The European Commission's competition authority approved the proposed acquisition by JP Morgan Chase & Company subsidiary One Equity Partners of 45 percent of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, helping pave the way for CWT's purchase of Navigant International. The Commission concluded that the deal would not impede competition in the European Economic Area, noting that OEP is "ultimately controlled by JPMC," which is "simply one of many corporate clients for CWT's travel services."

Amadeus and Eurostar signed a technology and distribution agreement through which Amadeus would serve as the rail operator's "gateway" to travel management companies, corporations and other users "either through Amadeus or through other global distribution systems." Amadeus said Eurostar services for "the first time" will be booked and sold alongside airline services, enabling interline ticketing. Eurostar currently is available to U.S.-based Amadeus users, with similar functionality expected in the United Kingdom "in early 2007" and other markets "in the near future."

The European Commission took another step toward including biometrics on passports by adopting technical specifications on electronic fingerprint storage. Member states have 36 months to begin storing such biometric data in newly issued passports. Based on a decision last year, they have until 28 Aug 2006 to begin storing facial images, a deadline that, if met, would allow member states to meet a United States requirement "for the Visa Waiver countries to issue biometrically enabled passports by Oct 2006."

More than half a billion of the world's two billion airline passengers are making bookings online, up 40 percent from last year, according to studies by SITA. SITA also found that self-service reservations are more important to passengers than such other factors as airline services and loyalty programs, but remain less important than price and schedule.

Foreign airlines must pay 10 percent commission to Venezuelan travel agencies on international tickets, according an El Universal report quoting National Assembly Management and Services Committee president Dario Vivas. Vivas cited a 1976 resolution which foreign airlines asked the nation's Supreme Tribunal of Justice to review. Airlines have said they would cut commissions next month to 3 percent, down from the current 6 percent rate.

The U.S. Department of Transportation proposed to revoke antitrust immunity covering International Air Transport Association tariff meetings "that discuss and set passenger fares and cargo rates for U.S.-Europe and U.S.-Australia flights." DOT cited development of international airline alliances--which foster the use of interline fares and itineraries--and noted similar proposals by Australian and European authorities. DOT said it would collect public comments and finalize its tentative decision by year-end.