Corporate Travel News For Europe/MEA

Star Alliance inaugurated (12-Oct-2023) its second lounge at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport on 12-Oct-2023. The new lounge will serve first and business class passengers and Star Alliance Gold status customers on member airline flights departing from gates 10 to 38 in Terminal 1. Eligible United Club and Air Canada Maple Leaf Club members may also access the lounge. The new 1300sqm lounge was designed by Gensler and can accommodate over 300 guests. The first Star Alliance lounge, which is located prior to security on level 10 in Terminal 1, will now serve passengers departing on intra-Schengen flights from gates 50 to 78 and guests from various lounge access programmes departing from all gates. [more - original PR]

EUROCONTROL reported (12-Oct-2023) the following highlights for European aviation, for the period between 02-Oct-2023 and 08-Oct-2023:

• The network recorded 31,099 average daily flights, -2.5% week-on-week, +8% year-on-year and at 94% of 2019 levels;
• Intra Europe: 24,439 daily flights, -3% week-on-week and 95% of 2019 levels;
• Intercontinental: 5871 daily flights, -1% week-on-week and 90% of 2019 levels;
• On the intercontinental network, the main regional flow was Europe-Middle East (1515 average daily flights, 4% above 2019 levels);
• Flows with other Europe (including Russia) remain "massively reduced" at -66% compared to 2019 (401 average daily flights);
• The Europe-North Africa is recording the highest growth compared to 2019 (+13%, 1175 average daily flights);
• UK-US was the top long haul country pair, with 343 average daily flights, +3% week-on-week and +6% compared with 2019;
• Mainline (+22% compared to 2022), non scheduled (+6%), low cost (+6%) and regional (+3%) sectors are recording growth since the pandemic;
• Business (+2%) has increased especially in Italy, Spain and France, owing to special events such as the Rugby World Cup in France, political summit in Andalusia and closing parties in Ibiza;
• All cargo (-5%) is levelling off with no more rebound effect from 2022 events such as Omicron or the start of the Russia/Ukraine war. [more - original PR]

Air France-KLM, via its official website, announced (10-Oct-2023) the Air France and KLM incentive programme Crescendo will stop by the end of 2023. The programme enables frontline agents to gain points when selling Air France and KLM tickets.

Angola's Government announced (02-Oct-2023) a Presidential Decree to provide tourist visa exemptions for citizens of 98 countries. The exemptions cover 14 countries in Africa, 23 in Asia Pacific, 35 in Europe, four in the Middle East and 22 in the Americas. Visitors from the countries will be able to stay in Angola for up to 30 days per entry and up to 90 days p/a. [more - original PR - Portuguese]

Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport, via its official website, announced (08-Oct-2023) international flights scheduled to depart from Terminal 1 will be transferred to Terminal 3 from 08-Oct-2023 until further notice. The airport also announced all domestic flights will depart from and arrive at Terminal 3, effective 08-Oct-2023.

Uganda Airlines, via its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, announced (08-Oct-2023) it commenced three times weekly Mumbai-Entebbe service with A330-800 on 07-Oct-2023. Mumbai is the airline's second international destination outside Africa and its 12th destination overall.

LOT Polish Airlines announced (06-Oct-2023) a new codeshare partnership with JetBlue Airways, effective as early as winter 2023/24. The partnership enables eligible passengers to travel to the following destinations on a single ticket:

• Poland:
  • Warsaw;
  • Krakow;
  • Rzeszow;
• US:
  • Atlanta;
  • Boston;
  • Detroit;
  • Las Vegas;
  • Orlando.
  • Washington DC.

The partnership builds upon an existing interlining relationship between the carriers. As previously reported by CAPA, LOT Polish Airlines terminated its codeshare partnership with United Airlines in late Sep-2023. [more - original PR]

Mexico's Government announced (03-Oct-2023) plans to introduce visa requirements for travellers transiting through the country's international airports. Permanent residents of Canada, US, Japan, UK and countries belonging to the Schengen Area or Pacific Alliance will be exempt from the requirement. [more - original PR - Spanish]

London Heathrow Airport launched (03-Oct-2023) a six month trial of 'Heathrow Timeslot', a free service enabling passengers to pre-book a security slot ahead of their journey. The trial will initially open to passengers in Terminal 3 travelling with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates Airline and Virgin Atlantic Airways. Findings from the trial will inform any future roll-out of the service at the airport. [more - original PR]

SAS selected (03-Oct-2023) Castlelake, Air France-KLM, Lind Invest and the Danish State as the winning bidder consortium in its exit financing solicitation process. Details include:

• The transaction structure includes a USD1175 million investment in the reorganised SAS, including USD475 million in new unlisted equity, USD700 million in secured convertible debt and a USD500 million refinancing by Castlelake of SAS' debtor-in-possession term loan;
• Post-reorganisation shareholder structure:
  
  • Castlelake: 32% of equity and 55.1% of convertible debt;
  • Danish State: 25.8% of equity and 29.9% of convertible debt;
  • Air France-KLM: 19.9% of equity and 5% of convertible debt;
  • Lind Invest: 8.6% of equity and 10% of convertible debt;
  • The remaining 13.6% of equity is likely to be held by certain creditors that may receive recovery in equity;
• The convertible debt is expected to be secured and have a maturity of seven years and an interest of SOFR plus 650bps p/a, and may be converted into common shares based on certain terms and valuation metrics. The convertible debt is further expected to be subject to an upfront fee corresponding to 1.5% of the committed amount, payable to the investors by the reorganised SAS;
• Implementation of the Chapter 11 Plan in Sweden by way of SAS AB (the listed parent company for the SAS group) filing for a Swedish reorganisation in 2024;
• Cancellation and redemption of all of SAS AB's common shares (for zero consideration) and all listed commercial hybrid bonds (expected to receive only a modest recovery) and consequently a delisting from Nasdaq Stockholm, Nasdaq Copenhagen and Oslo Børs following completion of the Swedish reorganisation, which is expected to occur during 2Q2024;
• The details for the transaction structure remain to be finalised between the investors and SAS. The transaction will also need to be approved as part of SAS' Chapter 11 plan of reorganisation.

SAS is expected to eventually join SkyTeam and exit Star Alliance. SAS will seek to establish a commercial cooperation with Air France-KLM and its airlines. Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith stated: "Air France-KLM looks forward to establishing strong commercial ties with SAS. With its well-established position in Scandinavia and strong brand, SAS offers tremendous potential to Air France-KLM. This cooperation will allow Air France-KLM to enhance its position in the Nordics and improve connectivity for Scandinavian and European travellers". [more - original PR - SAS] [more - original PR - Air France-KLM]