Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Qantas announced (11-Aug-2017) a new agreement with Alibaba Group's online travel service platform, Fliggy, which will allow customers to book Qantas flights directly on the site. Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans and Fliggy VP Jerry Hu signed an MoU to establish a strategic relationship which also has scope for joint marketing campaigns to Alibaba Group's 507 million mobile active users. Mr Evans said a partnership with Fliggy makes it easier for a large number of potential customers to purchase Qantas flights. Together with its partners China Eastern and China Southern, Qantas operates more than 130 weekly return services between Australia and China. [more - original PR]

QantasLink announced (09-Aug-2017) plans to reconfigure two more single class Boeing 717 jets, with a business cabin, upgraded interior and inflight entertainment for all seats. This brings the total number of reconfigured aircraft for the carrier up to 12 out of 20 in the fleet of 717 aircraft. From late 2017, one of these reconfigured 717s will be redeployed from Perth to operate on the Brisbane-Adelaide and Brisbane-Cairns routes. [more - original PR]

Australian Government appointed (04-Aug-2017) Julieanne Alroe as the new chair of the independent Infrastructure Australia Board. Infrastructure Australia CEO Philip Davies welcomed the appointment of Ms Alroe, who he believes brings extensive experience from the aviation sector to her new role as chair. Ms Alroe replaces Mark Birrell and will begin in the role in Sep-2017. [more - original PR]

Adelaide Airport announced (10-Aug-2017) ridesharing services such as Uber are allowed to pick up customers at the airport from 10-Aug-2017. Ridesharing drivers will incur a AUD2.00 (USD1.57) pick up fee, which is the same rate as current taxi pick up fee. Rates for both services are expected to increase to AUD3.00 (USD2.36) from 01-Oct-2017. The airport developed a dedicated ridesharing pick up facility and plans to construct a new taxi drop off area adjacent to the terminal to free up capacity at the existing drop-off zone under the car park. Additional improvements will be made to the existing taxi pick-up rank to provide better weather protection for customers. [more - original PR]

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) granted (10-Aug-2017) authorisation to coordinate airline services for five years to Virgin Australia Airlines, the HNA Aviation Group, Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express Airways. The Alliance Framework Agreement may see additional airline services operate between Australia and mainland China, and Australia and Hong Kong. ACCC commissioner Roger Featherston said: "The ACCC considers the alliance will likely realise significant public benefits, primarily through supporting the introduction of new services between Australia and mainland China and Hong Kong including by Virgin... The ACCC considers that the alliance is unlikely to result in any significant public detriment as there was unlikely to have been any material overlap between direct flights operated by Virgin and any of the other airlines in the short to medium term without the alliance in place". Since the ACCC granted interim authorisation in March, Virgin has commenced services between Australia and Hong Kong. Virgin also expects to launch services between Australia and mainland China. The airlines will coordinate their international passenger transport services such as codesharing, frequent flyer programme participation, lounge access, route planning and scheduling. [more - original PR]

Alliance Aviation stated (10-Aug-2017) the carrier, during FY2017, "continued its focus on revenue diversification and leveraging value from the Fokker Fleet project. Total Flying hours increased from expanded wet lease flying and an improvement in contract flying in H2FY2017". Alliance Aviation MD Scott McMillan stated the current results were pleasing and positions the business well for the future. CEO Leo Schofield added: "The profitability of the business has provided good cash flow from operations. These funds have been used to continue to invest in the expansion of the business. During this time, the carrier has also continued with the debt reduction strategy". [more - original PR]

Australia Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester confirmed (08-Aug-2017) the federal government will review airport security measures including regional airports, to ensure "current settings remain appropriate…to the current threat or the risk environment". Mr Chester stated the review will focus on the 170 airports across Australia that currently serve scheduled passenger or chartered services. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Virgin Australia announced (10-Aug-2017) the resignation of non-executive director David Baxby, effective 10-Aug-2017. Mr Baxby is pursuing a new executive management position at Wesfarmers Limited. [more - original PR]

Virgin Atlantic Cargo appointed (09-Aug-2017) Jarrod Paterson as account manager Melbourne to support the launch of new services by Virgin Australia. Virgin Australia commenced Melbourne-Los Angeles service with Boeing 777-300ER equipment in Apr-2017 and Melbourne-Hong Kong service with A330 equipment in Jul-2017. Virgin Atlantic is responsible for all long haul cargo sales and management services for Virgin Australia. [more - original PR]

Thai Airways plans to deploy Boeing 787-9 equipment on Auckland service from 29-Oct-2017 (Airline Route, 09-Aug-2017). The airline currently operates five times weekly Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Auckland service with 777 equipment, according to OAG.