Berlin - Air Berlin plc Thursday posted a reduced loss in the first half of the year on increased turnover and higher passenger numbers.

The loss before interest and tax (EBIT) at Germany's second- largest airline after Lufthansa came in at 53.9 million euros (80 million dollars), from a loss of 66.3 million euros in the first half last year.

The net loss at the airline, with its subsidiaries LTU and Belair, was 50.8 million euros, compared with red-ink of 60.4 million in 2007.

The company's share rose almost 4 per cent on the news to trade at around 4.00 euros at mid-morning.

Madrid - One week after a Spanair MD-82 passenger plane crashed at Madrid airport, killing 154 people, the causes of the accident remain unknown, Spanish media reported Wednesday.

The pilot did not report anything to the control tower after take- off, the daily ABC said.

The plane hit the ground tail first outside the runway, according to a commission investigating the accident.

The tail then broke off and the plane bounced for 1,200 metres, hitting the ground three times and suffering increasing damage.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), India's top software exporter, has secured a multimillion dollar, back-office accounting processes contract, from Singapore Airlines Cargo (SIA Cargo).

SIA Cargo, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, is the world's fourth-largest cargo airline in terms of international freight tonne kilometers. The Airline has a route network that covers more than 39 countries across the world.

Under the five-year agreement, TCS will provide service to its cargo revenue accounting back office processes.

Wellington - Air New Zealand on Tuesday reported a 24-per- cent slump in profit for the last fiscal year because of soaring jet fuel prices.

The airline, which is 77-per-cent owned by the government, announced a pre-tax profit of 197 million New Zealand dollars (about 138 million US dollars) for the year ended June 30.

Chairman John Palmer said that the cost of fuel had risen by 300 million New Zealand dollars in the year, resulting in profit declining 24 per cent on 2006-07, despite increases in fares.

Frankfurt/Vienna - Deutsche Lufthansa AG has officially entered the bidding process for Austrian Airlines, which is being privatized by the Austrian government, the German carrier confirmed Monday.

"We have officially expressed our interest," a spokesman for the the German said.

Andreas Bartels said, hours after the Sunday deadline for sending letters of interest to OIAG, the state-controlled holding that wants to sell its 42.8-per-cent share in Austrian Airlines.

Singapore  - Saudi Arabia and Singapore have reached an agreement to allow any number of flights between Singapore and the eastern Gulf city of Damman, the Transport Ministry said Friday.

The increase was reached after two days of consultations between the ministry and Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation.

Under the agreement, carriers may also operate up to 14 flights per week between Singapore and other points in Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah and Riyadh.