China's Ambassador to the UAE Ni Jian met with Etihad Airways CEO Peter Baumgartner on 28-Aug-2017. Mr Baumgartner said the carrier attaches great importance to the Chinese market, adding it will further increase investment in the Chinese market, seeking to expand new routes to China and continuously improve the level of service. Mr Ni said the rapid development of China-UAE relations in recent years has resulted in increasing travel from China to the UAE, adding the cooperation potential between the countries is "huge". [more - original PR - Chinese]
Corporate Travel News For Asia
Qantas and El Al commence codeshare agreement
Qantas Airways launched (04-Sep-2017) a codeshare agreement with El Al Airlines on 04-Sep-2017 for travel from 12-Sep-2017. Qantas will codeshare on El Al operated services from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Johannesburg to Tel Aviv, while El Al will codeshare on Qantas operated services from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Hong Kong, as well as on Sydney-Bangkok and Sydney-Johannesburg services. [more - original PR]
Kyrgyzstan's Government considers plans to sign MoU on fifth freedom rights
Kyrgyzstan's Government reportedly entered a review of plans to sign a MoU on the provision of fifth freedom rights to foreign airlines from the EU, Southeast Asia, Near East and Middle East (Tazabek, 02-Sep-2017). The project would see the development of Bishkek Manas International Airport as a hub for passengers and cargo. A positive decision is expected to help attract investors for the establishment of a national carrier with joint foreign ownership.
Scoot India head notes LCC has fifth freedom rights to operate direct India-Europe services
Scoot country head India Bharath Mahadevan stated the airline "can operate direct flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata to destinations like Copenhagen, Vienna, Cairo and Manchester", since it possesses the necessary fifth freedom rights to operate direct air services between destinations in foreign countries (Times of India, 03-Sep-2017). Mr Mahadevan reported Scoot would likely charge around INR13,000 (USD203.21) for one way and around INR26,000 (USD406.54) for round trip services between India and Europe. India based LCCs Indigo and SpiceJet are also reportedly exploring plans to launch low cost long haul India-Europe services, possibly in 2018, with London Gatwick Airport likely to be first destination for both carriers.
Destination NSW: Inbound seats from China to Sydney up 28% in past 12 months
Destination NSW reported (31-Aug-2017) there were 925,200 inbound seats to Sydney from China for the year ended Mar-2017, an increase of 28.1% year-on-year. [more - original PR]
Philippine Airlines to use 'longer-range version' of A321neo for nonstop Asia Pacific services
Philippine Airlines president and COO Jaime Bautista confirmed the airline will introduce A321neo aircraft in 2018, "including a special longer-range version" (Manila Bulletin/Manila Standard/Business World Online, 03/04-Sep-2017). The aircraft will enable the carrier to commence nonstop Brisbane, Delhi, Mumbai, Perth and Sapporo services and increase frequency to other Asia Pacific destinations, including Melbourne.
Beijing Capital Airlines signs tourism MoU with NSW State Government
New South Wales (NSW) State Government Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall announced (30-Aug-2017) a NSW State Government partnership with Beijing Capital Airlines, following a meeting with company executives in Beijing. Destination NSW, the state's tourism agency, will work with Capital Airlines and travel trade partners to develop and promote itineraries that encourage Chinese visitors to spend time in both Sydney and rural and regional NSW. Key opportunities discussed with Capital Airlines included broader travel packaging into rural and regional NSW, the 'Vivid Sydney Festival' and an inaugural partnership campaign with the travel trade in Qingdao. Capital Airlines is scheduled to launch Qingdao-Sydney service from 29-Oct-2017. [more - original PR]
Hainan Airlines new Shenzhen-Cairns service expected to attract 30,000 pax over two years
Tourism Queensland estimated (01-Sep-2017) Hainan Airlines' new Shenzhen-Cairns service, due to be launched in Dec-2017, will attract an additional 30,000 Chinese visitors over a two year period. Queensland State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new service was secured through the Queensland Government's AUD10 million (USD8 million) Attracting Aviation Investment Fund and would allow Cairns to capitalise on Queensland's most valuable and fastest growing international market. Cairns Airport CEO Norris Carter said the new direct route from Shenzhen "will provide more opportunities for visitors from China and beyond to holiday in Cairns and Tropical North Queensland." According to Mr Carter, most international visitors to Cairns arrive and depart on domestic flights. [more - original PR]
Melbourne Airport: China is 'currently our largest inbound tourism market'
Melbourne Airport chief of aviation Simon Gandy reported (31-Aug-2017) China is "currently our largest inbound tourism market for Victoria" with 570,000 visitors p/a. [more - original PR]
Thai Airways adjusts Bangkok-Auckland service for Oct/Nov-2017
Thai Airways will continue to operate Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Auckland service five times weekly with Boeing 777-300ER equipment from 29-Oct-2017 to 14-Nov-2017, cancelling plans to increase frequency to daily and replace 777-300ER with 777-200ER equipment (Airline Route, 31-Aug-2017). The airline will operate the service daily with 787-9 equipment from 16-Nov-2017. The service is the only nonstop connection between Thailand and New Zealand, according to OAG.