Corporate Travel News For The Americas

Tourism Ireland reported (19-Sep-2017) a 31% year-on-year increase in North American visitors to Northern Ireland in 1Q2017. Tourism Ireland is engaged in an extensive North American promotional programme over 2017, including highlighting Northern Ireland's tourism offerings in partnership with Tourism NI. [more - original PR]

Egencia released (19-Sep-2017) the fourth edition of its 'Business Travel and Technology Survey'. The survey found "surprising differences" in the perceptions and confidence levels of global business travelers on the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality on corporate travel, with foreign business travelers much more pessimistic about the potential of emerging technologies to improve the business travel experience, compared to confidence levels of US business travellers:

• 55% of US business travellers believe AI advancements can improve their travel experience. US business travellers also recognise the need for balance between technology and human interaction;
• Business travellers in regions have lower confidence levels in how AI advancements can improve their business travel experiences in the future. Sweden and Norway were the least likely to believe AI advancements will improve their travel experiences, at 37%, followed by 41% in the UK and Germany, 42% in Australia, 44% in Canada and France, and 47% in Singapore;
• The US is the most demanding for mobile accessibility across devices, with 76% wanting greater cross-device integration;
• 68% of business travellers in Singapore and Sweden want to more efficiently manage their travel across devices, compared to 65% in Canada and Norway, 64% in France and the UK, 62% in Germany. [more - original PR]

Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) completed (19-Sep-2017) a sale and leaseback transaction on three Boeing 737 NG aircraft with Fiji Airways, supported by the Willis Lease 'ConstantThrust' programme. The deal includes elements from Willis Lease's leasing, trading, and materials businesses to provide a tailored solution designed to support Fiji Airways' fleet renewal plan, as the carrier transitions from the 737 NGs to the 737 MAX. WLFC president Brian R Hole said the lessor's 'ConstantThrust' programme means Fiji Airways will access its fleet planning capabilities and existing CFM56-7B portfolio to "reduce or eliminate the need for engine maintenance" as these aircraft transition out of the carrier's fleet. [more - original PR]

Bogota El Dorado International Airport confirmed (18-Sep-2017) Turkish Airlines could consider the deployment of larger aircraft or increasing frequency in Colombia upon continuing growth in demand. As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier launched three times weekly Istanbul-Bogota-Panama service in May-2016. [more - original PR - Spanish]

American Samoa Attorney General's Office notified that citizens of 38 countries, that are not required to secure an entry permit before entering American Samoa, will be required to pay a USD20 arrival fee at Pago Pago International Airport (Radio NZ, 19-Sep-2017). The 38 countries on the list are Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and United Kingdom.

Air Canada appointed (15-Sep-2017) former Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe to its board of directors, effective 30-Sep-2017. Mr Fyfe's appointment coincides with the retirement of Joseph Leonard. [more - original PR]

Hawaiian Airlines announced (17-Sep-2017) plans to increase Honolulu-Auckland frequency from three to five times weekly on 21-Mar-2018, in response to strong demand. The carrier deploys A330 aircraft on the route. Air New Zealand also operates the route, according to OAG. CEO and president Mark Dunkerley said he believes there will be enough demand to accommodate the capacity increase in 2018, noting the carrier may even increase the frequency to daily if demand warrants (NZ Herald, 18-Sep-2017). [more - original PR]

Turkish Airlines chairman İlker Aycı stated the carrier plans to expand its presence in Asia Pacific and Latin America (Hurriyet Daily News, 15-Sep-2017). Mr Aycı identified Mexico City and Sydney as planned destinations. Mr Aycı said: "It is not possible to fly directly from Mexico City. Instead, we plan to have a direct flight by refuelling in Cancun". Mr Aycı added the launch of service to Sydney is expected in 2018. CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Turkish Airlines part 3: seeks to boost partnerships in Asia and Australia', stated the carrier previously considered serving Melbourne and Sydney via Bali, Jakarta or Singapore, however CEO Bilal Ekşi said one stop flights to Australia are not currently in the network plan.

Thomas Cook Group entered (14-Sep-2017) a strategic alliance with Expedia. Under the multi-year agreement, Expedia is preferred hotel provider for Thomas Cook's city and domestic holiday business and provides its booking platform to support all city break and hotel only sales across all of Thomas Cook's European distribution channels. Thomas Cook previously concluded a hotel sourcing deal with Webjet in Aug-2016, covering the majority of Thomas Cook's sun and beach hotel offering. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

New Caledonia based businessman Bill Ravel is reportedly expected to lodge an application to establish an airline called Islands, with lodgement expected in the week commencing 11-Sep-2017 (Radio 1, 13-Sep-2017). Mr Ravel, who founded Air Calin and Air Vanuatu, is reportedly planning to obtain two Embraer 175 aircraft on lease and operate to the territory's five archipelagos. He said the carrier would likely offer fares 15% to 20% lower than Air Tahiti. Other investors are said to be joining his latest venture, although details were not disclosed.