Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Air France-KLM, via its official website, announced (22-Nov-2023) Air France and SNCF expanded their 'Train + Air' product between the French regions and Paris CDG and Paris Orly via Massy TGV station, since mid Oct-2023, with the following eight new routes:

• Arras to Paris CDG and Paris Orly, via Massy TGV;
• Laval to Paris CDG and Paris Orly, via Massy TGV;
• Lille Flandres to Paris CDG and Paris Orly, via Massy TGV;
• Perpignan-Paris CDG;
• Aix en Provence-Paris-ORY, via Massy TGV.

The network expansion increases the routes offer by Air France as part of the service to 41, with departures from 22 stations. [more - original PR - French]

Air France and KLM announced (21-Nov-2023) Centrum Reisebyrå renewed its participation in the corporate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) programme for an additional year. Air France and KLM sales director Halvor Gløersen highlighted: "Centrum Reisebyrå is the largest franchise in the Amex GBT group", and "this contribution will increase both demand and production of SAF". As previously reported by CAPA, the programme enables business customers to determine their annual SAF contribution, after estimating the CO2 emissions associated with their trips. [more - original PR - Norwegian]

Collinson announced (21-Nov-2023) an exclusive partnership with Delaware North which will enable Collinson's Priority Pass Members to access 13 F&B outlets across the following airports in Australia and New Zealand:

• Adelaide Airport:
  • Coopers Alehouse;
  • Pantry;
  • Precinct;
• Auckland International Airport:
  • Best Ugly Bagels (Domestic);
  • Best Ugly Bagels (International);
  • Orleans Chicken & Waffles;
  • Blue Marble Lane;
  • Oma Artisan Bakery & Café;
• Melbourne Tullamarine Airport:
  • The Local Taphouse (opening in late Nov-2023);
  • Pickett's Deli & Rotisserie;
  • Stomping Ground Brewery and Beer Hall;
• Perth Airport:
  • Coffee Quarter;
  • Hatchery Collective Bar & Grill.

The partnership enables Priority Pass Members to redeem lounge credits for dining credits of set menus at the locations. [more - original PR]

South African Airways (SAA) announced (21-Nov-2023) plans to suspend Lilongwe and Blantyre services, effective 30-Nov-2023, due to "recent economic challenges in Malawi". SAA confirmed it has been "monitoring the situation of substantial devaluation of the Malawian Kwacha, acute foreign currency shortages, and the escalation of blocked funds". SAA CEO John Lamola stated: "This move should not be interpreted as a step back from the airline's commitment to serving the people of Malawi and promoting trade links between South Africa and Malawi", but added: "We cannot commit to routes that are not financially sustainable". Mr Lamola said: "We remain open to resuming the route to Malawi as soon as the situation warrants the substance of financially efficient operations from this route". [more - original PR]

Lufthansa Group, via its official LinkedIn account, announced (20-Nov-2023) the expansion of the BusinessToGo innovative travel solution to the UK and France, in partnership with Navan. The expansion follows the platform's introduction in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium in 2022. The platform, which can be accessed by web and mobile devices, provides companies with an all in one solution to book travel services. Lufthansa Group's loyalty programme PartnerPlusBenefit is also integrated into BusinessToGo, enabling users to earn points when booking Lufthansa flights.

Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA Airways) and Korean Air signed (20-Nov-2023) a codeshare agreement for connectivity via Rome Fiumicino Airport and Seoul Incheon International Airport. The partnership is expected to facilitate trade relations and increase tourist flows between Italy and South Korea. Effective 21-Nov-2023, Korean Air will codeshare on ITA Airways' services connecting Rome to Bologna, Venice, Turin, Trieste, Genoa, Bari, Brindisi, Florence, Catania, Palermo, Naples, Madrid, Barcelona, Athens, Cairo and Munich. ITA Airways will codeshare on Korean Air services connecting Seoul Incheon to Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa Airport, Busan, Daegu, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo. The carriers are also working to expand the scope of cooperation, with the aim of offering additional travel combinations. [more - original PR - Italian]

Beond commenced (16-Nov-2023) scheduled operations on 16-Nov-2023 with the launch of twice weekly Male-Munich service with A319 equipment. The Maldives based start-up airline plans to commence Male-Zurich and Male-Riyadh service in the coming days, followed by the launch of services to Milan and Dubai in spring 2024. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - Munich Airport]

UK's Home Office and Visas and Immigration announced (15-Nov-2023) the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) scheme officially opened for travellers from Qatar, effective 15-Nov-2023, for travel to the UK. Qataris have been able to apply for an ETA since 25-Oct-2023, with most doing so via a mobile app. Nationals of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates will need an ETA to travel to the UK from 22-Feb-2024, with ETA applications to open on 01-Feb-2024. UK's Ambassador to Qatar Jon Wilks added: "I am delighted to announce the official opening of the electronic travel authorisation scheme for Qatari nationals, who will be the first in the world to benefit from the scheme. This initiative not only simplifies the travel process for Qataris visiting the UK but also reflects the strength of our bilateral relationship". [more - original PR]

WestJet announced (15-Nov-2023) plans to resume the following services under its summer 2024 schedule:

• Toronto-Dublin: Daily from 01-Mar-2024;
• Halifax-London Gatwick: Four times weekly from 28-Apr-2024;
• St John's-London Gatwick: Three times weekly from 01-May-2024;
• Toronto-Edinburgh: Daily from 14-May-2024;
• Halifax-Dublin: Four times weekly from 19-Jun-2024.

According to OAG, the carrier last operated St John's-London Gatwick service in Oct-2017, while the remaining services were last operated in Aug/Oct-2022. WestJet EVP and CCO John Weatherill stated: "As we continue to expand upon our growth story, we are not only providing increased accessibility to Canadians but fostering crucial connectivity between communities and driving economic growth through inbound leisure and business travel". [more - original PR -I] [more - original PR - II] [more - original PR - III] [more - original PR - IV]

Delta Air Lines and airBaltic announced (15-Nov-2023) the launch of a codeshare partnership effective 22-Nov-2023. Delta will codeshare on 20 airBaltic-operated routes serving the carrier's leading cities including Riga, Tallinn and Vilnius. airBaltic president and CEO Martin Gauss stated the partnership will "not only attract new passengers to airBaltic, but also elevate the Baltics' global visibility and connectivity". This follows US FAA awarding Latvia an International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) Category 1 rating in Jul-2023, enabling Latvian carriers to provide service to/from the US and enter into codeshare agreements with US carriers. [more - original PR - Delta] [more - original PR - airBaltic]