CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Cathay Pacific: While Qatar Airways takes 10%, status quo prevails. Air China is long term partner', stated (14-Nov-2017) Qatar Airways is unlikely to become a major influence on Cathay Pacific's long term strategy or compel Cathay to make sweeping changes in the medium term as a result of its recent acquisition of a 9.61% stake in the Hong Kong carrier. Air China and Swire Pacific hold a combined 74.99% stake in Cathay, while Qatar has a minority less than 10% stake and no seat on the carrier's board. The USD662 million Qatar Airways invested to acquire its minority stake is roughly equal to the cost of purchasing several widebody aircraft and thus a relatively minor expenditure for an airline which has ordered hundreds of such aircraft. Qatar's Cathay stake likely brings more opportunity than its stake in LATAM, but less than its stake in IAG and is of far less strategic significance to the Gulf carrier than an stake with American Airlines would have been. The most likely outcome of the acquisition is a continuation of the status quo for Cathay Pacific. [more - CAPA Analysis]
Corporate Travel News For The Americas
CAPA: Qatar Airways unlikely to become major strategic influence on Cathay Pacific
French Blue plans to launch ticket sales for French Polynesia service in coming weeks
French Blue announced plans to commence ticket sales for inaugural service to French Polynesia in coming weeks (RadioNZ/Tahiti-infos, 13-Nov-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier plans to launch twice weekly Paris-San Francisco-Papeete service on 11-May-2018 with A350 aircraft. The carrier will add around 45,000 annual seats to Tahiti from 2019 with the service. The new service is yet to receive US FAA approval for landing rights in San Francisco.
Tourism NZ: 42% increase year-on-year of luxury accommodation spend
Tourism New Zealand released (13-Nov-2017) data highlighting a 42% increase year-on-year of luxury accommodation spend for the year ending Mar-2017. Spend data also shows that a significant number of luxury travellers are returning at least once within five years, with a 32% return rate. Tourism New Zealand manager premium and business events Lisa Gardiner said: "The luxury traveller is really important for New Zealand's economy because they have the potential to spend more in one day than an average tourist spends their entire stay. We are seeing more premium travellers coming from the US in particular, fuelled by awareness of New Zealand as a luxury destination, new luxury properties entering the accommodation market, and increased air connectivity". [more - original PR]
IASC approves Qantas and LATAM codeshare between Australia and Singapore
Australia's International Air Service Commission (IASC) announced (09-Nov-2017) a variation to Determination [2015] IASC 116 to permit the use of the capacity to Singapore for codeshare operations between Qantas and LATAM Airlines. The permission is valid for the duration of the determination commencing 09-Nov-2017. The carriers' proposal is for LATAM to offer codeshare services on flights operated by Qantas between Singapore and Australia and vice versa from 01-Dec-2017. [more - original PR]
Ethiopian to launch Addis Ababa-Sao Paulo-Buenos Aires service in 2018
Ethiopian Airlines announced (08-Nov-2017) plans to launch five times weekly Addis Ababa-Sao Paulo-Buenos Aires service on 08-Mar-2018, utilising Boeing 787 aircraft. Buenos Aires will mark the carrier's sixth gateway to the Americas. [more - original PR]
Lufthansa stations long haul aircraft in Berlin for first time since 2001, commences service to JFK
Lufthansa commenced (08-Nov-2017) five times weekly Berlin Tegel-New York JFK service with A330-300 equipment, the first time the carrier has stationed a long haul aircraft at Berlin Tegel since 2001. Lufthansa now offers direct connectivity from Frankfurt, Munich, Duesseldorf and Berlin to New York. Deutsche Lufthansa AG VP the Americas Tamur Goudarzi Pour stated the route highlights "the Group's "strong commitment" to servicing the US. As previously reported by CAPA, the route will be transferred to Eurowings in summer 2018. US visitors to Berlin reached 259,000 from Jan-2017 to Aug-2017, an increase of 9.9% year-on-year. [more - original PR]
Travelport global survey highlights different digital traveller habits
Travelport, in its Global Traveler Survey, highlighted (08-Nov-2017) the use of digital tools when planning, booking and experiencing a journey. The main findings from the global report, which surveyed 11,000 people worldwide, were as follows:
- When planning a trip:
- 81% use peer to peer reviews when researching a trip;
- 47% use voice search, using devices such as Amazon Echo and Google Home, when researching a trip;
- Nearly 25% of over 55 year olds use a smartphone to research a trip;
- When booking a trip:
- Over 33% of travellers book their trip on a mobile device;
- 61% avoid hotels that charge for WiFi;
- When on the trip:
- 70% of travellers believe that digital boarding passes make travelling so much easier;
- 60% of travellers feel that a good digital experience is important when choosing an airline;
- 44% of travellers rely on their smartphone at their destination;
- When at the destination:
- Travellers use an average of 16 different categories of apps when travelling;
- 75% of travellers leave reviews on review sites.
Travelport noted that there is a "love-hate" relationship with digital devices with 60% saying they would be lost without their smartphone whilst 43% also say they want to escape the digital world and switch off when away. The report also includes the world's first Digital Traveler Rankings, with India named the country with the most digitally advanced travellers. India was followed by China, Indonesia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Africa, UAE, Colombia, Italy, USA, Spain, France, Russia, Canada, Australia, UK and Germany. [more - original PR]
Qatar Airways CEO hopes to create 'mega carrier' with IAG, LATAM and Cathay
Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker, speaking at the CAPA Asia Aviation Summit, said (07-Nov-2017) he hopes Qatar Airways, IAG, LATAM and Cathay Pacific can eventually exchange shareholdings in each other to become a "mega carrier". He commented: "Where there is determination and will I think that anything is possible".
Edelweiss Air to launch Zurich-Buenos Aires Ezeiza service in late 2018
Edelweiss Air plans to launch twice weekly Zurich-Buenos Aires Ezeiza service with A340-300 aircraft from 11-Nov-2018, as per an 06-Nov-2017 GDS inventory and timetable display. According to CAPA and OAG data, Zurich Airport has services to six Latin American destinations, however does not offer service to Argentina.
Boeing CEO comments on Iran Air/Aseman Airlines deals
Boeing, via its official Twitter account, reposted (06-Nov-2017) a video containing commentary from chairman and CEO Dennis Muilenburg on the company's business in Iran with Iran Air and Iran Aseman Airlines (Fox Business, 03-Nov-2017). Mr Muilenburg stated there are "big and important" opportunities in Iran, while emphasising the company has followed all required US licensing policies "from day one". "We're going to continue" following the lead of the US Government on the deals, he said, though warned other companies are also interested in business with Iran.