Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) appointed (07-Aug-2017) a team of international specialists to conduct an independent review of new fatigue rules. The team will review results of investigations into fatigue related accidents and incidents and how CASA's philosophy and approach to fatigue regulation compares with that of other transport regulators and high-risk industries. The team will then benchmark the new fatigue regulations against those of other leading aviation countries and regulators including the European Aviation Safety Agency, New Zealand, the US, UK and Canada. [more - original PR]

New Zealand Labour Party leader Jacinda Ardern pledged (06-Aug-2017) to construct a light rail link from Auckland International Airport to downtown Auckland in the next 10 years, if the Labour Party wins the Sep-2017 general election. Ms Ardern also pitched plans for a "Bus Rapid Transit line" connecting the airport and East Auckland, and a third main trunk rail line to serve the commuter and freight rail traffic. [more - original PR]

Australia's Government reportedly plans to consider more stringent security controls on domestic flights, including measures already deployed for international services such as body scans and identity checks (ABC/SMH/AAP, 05-Aug-2017). Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester stated: "I will be relying on advice from our intelligence and security experts and won't be speculating on potential changes to airport arrangements before they are properly considered by cabinet in consultation with the aviation industry". Mr Chester concluded: "Security measures are kept under constant review to ensure they remain effective and proportionate to the Australian security environment and respond to new and emerging threats".

Yusen Logistics (Australia) commenced (04-Aug-2017) air and sea freight forwarding operations to and from New Zealand. The company's new facility near Auckland Airport provides integrated supply chain solutions, including air and sea freight, land transport, customs clearance and contract logistics and transport services. [more - original PR]

SkyTrans implemented (04-Aug-2017) InteliSys Aviation Systems' ameliaRES and ameliaCARGO airline reservation and cargo management systems. The airline selected InteliSys as its solutions provider earlier in 2017. [more - original PR]

Qantas confirmed (04-Aug-2017) it will retire five Boeing 747s over coming years in line with the delivery of eight new 787-9 aircraft, to begin delivery in Oct-2017. The first of the 747s to be retired is VH-OJM which was originally delivered to Qantas in 1991 and has transported more than four million passengers over its life of service. [more - original PR]

Fly Corporate announced (04-Aug-2017) plans to launch five times weekly Melbourne-Orange service on 09-Oct-2017. The new service will operate Monday to Friday departing Orange at 09:50 and Melbourne's Essendon Airport at 12:20, utilising Saab 340B Plus aircraft. Fly Corporate CEO Andrew Major stated: "Following commencement of our direct Brisbane-Orange service in Feb-2017, the requirement for a similar service between Melbourne and Orange was apparent. We have chosen to operate this service utilising Melbourne's Essendon Airport due to its close proximity to the Melbourne CBD as well as other great advantages". [more - original PR]

Australia's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester announced (03-Aug-2017) the Director-General of Security has lowered the terror threat level posed to Australia's aviation industry. Mr Chester stated: "Passengers are able to arrive at airports for check in as normally advised, however as a precaution, some of the additional security measures will stay in place including: screening of passengers and luggage; hardened cockpit doors to prevent unauthorised access to the cockpit; plainclothes inflight security officers; and passenger and baggage screening and reconciliation, to ensure unauthorised items are not placed on an aircraft. [more - original PR]

Aerocare commenced (03-Aug-2017) ground handling services for the Qantas Group at Hobart Airport. Aerocare's Hobart operation now handles QantasLink and Jetstar's services which equates to an average of 114 services per week. [more - original PR]

Airports Vanuatu Limited, via its official Facebook page, reposted (01-Aug-2017) reports that Port Vila Bauerfield Airport and Espiritu Santo Pekoa Airport's rehabilitation under the Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project (VAIP) are scheduled to commence before the end of Aug-2017. Contractors were given three months from May-2017 to set up bases, mobilise equipment and machinery, recruit and hire personnel and carry out consultations with surrounding airport communities most likely to be impacted by the project. VAIP manager Harrison Toar Luen stated preparatory works are on schedule, mobilisation of specialised machinery such as asphalt concrete plant and a paver by the contractors are two weeks away from arrival, while negotiations with the leaseholder for the laydown site of aggregates are being finalised.