Corporate Travel News For Asia

Aviation Australia assisted (05-Dec-2017) with the development of an aviation trade engineering course for the Chengdu Aeronautic Polytechnic College (CAP). The partners developed EASA and CAAC approved B1.1 and B2 courses. This project was Aviation Australia's first project in Chengdu and its second major project in China. Aviation Australia expects to return to China to review the course modules in Aug-2018. CAP College is aiming to begin delivery of the course towards the end of 2018. [more - original PR]

Tourism Australia announced (05-Dec-2017) the addition of the following new air services from China to Queensland in Dec-2017:

• China Southern Airlines launched three times weekly Guangzhou-Cairns service with A330 equipment on 05-Dec-2017;
• Air China intends to launch four times weekly Beijing-Brisbane service on 12-Dec-2017.

The new routes follow China Eastern Airlines' move to increase Shanghai-Brisbane frequency from four times weekly to daily during Nov-2017. According to Tourism Australia, Chinese travellers can now fly to Australia from 17 cities, with 10 airlines operating around 150 direct services per week to six ports in Australia. The new services follow the signing of a new Australia-China aviation agreement in Dec-2016, which allows Australian and Chinese airlines to offer unlimited services to and from any points in Australia and China, including international airports in regional Australia. This is the first time China has signed such an agreement with any country. China and Australia also designated 2017 as the year of China-Australia tourism. [more - original PR]

Edelweiss Air plans the following new long haul routes with A340-300 aircraft for winter 2018/19, according to a 04-Dec-2017 GDS inventory and timetable display:

• Zurich-Colombo: Twice weekly from 03-Nov-2018;
• Zurich-Ho Chi Minh City: Twice weekly from 15-Nov-2018;
• Zurich-Seychelles: Weekly from 03-Nov-2018;
• Zurich-Varadero: Weekly from 09-Nov-2018.

Scoot announced (01-Dec-2017) plans to commence four times weekly Singapore-Berlin Tegel service with Boeing 787 equipment in 2H2018, according to Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg. The airport operator noted Singapore is an important hub between Europe and Southeast Asia, Oceania and Australia. Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg chairman Engelbert Lütke Daldrup said the new service "is an enormous boost for us". [more - original PR - English/German]

Norwegian Group signalled (30-Nov-2017) its intent to expand into Asia following the launch of London Gatwick-Singapore service. Norwegian global head of sales Lars Sande stated: "It's a pleasure to open the door to Singapore's travel industry which will help make our new low cost long haul service a success. With more than 200 aircraft on order, Asia will be a key part of our future growth and Singapore offers a springboard to more competition and affordable fares in the market". As previously reported by CAPA, Norwegian Air UK operates four times weekly London Gatwick-Singapore service with Boeing 787 equipment. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia announced (30-Nov-2017) the Plane Pal, Fly Tot, and JetKids Bedbox guest comfort items will be permitted across its entire fleet of aircraft, effective immediately. The devices are only permitted to be used when sitting in a window seat or in the middle seat of the centre block and must be included as part of the 7kg carry on baggage allocation. They are not permitted to be used in exit rows. Any other products passengers wish to use onboard will need to comply with a list of guidelines which can be found on the Virgin Australia website. Tigerair, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia, is undergoing its own assessment of the devices. [more - original PR]

Qantas Group announced (29-Nov-2017) flying conditions at Denpasar International Airport are predicted to clear on 30-Nov-2017 for a period of time, and the group is planning to operate some relief flights out of Bali to return passengers to Australia. Jetstar and Qantas have 10 scheduled frequencies and will put on an additional six relief flights, returning 3800 people to Australia. There are more than 4000 customers from previously cancelled flights in Bali who are waiting to return to Australia. Over 1500 of these customers will return to Australian on relief flights. Details include:

• Jetstar will operate nine scheduled services on 30-Nov-2017. In addition it will operate four relief flights - two Boeing 787 flights to Melbourne and two A320 flights to Perth;
• Qantas will operate its one scheduled service on 30-Nov-2017. In addition it will operate a Boeing 747 flight to Sydney and another Boeing 737-800 flight to Perth. These will bring both Qantas and Jetstar passengers back to Australia.

The carrier noted that volcanic activity and ash cloud are unpredictable and flights may be cancelled at short notice. The carriers will not be taking customers into Bali on 30-Nov-2017, given the likelihood of further volcanic activity and the potential that conditions change and lead to diversions or further cancellations. [more - original PR]

Australian Tourism Export Council (ATEC) signed (Nov-2017) a partnership deal with Chinese mobile and online payment platform Alipay, to support the expansion of its services into Australia's tourism industry. The partnership will seek to educate and up-skill Australian tourism businesses so they can capitalise on Alipay's 520 million active Chinese users. As part of the agreement, ATEC members will have access to Alipay workshops in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, where they will learn from China market experts, build industry relationships and hear from tourism operators. Training will be conducted at a number of workshops and members will have access to unique promotions during major shopping festivals. In Australia, the number of merchants using Alipay has grown from 1000 to 8000 in the space of a few months. [more - original PR]

Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority stated the 11th meeting of Directors General of Civil Aviation of the Developing-8 (D-8) organisation pledged to make the best use of the civil aviation cooperation platform and broaden the scope of collaboration on available opportunities (APP, 28-Dec-2017). Directors General Civil Aviation from member countries, including Bangladesh, Nigeria, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan and Turkey, attended the meeting.

Garuda Indonesia GM Melbourne Micky Irfandi said the airline plans to increase Melbourne frequency from 29-Dec-2017 (The Jakarta Post, 26-Nov-2017). The airline will increase Jakarta-Melbourne frequency from twice to four times weekly on 02-Dec-2017 and increase Denpasar-Melbourne frequency from daily to eight times weekly on 29-Dec-2017, according to OAG.