Corporate Travel News For The Americas

Qatar Airways and Cathay Pacific entered (06-Nov-2017) an agreement, involving the purchase by Qatar Airways of 378,188,000 shares of Cathay Pacific Airways Limited, being approximately 9.61% of the total issued share capital. Completion of the transaction is expected to take place during 06-Nov-2017. Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker said: "Qatar Airways is very pleased to complete its financial investment in Cathay Pacific." Cathay Pacific is a fellow oneworld member and is one of the strongest airlines in the world, respected throughout the industry and with massive potential for the future". Cathay Pacific CEO Rupert Hogg said: "Qatar Airways is one of the world's premier airlines.. We already work together closely as fellow members of the oneworld alliance and we look forward to a continued constructive relationship". This investment further supports Qatar Airways investment strategy which already includes 20% investment in International Airlines Group, 10% investment in LATAM Airlines Group and 49% investment in Meridiana. Air China Limited and Swire Pacific Limited together continue to hold 74.99% shares of Cathay Pacific. [more - original PR - Qatar Airways] [more - original PR - Cathay Pacific]

IATA reported (03-Nov-2017) the global 'flying age' population of 4.9 billion people is projected to rise by 17% by 2036, with almost all of this increase taking place in Asia Pacific and Africa.

• In Africa, the 'flying age' population is projected to rise by 2.7% each year on average over the next 20 years; by 2036, one-fifth of the total will live on the continent, up from one-seventh currently;
• Only 15% of the potential 'flying age' population currently live in Europe and North America, despite these being the world's two largest aviation markets. Ageing populations in Europe mean that region's 'flying age' population size will fall by 0.5% p/a on average to 2036;
• More then 40% of the growth in the 'flying age' population will be in the Asia Pacific region;
• A living standards rise strongly in both Asia Pacific and Africa over the long term, and the cost of air travel is expected to continue to decline in inflation-adjusted terms, air travel will come within reach of an increasing number of people in these regions [more - original PR]

Tourism Western Australia released (Oct-2017) its International Markets Summary for the year ending Jun-2017. The report profiles visitors to Western Australia from key international source markets; markets Western Australia has a marketing presence in, as well as key emerging markets. Highlights of the report include:

• China:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD263 million (USD202 million), +7.9% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 51,100, +6.9%;
  • Estimated Nights: 2,068,800, +5.3%;
• Germany:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD76 million (USD58 million), -11.1% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 35,300, +0.3%;
  • Estimated Nights: 1,088,100, -6.0%;
• Hong Kong:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD100 million (USD77 million), +42.6% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 24,000, +21.2%;
  • Estimated Nights: 730,400, -4.9%;
• India:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD86 million (USD66 million), +92.5% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 27,300, +42.9%;
  • Estimated Nights: 1,447,700, +3.9%;
• Indonesia:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD66 million (USD51 million), +16.4% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 31,000, +19.2%;
  • Estimated Nights: 902,400, +48.1%;
• Japan:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD53 million (USD41 million), -23.2% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 26,200, +6.1%;
  • Estimated Nights: 697,700, -15.6%;
• Korea:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD66 million (USD51 million), +33.3% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 15,500, +13.1%;
  • Estimated Nights: 1,165,000, +62.5%;
• Malaysia:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD234 million (USD180 million), +26.2% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 116,800, +30.9%;
  • Estimated Nights: 1,945,100, +22.2%;
• New Zealand:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD97 million (USD74 million), -27.5% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 71,700, -12.0%;
  • Estimated Nights: 1,269,300, -26.1%;
• Singapore:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD259 million (USD199 million), +23.2% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 106,600, +10.2%;
  • Estimated Nights: 1,565,200, +29.9%;
• United Kingdom:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD283 million (USD217 million), -11.6% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 148,900, +0.7%;
  • Estimated Nights: 4,182,600, -3.0%;
• US:
  • Estimated Spend: AUD165 million (USD127 million), +15.9% year-on-year;
  • Estimated Visitors: 84,700, +26.2%;
  • Estimated Nights: 1,825,500, +10.9%. [more - original PR]

Air Serbia is reportedly considering the launch of service to Toronto in 2018, with preparations already underway (SeeNews, 02-Nov-2017). The carrier's corporate communications director Vecernje Novosti has previously stated the carrier was looking at a second trans atlantic service following the launch of Belgrade-New York service in 2016.

