Corporate Travel News For Asia

Singapore Airlines announced (16-May-2023) the return of A380 service from Singapore to Melbourne for the first time since Jan-2020. The carrier will operate daily SQ237/SQ228 with A380 between the destinations from 16-May-2023 to 28-Oct-2023. The aircraft includes six upper deck suites, 78 business class seats, 44 premium economy and 343 economy. The additional capacity takes SIA's operations to 110% compared to Jan-2020 levels. [more - original PR]

MYAirline announced (10-May-2023) plans to launch daily Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi service from 28-Jun-2023 and daily Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok Don Mueang service from 01-Jul-2023. MYAirline will operate twice daily to both cities from 17-Aug-2023. They are the LCC's first international destinations and it is the only Malaysian airline to fly to both airports in Bangkok. [more - original PR]

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, via its official Twitter account, announced (09-May-2023) Asiana Airlines plans to increase Seoul Incheon-Sydney frequency from daily to nine times weekly, commencing 08-Aug-2023. Korean Air, T'way Air, Qantas Airways and Jetstar Airways also operate the route, according to OAG.

Trip.biz reported (08-May-2023) the following highlights for the mainland China business travel market:

• 84.5% of Chinese companies expect an increase in domestic business travel budgets for 2023. 74.5% expect an increase in international business travel budgets;
• More than 90% of business travellers stated they may visit local tourist attractions or historical sites at their own expense during a business trip. 38.4% expect to have more leisure time in the local area;
• More than 30% of companies allocated more than 10% of their budgets to business travel in 2022, representing an increase from 2021. The proportion of spending on business travel is also increasing;
• Nearly 60% of companies have begun digitalising their business travel processes. State owned enterprises, Sino-foreign joint ventures and wholly foreign owned enterprises have a higher tendency to manage business travel digitally. Digital business travel management is more prevalent in large and medium sized enterprises;
• Approximately 85% of business travellers prefer flights and hotels with low carbon certifications. Those responsible for business travel believe that implementing an online management system benefits sustainable and low carbon development;
• Trip.Biz survey data suggests greater demand among business travellers for fast track security lanes, flexible change and cancellation policies and quality hotel services. [more - original PR]

Air China filed (04-May-2023) an application with the US Department of Transportation to operate the following China-US services:

• Beijing Capital-New York JFK: Six times weekly with Boeing 747-8/777-300ER equipment from 27-May-2023;
• Shenzhen-Los Angeles: Twice weekly with 777-300ER equipment from 28-May-2023. [more - original PR]

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, via its official Twitter account, announced (02-May-2023) China Southern Airlines plans to increase Guangzhou-Sydney frequency from 10 times weekly to twice daily, commencing 08-Jun-2023. The airline is the sole scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG.

VietJet Air announced (01-May-2023) plans to increase Ho Chi Minh City-Melbourne frequency from three to four times weekly from 17-Sep-2023. [more - original PR]

VietJet Air announced (01-May-2023) plans to increase Ho Chi Minh City-Sydney frequency from three to four times weekly from 18-Sep-2023. [more - original PR]

Air Premia announced (28-Apr-2023) plans to commence four times weekly Seoul Incheon-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi service on 06-May-2023, increasing frequency to five times weekly from 01-Jun-2023. Korean Air, Asiana Airlines and Thai Airways also operate the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR - Korean]

Asiana Airlines, via its official online booking system, confirmed (May-2023) plans to increase Seoul Incheon-Sydney frequency from daily to nine times weekly, commencing 08-Aug-2023. Korean Air, T'way Air, Qantas Airways and Jetstar Airways also operate the route, according to OAG.