Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Air New Zealand announced (27-Jun-2023) it will make updates to its international winter 2023 schedule, for travel between 29-Oct-2023 and 30-Mar-2024. The schedule changes are being progressively rolled out. [more - original PR]

VietJet Air, via its official Facebook account, announced (22-Jun-2023) plans to increase frequency from Ho Chi Minh City to the following destinations from Dec-2023:

• Sydney: Seven times weekly;
• Melbourne: Four times weekly;
• Brisbane: Three times weekly.

Hainan Airlines, via its official Twitter account, announced (17-Jun-2023) it resumed twice weekly Shenzhen-Auckland service with A330 equipment from 17-Jun-2023. The airline is the sole scheduled operator on the route, according to OAG.

Qantas Group renewed (26-Jun-2023) calls for customers with COVID-era travel credits to use them towards booking a trip before the deadline of 31-Dec-2023. The carrier launched a new customer tool, 'Find My Credit', which helps locate bookings that are up to three years old and may have been changed several times due to numerous waves of border changes during the pandemic. Qantas said customers who book a flight using a COVID credit between today and 31-Jul-2023 will receive double Frequent Flyer points. The group noted around AUD2 billion (USD1.34 billion) of COVID credits were issued across the Qantas Group, with most generated when borders closed in Mar-2020. [more - original PR]

Air Niugini, via its official Facebook account, announced (25-Jun-2023) "unforeseen" technical difficulties with two Boeing 767 aircraft have rendered them both temporarily unserviceable in Brisbane. The carrier said a team of engineers and technicians are working to rectify the issues and restore the aircraft "as soon as possible". It noted: "Due to the complexity of the required repairs and the availability of spare parts, we anticipate that the restoration process may take longer than initially expected". Air Niugini has made "major adjustments" to flight schedules as a result, leading to disruptions for passengers travelling domestically and internationally. The airline said it is hopeful of having one of the aircraft operational by 25-Jun-2023.

Helloworld Travel Limited agreed (22-Jun-2023) to acquire 100% of Express Travel Group (ETG) in Australia and New Zealand from current owners Tom Manwaring and Sintack Pty Ltd for AUD70 million (USD47.34 million). The acquisition will require shareholder approval and notice of an extraordinary general meeting, to be held on 21-Jul-2023. Helloworld will be acquiring 100% of the business from the vendors and Tom Manwaring will remain as CEO and a director of ETG. The acquisition will be earnings accretive in FY2024 and beyond. The transaction is expected to settle in early Aug-2023. [more - original PR]

Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, via its official Twitter account, announced (22-Jun-2023) Delta Air Lines plans to increase Los Angeles-Sydney frequency from 10 times weekly to twice daily from 17-Dec-2023 through late Mar-2024. According to OAG, American Airlines, Qantas Airways and United Airlines are also scheduled to operate the route.

Qantas Airways resumed three times weekly Melbourne-Hong Kong service on 20-Jun-2023 with A330-200 aircraft, according to OAG.

Jetstar Airways signed (19-Jun-2023) a partnership agreement with Brisbane Airport to launch the following services:

• Brisbane-Tokyo Narita: Five times weekly from 31-Oct-2023. Frequency will increase to daily from 03-Dec-2023. To facilitate the service, Jetstar will suspend Gold Coast-Tokyo Narita service from 29-Oct-2023;
• Brisbane-Osaka: Four times weekly from 02-Feb-2024. Over 380,000 seats will be added per year from Brisbane to Tokyo Narita and Osaka;
• Brisbane-Seoul: Three times weekly from 01-Feb-2024.

The LCC will also increase Brisbane-Bali frequency from seven to 10 times weekly from 01-Feb-2024 with A321LR. It will increase Brisbane-Auckland frequency from four times weekly to daily from 29-Oct-2023, adding over 90,000 seats per year between the destinations. A321neo aircraft will be deployed on the route from 01-Feb-2024. Under the partnership, Jetstar has also launched an additional half a million low fares seats between Brisbane and international destinations. The new services and frequency increases are supported by Queensland's Attracting Aviation Investment Fund, a joint Government and airport initiative to stimulate the state's visitor economy. [more - original PR]

VietJet Air launched (18-Jun-2023) twice weekly Ho Chi Minh City-Brisbane service on 18-Jun-2023 with 377 seat A330-300 aircraft, according to Brisbane Airport. The service will offer 39,000 seats to Brisbane per year. Additional tourists are expected to support up to 370 Queensland jobs and boost overnight visitor expenditure by around AUD30 million (USD20.62 million) per year right across the state. [more - original PR]