Bmi Group reported a pre-tax profit of ?10 million ($17.3 million) in 2005, nearly four times greater than the ?2.6 million earned in 2004.

News from Travel Technology Update: Sabre Travel Network is rolling out Upsell, a program that displays amenities and upgrades that are available at a hotel that is about to be booked.The program is part of its drive to move more into a merchandising mode, rather than simply processing transactions.

Embraer reported a record year with sales topping $3.8 billion, an 11.3% increase over 2004, and net income of $446 million, a 17.2% rise.The Brazilian manufacturer's firm-order backlog was valued at $10.4 billion as of Dec. 31. Additionally, the company strengthened its financial position, with net cash of $360 million compared to $22 million on hand last year. It delivered 118 aircraft in 2005 and has a firm-order backlog of 322 170/190 aircraft. Included among 2005 deliveries were the first 190 that went to JetBlue and the first 175, delivered to Air Canada. It received a total of 94 orders for 170s/190s last year.

Grupo TAP, parent of TAP Portugal, reported a summary result showing a net loss of ?9.9 million ($12 million) in 2005, reversing a net profit of ?8.6 million in 2004, which was fueled by a ?30 million extraordinary gain from the partial sale of ground handling unit Servicos Portugueses de Handling.

Qantas has refused to rule out sending more engineering work offshore as unions stepped up their fight to prevent checks on one of the carrier's 747s being carried out in Singapore.

Cathay Pacific announced the appointment of Kerry McGlynn as Special Adviser to the airline's Corporate Communication Department with effect from 3 April 2006. He will be working closely with General Manager, Corporate Communication Alan Wong and his team.

The Pan-American Aviation Holdings Ltd.(PAAH) is to become a shareholder of Grand China Airline (GCA), a subsidiary of the Hainan Airlines, China's fourth largest airline company.

In its first year following its transfer from the Israeli government to Knafaim Arkia Holdings, El Al reported the highest annual net earnings in its history, a $64.1 million profit that represented a 94% increase over 2004 earnings of $33.1 million.

The air terminal building has been redesigned to handle the increase in air passenger traffic at the Bangalore International Airport, which is expected to go up three times than the proposed four million passengers by April 2008 when the airport will become operational.

Cendant Travel Distribution Services (TDS) has signed an agreement with Air France to secure access to all the carrier's fares until December, 2008. (3/31/2006)