Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

SAS announced (20-Sep-2017) plans to operate four times daily Stockholm Arlanda-Ornskoldsvik service from 08-Apr-2018, operating with ATR 72-600 aircraft. Bookings are expected to commence on 03-Oct-2017. Head of sales Sweden & Finland Anders Wahlström stated "Örnsköldsvik is an exciting market…with a large export-oriented business community". [more - original PR - Swedish]

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport stated (20-Sep-2017) air freight traffic has been "increasing dynamically over the past months" in Hungary, "even exceeding the double-digit growth rate registered in passenger traffic". The airport confirmed plans to commence construction of a new freight facility called 'Cargo City' in 2018. [more - original PR]

Air Mediterranean detailed (19-Sep-2017) route development plans from Athens International Airport, effective 01-Nov-2017:

• Athens-London Stansted: Four times weekly;
• London Stansted-Athens-Erbil: Twice weekly;
• London Stansted-Athens-Baghdad: Weekly;
• London Stansted-Athens-Khartoum: Twice weekly;
• Athens-Stockholm Arlanda-Four times weekly;
• Stockholm-Athens-Erbil: Twice weekly;
• Stockholm-Athens-Baghdad: Weekly;
• Stockholm-Athens-Khartoum: Twice weekly;
• Athens-Jeddah: Three times weekly;
• Athens-Casablanca: Three times weekly;
• Jeddah-Athens-Casablanca: Three times weekly.

Athens International Airport director, communications and marketing Ioanna Papadopoulou said: "Increasing number of connections to destinations including not only already operated markets, such as London, Stockholm and Jeddah, but additionally, markets that are totally new to the Athens market, such as Casablanca, Khartoum, Baghdad and Erbil are offering new travel choices to the travelling public". [more - original PR]

Air Malta chairman Dr Charles Mangion stated (20-Sep-2017) the introduction of the carrier's "Go-Light" fare type is "tangible proof of a changing National airline". The fare type includes two products, 'Go Smart' or 'Go Flex'. Dr Mangion said: "This is a bold step for us, aimed to offer an enhanced and superior product whilst also increasing much needed revenue... The hybrid model adopted provides guests with a unique platform that empowers them to build a tailor made product according to their wants and needs". [more - original PR]

Ireland's Minister for Transport Shane Ross published (20-Sep-2017) a policy statement on revised government policy covering regulation of airport charges at Dublin Airport. Mr Ross said: "I am delighted the Government has agreed to reform how prices are set at Dublin Airport, placing consumers' interests first". Mr Ross also thanked the Commission for Aviation Regulation, supported by Aer Lingus and Ryanair, for its regulatory oversight in the Dublin's development as a "highly connected modern international airport". [more - original PR]

British Airways announced plans to launch twice weekly London Heathrow-Seychelles service, effective 24-Mar-2018. Service will operate with Boeing 787-9 equipment. [more - original PR]

Small Planet Airlines Germany reportedly plans to expand its fleet to 10 A320 aircraft by the end of 2018 and launch services from Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover and Leipzig to destinations in Egypt, Greece, Malta and Spain (AeroTelegraph/ATO.ru, 16/19-Sep-2017). According to the CAPA Fleet Database, the carrier's fleet currently includes three A320-200s.

Brussels Airlines plans to commence route integration with Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium (TCAB) from 29-Oct-2017 (Routes Online, 19-Sep-2017). Brussels Airlines' SN code will eventually replace TCAB's HQ code from 29-Oct-2017, with the following routes subject to the change:

• Brussels-Agadir;
• Brussels-Almeria;
• Brussels-Boa Vista-Sal Amilcar-Brussels;
• Brussels-Djerba;
• Brussels-Enfidha;
• Brussels-Funchal-Gran Canaria-Brussels;
• Brussels-Gran Canaria;
• Brussels-Hurghada;
• Brussels-Lanzarote;
• Brussels-Lanzarote-Fuerteventura-Brussels;
• Brussels-Marrakech;
• Brussels-Marsa Alam;
• Brussels-Palma Mallorca;
• Brussels-Tenerife Sur.

As previously reported by CAPA, the Belgian Competition Authority approved the integration of TCAB assets into Brussels Airlines on 12-Sep-2017. Under a partnership agreement announced in Mar-2017, Thomas Cook will transfer 160 crew members, airport slots and two A320 aircraft of TCAB into Brussels Airlines.

Tourism Ireland reported (19-Sep-2017) a 31% year-on-year increase in North American visitors to Northern Ireland in 1Q2017. Tourism Ireland is engaged in an extensive North American promotional programme over 2017, including highlighting Northern Ireland's tourism offerings in partnership with Tourism NI. [more - original PR]

Egencia released (19-Sep-2017) the fourth edition of its 'Business Travel and Technology Survey'. The survey found "surprising differences" in the perceptions and confidence levels of global business travelers on the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality on corporate travel, with foreign business travelers much more pessimistic about the potential of emerging technologies to improve the business travel experience, compared to confidence levels of US business travellers:

• 55% of US business travellers believe AI advancements can improve their travel experience. US business travellers also recognise the need for balance between technology and human interaction;
• Business travellers in regions have lower confidence levels in how AI advancements can improve their business travel experiences in the future. Sweden and Norway were the least likely to believe AI advancements will improve their travel experiences, at 37%, followed by 41% in the UK and Germany, 42% in Australia, 44% in Canada and France, and 47% in Singapore;
• The US is the most demanding for mobile accessibility across devices, with 76% wanting greater cross-device integration;
• 68% of business travellers in Singapore and Sweden want to more efficiently manage their travel across devices, compared to 65% in Canada and Norway, 64% in France and the UK, 62% in Germany. [more - original PR]