Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Finnair announced (16-Aug-2023) it is partnering IAG Loyalty to introduce Avios as its new loyalty programme currency in early 2024. Features of the new programme will include:

• Finnair Plus loyalty programme will become spend based;
• Award points will be converted to Avios with a 3:2 ratio, and "the purchasing power of the current points remains unchanged";
• Tier limits to be revised to reflect the switch to Avios and the new spend based earn of tier points;
• Programme will feature new milestone benefits to enable members to receive extra rewards, such as additional upgrade benefits, when reaching certain point limits within their existing tier;
• Finnair Plus members will receive complimentary internet access for messaging on the carrier's Airbus operated short haul European services;
• Number of award seats will be increased, with at least four award seats guaranteed on intra Europe services and eight on long haul services.

Chief commercial officer Ole Orvér commented: "2024 marks the start of a new era with our loyalty programme, with new benefits and improved options for our members to use their earned Avios - both within Finnair and IAG Loyalty's partner network". [more - original PR]

Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam announced (15-Aug-2023) government will extend the length of temporary residence visas from 15 to 45 days for citizens of the following countries:

• Germany;
• France;
• Italy;
• Spain;
• UK;
• Russia;
• Japan;
• South Korea;
• Denmark;
• Sweden;
• Norway;
• Finland;
• Belarus. [more - original PR - Vietnamese]

Finnair, via its official Twitter account, announced (15-Aug-2023) it increased the weight limit for business class carry on baggage from 10kg to 12kg.

Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi, via his personal Twitter account, stated (11-Aug-2023) Turkish Airlines ranked eighth in the world by number of installed seats, according to CAPA - Centre for Aviation. Mr Ekşi said the carrier is looking to be in the top three with a projected fleet of 813 aircraft by 2033.

Air France-KLM, via its official website, announced (10-Aug-2023) the Air France minimum connecting time (MCT) at Paris CDG will increase from 60 to 80 minutes between the following dates:

• Terminal 2E and Terminal 2F:
  
  • From 16-Dec-2023 to 07-Jan-2024;
  • From 17-Jun-2024 to 01-Sep-2024;
• Terminal 2E and Terminal 2G:
  
  • During the remaining summer 2023 and the complete winter 2023/24 schedule;
  • From 17-Jun-2024 to 01-Sep-2024.

Etihad Airways announced (09-Aug-2023) plans to launch the following services under its winter 2023/24 schedule:

• Abu Dhabi-Dusseldorf: Three times weekly from 28-Sep-2023;
• Abu Dhabi-Copenhagen: Four times weekly from 29-Sep-2023;
• Abu Dhabi-Osaka: Five times weekly from 01-Oct-2023;
• Abu Dhabi-Saint Petersburg: Three times weekly from 29-Oct-2023;
• Abu Dhabi-Kozhikode: Daily from 01-Jan-2024;
• Abu Dhabi-Thiruvananthapuram: Daily from 01-Jan-2024;
• Abu Dhabi-Boston: Four times weekly from 31-Mar-2024.

According to OAG, Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Air India Express are also scheduled to operate the Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram routes. Etihad will be the sole scheduled operator on each remaining route. [more - original PR]

London Gatwick Airport confirmed (09-Aug-2023) Ethiopian Airlines plans to commence three times weekly Addis Ababa-London Gatwick service on 21-Nov-2023. The service will mark Gatwick's 50th long haul destination and its first service to Addis Ababa since 2006. Gatwick now offers more than 80% of its pre-COVID-19 long haul routes, covering destinations in Africa, Asia, Canada, the Caribbean, Middle East and US. Upcoming long haul service launches include the following:

• Air Mauritius: Daily to Mauritius in Oct-2023;
• British Airways: Accra in Oct-2023;
• Norse Atlantic Airways: Boston and Miami in Sep-2023 and to Bridgetown, Kingston and Montego Bay in Oct-2023. [more - original PR - Gatwick Airport] [more - original PR - Ethiopian Airlines]

Air France-KLM, via its official website, announced (08-Aug-2023) KLM will suspend its services from Amsterdam to Kuwait and Bahrain from 29-Oct-2023. Sales to both destinations have already closed.

Singapore Airlines announced (07-Aug-2023) plans to redeploy A380 aircraft on daily Singapore-Frankfurt service from 31-Mar-2024, replacing A350-900 aircraft. This will mark the return of SIA's A380 to Continental Europe. [more - original PR]

IAG reported (28-Jul-2023) the following investments in products, technology and operational resilience:

• Rolling out new business class seats at British Airways and Iberia. 55% of British Airways' long haul fleet at London Heathrow Airport now features the 'Club Suite' cabin;
• British Airways and Iberia are investing in new and upgraded lounges and developing a premium ground service at Madrid Barajas Airport;
• Improved inflight catering in premium cabins for all network airlines;
• British Airways is undergoing a commercial re-platforming to deliver improved customer experience and a greater range of commercial opportunities. The airline also recently opened a larger call centre in Delhi with improved IT and data capability;
• Vueling is implementing self service capabilities and disruption management;
• British Airways recruited 4000 personnel in 1H2023 to help address disruptions, with a focus on ground operations;
• The company is introducing a number of wet leased aircraft to supplement availability, including four A320s from Finnair, one A330 from Air Belgium and three A320s from Avion Express. [more - original PR]