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Turkish Airlines appears to be developing the financial muscle required to be a leader in European consolidation as it reported a first-half profit of $208 million, a figure it said represented a 219% increase from the year-ago semester.

Lufthansa is in "constructive negotiations" with SN Airholding, parent of Brussels Airlines, about an equity investment worth 45% of the Belgian company with an option to take it over fully later.

Rising revenue and demand were little match for soaring fuel prices and the reduced value of the Malaysian ringgit as AirAsia posted a second-quarter profit of MYR9.4 million ($2.8 million) that represented a 95% plunge from the MYR185.1 million earned in the year-ago period.

Citing unprecedented fuel costs, slowing economic growth in its main markets and weakness in the US dollar and UK pound, Aer Lingus reported a net loss of €20.6 million ($30.3 million) for the first half of 2008, reversed from a €6.8 million profit in the year-ago semester.

In observance of the Labor Day holiday in the US, the next edition of Daily News will appear on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

Spanish Public Works Minister Magdalena Alvarez revealed Friday that Spanair considered transferring passengers aboard the MD-82 that crashed Aug. 20 to another aircraft after its first takeoff was aborted before ultimately deciding to clear it for a second takeoff.

SkyEurope Airlines suffered a €16.8 million ($24.8 million) loss in the fiscal third quarter ended June 30, widened from a €5.1 million deficit in the year-ago quarter, as high fuel prices offset the company's continuing efforts to cut costs and streamline its operation.

New Zealand has been named the world's leading country for tourism in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers' Awards 2008.This is the fifth year in a row that UK travellers have voted New Zealand one of the top five international countries in the annual awards.Tourism minister Damien O'Connor said the accolade is indicative of the "high-quality experience" that New Zealand offers its visitors and told operators in the industry that they should be "justifiably proud".He added: "With Tourism New Zealand's latest $7.3 million campaign due to launch in the United Kingdom on Sunday, this is timely recognition that New Zealand continues to exceed the expectations of visitors from our second largest market."Our ability to continue to compete with other countries will depend on delivering a better product than our competitors, ensuring we are environmentally, economically, socially and culturally sustainable."New Zealand was named the UK's favourite country ahead of India, Italy, Thailand and Brazil

Starting Sept. 9, Dallas-based Southwest (NYSE: LUV) will equip all its aircraft with credit and debit card readers and ban cash transactions in the air. (LUV)

NEW YORK, NY (MARKET WIRE) Gigante Vaz Partners announced today that it has been hired by Worktopia® On Demand Meeting Solutions. Worktopia offers an elegant, automated solution for meeting planners to search, compare and book meeting room space for small, simple meetings of less than 100 participants. In the same online session, planners may specify catering requirements, order AV equipment, other amenities and book overnight accommodations for up to 50 people.