Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Qatar Airways announced (08-Nov-2017) plans to launch four times weekly Doha-Thessaloniki service on 27-Mar-2018, utilising A320 aircraft. The carrier will be the sole operator on the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR]

Ethiopian Airlines announced (08-Nov-2017) plans to launch five times weekly Addis Ababa-Sao Paulo-Buenos Aires service on 08-Mar-2018, utilising Boeing 787 aircraft. Buenos Aires will mark the carrier's sixth gateway to the Americas. [more - original PR]

Lufthansa commenced (08-Nov-2017) five times weekly Berlin Tegel-New York JFK service with A330-300 equipment, the first time the carrier has stationed a long haul aircraft at Berlin Tegel since 2001. Lufthansa now offers direct connectivity from Frankfurt, Munich, Duesseldorf and Berlin to New York. Deutsche Lufthansa AG VP the Americas Tamur Goudarzi Pour stated the route highlights "the Group's "strong commitment" to servicing the US. As previously reported by CAPA, the route will be transferred to Eurowings in summer 2018. US visitors to Berlin reached 259,000 from Jan-2017 to Aug-2017, an increase of 9.9% year-on-year. [more - original PR]

IATA director general and CEO Alexandre de Juniac called (08-Nov-2017) on the UK Government to strengthen its international air connectivity by focusing on a cost effective expansion of London Heathrow Airport and "achieving early clarity on post-Brexit issues". Mr de Juniac added: "I don't believe that people will accept anything that turns back the clock on the achievements of the EU Common Aviation Area. Getting to a solution, however, will take effort. And there are both political and competitive interests at stake". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Travelport, in its Global Traveler Survey, highlighted (08-Nov-2017) the use of digital tools when planning, booking and experiencing a journey. The main findings from the global report, which surveyed 11,000 people worldwide, were as follows:

flyadeal CEO Con Korfiatis, speaking at the CAPA Asia Aviation Summit, said (08-Nov-2017) Saudi Arabia represents "a tremendous opportunity in aviation" and is "a country in tremendous transition". Rapid market liberalisation is "bringing with it tremendous growth in travel". Mr Korfiatis said the country's domestic market is "far from mature and represents a tremendous opportunity for very significant growth". Key pillars under the country's 'Vision 2030' economic diversification programme include the development of tourism and transport infrastructure, doubling the number of heritage sites, increasing Umrah passenger numbers from eight million to 30 million p/a, developing entertainment and culture, targeting three cities to be in the top 100 globally and increasing the proportion of women in the workforce to 30%.

Turkish Airlines CCO Ahmet Olmuştur, speaking at the CAPA Asia Aviation Summit, said (08-Nov-2017) 40% of global international traffic is within the range of narrowbody aircraft from Istanbul. Mr Olmuştur said 80 destinations in 37 countries are within three hours of Istanbul.

Tanzania's Government spokesman Hassan Abassi stated Air Tanzania would take delivery of its first Bombardier and Boeing aircraft during 2Q2018 and 3Q2018, with the carrier to add two CS300s in Jun-2018 and a 787-8 in Jul-2018 (The Citizen, 06-Nov-2017). "The two CS300 will be delivered in next June, while the much awaited 787 Boeng Dreamliner is scheduled to be delivered in July as it was announced earlier", he said. The aircraft, which will be leased from TGF - Tanzanian Government Flight, will be used to develop Tanzania's regional as well as longhaul network with focus on the UK and Asia. To address a lack of domestic connectivity, Air Tanzania has acquired three Bombardier Dash 8-400s, the third of which will deliver "in the near future".

Egypt's deputy Tourism Minister Adla Ragab stated the Ministry has authorised an increase in incentives offered to charter carriers that operate international services to Luxor, Aswan, Marsa Matrouh, Taba and Alamein (Al-Shorouk, 07-Nov-2017). Egypt reported a 52.3% year-on-year growth in tourists in 1H2017.

Ryanair launched (07-Nov-2017) digital initiatives under year four of its 'Always Getting Better' programme. Details include:

• New 'Ryanair Rooms' accommodation website and app;
• Dedicated Chinese language website;
• Personalised Ryanair.com website;
• 'Ryanair Tickets', in partnership with Coras, allowing customers to book tickets for London West End shows. [more - original PR]