News for South Pacific

Air Mauritius commenced (02-Nov-2022) twice weekly Mauritius-Perth service with A330-900 on 02-Nov-2022, marking the resumption of the airline's operations to Australia. The airline had suspended the service for more than two years. Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown noted international traffic remains down 44% compared to pre-pandemic levels and said the airport will continue to work with airlines and the Western Australia Government to increase services. [more - original PR]

Qantas Airways stated (01-Nov-2022) Qantas Frequent Flyers can now book Classic Flight Reward seats to more than 20 destinations across Thailand and South East Asia as a new partnership with Bangkok Airways launched on 01-Nov-2022. Travellers can access Bangkok Airways services via Bangkok, Phuket and Singapore. The Qantas Group operates more than 50 return weekly frequencies between these cities and Australia. The partnership expands on a codeshare agreement that was introduced in 2014 allowing Qantas customers to book commercial seats on Bangkok Airways flights. [more - original PR]

Qatar Airways announced (31-Oct-2022) the following frequency adjustments for the winter 2022/2023 season:

• Doha-Abu Dhabi: Increase from three to four times daily from 21-Dec-2022;
• Doha-Adelaide-Auckland: Increase from five times weekly to daily from 22-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Almaty: increase from four times weekly to daily from 01-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Amsterdam: Increase from daily to 10 times weekly from 21-Dec-2022;
• Doha-Bali: Increase from daily to twice daily from 06-Dec-2022;
• Doha-Cape Town: Increase from 10 times weekly to twice daily from 06-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Dublin: Increase from 11 to 12 times weekly from 03-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Hanoi: Increase from daily to 10 times weekly from 20-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Ho Chi Minh City: Increase from daily to 10 times weekly from 20-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Hong Kong: Increase from daily to 11 times weekly from 16-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Lusaka-Harare: Increase from five times weekly to daily from 17-Jan-2023;
• Doha-Singapore: Increase from twice to three times daily from 30-Oct-2022.

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker stated: "This increase will provide even greater choice to our business and leisure passengers, who can connect seamlessly [via Doha] to more than 150 global destinations". [more - original PR]

Chicago Department of Aviation stated (28-Oct-2022) Air New Zealand resumed Chicago O'Hare-Auckland service on 30-Oct-2022. The service is set to operate three times weekly and is estimated to generate approximately USD75 million in annual economic activity for the region. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Queenstown Airport stated (31-Oct-2022) Virgin Australia's service from Sydney is set to land at 14:50 on 02-Nov-2022, marking the return of Virgin Australia to New Zealand for the first time in 950 days. Virgin Australia's Brisbane-Queenstown service is set to land at 16:00 on 02-Nov-2022. Queenstown Airport CEO Glen Sowry said: "It will be great to see Virgin Australia fly into Queenstown again on Wednesday afternoon. The return of Virgin is an important milestone, as all four airlines that operated here pre-COVID will again be flying in and out of Queenstown". [more - original PR]

Sunshine Coast Airport CEO Andrew Brodie stated (29-Oct-2022) "2022 has seen record-breaking passenger numbers with YTD achieving 119% of pre-COVID levels". Mr Brodie said the airport is "spearheading the region's recovery with 17 destinations connected to the Sunshine Coast when Bonza takes flight, up from three pre-COVID, boosting us from 10th to the 2nd most domestically connected airport in Queensland". As a gateway airport for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Sunshine Coast Airport has plans to invest up to AUD1 billion (USD641.3 million) in infrastructure to boost the regional economy, jobs growth, and support the 2032 Olympics. [more - original PR]

Brisbane Airport announced (30-Oct-2022) United Airlines launched three times weekly San Francisco-Brisbane service using Boeing 787-9 equipment on 28-Oct-2022. The service was funded by Queensland's AUD200 million (USD128.25 million) Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, and is expected to contribute AUD27 million (USD17.31 million) to the state's international travel economy. The service is also set to provide Queensland with an additional 60,000kg of weekly cargo capacity. According to OAG, no other carriers operate the route. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Qantas Airways plans to operate three times weekly Perth-Johannesburg service between 01-Nov-2022 and 25-Mar-2023, as per a 25-Oct-2022 GDS inventory and timetable display. The service will be operated with A330-200 equipment. 

Virgin Australia CEO Jayne Hrdlicka said the carrier is "very focused on our 737 aircraft footprint", adding "The total market demand right now feels about what it should be if the music hadn't stopped" (Australian Aviation/Australian Financial Review, 20-Oct-2022). Ms Hrdlicka said leisure demand will "remain very strong", with "Small and medium-sized business is back well over where it was in 2019", however, with larger businesses, "the amount of money that is being spent is there", with a fewer trips. 

T'way Air confirmed (24-Oct-2022) plans to commence four times weekly Seoul Incheon-Sydney service on 23-Dec-2022, operated with A330-300 equipment. This will be the LCC's first long haul international service. Korean Air and Asiana Airlines also operate the route, according to OAG. [more - original PR - Korean]