Passages, the frequent-flyer programme, run by Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, is to be wound down, and each airline will launch its own programme.
Cathay will launch a new frequent-flyer programme next February 1, and details will be announced in October. The airline says members will be able to earn Passages kilometres with Cathay until next January 31, and they can redeem them under Passages until January 31, 2000, or transfer unused kilometres to the new programme.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific and Swissair have introduced a code-share service between Hong Kong and Zurich offering better connections between the two cities.
There will be a flight from Zurich each day, while there will be flights from Chek Lap Kok every day except Friday. Two flights will leave for Zurich on Thursday.
Eurostar boost Eurostar passengers boarding at Gare du Nord in Paris have been given better facilities. A new departure lounge holds 1,000, and business services are available to First Premium passengers. Service on Eurostar, the passenger train service that goes through the Channel Tunnel between Paris and London, has recently increased to 18 round-trips daily, 21 on Fridays.
Pointing east Travel and tourism could replace many of the old polluting heavy industries in Central and Eastern Europe, creating up to eight million jobs by 2010, the World Travel and Tourism Council predicts. But its president, Geoffrey Lipman, says protection of the environment is vital to the growth of tourism.
