Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Air France is reportedly considering suspending service to Tahiti amid continued strike action by flight attendants based in Tahiti (Radio NZ/deplacementspros.com, 13-Nov-2017). The strike action comes as ongoing talks between the carrier and the UFSA-UNSA flight attendants union related to a collective agreement and changes to distribution of wages reportedly failed to reach a resolution.

ANA Airports of Portugal outlined (13-Nov-2017) short term investment plans for Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, including the duplication of shipping channels for all Schengen ports in terminal 1 that do not yet have this facility, creation of two new non-Schengen boarding gates, ongoing installation of automatic lines in the security control, intended to increase passenger processing and the quality of the service provided, and the renovation of the check in area. [more - original PR]

French Blue announced plans to commence ticket sales for inaugural service to French Polynesia in coming weeks (RadioNZ/Tahiti-infos, 13-Nov-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier plans to launch twice weekly Paris-San Francisco-Papeete service on 11-May-2018 with A350 aircraft. The carrier will add around 45,000 annual seats to Tahiti from 2019 with the service. The new service is yet to receive US FAA approval for landing rights in San Francisco.

IATA identified (13-Nov-2017) five priorities for aviation to "deliver maximum economic and social benefits" in Africa:

• Enhancing safety efforts;
• Enabling airlines to improve intra-Africa connectivity;
• Unblocking airline funds;
• Avoiding air traffic management re-fragmentation and over-investment;
• Ensuring that Africa has "the professionals it needs to support the industry's growth".

Aviation supports 6.8 million jobs and contributes USD72.5 billion in GDP to Africa. Over the next 20 years passenger demand is set to expand by an average of 5.7% p/a. IATA DG and CEO Alexandre de Juniac said: "Africa is the region with greatest aviation potential... Aviation is uniquely placed to link Africa's economic opportunities internally and beyond... Aviation can help in achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of poverty and improving both healthcare and education". [more - original PR]

Emirates president Tim Clark commented on the unveiling of the airline's new first class suites, stating: "There is a view that many carriers are pursuing a response to the demise of first class by coming up with some better business class product... I have to tell you that demand for first class on Emirates remains very strong" (Bloomberg, 12-Nov-2017).

Scotland's Government reportedly found a private operator interested in purchasing management rights for Glasgow Prestwick Airport and is expected to commence the formal sale process within the next few weeks (Scotland on Sunday/Glasgow Live, 12-Nov-2017). According to CAPA's profile on the airport, Prestwick was purchased by the Scottish Government from Infratil for GBP1 in Nov-2013, in order to prevent closure. The sale is expected to include provisions for the repayment of close to GBP40 million in loans to the Government.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated (06-Nov-2017) it would seek to enhance mutually beneficial cooperations with Cape Verde on five key areas including tourism. Meanwhile, Beijing Capital Airlines is interested in operating to Cape Verde, with an agreement being negotiated between Cape Verde and China for such a service, according to Cape Verde Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence Luís Filipe Tavares (Inforpress/expressodasilhas.sapo.cv, 10-Nov-2017). "On air transport there is the possibility of an air agreement with China to allow a Chinese company, Capital Airlines, to fly to take tourists to Cape Verde, just as the international TACV would fly to China to come and get Chinese tourists", the Minister said. Negotiations have already begun and are expected to be completed by mid-2018, providing TACV the potential to operate to China. [more - original PR]

Transavia launched (10-Nov-2017) a "newly revamped" YouTube channel aiming to appeal to a younger customer market. "Through the Transavia YouTube channel, we are strengthening our connection to Generation Z while also demonstrating that we are an airline that's accessible to everyone", said Transavia commercial director Erik-Jan Gelink. [more - original PR]

Russia refused Norwegian Group a permit to operate services in Russian airspace (takeoff.dk/Dagens Naeringsliv, 10-Nov-2017). Norwegian communications manager Lasse Sandaker-Nielsen stated: "We are disappointed that Norwegian authorities have not done more to ensure that a Norwegian company has the same rights as a Swedish to fly the fastest way to China, South Korea and Japan". Norwegian CEO Bjørn Kjos, speaking on CAPA TV in Oct-2017, confirmed the airline is interested in expanding its network to eastern markets but cannot do so without overflying permits from Russia.

EU issued (09-Nov-2017) the Association Implementation Report on Georgia, setting out the state of play of Georgia's commitments under the EU-Georgia Association Agreement since the meeting of the EU-Georgia Association Council of 02-Dec-2016 and ahead of its next meeting of 08-Dec-2017. The report noted tourism continues to be a fast growing sector, projected to account for 7% of GDP in 2017. A record number of international visitors is projected for 2017. The National Tourism Administration plans to carry out a number of marketing and informational activities involving foreign media outlets to support the fast-growing trend of the sector. Investments in tourism infrastructures are underway. [more - original PR]