Corporate Travel News For Asia

Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport marked (27-Nov-2017) the first anniversary of Cathay Pacific's weekly service with Boeing 747-8F equipment. Cathay Pacific regional cargo manager Nigel Chynoweth said: "Discussions are getting serious and I think it's been an interesting development from when we first started". Mr Chynoweth added: "Opportunities to export fresh produce and chilled meat products directly into Asia was the driving force", but also noted "steady growth" in inbound cargo. Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport GM Sara Hales said opportunities arising from Australia's free trade agreements drove exports and the airport is keen to expand international cargo operations. Ms Hales said: "As the variety of shipments broadens we are developing the facilities at Wellcamp Airport to handle anything from produce shipments needing cool room facilities, live animals to large mining shipments, aircraft engines, helicopters and even stage production sets". [more - original PR]

Jetstar Airways and Virgin Australia provided (27-Nov-2017) the following updates on operations between Australia and Bali (Indonesia) following the eruption of the Mount Agung volcano:

• Jetstar Airways, via its official travel alerts and Twitter account, announced all operations to Bali have been cancelled for 27-Nov-2017. The carrier stated conditions in Bali have worsened due to the ash cloud from the Mount Agung volcano. The carrier operated most services on 26-Nov-2017, after senior pilots, using information and forecasts from the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre, assessed conditions in Bali following the eruption of Mount Agung and deemed that conditions had improved and it was safe to fly. The carrier noted that the volcano and movement of ash cloud are highly unpredictable and flights are subject to change at short notice based on assessment of safety to fly; [more - original PR - Jetstar Airways]
• Virgin Australia cancelled services to/from Bali on 27-Nov-2017. The Agung Volcano Observatory aviation colour code is currently red, indicating further eruption is imminent or underway with significant emission of volcanic ash into the atmosphere likely. [more - original PR - Virgin Australia]

Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) commissioner Roger Featherston stated (24-Nov-2017) the body believes that continuing the coordination between Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Pacific and Jetstar Japan "is likely to result in public benefits", as it means these airlines are "able to provide better products, services, and more convenient flight times for consumers". Mr Featherstone said the proposed re-authorisation of the coordination between the three Asian based Jetstar branded JVs is "likely to result in little, if any, detriment due to a lessening of competition" as these airlines are unlikely to compete directly with each other, or their owners in the absence of the proposed coordination. The proposed re-authorisation does not extend to allowing coordination between any of the airline owners. Jetstar is also seeking to coordinate with their shareholding airlines including Qantas, Japan Airlines and Vietnam Airlines, on passenger and cargo services within Asia in certain circumstances. [more - original PR]

Air Peace chairman and CEO Allen Onyema said the airline is "working on a huge expansion project", covering fleet and network expansion with the goal to "democratise flying" (Vanguard, 21-Nov-2017). The airline's six Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft will be deployed on domestic routes "with the challenge of austere load factor or limited runway facility". The carrier plans to expand regional operations to Abidjan, Banjul, Dakar, Douala, Freetown, Liberia, Lome and Niamey and is "working hard" to commence services to Dubai, Guangzhou, Houston, Johannesburg, London and Mumbai. Mr Onyema said: "We are deeply serious about creating a huge appetite for flying among members of the public".

SilkAir plans to trial Singapore-Broome service in 2018, following months of talks and negotiations between the carrier and Broome International Airport, the Shire of Broome and North West Tourism (The West, 24-Nov-2017). The carrier plans to operate four return services from mid 2018 using Boeing 737 aircraft configured with 150 economy and 12 business class seats. North West Tourism will work with SilkAir to develop packages for travellers. Tourism Minister Paul Papalia said he is "hopeful that the demand for the service will be high and lead the way for further services in the future".

Aeroflot expanded (23-Nov-2017) its codeshare agreement with China Southern Airlines. Under the agreement, Aeroflot will codeshare on China Southern Airlines' twice daily services from Guangzhou to Auckland, Melbourne and Sydney. The initial codeshare agreement was signed at the end of 2008 and covered services from Moscow to Guangzhou, Urumqi and Wuhan. Aeroflot codeshares with 30 Russian and international airlines. [more - original PR]

LOT Polish Airlines announced (22-Nov-2017) three new 294 seat Boeing 787-9 aircraft are scheduled to operate the following long haul Warsaw routes from 2018:

• Chicago: From the end of Mar-2018/beginning of Apr-2018;
• New York JFK: From the beginning of May-2018;
• Toronto: From the beginning of Jul-2018.

The aircraft may be also be deployed on selected Seoul frequencies. [more - original PR]

Ethiopia's Ministry of Culture and Tourism public and international relations director Gezahegn Abate said China contributed USD164 million in tourism revenue in 2016 (Xinhua, 21-Nov-2017). 43,695 Chinese tourists visited Ethiopia in 2016, becoming Ethiopia's third largest source of tourists after the US and the UK.

SilkAir filed preliminary schedules for the operation of Boeing 737 MAX 8 equipment on five times weekly Singapore-Cairns and Singapore-Darwin services, effective 28-Oct-2018 (Airline Route, 21-Nov-2017). The airline currently operates the services with 737-800 aircraft, according to OAG.

Singapore Airlines and Alpha Flight Services introduced (17-Nov-2017) the 'Book the Cook' inflight meal product for business class passengers on daily Singapore-Adelaide service, effective 20-Nov-2017. The airline will offer 14 main meals on the service. Adelaide is the third Australian destination to receive the product in 2017, after Perth and Brisbane, and the airline also offers the service on Melbourne and Sydney services. [more - original PR]