Corporate Travel News For Asia

StarLux Airlines received (02-May-2018) a business registration certificate from Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs on 02-May-2018. The start up now needs to pass a five stage evaluation by the Taiwan Civil Aeronautics Administration to acquire its air operator certificate in order to commence operations in 2020 as scheduled. In the meantime, the company will continue its "aggressive programme" of new staff recruitment, systems implementation, aircraft leasing and other relevant operations. In 2H2018, more aviation professionals will join the team and begin a pilot training programme. Mass recruitment for airport ground staff and cabin crew is scheduled to commence in 2019. StarLux will initially operate 10 A321neos on lease, with the first aircraft to be delivered in Oct-2019. The carrier is also in the final stage of evaluation and selection for an additional 14 widebody aircraft, with the first to be delivered by the end of 2021. [more - original PR - English/Chinese]

IATA reported (02-May-2018) global freight traffic (FTKs) increased 1.7% year-on-year in Mar-2018, the slowest pace of growth in 22 months, while AFTKs increased 4.4%, marking the first time capacity growth outpaced demand in 20 months. A slowdown in demand growth was recorded in all regions except Latin America, mainly due to the end of the inventory restocking cycle, "which helped air freight to grow more than twice as fast as wider global goods trade in 2017 [and] now looks to have run its course". The FTK growth slowdown is consistent with recent reports of "broad based softening in new export orders in recent months", with US, Japan and Germany based manufacturers reporting decreased year-on-year export orders growth in 2018 and South Korea and mainland China manufacturers reporting decreases in export orders. IATA noted: "The softening is likely to have been compounded, at least in part, by the increasing concerns of a trade war between China and the US". Regional details include:

• Africa: 3.4% decrease in FTKs in Mar-2018 may be attributable to the unusually strong result in Mar-2017 rather than a decline in recent performance or the start of a negative trend in the region;
• Asia Pacific: Significant slowdown in international FTKs with recent declines in Japan and South Korea export orders while exposure to risks from protectionist measures remain disproportionately high;
• Europe: Modest FTK growth reflecting a stronger euro and a softening of export orders in Germany;
• Latin America: Solid growth and the sole region to record improvement from Feb-2018, partly reflecting improved economic outcomes in Brazil;
• Middle East: Modest growth consistent with general performance in recent months but possibly attributable to the unusually strong Mar-2017 result;
• North America: Solid growth and continued FTK improvement on North America-South America routes but the rising US inventory to sales ratio in 2018 likely means the boost to freight growth from restocking is over. [more - original PR]

Vietnam's General Statistics Office reported (02-May-2018) estimated foreign visitor arrivals to Vietnam for Apr-2018. Details include:

• International visitor arrivals: 1.3 million +25.2% year-on-year;
  • China: 419,590, +30.1%;
  • Korea: 281,385, +61.4%;
  • Japan: 64,375, +7.3%;
  • US: 59,778, +22.3%;
  • Russia: 58,815, +6.0%;
  • Arrivals by air: 1.1 million, +21.5%. [more - original PR]

Deutsche Lufthansa AG announced (02-May-2018) the deployment of five Lufthansa A380 aircraft at Munich Airport has "been very successful", with "good performance and high capacity utilisation" after the first month of operation in Apr-2018. Lufthansa's summer 2018 timetable offers 12% more capacity at Munich and capacity on long haul routes increased 17% year-on-year. Lufthansa Hub Munich CEO Wilken Bormann said: "We see further potential in Munich, especially with long haul routes... If the underlying conditions are right, we would like to continue our growth story at the site". As previously reported by CAPA, the 509 seat aircraft were relocated from Frankfurt Airport and operate from Munich to Los Angeles, Beijing and Hong Kong. [more - original PR - English/German]

Juneyao Air, via its official website, rebranded (May-2018) as Juneyao Air, from previous branding of Juneyao Airlines. The carrier said its two Boeing 787-9 aircraft, scheduled for delivery in 2018, will feature a new livery. The carrier's website has already changed to the Juneyao Air branding.

