Corporate Travel News For Asia

Air Niugini, via its Jul/Aug-2017 inflight magazine, updated (Jul-2017) its route map, with Shanghai, Majuro and Tarawa noted as upcoming destinations from Port Moresby. [more - inflight magazine]

Air New Zealand and Air China launched a codeshare on the Auckland-Apia and Chengdu-Sydney routes from the week beginning 03-Jul-2017 (Routes Online, 03-Jul-2017).

New Zealand's Office of the Auditor-General announced (27-Jun-2017) it absolved Wellington City Council from any wrongdoing after it paid Singapore Airlines to launch Singapore-Canberra-Wellington service. The route commenced in Sep-2016, with reports questioning the basis of the decision to provide Council funding to support the route. Members of the public and media raised concerns including: an alleged lack of paperwork and analysis to support or document the funding decision, the ability of the Council's Chief Executive to approve the funding without consideration by the Council and a lack of transparency about the cost to the Council and its ratepayers. The Auditor-General stated: "Based on the information we have seen to date, we do not intend to investigate this matter further." [more - original PR]

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, via his official Facebook and Twitter accounts, said (27-Jun-2017) the carrier will resume Adelaide service "if we get right deal for airport". As previously reported by CAPA, AirAsia X suspended Kuala Lumpur-Adelaide service in Jan-2015.

Air New Zealand plans to increase Auckland-Shanghai Pudong frequency from daily to 10 times weekly between 18-Jan-2018 and 28-Feb-2018 (Routes Online, 27-Jun-2017). The service will utilise Boeing 787-9 equipment.

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) approved (26-Jun-2017) Qantas' request to increase passenger capacity via Determination [2017] IASC 112 allocating to Qantas 100 seats per week in each direction on the Indonesia route. The capacity may be used by Jetstar Airways to provide services jointly with Emirates. The determination is valid for five years from 26-Jun-2017. [more - original PR]

Airline Customer Advocate Australia released (Jun-2017) its annual report for 2016, highlighting the volume of complaints received by carriers in Australia. According to the report, Tigerair received the most complaints at 39.1 per million, followed by Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas. Tigerair stated 0.0035% of all passengers it flew in 2016 complained to the ombudsman, which was "extremely low" compared to other industries. [more - original PR]

Northern Territory Government announced (23-Jun-2017) it will send representative to China to meet with a number of airlines in an effort to secure direct services between China-Darwin. Three public servants from the Department of Tourism and Culture and the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation will be part of the delegation, which takes place from Monday 26-Jun-2017. [more - original PR]

Qantas plans to increase its share of the Chinese market without impacting growth in other key markets (AAP, 23-Jun-2017). Qantas CEO Alan Joyce stated: "We have to make sure we are taking advantage of the Chinese market but not forget our other markets. Flexibility is key her.". Mr Joyce said the Chinese travel market is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 13% over the next decade, which makes it a market the airline cannot ignore.

Air New Zealand adjusted equipment on proposed three times weekly Auckland-Tokyo Haneda service from Boeing 787-9 to the 777-200ER (Routes Online, 22-Jun-2017). The carrier plans to launch the service in winter 2017/18 season from 08-Dec-2017. As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier plans to split its 10 times weekly service to Tokyo Narita between Haneda and Narita, transferring three services to Haneda Airport.