Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Air France signed (27-Jul-2023) a partnership with Alltheway for a remote baggage drop off service at locations in Paris and the Paris region. The service is already available in eight partner locations, including five ACCOR hotels in the city centre, and the main exhibition sites for major trade fairs such as Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, Villepinte Exhibition Centre and the Palais des Congrès convention centre. More baggage drop off points are planned to be available in Paris soon. The service is available between four to 30 hours before the flight departure, and costs EUR25 for one bag and EUR10 per additional bag. It is available on all services operated by Air France from Paris CDG, with the carrier planning to develop the offer for services from Paris Orly. In addition, the carrier is also working on a baggage check-in from home and baggage pick-up and delivery option to an address in Paris and the Paris region. [more - original PR]

AirPlus International CEO Oliver Wagner stated (21-Jul-2023) personal encounters remain of fundamental importance for company leaders, despite business trips being questioned more. Mr Wagner said companies are increasingly orienting themselves to the wishes of their customers, but also to acceptance in society. He added travel managers have made good use of the low-travel period during COVID-19 to optimally prepare their companies for the comeback of business travel, in particular in terms of sustainability and duty of care. [more - original PR - German]

Germany's Association of German Travel Management (VDR) reported (21-Jul-2023) German companies expect more business trips once again, with customer needs and networking in the focus. VDR reported the following highlights of the AirPlus International survey of German top managers, regarding business travel:

• 97% see disadvantages in replacing business trips with video conferences, citing in particular the lack of both personal encounters and opportunities for networking;
• 47% expect trips will increase or significantly increase in the next 12 months, 29% do not expect any change, while 25% expect a decline;
• 46% expect a significant increase in 'bleisure' trips;
• 55% expect customer preference and social acceptance of travel to have a significant influence on travel behaviour in the future, followed by traveller safety (54%). Travel costs are expected to play a rather minor role in relation to other factors (44%);
• 54% expect colleague's air travel to increase or increase significantly, and 52% expect the same to be the case for train journeys and trips in their own cars;
• In order to reduce business travel costs, the proportion of measures that have already been implemented has improved consistently compared to 2019. The introduction of lower cost travel options, such as rides on services like Uber, has been particularly popular. In 2019, 31% implemented this measure, with this now increased to 55%. [more - original PR - German]

UK Home Office announced (25-Jul-2023) children aged 10 or over will be able to enter the UK using eGates across 15 airports and rail ports, effective 24-Jul-2023. The announcement follows successful trials at London Gatwick Airport, London Heathrow Airport and London Stansted Airport during spring 2024. [more - original PR]

Qatar Airways announced (25-Jul-2023) Iberia joined its Qatar Joint Business (QJB) partnership with British Airways as the Spanish carrier prepares to launch daily Madrid-Doha service from 11-Dec-2023. Iberia CEO Fernando Candela stated: "Through QJB hubs in London and Doha, we are building the much-desired bridge between Spain and more than 200 destinations in Asia, Australasia, the Middle-East and Africa, and offering new opportunities for travellers in both directions". Qatar Airways and British Airways launched their partnership in Oct-2016, serving over 200 destinations in 60 countries. [more - original PR - Qatar Airways] [more - original PR - British Airways]

Air Canada relocated (26-Jul-2023) operations to Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport. The terminal migration represents a customer service milestone in the carrier's strategic partnership with Emirates Airline, as the co-location of each airline's operations in the flagship terminal is set to significantly enhance the connecting customer experience. Emirates Airline CCO Adnan Kazim stated: "Working closely with Air Canada, we hope to further enhance travel experiences and offer even more convenient connectivity for travellers". According to OAG, the carrier previously operated from Terminal 1 at Dubai International Airport. [more - original PR]

RwandAir is scheduled to increase Kigali-London Heathrow frequency from four times weekly to daily, effective 28-Oct-2023, according to OAG and the CAPA Route Changes Database. The airline operates the service with A330 equipment. As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier commenced nonstop Kigali-London service in Nov-2022, replacing Kigali-Brussels-London service.

Expedia Group reported the following highlights from an online consumer survey conducted in Mar-2023 (Skift, 18-Jul-2023):

• 72% of respondents were planning additional leisure travel in 2023 to make up for missed opportunities in recent years, including 78% of Gen Z and Millennial respondents;
• Travel intent was led by consumers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (84% planning leisure trips) and the Americas (83%);
• 5% plan to significantly reduce their travel budget for a single trip, compared to 2022. 81% plan to maintain or increase their budget;
• 46% plan to make fewer clothing purchases for travel, 43% plan to reduce souvenir purchases and 42% plan to reduce purchases of new luggage;
• 39% plan to make a business trip in the next 12 months, up from 32% in Jul-2022. 51% of US consumers were planning to travel for business, up from 29% in Jul-2022;
• 95% of travel reward and loyalty programme members plan to travel for leisure in the next 12 months, compared to 67% of non-members;
• 77% of respondents were most interested in travel awards that can be applied to any element of a trip, regardless of brand, including 83% of Millennials and 82% of Gen Z.

The survey was conducted in partnership with Wakefield Research and involved 5500 adults from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the UK and US.

Emirates Airline announced (18-Jul-2023) plans to introduce a preordering service for all business class passengers from 25-Jul-2023. Passengers will be able to preselect their hot main meal up to 14 days prior to departure, ensuring customer preferences are met and reducing food wastage. The initiative will initially be rolled out on the carrier's Dubai services to London Gatwick, London Heathrow and London Stansted. Emirates plans to expand the service to additional routes and cabin classes in the near future. [more - original PR]

eDreams ODIGEO announced (17-Jul-2023) the following measures to support travellers impacted by travel disruption, focusing on leveraging technology, enhancing financial protection and advocating for consumer rights:

• Advanced refunds for customers booked with "select trusted airlines", issued before the carriers release the funds. eDreams ODIGEO processes advanced refunds valued at EUR15 million p/a and the company intends to expand the initiative;
• Sales of flights with 15 airlines "that have systematically failed to comply with rules regarding refunds" will be discontinued. eDreams ODIGEO stated the 15 airlines "have consistently breached their refund obligations to consumers" and it may disclose the brands of the airlines "if the carriers continue to withhold customer refunds";
• eDreams ODIGEO has been working with bodies including the European Commission and the UK Civil Aviation Authority in calling for stronger enforcement of passenger regulations and the establishment of an airline bankruptcy fund. [more - original PR]