Finnair Plus internet shop a boon for frequent fliers

September 16th, 2009 LONDON - A Brit thief reportedly used a pair of knickers to cover his head, in a bid to disguise himself during a drunken shop raid. Chelmsford Crown Court was told that Michael Callaghan, 43, had forced a shop assistant into a cupboard before taking 200 pounds from the till, reports the Daily Star.

August 10th, 2009 MELBOURNE - A coffee shop in the US is said to be causing quite a stir, after it employed waitresses wearing only bikinis in a bid to entice customers. The Bikini Espresso cafe, a drive-through shop in Torrance, Los Angeles, has seen many men flocking to it ever since it opened last week.

August 7th, 2009 Finnair chief executive Hienone resignsHELSINKI — Finnair PLC president and CEO Jukka Hienonen says he is resigning because he is not satisfied with the pace of change in the airline during the current challenging times, Hienone also blamed what he described as uncooperative unions. Hienonen, who has headed the Finnish national carrier since 2005, says "a clear change of course is required" and that "some personnel organizations have shown no willingness to adapt." Finnair said Friday that Hienonen will continue as president and CEO until a replacement is found during his six-month period of notice.

August 7th, 2009 Finnair reports 2Q net loss of €26 millionHELSINKI — Finnair PLC on Friday saw a second-quarter net loss of €26 million ($37 million) as the airline's chief executive announced that he is resigning in what he called "crisis" conditions. President and CEO Jukka Hienonen said he had reached the decision because he was not satisfied with the pace of change in the airline during the current challenging times and blamed unions for inflexibility.

August 7th, 2009 Finnair reports 2Q net loss of $37 millionHELSINKI — Finnair PLC on Friday reported a second-quarter net loss of euro26 million ($37 million) as the airline's chief executive announced that he is resigning in what he called "crisis" conditions. President and CEO Jukka Hienonen said he is resigning because he is not satisfied with the pace of change in the airline during the current challenging times and partly blamed unions.

August 7th, 2009 Finnair reports 2Q net loss of euro26 millionHELSINKI — Finnair PLC on Friday saw a second-quarter net loss of euro26 million ($37 million) as the airline's chief executive announced that he is resigning in what he called "crisis" conditions. President and CEO Jukka Hienonen said he had reached the decision because he was not satisfied with the pace of change in the airline during the current challenging times and blamed unions for inflexibility.

July 28th, 2009 Delta enhancing frequent-flier programATLANTA — Delta Air Lines Inc. is taking a page from the cell phone industry and will be allowing elite frequent fliers to roll over miles earned above their qualification status in a given year so they have an easier time maintaining that status or improving to a higher one the next year.

June 25th, 2009 LONDON - Former high street store Woolworths has made a comeback as an online retail company called Woolworths.co.uk. The brand was taken over by Shop Direct, the online and catalogue retailer owned by Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, after the retailer collapsed leading to the shut down of 800 stores and a loss of 31,000 jobs.

June 23rd, 2009 Airport security fast-track company shuts downNEW YORK — Lois Easton showed up at Denver International Airport expecting her usual quick trip through airport security. Instead, she was turned away as screening machines were dismantled around her.

June 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An Indian has won Nordic carrier Finnair's award for best envisaging how flying would look and feel like in the future, besting 1,000 competitors from around the world. The prize, Finnair tickets between Europe and Asia, was won by Dattatray Kuvalekar from India, the airline said in a statement here Wednesday.

May 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - An angry wife hired three masked men to wreak havoc in her husband's sex shop. Tian Shixing's wife was said to have hit the roof after learning that her husband had opened the adult store.

May 11th, 2009 American to let customers use miles on 1-way tripsDALLAS — American Airlines says it will let frequent fliers use miles to book one-way trips for half the miles of a round trip. The airline will also let customers redeem miles to fly one leg of a round trip in first-class and fewer miles to fly in coach on the other leg.

May 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Hoping for a revival of passenger demand, Nordic carrier Finnair has decided to restart its Mumbai operations from October even as it has inducted a new fleet of Airbus aircraft to operate on the Delhi-Helsinki-New York sector. The carrier had to recently cut back on its Mumbai-Helsinki operations due to a host of reasons, including the retirement of old aircraft and a general decline in passenger demand, said Kari Stolbow, director for the Indian subcontinent.

April 28th, 2009 Finnair posts 1Q loss of euro19 millionHELSINKI, — Finnair PLC on Tuesday reported a first-quarter net loss of euro18.6 million ($24.4 million) as turnover fell 10 percent, and warned it expects a full-year loss. The Finnish airline said sales fell to euro516 million ($677 million) in January through March, from euro573 million a year earlier.

April 28th, 2009 Finnair posts Q1 loss of euro19 millionHELSINKI, — Finnair PLC on Tuesday posted a first-quarter net loss of euro18.6 million ($24.4 million) and warned that slumping demand will mean it will likely post a full-year deficit too. Last year, the national carrier made a euro3 million net profit from January to March.