Travelport announced (01-May-2018) new agreements with Omega Travel in the UK, UAE based Cozmo Travel, and Singapore based Pegasus Travel to deploy Trip Assist, the Travelport mobile app for agencies. The agreements will allow the travel agencies to provide a fully branded and personalised mobile engagement solution, offering connections and support with their travellers across all stages of travel. Trip Assist provides agencies with smart itinerary management capabilities and the ability to create agency defined messages. [more - original PR]

Singapore Airlines commenced (01-May-2018) daily Singapore-Sydney-Canberra-Singapore service on 01-May-2018 with Boeing 777-300ER equipment configured with four first class, 48 business class, 28 premium economy and 184 economy class seats. The service marks the debut of the carrier's first class and premium economy products and the introduction of flat bed seats in business class in the Canberra market. The service increases the airline's overall Sydney frequency to five times daily and will provide 19 new connections on the Singapore Airlines and SilkAir networks, comprising Balikpapan, Bandar Seri Begawan, Bandung, Cebu, Danang, Davao, Fuzhou, Kailbo, Koh Samui, Luang Prabang, Makassar, Manado, Mandalay, Semarang, Shenzhen, Taipei, Vientiane, Wuhan and Xiamen. The service will also provide additional connecting options for Chiang Mai, Kunming and London. [more - original PR]

Philippine Airlines confirmed (01-May-2018) plans to increase Manila-Brisbane frequency from three to four times weekly and replace A340 with A321neo equipment on the service, effective 02-Jul-2018. The A321neo will be configured with 12 business class and 156 economy class seats and will feature in seat power supply, seat back TV screens and inflight WiFi. The airline will be the first to operate to Australia with a narrowbody aircraft featuring a flat bed business class product. Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO and MD Julieanne Alroe said: "The introduction of these aircraft will result in a near doubling of current seat capacity for Brisbane travellers from approximately 38,000 to 70,000 seats p/a". Philippine Airlines president and COO Jaime J Bautista said: "Brisbane is an important part of our plan to introduce more Australians to the Philippines as a high-value holiday destination". [more - original PR]

WorldACD reported (30-Apr-2018) worldwide airfreight volumes increased 0.9% year-on-year in Mar-2018, with the effects of Chinese New Year "visible well into March". Volumes increased 4.8% for 1Q2018. In air cargo exports, Central and South America grew 12% and Africa decreased 3.3%. For import volumes, Europe grew 7% and the Middle East and South Asia grew 0.6%. The origin markets with the strongest growth in 1Q2018 were Turkey (20.6%), Japan (17.8%) and Ecuador (12.2%). The top country pairs were Japan to eastern China (24%), Germany to India (19.2%) and Chile to south Atlantic US (17.6%). Hong Kong to Germany decreased 9.9% and Japan to Taiwan decreased 6.8%. Worldwide air cargo yield reached USD1.89 in Mar-2018, down 1% from Feb-2018 but up 16.3% year-on-year. The US dollar was weaker year-on-year against most major currencies. In 1Q2018, yield increased 18.6% year-on-year in USD but only 2.7% in EUR and a similar pattern was seen when comparing USD yields to most other major currencies. [more - original PR]

Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) reported (29-Apr-2018) visitor arrivals to Hong Kong for Mar-2018. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: 4.6 million, +8.9% year-on-year;
  • Short haul (excludes mainland China): 783,757, +4.5%;
    • Taiwan: 160,589, -1.6%;
    • Japan: 131,082, +10.4%;
    • South Korea: 121,401, +4.8%;
    • Indonesia: 39,634, -14.3%;
    • Malaysia: 53,602, +2.5%;
    • Philippines: 72,563, +7.0%;
    • Singapore: 64,033, -4.6%;
    • Thailand: 59,902, +10.3%;
  • Mainland China: 3.3 million, +10.1%;
  • Long haul: 412,476, +8.2%.

According to the CAPA Tourism Database, Mar-2018 marked the country's highest March visitor arrival since 2009. [more - original PR]