Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

SWISS announced (24-Oct-2017) the following new services to launch in summer 2018:

• Zurich-Bordeaux: 12 times weekly from 26-Mar-2018;
• Zurich-Kiev: Four times weekly from 26-Mar-2018. The carrier last served Kiev in Oct-2014;
• Zurich-Marseille: Three times weekly from 21-Apr-2018;
• Zurich-Wroclaw: Extend winter 2017/18 service three times weekly in summer 2018.

The summer destinations from Zurich will be served using various aircraft types including its carrier's new Bombardier CS100s and CS300s, with bookings open from 25-Oct-2017. [more - original PR]

Austrian Airlines completed (24-Oct-2017) installation of premium economy seating on the first of 12 long haul aircraft. The Boeing 767-300ER subsequently operated Vienna-Chicago service with the new offering. As previously reported by CAPA, the aircraft now operates in a 167 economy, 18 premium economy and 26 business class seat configuration. The aircraft previously operated with 178 economy and 36 business class seats. Complete refitting of the Austrian Airlines long haul fleet is scheduled to be concluded by spring 2018. The premium economy offering includes a wider seat, footrest, separate central armrest with fold-out table and cocktail table, 12in screen with remote control, power and USB outlets and amenity kit. [more - original PR - English/German]

CellPoint Mobile welcomed (24-Oct-2017) the decision by Apple to make the Apple Pay mobile payment and digital wallet service available in Denmark, Sweden and Finland, effective 24-Oct-2017. The service launched in 2014 and is in 20 markets globally, handling 90% of mobile contactless transactions. CellPoint Mobile stated it can act as an entry point to Apple pay for travel merchants in the Nordic region, offering the first-mover market benefits associated with this launch. [more - original PR]

Italy's Mayor of Crotone Ugo Pugliese stated an airline is interested in operating from Crotone Airport to three destinations, with operations potentially able to launch in Dec-2017 (cn24tv.it, 23-Oct-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, Sacal SpA was awarded a 30 year concession for the total management of Crotone Airport and Reggio di Calabria Tito Menniti Airport in Sep-2017.

The Gambia Experience, a UK tour operator, commenced four times weekly London Gatwick-Banjul service for the 2017/18 winter season (The Point, 23-Oct-2017). The company handled 186 passengers on the initial service, operated with A320 equipment. ASKY Airlines, Corendon Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, TUI Airlines Belgium and TUI Airlines Netherlands are also expected to operate seasonal Banjul services. Gambia Tourism Board director of marketing Adama Njie said the board expects 200,000 arrivals for the 2017/18 season.

Lufthansa senior director Japan and Korea Donald Bunkenburg said the carrier is considering introducing the A350-900 on Munich-Tokyo Haneda service during winter 2017/18, replacing 281 seat A340-600 aircraft (Travel Vision, 22-Oct-2017). The carrier has not decided which A350 configuration aircraft it will deploy on the service. According to the CAPA Fleet Database, Lufthansa has 293 and 319 seat configurations for its A350s.

Alitalia CCO Fabio Maria Lazzerini affirmed Alitalia aims to reinforce its long haul network ahead of its short haul network (BTN, 23-Oct-2017). "Our goal is to increase... long haul connectivity. That's the only way", he said, explaining: "We can still compete well with the low cost carriers, but we cannot do only that; it can be a portion to feed our long haul connections".

Saarbruecken Airport confirmed (Oct-2017) a five year contract with Luxair to operate 18 times weekly Saarbruecken-Berlin service from 01-Jan-2018. Luxair will station a 70 seat Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft at the airport. Fares start from EUR149. [more - original PR - German]

Qantas and Emirates, in a submission to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) 'Application for Revocation and Substitution of Authorisations A91332 and A91333', seeking a five year renewal of the existing partnership, stated (11-Oct-2017) Emirates may launch a second daily nonstop Dubai-Auckland service as part of a reexamination of its New Zealand strategy. "Emirates... is currently evaluating a potential second daily direct service between Auckland and Dubai," the submission stated. As previously reported by CAPA, Emirates revealed plans to suspend Melbourne-Auckland and Brisbane-Auckland A380 services from 25-Mar-2018. The application cites a 13% decline in connecting traffic between Australia and New Zealand, and notes: "Qantas and Emirates expect this trend to continue as carriers add more direct services to and from New Zealand in the future". [more - original PR]