Corporate Travel News For Asia

SilkAir deployed (08-Jan-2018) Boeing 737 MAX 8 equipment on Singapore-Darwin service on 07-Jan-2018 and Singapore-Cairns service on 08-Jan-2018, becoming the first airline to operate the aircraft to Australia. The aircraft is configured with 12 business class and 144 economy class seats. The airline also operates 737 MAX 8s to Hiroshima, Kathmandu, Hyderabad and Bangalore. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II] [more - original PR - III]

Tourism Fiji appointed Aviareps to act as its representation agency in Japan, effective 04-Jan-2018 (Fiji Sun, 06-Jan-2018). The appointment followed an in depth review process by Tourism Fiji, with Aviareps required to position Fiji as a premier leisure destination, increasing visitation, spend, and market share for Fiji. As part of this effort, Aviareps will plan and deploy a series of strategic marketing initiatives, in the areas of trade engagement, trade marketing, public relations and consumer promotions. Tourism Fiji CEO Matthew Stoeckel, said: "We are thrilled about the new direct service by Fiji Airways to Japan starting July-2018, and we are confident that Aviareps' expertise in destination marketing will help us reach and welcome more visitors from Japan in the years to come. We have an extensive calendar of activities planned for the market as we prepare for the launch of the new service and will be sharing opportunities for trade and industry to participate in shortly".

Ethiopian Airlines, via its official Twitter account, posted (04-Jan-2018) a report stating the airline plans to commence services to 10 new destinations in Africa, Asia and Latin America in the next six months, including Buenos Aires, Istanbul and Jakarta (FBC, 04-Jan-2018). Other new destinations will be in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar. Buenos Aires service will commence on 08-Mar-2018.

Menzies Aviation announced (02-Jan-2018) it was awarded the following ground handling contracts:

• Cathay Pacific in Adelaide, Perth and Christchurch;
• Samoa Airways in Auckland and Sydney;
• Corporate Air in Sydney;
• Air Canada in Melbourne;
• Air China in Brisbane;
• Vietnam Airlines Cargo in Sydney and Melbourne.

Menzies stated it also renewed contracts with Korean Air, British Airways Cargo, AirAsia X Cargo, Royal Brunei Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air North and Fiji Airways but failed to renew its contract with Etihad Airways for ground handling services in Australia. [more - original PR]

Tianjin Airlines launched (31-Dec-2017) weekly Tianjin-Xian-Auckland service on 30-Dec-2017, marking the first nonstop service between Xian and Auckland. This is Tianjin Airlines' second intercontinental service between China and New Zealand after Tianjin-Chongqing-Auckland, which was launched in Dec-2016. [more - original PR][more - original PR - Chinese]

PT Garuda Maintenance Aero Asia Tbk (GMF) signed (29-Dec-2017) a strategic partnership agreement with Korr Group to collectively expand their Australia-Indonesia footprint. The signing of this strategic partnership contract is a follow up of the MoU signed on 02-Jun-2017 between the parties. As part of the agreement, GMF and the KORR Group agreed to cooperate in line maintenance activities for Boeing 737, 787, A320 and A330 aircraft. GMF AeroAsia president & CEO Iwan Joeniarto stated: "We sincerely believe that this strategic partnership will be able to support GMF's overseas expansion, especially in the Australian market with its high potential for the aircraft maintenance business, particularly in the line maintenance field". Korr founder and chairman Bevan Coote stated the agreement represents an "important milestone in our Asian expansion strategy which has also seen the launch of new offices in Singapore and Vietnam". The next step of the signing of this strategic partnership is to take the execution of this collaboration to the next level in 2018. For the initial phases, GMF and KORR Group will collaborate in line maintenance work in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. [more - original PR]

Ethiopian Airlines regional director for China, Mongolia and North Korea Yared Berta said the carrier is considering Zhengzhou services (Xinhua, 28-Dec-2017). "Zhengzhou is one of the most populous areas of China, and an increasing attraction for domestic and international investment, presenting opportunities for ET especially in cargo flights", he stated. As previously reported by CAPA, Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde GebreMariam also stated the carrier plans to launch Shenzhen service in Jun-2018. The carrier is also considering Hangzhou and Chongqing services.

Mauritius' Government announced (28-Dec-2017) its delegation at the ICAO International Conference on Air Services Negotiations, held in Colombo from 04-Dec-2017 to 08-Dec-2017, achieved the following:

• Signed a bilateral air services agreement with Sri Lanka;
• Initialled bilateral air services agreements and signed corresponding MoUs with Ghana, Morocco and Namibia;
• Agreed minutes and a codeshare framework agreement with Chile;
• Signed a MoU with Russia on provisions for codeshare rights between the designated airlines of Mauritius and Russia and airlines of any third country;
• Held air services negotiations with Laos. [more - original PR]

Philippine Airlines reportedly plans to withdraw from the Darwin market from 24-Mar-2018, becoming the third international airline to suspend operations at the airport in 2017, after Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia (NT News, 28-Dec-2017). Darwin Airport currently has service to four international destinations, being Bali Denpasar, Manila, Singapore Changi and Dili, with international operators including Philippine Airlines, Indonesia AirAsia and Jetstar Asia, according to OAG.

Nepal's Civil Aviation Ministry designated three international long haul routes for Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) to serve after it receives its two widebody aircraft over the next six months (The Kathmandu Post, 27-Dec-2017). NAC has been approved to operate service to Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, designed designated four weekly services on Kathmandu-Osaka and Kathmandu-Seoul routes, and daily on Kathmandu-Riyadh route.