Carlson Wagonlit Travel still does not have a preferred-carrier agreement with United Airlines and continues move market share away from the carrier, said CEO Douglas Anderson on Wednesday at a press briefing to discuss sales results for the first six months of 2008.

After United canceled its U.S. deal with CWT on June 30, Anderson said, the parties attempted to come to new terms. When that failed, CWT canceled its international pact with United and began moving "substantial traffic" away from the carrier in all cases where the switch works for the customer, Anderson said.

He said conversations with United continue. Meanwhile, Anderson said CWT will continue selling away from United until the parties come to terms on a new agreement.

CWT said sales grew 16% in the first six months of 2008 compared with the same period last year. Latin America saw the greatest growth, at 37%, followed by EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), 24%; Asia-Pacific, 14%; and North America, 7%. The statistics were calculated based on current exchange rates, Anderson said.

Breaking growth down by country, China led the way with 39% growth, followed by Russia, Italy, Singapore and Argentina, where growth ranged from 20% to 30%, Anderson said.

As for North America, Anderson said the results were an obvious reflection of the U.S. economic slowdown.

CWT is not feeling a specific direct impact from this week's upheaval on Wall Street, Anderson said, because the agency has a “fairly diverse” client base in the U.S. and is not overweighted in the financial services sector.

However, Bear Stearns and JP Morgan Chase are CWT clients. After JP Morgan took over Bear Stearns, Anderson said that “there were synergies, good-sized synergies” that cost CWT some volume.