News for The Americas

Cayman Airways reopened (23-Aug-2022) its Sir Turtle Club Lounge at Grand Cayman Island Owen Roberts International Airport. The lounge is the only airline loyalty programme lounge at the airport, and was closed in 2017 as the airport underwent a major expansion project. The onset of COVID-19 further delayed the official reopening of the lounge. Interior design and construction of the new lounge was completed by Kozaily Designs. Lounge access is available to Cayman Airways business class ticketholders, as well as Sir Turtle Club members and Sir Turtle Rewards platinum and gold members. [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways announced (25-Aug-2022) the launch of Sydney-Auckland-New York service, scheduled for Jun-2023. The launch of QF3 and QF4 will see the carrier return to New York three times weekly initially, after a three year coronavirus induced hiatus. Service will be operated by its Boeing 787 equipment, with three new aircraft scheduled for delivery next year. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said flying via Auckland would provide better connectivity from more destinations in Australia. Sydney-Auckland-New York service is on sale from 25-Aug-2022. Qantas currently operates six daily frequencies to Auckland from Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne which will increase to 11 daily when the new flight to New York launches. Qantas will operate two Points Planes in the first week, with all seats across every cabin available as a Classic Reward flight on QF3 and QF4 on 16-Jun-2023. Points Plane connections will also be available for Frequent Flyers based in Brisbane and Melbourne to use Classic Rewards for their trans-Tasman services. [more - original PR]

Southwest Airlines launched (24-Aug-2022) Southwest Business Assist, a self-service tool enabling corporate travel buyers, travel decision makers, and travel management companies to manage their Southwest business travel programmes efficiently on one unified platform. The platform offers the following initial features:

• Travel funds management;
• Enhanced insights into contractual benefits, account performances, and dashboards;
• Expanded sustainability reporting;
• Increased automation with real-time capabilities and service.

The carrier expects to add more features to the platform over the coming months. [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways plans to launch Melbourne-Dallas Fort Worth service on a three times weekly basis from 03-Dec-2022, as per a 23-Aug-2022 GDS inventory and timetable display. The service was previously scheduled to launch on 02-Dec-2022 on a four times weekly basis.

All Nippon Airways announced (23-Aug-2022) the suspension or reduction of the following international passenger services, effective 30-Oct-2022 to 25-Mar-2023:

• Tokyo Haneda-San Jose: Launch postponed;
• Tokyo Narita-Dusseldorf: Suspended;
• Tokyo Haneda-Stockholm: Launch postponed;
• Tokyo Haneda-Milan: Launch postponed;
• Tokyo Haneda-Istanbul: Launch postponed;
• Tokyo Haneda-Moscow: Launch postponed;
• Tokyo Narita-Vladivostok: Suspended;
• Tokyo Narita-Perth: Suspended;
• Tokyo Narita-Chennai: Suspended;
• Tokyo Narita-Yangon: Suspended;
• Tokyo Haneda-Bangkok: Reduced from three times to twice daily;
• Tokyo Narita-Phnom Penh: Suspended;
• Osaka Kansai-Hong Kong: Suspended;
• Tokyo Narita-Taiwan Taoyuan: Suspended. [more - original PR]

JetBlue Airways and Aer Lingus are scheduled to expand their codeshare partnership from 30-Oct-2022, according to OAG. JetBlue will codeshare on the following Aer Lingus-operated services:

• Dublin-Amsterdam: Four times daily;
• Dublin-Brussels: 11 times weekly;
• Dublin-Dusseldorf: 13 times weekly;
• Dublin-Frankfurt: 13 times weekly.
• Dublin-Hamburg: Six times weekly;
• Dublin-Lyon: Five times weekly;
• Dublin-Munich: 11 times weekly; 
• Dublin-Paris CDG: 27 times weekly; 
• Dublin-Rome: 11 times weekly; 
• Dublin-Zurich: Four times weekly.

Southwest Airlines expanded (22-Aug-2022) its partnership with ATPCO, signing agreements for ATPCO's 'Express Contracts' and 'Routehappy' solutions. Express Contracts provides corporate contract automation, allowing the carrier to streamline the implementation of negotiated contracts with corporate partners. Customers also gain faster access to their contractual benefits compared to legacy, manual processes. Routehappy presents Southwest travel options in its own brand voice with multiple language options, regardless of sales channel. Routehappy UPAs (Universal Product Attributes) inform customers of different features, allowing customers to better understand and choose the best fare for their needs. [more - original PR]

AirPlus International reported (16-Aug-2022) German demand for business travel "continues unabated", however the COVID-19 pandemic has "permanently changed" certain travel habits. Highlights for German business travel in 2022 include:

• The average trip length has increased from five days in 2019 to 6.3 in 1H2022. Intercontinental trips increased from 11.6 days in the pre-pandemic period to 14.5 days in 2022, while one day short trips which previously accounted for 17% of business trips declined to 7%;
• European destinations have accounted for 50% of business travel in 2022, increased from 38% in 2019. Companies have booked more business class tickets, increasing to 13% from 9% in 2019. On domestic services in particular, the share of business class travellers increased from 5% in 2019 to 12%;
• Spain, India and Mexico replaced China, Russia and the UK as the top destinations for business travellers. The US remained the top intercontinental destination;
• Companies are booking airline tickets at less short notice, at an average of 21.4 days before travel. The figure had been 24 days in 2019, and dropped to 16.3 days in 2021;
• Currently 81% of Germans travelling for business are men, the same level as 2019. The figure reached 87% in 2021.

CEO Oliver Wagner stated: "The trend toward longer business trips is an indication that sustainability is becoming increasingly important for companies", noting different appointments are being handled in one trip. The company also attributed the increased trip length to the combination of business with private trips. Mr Wagner added the group is observing a strong catch up effect for face to face encounters and noted "booking figures for the coming months indicate that the recovery in business travel will continue". [more - original PR - English/German]

Southwest Airlines announced (15-Aug-2022) plans to launch Southwest Business Assist, a new self-service travel portal enabling corporate travel customers and travel management companies to better manage Southwest business itineraries. The platform will initially offer the following features:

• Travel funds management;
• Enhanced insight into contractual benefits, account performance, and dashboards;
• Expanded sustainability reporting;
• Increased automation with real-time capabilities and service.

The carrier plans to add more features as the platform expands, including duty of care reporting, flight credit management, and additional automated functions. Southwest Business Assist is expected to launch to current Southwest Business Partners from 24-Aug-2022. [more - original PR]

Corporate Aircraft Association (CAA) appointed (15-Jul-2022) David Scobey as president and CEO. CAA also appointed acting president P J Clark as COO. Both appointments are effective immediately. [more - original PR]