Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Originair, via its official Facebook account, confirmed (25-Sep-2017) it is on track to launch Nelson-New Plymouth service on 29-Sep-2017. As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier plans to operate eight times weekly on the route utilising British Aerospace 18 seat Jetstream equipment. Originair MD Robert Inglis stated the direct service is a result of requests from travellers experiencing lengthy transiting times via Auckland and Wellington.

easyJet's bid for parts of airberlin's fleet reportedly comprises from 27 to 30 aircraft (Reuters, 26-Sep-2017). easyJet would reportedly be interested in crews and slots accompanying the aircraft, with airberlin CEO Thomas Winkelmann confirming the carrier is also interested in slots and crew at Berlin Tegel Airport.

Lufthansa Consulting stated (22-Sep-2017) airline consolidation has a strong impact on airports. Lufthansa Consulting noted that whereas short term service interruptions harm the customer experience and an airport's reputation, long term effects are more severe, creating smaller gateways and a risk of losing prominent long range services or even their hub status once a home carrier's business model comes under pressure. [more - original PR]

KLM president and CEO Pieter Elbers stated (25-Sep-2017) Brazil "is an important focus market for KLM". He commented on plans to launch Amsterdam-Fortaleza from May-2018, which will be KLM's third Brazilian destination. Mr Elbers said the plans open "new air routes between major cities in the north and northeast of Brazil", adding: "KLM's partnership with the Brazilian airline GOL creates a new strategic hub, which firmly links Amsterdam and South America... Fortaleza fits perfectly into our network strategy". [more - original PR]

Air France confirmed (25-Sep-2017) various aspects of Joon, referring to the new carrier as "designed to meet the expectations of a new generation of travellers". Details comprise:

• Fleet: Mix of A320, A340 and A350 equipment. Joon expects to receive its first A350 in 2019, and will operate 28 aircraft by 2020 (18 medium haul and 10 long haul);
• Routes, with fares from EUR39, effective from 01-Dec-2017:
  • Paris CDG-Barcelona: 51 times weekly;
  • Paris CDG-Berlin: 37 times weekly;
  • Paris CDG-Lisbon: 28 times weekly;
  • Paris CDG-Porto: Three times weekly;
• Routes effective from summer 2018:
  • Paris CDG-Fortaleza: Twice weekly from EUR249;
  • Paris CDG-Seychelles: Three times weekly from EUR299.

According to Air France's official Twitter account, Air France-KLM chairman and CEO Jean-Marc Janaillac said the carrier's business model is "between traditional and low cost". The carrier will also allow earning and usage of Air France's Flying Blue Miles. [more - original PR]

Kyrgyzstan's Department of Tourism director Azamat Zhamankulov stated (22-Sep-2017) tourism is one of the priority sectors in the national development strategy in the period to 2040. Mr Zhamankulov said an inflow of tourists is expected from the CIS, Europe, China, Southeast Asia and the Persian Gulf. Mr Zhamankulov added it is necessary to launch nonstop air services to destinations in these regions. [more - original PR - Russian]

El Al Israel Airlines plans to replace Boeing 767-300ER aircraft currently deployed on three times weekly Tel Aviv-Beijing route with 777-200ER aircraft from 30-Jun-2018 (Routes Online, 24-Sep-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, Israel's Minister of Tourism Yariv Levin stated China was Israel's fastest growing source of tourists in seven months to Jul-2017, amid an increase in nonstop services from Tel Aviv to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong and an enhanced cooperation with Ctrip. Over 64,000 Chinese tourists visited Israel over the seven month period, a 66% year-on-year increase.

Avolon CEO Dómhnal Slattery stated Hainan Airlines plans to launch Beijing-Dublin service with final government approvals pending (Irish Independent, 23-Sep-2017). The planned route has been in development for over 12 months. Mr Slattery also noted that Ireland needs to significantly expand its diplomatic presence in China if it is to capitalise on opportunities the country presents.
"The size of our representation, diplomatically, in China is de minimis", he said. "(Denmark's) trade and diplomatic representation is about 100 times larger than Ireland's. That's just not good enough. There are 1.4 billion people in China who want to drink Irish milk and eat Irish meat. We need to be the primary supplier there".

Airservices Australia‏, via its official Twitter account, reported (26-Sep-2017) the technical issue at Sydney Airport has been addressed, and the ANSP is working to resume to normal operations and clear the backlog of flights. Airservices Australia earlier confirmed a "system software failure" resulted in delays to domestic flights from Sydney Airport during the morning of 25-Sep-2017 (ABC News, 25-Sep-2017).

International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported (21-Sep-2017) work on Air Madagascar's planned strategic partnership is advancing, and a final agreement will require a substantial transfer in the 2017 budget to cover its liabilities accumulated from past losses. As previously reported by CAPA, Air Austral and Air Madagascar signed a MoU confirming Air Austral as the preferred bidder to become a strategic partner to Air Madagascar in Apr-2017. The parties expect to finalise the partnership in Oct-2017. [more - original PR]