Corporate Travel Analysis Reports

Virgin Australia Group released its 2017 financial year results today. This included information on its subsidiary, Tigerair, Velocity Frequent Flyer programme, and outlook for FY2018. Blue Swan has pulled together all the key highlights from the results into an easy to read snapshot for your reference.

In the last 20 years, UK tourists have turned their backs on the traditional two-week summer sun holiday during the last week of July and first week of August in favour of short breaks and an increasing number of week-long trips. Even day breaks, dominated by the infamous one-day "booze cruises" across the Channel to France to stock up on cheaper alcohol and cigarettes, have become much less common than they used to be as low-cost airlines and enhanced global connectivity have opened up new opportunities.

Inmarsat, the British-based firm providing global mobile satellite communications technology, released a new global survey of 9,000 airline passengers in 18 countries revealing how inflight WiFi is changing the way people travel. The third annual Inflight Connectivity Survey was published by Inmarsat and market research company GfK, highlighting some intriguing new traveller behaviours.

Air New Zealand is adding capacity and improving its product in the Adelaide market this summer by up-gauging some of its flights from the A320 to 787-9. The 787 enables Air New Zealand to offer South Australia a premium economy and lie flat business class product, which is particularly important to corporate travellers heading to North America.

A new US startup, Boom, is planning a new generation carbon composite supersonic aircraft with 45 all-business seats in two single seat rows, and priced at about 10% above current business fares.

In May-2017, Australia's Federal Government committed AUD5.3 billion over the next 10 years towards the development of the Western Sydney Airport. It was announced that the government planned to establish a government-owned company to manage the development process and ensure the airport was operational by 2026. Yesterday, Australia's Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development announced the establishment of the WSA Co.

China Southern has already increased capacity to Adelaide, which it began serving in late 2016, by switching from the A330-200 to higher density A330-300. However, the airline has stopped offering a first class product in the South Australia market, leaving Emirates as the only airline in Adelaide with first class.

An extensive partnership between United Arab Emirates (UAE) carriers Emirates Airline and flydubai will see the two Dubai-based airlines join forces to offer customers enhanced travel options via Dubai International Airport and will end the Gulf hub carriers on interest in purchasing short-haul airliners.

Every week, CAPA - Centre for Aviation, produces informative, thought provoking and detailed market analysis of the aviation industry. With supporting data included in every analysis, CAPA provides unrivalled and unparalleled intelligence.

Over 700 delegates enjoyed the 2017 CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation & Corporate Travel Summit in Sydney last week and had the opportunity to enter our Blue Swan competition. If you dropped your business card in the draw, you might be winner of an exclusive feature for your organisation in the Blue Swan. This includes a member of team interviewing an executive from your organisation to be used in the Blue Swan Daily and Blue Swan TV.