Corporate Travel News For The Americas

Cargojet announced (18-Jan-2018) plans to commence twice weekly service from Hamilton to Bogota and Lima via Atlanta and weekly Hamilton-Cologne service, effective 02-Feb-2018. The airline will operate both services with Boeing 767-300F equipment. CEO Ajay K Virmani said: "Our recent presence in these markets has led to increased demand for our services and allows us to continue to optimize our overall freighter aircraft utilization and expand our range of services and customer base". [more - original PR]

Jetstar Group and Hawaiian Airlines launched (18-Jan-2018) a new interline partnership offering passengers enhanced connections in New Zealand and Japan for flight connections to Hawaii and the US mainland. The move enhances Hawaiian Airlines' network of flights between Japan and Hawaii and underscores the carrier's increasing commitment to New Zealand by expanding its reach beyond Auckland to eight additional cities. Details include:

• New Zealand: Jetstar New Zealand domestic flights from Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier, Nelson and Queenstown will connect in Auckland with Hawaiian Airlines services to Honolulu;
• Japan: Jetstar Japan domestic flights from Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Takamatsu, Okinawa and Kumamoto will connect on Hawaiian's non-stop flights to Hawaii from Tokyo, Sapporo or Osaka. [more - original PR]

Panama's Minister of Tourism Gustavo Him received interest from both Air Europa and TAP Air Portugal to commence serving Panama (Europa Press, 17-Jan-2018). Tourism Authority of Panama is due to meet with Air Europa soon to study a timeline for potential route commencement. Five airlines operate from Panama with direct flights to Europe, comprising Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, Iberia and Turkish Airlines.

American Airlines opened (17-Jan-2018) a new lounge and dining facilities at Los Angeles International Airport on 17-Jan-2018. The 14,500sqft space represents the carrier's "increasingly strong position" in Los Angeles, according to SVP of Los Angeles Suzanne Boda. [more - original PR]

Virgin Atlantic partnered (17-Jan-2018) with the Tobago Tourist Board to launch 'IslandView'. Under the initiative, Tobago will be captured on Google Street View for the first time and Virgin Atlantic's website will feature highlights about the project. [more - original PR]

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced (17-Jan-2018) the completion of USD7 million renovations to Sheraton Suites Philadelphia International Airport Hotel. The renovation covered 250 guestrooms, lobby, restaurant and bar, meeting spaces, fitness centre, indoor pool and Sheraton Club Lounge. [more - original PR]

Canada's City of Cold Lake conducted (17-Jan-2018) a survey that found residents in the Lakeland area are "eager" for regular scheduled service to destinations across Canada and worldwide. 98% of participants stated they were likely to use CATSA-screened, scheduled service from City of Cold Lake to a major airport, with at least 88% of respondents travelling by air at least once in the past 12 months. The city has been pursuing scheduled service since late 2012, and allocated CAD1.5 million (USD1.2 million) in its 2018 capital budget for work on the project. [more - original PR]

Elite Airways announced (17-Jan-2018) plans to launch the following services from Myrtle Beach International Airport in Apr-2018:

• Myrtle Beach-Albany: Twice weekly service to operate from 05-Apr-2018 to 04-Nov-2018 with Bombardier CRJ-200 aircraft;
• Myrtle Beach-Newport News: Twice weekly service to operate from 06-Apr-2018 to 05-Nov-2018 with CRJ-200 aircraft;
• Myrtle Beach-White Plains: Twice weekly service to operate from 05-Apr-2018 to 04-Nov-2018 with CRJ-200 aircraft. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

GECAS arranged (17-Jan-2018) a sale and lease back agreement, along with pre-delivery payment financing, for Viva Air in a transaction for 10 A320ceo aircraft to be delivered in 2018 and 2019. Viva Air has been a GECAS customer since the inception of VivaColombia six years ago. The carrier's fleet is comprised entirely of A320ceo aircraft powered by CFM56 engines. [more - original PR]

Guyana Civil Aviation Authority presented (15-Jan-2018) an air operators certificate to Domestic Airways Incorporated on 15-Jan-2018, authorising the carrier to operate charter and scheduled services. Domestic Airways Incorporated has been in operation for approximately three years. [more - original PR]