Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

SA Airlink commenced (14-Oct-2017) weekly Johannesburg-Windhoek-St Helena service with Embraer 190 equipment on 14-Oct-2017, marking the first commercial service at St Helena Airport. The airline also offers connections between Cape Town and St Helena via Windhoek. The carrier will also commence monthly St Helena-Ascension Island charter service on 18-Nov-2017. St Helena's Government stated: "The commencement of a commercial air service is St Helena's link to the rest of the world and will transform the Island's tourism industry. The growth of the tourism industry will have a positive knock-on effect for other sectors including, agriculture, fisheries and construction". Governor Lisa Phillips said: "We are determined to make sure that air services work to benefit all St Helenians and bring about a higher standard of living for those on the Island". [more - original PR]

ForwardKeys CEO Olivier Jager, speaking at the CAPA-ACTE Global Summit, stated (13-Oct-2017) the Chinese traveller is "very resilient", however the US travel ban's associated uncertainty impacted travel from China to the US. Mr Jager stated a lack of clarity around the ban could have made Chinese travellers suspect more difficult visa conditions, or feel "unwelcome". Mr Jager stated travellers from China "travel everywhere they're allowed to", while confirming large scale growth in certain destinations after visa regimes were relaxed. Moldova, Serbia and Tunisia saw Chinese traveller increase of 253%, 183% and 240%, respectively, following the relaxation of visa regimes.

Arab Air Carriers Organization (AACO) secretary general Abdul Wahab Teffaha commented on the EU's list of banned airlines, stating: "We believe it's not helpful, and we believe that instead of being passive - identifying some things and not doing anything about it - the EU has to be proactive" (Arabian Aerospace, 11-Oct-2017). Mr Teffaha called for the EU to support the improvement of aviation safety and security for banned airlines and countries, commenting: "They have to teach those lessons".

fastjet, via its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, announced (12-Oct-2017) plans to commence nine times weekly Maputo-Beira, daily Maputo-Nampula and four times weekly Maputo-Tete services, effective 03-Nov-2017. As previously reported by CAPA, the airline entered a brand licence agreement with Solenta Aviation Mozambique for the launch of fastjet Mozambique.

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA CEO Bjørn Kjos, speaking on the sidelines of CAPA-ACTE Global Summit, stated the carrier "could very well use the slots" of bankrupted Monarch Airlines "but it's not that easy to actually transfer slots" (Reuters, 12-Oct-2017). Monarch Airlines operates from London Luton Airport to 33 destinations across Europe and Middle East. Norwegian's subsidiaries Norwegian Air International and Norwegian Air UK operate from London Gatwick Airport.

Avinor CEO Dag Falk-Petersen stated (12-Oct-2017) the airport operator pursued an aggressive airport infrastructure and capacity expansion strategy in north west Norway "for many years", in order to support to dynamically increasing tourist traffic in the region, relative to the rest of the country. The strategy has included Avinor's New Bodo Airport development project, as well as assessment of new airport structures in Lofoten, Ofoten, Vesterålen and Helgeland. Mr Falk-Petersen said Avinor is now revising its north west strategy and will publish the details in 2018. [more - original PR - Norwegian]

Aircalin CEO Didier Tappero said (12-Oct-2017) the decision to purchase two A320neo aircraft and two A330neo aircraft from Airbus will drive the airline's strategy forward in the Asia Pacific region, along with its "ambition to promote the development of tourism in New Caledonia". Aircalin firmed up its order for two A320neo narrowbodies and two A330-900 widebodies earlier in Oct-2017. [more - original PR]

CAPA - Centre for Aviation executive chairman Peter Harbison, speaking at the CAPA-ACTE Global Summit, stated (12-Oct-2017) "super connectors" in the Middle East and Turkey are "losing steam", after "transforming aviation" over the last 20 years. Mr Harbison stated an average growth estimate of 13% p/a over the last 10 years slowed to just 0.5% in 2017. Mr Harbison said seat growth at Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines increased 159%, 210%, 253% and 241% respectively, over the past decade, slowing to 2.8%, -3.6%, 0.8% and 1.8% in 2017. He also pointed to investment strategies of the carriers. Emirates grew organically since its inception, while Etihad formed partnerships that "in a lot of ways didn't work" and is cutting back on expansion as a result. Mr Harbsion said Qatar Airways is a "victim of some unfortunate circumstances", but still "pretty resilient" with investments in IAG and LATAM. Turkish Airlines is also cutting back on expansion due to "troubles at home".

CAPA - Centre for Aviation stated (11-Oct-2017) Saudia received one A330-300 Regional (HZ-AQ29; serial number 1812) and one A320-200 (HZ-AS59; serial number 7789), as recorded by the CAPA Fleet Database. Both aircraft were delivered to International Airfinance Corporation and leased to the airline. Saudia now operates 19 A330-300 Regionals with one remaining on order and 40 A320s with 20 on order.

Emirates president Tim Clark said the airline is open to cooperation with Etihad Airways, but noted any decision to cooperate would be made by "my superiors" (Reuters, 11-Oct-2017). He said: "I think there is value to be had working more closely with them" and added: "There are many areas that the airlines could work together on like procurement".