Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Eastern Airways received (08-Sep-2017) the first of two new ATR 72-600 aircraft (MSNs 1448 and 1482) from Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) on 08-Sep-2017. Both aircraft are configured with 72 seats and will operate on Aberdeen-Scatsta oil contract charter services. Eastern Airways COO Tony Burgess added the aircraft "are ideally suited for the airports we fly to and environments we operate in", as the regional carrier expands its capabilities in the 70 seat market. Eastern Airways is a new customer for NAC. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Air France-KLM reported (09-Sep-2017) the following traffic highlights for Air France, KLM and HOP! for Aug-2017:

• Passengers: 7.6 million, +5.6% year-on-year;
  • Long haul: 2.6 million, +2.6%;
    • North America: 820,000, +6.1%;
    • Asia Pacific: 560,000, -0.7%;
    • Africa and Middle East: 542,000, +4.4%;
    • Caribbean and Indian Ocean: 351,000, +2.1%;
    • Latin America: 281,000, -2.7%;
  • Short and Medium haul: 5.1 million, +7.2%;
• Passenger load factor: 89.6%, +1.5ppts;
  • Long haul: 90.7%, +1.3ppts;
    • Asia Pacific: 92.3%, +0.6ppt;
    • Latin America: 91.2%, +2.7ppts;
    • North America: 90.8%, +2.5ppts;
    • Caribbean and Indian Ocean: 89.3%, +0.4ppt;
    • Africa and Middle East: 88.4%, stable;
  • Short and Medium haul: 85.5%, +2.5ppts. [more - original PR]

Armenia's General Department of Civil Aviation (GDCA) Head Sergey Avetisyan presented (08-Sep-2017) an action plan on aviation development, upcoming programmes and expected results of cooperation with international aviation organisations. Ongoing EU-Armenia talks about a common aviation zone commenced in 2017. Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan instructed Mr Avetisyan to work with partners to strengthen and develop aviation industry relations, providing the necessary conditions for the implementation of international services. Matters relating to the expansion of Armenia's air connectivity, airport and air transport market development and training were also discussed at the meeting. [more - original PR - English/Armenian]

Ukraine's State Aviation Administration held (08-Sep-2017) a round of consultations with Kazakhstan's aeronautical authorities. While the parties agreed the 1993 air services agreement currently in place meets existing requirements, Ukraine's State Aviation Administration plans to prepare a new draft agreement to reflect Ukraine's national liberalisation policy, as well as ICAO standards and practices. Ukraine and Kazakhstan plan to conduct the next round of consultations in Dec-2017. [more - original PR - Ukrainian]

DHL commenced (08-Sep-2017) twice weekly service from Oslo to Seoul and Shanghai with Boeing 747-400F equipment on 08-Sep-2017. The service is expected to meet strong demand for Norwegian seafood and connects with DHL's existing Lakselv-Oslo service. The carrier will increase Lakselv-Oslo frequency from weekly to twice weekly. [more - original PR]

Emirates president Tim Clark said the airline is not ready to commit to an order for additional A380 aircraft (Bloomberg, 07-Sep-2017). Sir Tim said: "I know they [Airbus] would like us to do something. At the moment we are not at that state of readiness. We need copper-bottomed undertakings that they would do everything they needed to do to keep the programme going. We don't want to be left with aircraft that have no value". Airbus reportedly hopes to secure an order from the airline at the Dubai Airshow in Nov-2017.

Pegasus Airlines plans to consider increasing the frequency of Germany, Spain and UK services in 2017, according to CCO Guliz Ozturk (Reuters, 07-Sep-2017). Ms Ozturk said: "If the market demand is there, because of the perception of an improvement in the situation in Turkey, we will utilise that demand".

TACV cancelled (06-Sep-2017) all services during the period 06-Sep-2017 to 11-Sep-2017 due to a lack of operational aircraft. The airline will accommodate all affected passengers through third party carriers, or issue refunds. The airline reported technical issues with its only aircraft, a Boeing 757, since 01-Sep-2017 and said it was unable to secure a replacement engine or lease a replacement aircraft. Praia-Lisbon and São Vicente-Lisbon services will be operated by EuroAtlantic. [more - original PR - Portuguese] [more - original PR - Portuguese - II]

Lion Air Group, via its official Facebook account, announced (07-Sep-2017) Lion Air plans to commence services from Balikpapan, Banda Aceh, Bandung, Padang, Palembang, Pekanbaru, Solo and Tanjung Karang to Jeddah in mid Oct-2017. The services will cater to demand from Umrah pilgrims and will operate with a refuelling stop at Thiruvananthapuram Trivandrum International Airport. As previously reported by CAPA, the airline plans to commence Bandar Lampung-Thiruvananthapuram-Jeddah service on 21-Oct-2017, Pekanbaru-Thiruvananthapuram-Madinah service on 22-Oct-2017, Palembang-Thiruvananthapuram-Jeddah service on 23-Oct-2017 and Padang-Thiruvananthapuram-Madinah service on 26-Oct-2017.

Qantas reached (07-Sep-2017) an agreement with Airbus to upgrade the cabins of its 12 A380s to improve passenger comfort on long haul operations while maximising economics. In particular, the upgrade will meet the airline's increased demand for revenue-enhancing premium cabins on flights to the US, Europe and Asia. Airbus will be responsible for the overall upper-deck integration. In addition Airbus will develop specific tailored monuments for Qantas and a new and unique business lounge area in the forward upper-deck. Capacity after the upgrade will be:

• 14 First class suites (unchanged);
• 70 Business class suites (up by six);
• 60 Premium economy seats (up by 25);
• 341 Economy seats (down by 30);
• Total of 485 seats (up by one).

The new interior takes advantage of the A380's large floor area to most efficiently embody Qantas' latest seat products for business class and premium economy. Installation will start in 2Q2019. All 12 aircraft are planned to be upgraded by around the end of 2020. [more - original PR]