French Blue confirmed plans to launch service from Paris to French Polynesia (Papeete), operating via San Francisco, from May-2018 (tntv.pf, 01-Nov-2017). The carrier plans to operate twice weekly year-round, with three times weekly frequency in peak periods. The carrier will operate A350 equipment on the route, offering 376 economy and 35 premium seats, in-flight WiFi and full IFE.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel published (02-Nov-2017) a report on travellers' attitudes to safety and security, finding that more than one-third (37%) of European travellers are concerned about safety and security, their counterparts from other regions worry more. Travellers from the Americas say that they worry about safety and security nearly half of the time (47%), while Asia Pacific travellers worry the most (56%). 67% of business travellers believe travel is safer today than in the past, as they have more tools to mitigate safety concerns. 70% travellers use at least one of their employer's security protocols, such as traveller tracking or emergency contact profiles. 68% of business travellers buy travel insurance. Primary safety concerns are:

• Forgetting items required for work: 40%;
• Losing important property: 38%;
• Boeing robbed or attacked: 37%;
• Weather: 37%;
• Terrorism: 35%. [more - original PR]

TRU Simulation + Training signed (01-Nov-2017) a contract with Qantas for a Boeing 737NG full flight simulator (FFS) to be delivered to the Qantas Flight Training Centre in Sydney. This marks the first time TRU will provide a simulator to Qantas. The FFS is expected to be delivered in 2Q2018. [more - original PR]

Global Market Insights Inc stated (Sep-2017) it expects the global airport security market to be worth more than USD16 billion by 2024 and reported the following forecasts and highlights:

• North America market expected to account for highest percentage of airport security revenue;
• Airport surveillance systems and technology expected exhibit substantial growth;
• Increasing passenger traffic from Asia Pacific and Middle East regions expected to drive expansion of airport security market. [more - original PR]

Avolon stated (Oct-2017) its average RPK growth forecast of 5.4% p/a through 2036 "is underpinned by the strong economic and demographic dynamics of emerging markets". Avolon said these markets, "where liberalisation and the new low cost airline business models provide affordable travel opportunities to large and expanding middle-class populations", will see the industry's centre of gravity "continue to move away from the mature markets of North America and Europe towards emerging markets, particularly in Asia, with China becoming increasingly important". [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways announced (30-Oct-2017) the domestic schedule for its new Boeing 787-9, which will operate on select domestic services between Melbourne, Perth and Sydney from 01-Nov-2017 to 14-Dec-2017. The six week schedule will allow pilots, cabin crew and ground operations teams to become familiar with the aircraft before it commences Melbourne-Los Angeles QF95 and QF96 services from 15-Dec-2017. The aircraft will operate the following schedule:

• 01-Nov-2017 to 02-Nov-2017:
  • QF481 Melbourne-Perth (14:40-18:50);
  • QF762 Perth-Melbourne (08:00-14:35);
• 03-Nov-2017 to 14-Dec-2017:
  • QF775 Melbourne-Perth (07:10-08:20);
  • QF772 Perth-Melbourne (09:55-16:30);
  • QF460 Melbourne-Sydney (18:30-19:55);
  • QF497 Sydney-Melbourne (22:00-23:35);
• On weekends on the following dates: 04-Nov, 11-Nov and 25-Nov-2017 and 02-Dec and 09-Dec-2017:
  • QF422 Melbourne-Sydney (10:00-11:25);
  • QF439 Sydney-Melbourne (14:00-15:35). [more - original PR]