Corporate Travel News For The Americas

airberlin adjusted plans to reduce its winter 2017/18 schedule to the US, according to a 29-Aug-2017 GDS inventory and timetable display. Bookings are not available for certain services, or have been reduced. Details include:

• Berlin Tegel-Abu Dhabi: Reduce from twice daily to daily from 17-Sep-2017, suspend service from 30-Sep-2017;
• Berlin Tegel-Chicago: Suspend daily service from 30-Sep-2017;
• Berlin Tegel-Los Angeles: Suspend three times weekly service from 30-Sep-2017;
• Berlin Tegel-San Francisco: Suspend four times weekly service from 29-Sep-2017;
• Duesseldorf-Boston: Suspend daily service from 30-Sep-2017.

Qantas confirmed (29-Aug-2017) it plans to take delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 in Oct-2017 with the aircraft operating on domestic sectors for six weeks for crew training and familiarisation before its first scheduled Melbourne-Los Angeles service on 15-Dec-2017. [more - original PR]

Fiji Airways requested (25-Aug-2017) the US Department of Transportation renewal for its operating authority for scheduled air transport service between Nadi and Honolulu, operating via Kiribati, Christmas Island. Due to an administrative oversight, a renewal application was not filed before 15-Aug-2017. The carrier has operated these services for almost 12 years. [more - original PR]

Global Ghana Airlines, via its official Facebook account, stated (18-Aug-2017) it plans to commence nonstop Chicago O'Hare-Accra service on 01-Nov-2017. According to its official website, the airline was founded in 2016 and intends to operate daily Accra service.

Norwegian Group announced plans to test the feasibility of operating the Boeing 737 MAX on trans Atlantic services between Cork to Stewart once "we learn more about the aircraft's operational capabilities" (Irish Examiner, 24-Aug-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, CEO Bjørn Kjos is concerned a fully loaded 737 MAX might not be able to take off from Cork Airport's 2133m runway, however he is hoping the aircraft will perform better than projections. The carrier is currently operating two 737 MAXs on "selected transatlantic routes from Dublin and Edinburgh" and is awaiting approval to operate the other four 737 MAXs.

Qantas Airways Group announced (25-Aug-2017) it is investigating nonstop services from the east coast of Australia to London and New York by 2022. The carrier stated a "challenge has been given to Airbus and Boeing to give their next generation aircraft currently under development - the A350ULR for Airbus and Boeing's 777X - the range to make these nonstop flights possible with a full passenger load". Qantas stated a nonstop service would cut total journey time by up to four hours for Sydney-London and almost three hours for Melbourne-New York. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce commented that the carrier's planned Perth-London service, due to commence in Mar-2017 "is a huge leap forward" and the airline believes that "advances in technology in the next few years will make Sydney to London direct a possibility and Qantas is well placed to be the airline to do it". Mr Joyce cautioned that "any aircraft purchase would have to meet strict financial thresholds", but believes direct services "would be revolutionary for air travel in Australia." [more - original PR]

Air New Zealand announced (25-Aug-2017) it will launch its first ever global brand campaign 'A Better Way to Fly to New Zealand', in the US. The carrier will then roll out the campaign progressively across the UK, Europe, Asia and South America in the coming months. The campaign follows the success of a similar marketing approach launched in Australia in 2016. [more - original PR]

Viking Air confirmed (24-Aug-2017) an order with Fiji Airways for three Twin Otter Series 400 aircraft for use as regional commuter aircraft on domestic routes. An option for one additional aircraft has also been announced. The firm orders are scheduled for delivery between Oct-2017 and Feb-2018, and will be added to Fiji Airways' existing fleet of three legacy Twin Otter aircraft based at Nadi International Airport. The Series 400 Twin Otters will be delivered as standard land planes in 19 passenger configuration, and equipped with Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 turbine engines and Honeywell Primus Apex fully integrated digital IFR avionics suite. [more - original PR]

Australia and Nepal are preparing to sign their first bilateral air service agreement, which would facilitate a potential expansion by Nepal Airlines to Australia (Kathmandu Post, 23-Aug-2017). Nepal's Civil Aviation Ministry officials said the Australian government had responded positively to the proposal, and sent its feedback on the draft ASA prepared by Nepal. Nepal's Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Under Secretary Pramod Nepal stated: "We are preparing to send our views to Australia... Once both sides agree on a common agenda, the draft will be tabled at the Cabinet for its approval to sign the ASA... Negotiations will begin after the Cabinet's clearance". The date and venue for signing an agreement would be finalised after the two sides agree on the items in the agreement. Nepal is reportedly seeking 14 weekly services with any type of aircraft, with Australia reportedly expressing willingness to permit seven weekly services to key gateway such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, with unlimited services to/from other destination. Third country codeshare agreement, fifth freedom traffic rights, multiple designations, free pricing and unrestricted cargo has also reportedly been proposed by Nepal.

Fiji Airways announced (24-Aug-2017) plans to expand and upgrade the Fiji Link Twin Otter fleet, to allow increased frequencies on key domestic routes. The airline will purchase three new DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otters from Viking Air, to replace two of its existing three Series 300 aircraft. Fiji Link also has the option to purchase a fourth new Series 400 Twin Otter aircraft, with a decision on exercising this option tol be made in 2018. This will increase the Twin Otter fleet to four aircraft. The new aircraft will arrive between Oct-2017 and early 2018. The aircraft have digital avionics systems and operating features will also enhance operational reliability and make for an easier transition for Fiji Link pilots to progress onto the carrier's ATR fleet. Fiji Airways Group MD and CEO Andre Viljoen said the fleet investment is "in line with the overall modernisation of the entire Group fleet". The aircraft will raise capacity to Savusavu and Taveun by 30% and Nadi-Suva frequency will increase to seven a day, according to Mr Viljoen. The carrier has also initiated the recruitment and training of additional local pilots for the impending fleet expansion. [more - original PR]