Corporate Travel News For The Americas

Delta Air Lines and airBaltic announced (15-Nov-2023) the launch of a codeshare partnership effective 22-Nov-2023. Delta will codeshare on 20 airBaltic-operated routes serving the carrier's leading cities including Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius. airBaltic president and CEO Martin Gauss stated the partnership will "not only attract new passengers to airBaltic, but also elevate the Baltics' global visibility and connectivity". This follows US FAA awarding Latvia an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating in Jul-2023, enabling Latvian carriers to provide service to/from the US and enter into codeshare agreements with US carriers. [more - original PR - Delta] [more - original PR - airBaltic]

WestJet cancelled plans to resume seasonal daily Calgary-London Gatwick service from Apr-2024, as per a 13-Nov-2023 GDS inventory and timetable display.

South African Airways, via its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, announced (07-Nov-2023) it commenced twice weekly Johannesburg-São Paulo service on 06-Nov-2023. As previously reported by CAPA, the airline commenced twice weekly Cape Town-São Paulo service on 31-Oct-2023.

Wheels Up announced (31-Oct-2023) its new corporate member programme 'Up for Business', launching 01-Nov-2023. The programme is designed to support SMEs that spend at least USD250,000 in private travel services by providing tailored pricing, discounts and benefits over an 18 month contract term. The programme is available to clients for a US250,000 or USD300,000 deposit, depending on the size of the company, and is expected to enable increased fleet utilisation during low-demand weekdays and improve profitability. Wheels Up EVP of global sales Robert Bourrier stated: "We see an opportunity to deliver a tailored product to members rather than a one-size-fits all offering, while capturing the operational and financial benefits of a balanced fleet utilisation throughout the week". [more - original PR]

South African Airways (SAA) commenced (31-Oct-2023) twice weekly Cape Town-São Paulo service on 31-Oct-2023. The airline also confirmed plans to commence twice weekly Johannesburg-São Paulo service on 06-Nov-2023. SAA stated the services "will facilitate numerous export and import opportunities and augment existing trade relations" between South Africa and Brazil. Interim CEO John Lamola commented: "The choice of Brazil as our first intercontinental route was informed not only by rigorous economic and market analysis, but also by considerations of the strategic linkages of South Africa in the context of the country's membership of BRICS". [more - original PR]

Etihad Airways announced (31-Oct-2023) the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport will remain available for the carrier's New York JFK and Washington Dulles services departing Terminal A from 15-Nov-2023. Passengers must transfer to the facility from Gate F at least two hours prior to flight departure. [more - original PR]

Saint Helena's Government announced (17/25-Oct-2023) the following air service updates:

• Airlink (South Africa) plans to increase Johannesburg-Saint Helena frequency from weekly to twice weekly between Nov-2023 and Feb-2024. Discussions are ongoing regarding additional Cape Town-St Helena frequencies for the peak season;
• New air service between St Helena and the Falkland Islands, via Ascension Island. The connection will combine the South Atlantic Airbridge operation between the Falklands and Ascension and Airlink's Ascension-St Helena service. The launch follows completion of runway refurbishment works at Ascension Island Wideawake Field. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Lufthansa announced (25-Oct-2023) it will reintroduce A380 aircraft on daily Munich-Los Angeles service from 26-Oct-2023. The carrier stated: "With air travel surging in demand, the added capacity that the A380 brings to the LA region will provide the much-needed increased volume that the market requires". The aircraft is equipped with eight seats in first class, 78 in business class, 52 in premium economy and 371 in economy. As previously reported by CAPA, Lufthansa decided in 2022 to reactivate the A380, due to the sharp rise in demand for travel and the delayed delivery of ordered aircraft. By the end of 2025, eight A380s will be redeployed for service to and from Munich. [more - original PR]

Philadelphia International Airport announced (11-Oct-2023) plans to launch 'PHL Wingmate Guest Pass', a programme enabling non-ticketed guests at the airport to apply for a one day pass to access the airport's terminals post-security. The programme is scheduled to commence on 01-Nov-2023. [more - original PR]

EUROCONTROL reported (25-Oct-2023) the following highlights for European aviation, for the period between 16-Oct-2023 and 22-Oct-2023:

• The network recorded 29,768 average daily flights, -1.9% week-on-week, +8% year-on-year, and at 93% of 2019 levels;
• Intra Europe: 24,475 daily flights, -2% week-on-week and 95% of 2019 levels;
• Intercontinental: 5564 daily flights, -2% week-on-week and 87% of 2019 levels;
• On the intercontinental network, the main regional flow was Europe-North Atlantic (1374 average daily flights, 6% above 2019 levels), overtaking the Europe-Middle East flow, affected by reduced traffic to and from Israel;
• Europe-North Africa is recording the highest growth compared to 2019 (1195 average daily flights, +14%);
• UK-US was the top long haul country pair, with 331 average daily flights, -1% week-on-week and +9% compared with 2019;
• Mainline (+21% compared to 2022), low cost (+7%) and regional (+2%) sectors are recording growth since the pandemic;
• All cargo (-4%) is levelling off with no more rebound effect from 2022 events such as Omicron or the start of the Russia/Ukraine war;
• Business aviation (-2%) is also levelling off, with commercial airline activity now almost closing the gap between 2023 and 2019;
• The non-scheduled segment (-3%) was affected by decreases in flows to and from Poland and Israel. [more - original PR]