Corporate Travel News For Asia

Trip.com Group announced (17-Jul-2023) the following new initiatives designed to support trip planning using "AI-led capabilities and knowledge":

• A series of "AI-enhanced curated lists" designed to cater to users' needs and preferences by capturing real time information on travel trends, prices and the top ranked hotels, flights and attractions. The 'Trip.Best' list scores travel products based on an algorithm and features only the top 1% of products. 'Trip.Deals' is designed for budget conscious users and is based on factors such as historical and projected price changes and current travel expenses. 'Trip.Trends' tracks the most popular travel topics and events based on user searches across various platforms;
• An upgraded version of the Global Travel SOS Platform to enhance the response speed and service efficiency for large scale emergencies such as natural disasters. The platform now partners with more than one million healthcare centres and offers support in 24 languages. The platform has received more than 14,000 requests for assistance from over 100 global destinations since its launch in 2017, with 98% of cases successfully resolved. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia received (08-Jul-2023) its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on 08-Jul-2023. The aircraft is one of 33 737 MAX 8s and 737 MAX 10s on order, with more due to be delivered in the coming months. With the arrival of the aircraft, Virgin Australia also revealed its new business class and economy cabin interior featuring the following:

• In-seat power for all business class and economy seats;
• Larger overhead lockers, with capacity to stow up to 50% more carry-on baggage;
• Wider business class seats which also feature leg rests with extendable footrests, storage compartments, tablet/device holders and water bottle holders;
• A new economy seat design, featuring a ribbed backing;
• A personal tablet/device holder for all economy seats.

The 737 MAX 8 is scheduled to operate the carrier's Cairns-Tokyo Haneda service from 30-Jul-2023, as previously reported by CAPA. [more - original PR]

Citilink plans to launch twice weekly Jakarta-Perth service from 29-Jul-2023 with A320 aircraft, according to OAG.

Citilink plans to resume daily Bali-Perth service from 19-Jul-2023 with A320 aircraft, according to OAG.

Collinson partnered (04-Jul-2023) with Blue Sky Group to allow Priority Pass members to access 13 premium lounges in Indonesian airports, including Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Balikpapan Sultan Aji Muhamad Sulaiman Airport and Palembang Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport. Eight lounges are exclusive to Priority Pass members. Collinson president Asia Pacific Todd Handcock stated: "This is an exciting time for the travel industry in Indonesia, as the country has set a goal of attracting nearly 7.4 million international arrivals in 2023, almost double the number of arrivals when compared to last year". [more - original PR]

Aircalin, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (05-Jul-2023) the launch of Noumea-Singapore-Paris CDG service on 01-Jul-2023, under a codeshare agreement with Air France.

MYAirline launched (30-Jun-2023) Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok Suvarnabhumi service on 28-Jun-2023, marking its first international route. The service operates daily, according to OAG. The carrier also plans to launch Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok Don Mueang service from 01-Jul-2023. MYAirline CEO Rayner Teo said: "Our inaugural flight to Bangkok on 28-Jun-2023 was just the beginning of our regional expansion journey and we look forward to announcing more developments in the coming months". [more - original PR]

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport announced (29-Jun-2023) Hainan Airlines resumed twice weekly Haikou-Melbourne service with A330 equipment on 29-Jun-2023, following a suspension since Feb-2020. The airport noted the resumption "marks the return of seven of the eight mainland Chinese carriers that operated out of Melbourne in 2019". The airline is the sole scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR]

Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford commercial general manager Theo Ocks, speaking at the CTC Singapore Corporate Travel Summit, stated (27-Jun-2023) that "on the consumer side we see travellers taking longer trips". Mr Ocks highlighted: "Bleisure is definitely happening now, we see a lot more people that are combining their business trips".

EY Asia Pacific travel, meetings and events program and engagement leader Brenda Quek, speaking at the CTC Singapore Corporate Travel Summit, stated (27-Jun-2023) "There's a clear difference between domestic and international" travel recovery from the impact of COVID-19 in China. Ms Quek said: "We all saw the upsurge in domestic travel in China in 2021", but "I think for recovery of international travel in China, there's still quite a long road ahead". She continued: "It will come back, but I don't expect a huge, sudden rebound for international travel, but rather a gradual recovery process". Ms Quek concluded: "The demand is there, the desire to travel is there", but various factors are discouraging and inhibiting international travel to and from China at the moment, "so the desire to travel is probably more domestic than international right now".