since Tony Hughes resigned in November.

Online booking tool provider GetThere said a new "direct connection" to French rail operator SNCF allows for companies to display negotiated rates, include travel policy parameters and compare air and rail options. GetThere uses passive segments within global distribution systems to allow travel agencies to service, track and report on booked SNCF itineraries. That functionality currently is available via Amadeus and Sabre GDSs, "with rollout for Galileo users on track for later this year."