Corporate Travel News For The Americas

Auckland Airport acting GM aeronautical commercial Scott Tasker commented (09-May-2017) on the need for increased capacity between North America and New Zealand after market modelling undertaken by the airport showed "both the USA and Canada continue to be underserved by airline capacity by roughly a third of the total market demand potential". Mr Tasker credited increased competition, greater airline capacity, lower airfares and better connectivity for the 25% growth in high value North American tourist arrivals to New Zealand since Jul-2016 but said there is still untapped demand and "potential to continue to grow inbound visitors from North America". [more - original PR]

Fiji Airways plans to upgrade five Boeing 737s to 737 MAX 8 aircraft from 2018 (Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, 04-May-2017). Fiji Airways CEO and MD Andre Viljoen stated by 2019 it will have the youngest aircraft fleet in the world, while confirming "direct flights from Nadi-Adelaide will commence in Jun-2017 and seasonal San Francisco service will become year round".

Air Canada announced (03-May-2017) the expansion of its international network with the introduction of seasonal Vancouver-Melbourne service. The service will operate four times weekly between 01-Dec-2017 and 04-Feb-2018 with Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Air Canada president passenger airlines Benjamin Smith stated: "Vancouver-Melbourne is our third route to Australia, in addition to year-round service to Sydney and Brisbane. Our seasonal Melbourne service will provide additional options for business travellers between North America and Australia as well as Australians seeking a Canadian winter vacation experience". [more - original PR - I] [more - original PR - II]

Air New Zealand, via its official YouTube account, posted (23-Apr-2017) its latest South America campaign, based on its 'Better Way to Fly' campaign. The one minute TVC features Dave the Goose exploring Buenos Aries' culture, food and wine. [more - TVC]

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) varied (19-Apr-2017) Determination [2007] IASC 118 to permit the capacity entitlements on the New Zealand route to be used for codeshare services between Air Canada and Virgin Australia. IASC added the following conditions:

• The capacity may be used by Virgin Australia for code share services with Air Canada to be conducted in accordance with Australia's air services arrangements with New Zealand and the codeshare agreement between Virgin Australia and Air Canada dated 01-Apr2017;
• Virgin Australia must apply to the Commission for approval of the use of the capacity if there are variations to the codeshare arrangement which would change the relevant commercial aspects of the codeshare arrangement from a freesale codeshare arrangement to a block space, or viceversa, or if Virgin Australia proposes to add third country routes on which the airlines will codeshare where Australian capacity will be used for services on the route;
• To the extent that the capacity is used to provide codeshare services on the route, the airlines must take all reasonable steps to ensure that passengers are informed, at the time of booking, of the carrier actually operating the flight. Nothing in this determination exempts the airlines from complying with the Australian Consumer Law.

Under the Australia-New Zealand air services arrangements, there is unlimited capacity for Australian carriers to operate scheduled passenger and freight services between Australia and New Zealand, via and beyond to third countries. [more - original PR]

Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand partnered (18-Apr-2017) with Brazilian travel show, Lugar Incomum to feature the country in eight dedicated episodes. Tourism New Zealand GM Americas and Europe Bjoern Spreitzer stated Tourism New Zealand took full advantage of the show's airtime and built a significant marketing campaign around it including amplified advertising in Brazil featuring the show's host Didi Wagner. Mr Spreitzer added: "Brazil is a market showing steady growth and with direct flights to New Zealand now arriving three times a week from nearby Buenos Aires with plans to extend, the region has really opened up". [more - original PR]

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued (27-Nov-2015) a draft determination proposing to re-authorise Qantas and American Airlines to continue to coordinate their operations on trans-Pacific routes for a further five years. Under the alliance, the airlines propose to continue coordination in respect of marketing and sales, freight, pricing, scheduling, distribution strategies including agency arrangements, yield and inventory management, frequent flyer programs, lounges, joint procurement, and product and service standards. ACCC Commissioner Dr Jill Walker said: "The ACCC considers this alliance would be likely to result in continued public benefits for passengers travelling between Australia and the US through enhanced products and services including new frequencies and destinations, more online connections, better scheduling, greater loyalty programme benefits and improved lounge access... The alliance is also likely to promote competition between other airlines that provide services on trans-Pacific routes. The ACCC considers that the alliance is unlikely to result in any significant public detriment, largely because the ACCC accepts that American Airlines would be unlikely to introduce its own trans-Pacific services in the absence of its alliance with Qantas". [more - original PR]

Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) stated (03-Mar-2015) international arrivals to Canada increased 3% year-over-year in Dec-2014, driven by 11% growth from CTC's overseas markets. Some 17.1 million international visitors came to Canada in 2015, although tourism growth is below the global average of 5%. [more - original PR]

Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) released (05-Jan-2015) a tourism snapshot for Oct-2014, which found a 9% year-on-year rise in tourism with 1.3 million international travellers. CTC's overseas markets increased by 15% year-to-date in Oct-2014. The China and South Korea markets reported 36% and 31% rises respectively in terms of visitors to Canada in Oct-2014, while Germany's market increased by 1%, the UK by 9%, and France by 9%. The US market achieved an overall 7% increase in Oct-2014, while the Mexico market increased by 25% year-over-year. CTC's secondary markets continued to perform strongly in Oct-2014, as traveller numbers to Canada rose 25% year-over-year from Taiwan, 17% from Hong Kong, 15% from Italy, 11% from Switzerland, 7% from Spain, and 2% from the Netherlands. [more - original PR]

Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) released (26-Nov-2014) a tourism snapshot for Sep-2014, which found a 4% year-on-year rise in tourism with 1.7 million international travellers. CTC's overseas markets increased by 12% year-over-year in Sep-2014. The China and Japan markets reported 24% and 23% rises respectively in terms of visitors to Canada in Sep-2014, while Germany's market increased by 11%, the UK by 9%, and France by 3%. CTC stated the new CAN+ visa programme in India is "already producing dividends", including a 19% boost in travellers to Canada in Sep-2014. The US market achieved an overall 1% increase in Sep-2014. [more - original PR]