Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Thai Airways plans to operate A350 equipment twice daily on Melbourne service from 01-Feb-2018 (Airline Route, 09-Aug-2017). The airline currently operates twice daily Bangkok Suvarnabhumi-Melbourne service with Boeing 777 equipment, according to OAG, and operates five A350-900 aircraft with seven on order, according to the CAPA Fleet Database.

Sri Lanka's State Minister of Public Enterprise Development Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena stated SriLankan Airlines has "already sold over 10,000 seats" for its upcoming Colombo-Melbourne service, scheduled for launch in Oct-2017 (Daily News, 08-Aug-2017). SriLankan Airlines, via its official Facebook account, confirmed (02-Aug-2017) it has conducted "pre-launch ceremonies held in Melbourne and Sydney to create awareness about direct flights operating from Melbourne from 30th Oct 2017". The carrier will operate daily on the route with A330-200 aircraft.

New Zealand Prime Minister and National Party Leader Bill English stated (08-Aug-2017) the Waterview motorway tunnel "has reduced the travel time" into Auckland Airport "to 25 minutes and reduced congestion, and so we have got time to consider the need for light rail". The National Party plans to develop Auckland Airport's proposed light rail system within the next 30 years to 2047. [more - original PR]

Air Niugini GM customers and markets Dominic Kaumu revealed the carrier is determined to make Port Moresby the hub of the Pacific and its subsidiary firm, Link PNG is an integral part of this plan (PNG Today, 09-Aug-2017). Mr Kaumu stated: "The operations by our subsidiary company complements Air Niugini's vision. We are connecting Asia, Australia, PNG and the Pacific from Port Moresby's Jackson's International airport, and continually increasing frequencies".

Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) released (08-Aug-2017) a new paper highlighting the need for investment in Australia's natural tourist destinations. TTF CEO Margy Osmond stated: "Releasing the paper, Unlocking our Great Outdoors, is an important contribution to the debate around how we can best conserve our natural areas while also unlocking the economic benefits that can be delivered by nature-based tourism". The research has found that there is greater potential for nature-based tourism in Australia. Ms Osmand continued: "What these new figures show is that across Australia international visitors make up a tiny four per cent of tourists visiting our national park areas. The potential to double this visitation in the next few years with the right facilities, conservation priorities and government backing is enormous". [more - original PR]

Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) will meet with Australian and New Zealand airport representatives, government departments and ministers in late Aug-2017 to discuss increased airport charges (NZ Herald, 07-Aug-2017). A4ANZ represents Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and Tigerair. A4ANZ chairman Graeme Samuel stated: "Aeronautical charges are simply imposed and its very difficult to negotiate otherwise. It is essentially because airports are monopolies".

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC), via its official website, updated (04-Aug-2017) the status of a variety of applications from Virgin Australia. These include:

• An allocation of 300 third country seats per week, to be used to codeshare with Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways on the Italy route. The Commission received further information from the applicant nominating Tiger International Number1 Pty Ltd as the wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia International Airlines;
• New Zealand determination [2007] IASC 118, which allocates unlimited passenger and freight capacity. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• US determination [2008] IASC 110, which allocates unlimited passenger and freight capacity. The Commission received further information from the applicant nominating Tiger International Number1 Pty Ltd as the wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia International Airlines;
• Fiji determination [2013] IASC 106, which allocates 1260 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• Fiji determination [2013] IASC 107, which allocates 360 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• Vanuatu determination [2013] IASC 108, which allocates 720 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• Vanuatu determination [2013] IASC 109, which allocates 180 seats of capacity per week in each direction. The request for the capacity to be utilised by a wholly-owned subsidiary has been withdrawn;
• An allocation of 880 seats per week of passenger capacity on the Samoa route. The Commission received further information from the applicant nominating Tiger International Number1 Pty Ltd as the wholly-owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia International Airlines.

Samoa Airways revealed its new branding and logo as it prepares to launch international services (Samoa Observer, 06-Aug-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, Samoa Airways is being reformed as an international carrier by the Government of Samoa. The start up will be established under an MoU between the Government and Fiji Airways. The logo features an adapted version of the iconic coconut tree which since 1959 has been the symbol of the national carrier.

Virgin Australia launched (06-Aug-2017) twice weekly Perth-Canberra service to operate during Parliamentary sitting weeks. Virgin Australia GM network management Hope Antzoulatos stated: "This service will be particularly welcomed by West Australian parliamentarians and their staff who now have the opportunity to travel direct from Perth-Canberra. The service will be operated by our fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and is part of our commitment to bring greater competition to the industry and more choice to Australia travellers". Canberra Airport MD Stephen Byron believes the new service would also be a boon for Canberra's business people who are operating nationally and internationally. [more - original PR]

Jetstar announced (07-Aug-2017) a new seasonal three timesm weekly Hobart-Adelaide service from 14-Nov-2017. Jetstar Group CCO Catriona Larritt stated: "Jetstar will be the only airline to connect the two cities, with thousands of travellers currently travelling via Melbourne. Both Hobart and Adelaide are experiencing record tourism numbers, and we expect inbound tourism to the two cities to further strengthen with the addition of our new direct flights". [more - original PR]