Corporate Travel News For Asia

Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) will meet with Australian and New Zealand airport representatives, government departments and ministers in late Aug-2017 to discuss increased airport charges (NZ Herald, 07-Aug-2017). A4ANZ represents Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tigerair. A4ANZ chairman Graeme Samuel stated: "Aeronautical charges are simply imposed and its very difficult to negotiate otherwise. It is essentially because airports are monopolies".

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC), via its official website, updated (04-Aug-2017) the status of a variety of applications from Virgin Australia. These include:

• An allocation of 300 third country seats per week, to be used to codeshare with Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways on the Italy route. The Commission received further information from the applicant nominating Tiger International Number1 Pty Ltd as the wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia International Airlines;
• New Zealand determination [2007] IASC 118, which allocates unlimited passenger and freight capacity. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• US determination [2008] IASC 110, which allocates unlimited passenger and freight capacity. The Commission received further information from the applicant nominating Tiger International Number1 Pty Ltd as the wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia International Airlines;
• Fiji determination [2013] IASC 106, which allocates 1260 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• Fiji determination [2013] IASC 107, which allocates 360 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• Vanuatu determination [2013] IASC 108, which allocates 720 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• Vanuatu determination [2013] IASC 109, which allocates 180 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• An allocation of 880 seats per week of passenger capacity on the Samoa route. The Commission received further information from the applicant nominating Tiger International Number1 Pty Ltd as the wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia International Airlines.

Hong Kong Airlines and Fiji Airways signed (03-Aug-2017) a new codeshare agreement, covering Fiji Airways' Nadi-Hong Kong and Nadi-Auckland services and Hong Kong Airlines' services between Hong Kong and Bangkok, Tokyo and Osaka. Fiji Airways MD and CEO Andre Viljoen stated: "This partnership is a key part of our growth and presence in the region, and the three destinations are welcome additions to our network. The arrangement will allow through check in of customers and their luggage all the way to their final destinations, offering convenient transit options in Hong Kong and Nadi". Fiji Airways onboard service will now include Asian menus and availability of Mandarin and Cantonese interpreters on every flight between Hong Kong and Nadi. [more - original PR]

Tourism New Zealand signed (03-Aug-2017) an MoU with Chinese online travel agency Ctrip to promote New Zealand to the agencies 300 million members. Tourism New Zealand GM Asia Gregg Wafelbakker stated: "China is New Zealand's second biggest tourism market and our top priority is to continually improve the travel quality and experience for Chinese travellers. Our partnership with Ctrip will see the launch of the first online flagship store for New Zealand-based travel providing Chinese travellers with all the information they're looking for about our country, activity and accommodation recommendations, and reservation capacity". [more - original PR]

Australia's Visit Victoria said the Chinese market still has great potential for development in the future, adding it expects annual Chinese visitors to the state to reach 900,000 in 2020 (TTG China, 28-Jul-2017). China is Victoria's largest international source market.

Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti said the carrier aims to add two routes to mainland China, noting that the carrier has a five year plan of expansion to take advantage of carriers owned by or affiliated to HNA, which has around a 19% stake in Virgin Australia(Bloomberg, 28-Jul-2017). HNA includes Hainan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines and Lucky Air. Mr Borghetti commented: "Connectivity in China is important... If you can tap into two hubs where their airlines feed, that gives you a big advantage". The carrier is also considering the addition of one more destination in Asia within the next five years, while there are no plans to operate to Europe or the Middle East, or extend Virgin Australia's network beyond Los Angeles in the US.

Singapore Airlines announced (27-Jul-2017) plans to operate seasonal Sapporo service from 02-Dec-2017 to 06-Jan-2018. The airline will also increase Paris frequency from seven to 10 times weekly and increase Adelaide, Christchurch and Sydney frequency to cater for higher demand during the northern winter season between 29-Oct-2017 and 24-Mar-2018. [more - original PR]

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport welcomed (27-Jul-2017) Qantas Airways' plans to launch seasonal three times weekly Sydney-Osaka service with A330 aircraft from 14-Dec-2017 to 24-Mar-2018. Sydney Airport stated the route "will help meet the growing demand for services to Japan during this popular time of year". Sydney Airport MD and CEO Kerrie Mather added: "Japan is our sixth largest inbound market with an incredible 32% growth last year alone... Osaka is our largest unserved market, so this is great news for our customers and for the local visitor economy". 67% of travellers between Sydney and Japan travel for holiday purposes. [more - original PR]

Qantas announced (27-Jul-2017) plans to launch three times weekly Sydney-Osaka seasonal service between 14-Dec-2017 and 24-Mar-2018 with A330 equipment in response to demand for travel between Australia and Japan. [more - original PR]

JEJU air and Cebu Pacific, both members of the Value Alliance, launched an interline agreement on 21-Jul-2017 (Joongang Daily, 25-Jul-2017). This marks JEJU air's first joint service with a Value Alliance member carrier. Tickets for the interline agreement went on sale in Jun-2017 with the inaugural service under the agreement operating to Sydney via Manila.