Corporate Travel News For The Americas

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) approved (09-Jun-2017) Pacific Air Express' request to increase Determination [2013] IASC 126, which currently allocates one service per week of freight capacity on the Nauru route, to unlimited freight capacity, valid for 10 years from 19-May-2018. [more - original PR]

Airnorth increased (09-Jun-2017) Brisbane West Wellcamp-Melbourne frequency from twice to three times weekly from 09-Jun-2017, and Melbourne-Brisbane West Wellcamp-Cairns frequency to three times weekly on 10-Jun-2017. Airnorth now offers 36 frequencies a week between Wellcamp Airport and Melbourne, Cairns, Townsville & Darwin. [more - original PR]

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) approved (09-Jun-2017) Qantas' request to renew Determination [2008] IASC 103 on the US route. The renewal of this allocation includes unlimited passenger and cargo capacity for a period of 10 years from 02-Apr-2018 with the following conditions:

• The capacity may be utilised by Qantas or another Australian carrier which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qantas;
• The capacity may be used by Qantas to provide joint services with any wholly-owned subsidiary and by any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Qantas Group to provide joint services with Qantas;
• The capacity may be used by Qantas to provide services jointly with American Airlines. [more - original PR]

Qantas and American Airlines plan to submit a new application to the US Department of Transportation requesting an expanded alliance on transpacific routes (Mice BTN, 07-Jun-2017). Qantas international chief executive Gareth Evans stated the carriers will go through with a new application within the next few months, hoping the change of US President in Jan-2017 will assist with approval.

Air New Zealand announced it will begin reviewing options for its next widebody aircraft from the end of 2017 to service ultra long range routes into the North or South America (NZ Herald, 06-Jun-2017). Speaking at the IATA AGM in Cancun, Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon stated the aircraft which could be purchased include newer versions of the Boeing 787, a larger version of the A350 XWB, or the next generation of the 777 which is still under development and won't be available until the 2020s. Mr Luxon continued, ''really our objective is to move deeper into North America and South America".

Fiji Airways highlighted Fiji's presidency at the 23rd Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change by launching four A330s and five Boeing 737 aircraft showcasing the COP23 logo (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, 04-Jun-2017). Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljeon stated the logo would be seen on the aircraft in 11 countries and at some of the world's busiest airports such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Fiji Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama announced the plans to showcase the logo in Apr-2017.

Qantas and LATAM Brazil announced (02-Jun-2017) a new codeshare agreement, providing more opportunities for each carrier's customers to earn and redeem points. From 05-Jun-2017, Qantas will add its code to a number of LATAM Brazil's nonstop services for Santiago-Sao Paulo and Santiago-Rio de Janeiro. The new services are in addition to Qantas' existing codeshare arrangements on LATAM Chile service Santiago-Sao Paulo. Qantas currently operates four nonstop frequencies per week between Sydney-Santiago. [more - original PR]

dnata Australia announced (31-May-2017) it invested AUD1.5 million (USD1.1 million) to install five new x-ray machines in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide. This is in keeping with the mandated Piece Level Screening requirements for cargo consignments to the US. The new technology is now live at all Australian airports dnata operates in time for the 01-Jul-2017 deadline. All cargo that passes through dnata's facilities across Australia which travels to the US either on a direct service or via another airport will be subject to the screening requirements. [more - original PR]

American Airlines adjusted operational equipment for Los Angeles-Auckland service, originally scheduled with Boeing 787-9 aircraft (Routes Online, 30-May-2017). Daily service will instead operate with 787-8 aircraft from 25-Mar-2018 to 03-May-2018.

Airbus Group Australia Pacific acting VP for fixed wing Martin Ball confirmed (29-May-2017) New Zealand and Australia based MRO organisation Safe Air will be renamed as Airbus New Zealand Limited from Jul-2017. The company's contracts and agreements and its operations in Blenheim, Ohakea, Auckland and Melbourne (Australia) will remain unaffected by the change. Safe Air was acquired by Airbus Group Australia Pacific from Air New Zealand in Jun-2015. [more - original PR]