Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Qatar Airways plans to launch daily Doha-Sydney-Canberra service, effective from 12-Feb-2018, as per a 22-Jul-2017 GDS and inventory timetable display. The carrier will operate with Boeing 777 equipment. CAPA - Centre for Aviation noted the service will increase Doha-Sydney frequency to twice daily, despite restrictions which limit the carrier to operate a total of seven frequencies per week with any aircraft type between Qatar and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. These restrictions do allow for additional frequencies to either of the four cities provided they route via or continue to a non-major Australian city. Qatar will not be allowed to sell Sydney-Canberra sector.

Air New Zealand announced (24-Jul-2017) plans to increase seasonal Auckland-Bali frequency from twice or three times weekly to five times weekly in 2018. The season will also be increased by an additional two months in 2018, operating from the beginning of Apr-2018 to Oct-2018. The service will utilise Boeing 787-9 aircraft, subject to regulatory approval. Air New Zealand chief revenue officer Cam Wallace stated the increase and extension to the seasonal service represented year-on-year growth of more than 90%. [more - original PR]

Air Vanuatu announced (21-Jul-2017) changes to its international baggage allowances for services between Vanuatu and Australia or New Zealand. The new baggage allowance for economy increases from 23kg per person to 30kg per person, while business class increases to 40kg. Air Vanuatu CEO Joseph Laloyer stated the new allowances would streamline the baggage acceptance policy and are favourable compared to other airlines. [more - original PR]

Air New Zealand launched (21-Jul-2017) three times weekly Auckland-Tokyo Haneda seasonal service, operating between Jul-2017 and May-2018 with Boeing 787-9 equipment. Air New Zealand chief revenue officer Cam Wallace stated demand for travel between the two countries continues to increase and the direct route will boost annual capacity to Japan by 15%. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia issued (19-Jul-2017) a request to Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) seeking a determination allocating 300 third country codeshare seats per week of capacity on the Italy route, to be used to codeshare with Etihad Airways and Singapore Airlines. The request comes as a result of the recent conclusion of revised air services arrangement between Australia and Italy. The request includes:

• The allocation is requested for a period of five years;
• The capacity will be fully utilised by 31-Jul-2018;
• The capacity may be utilised by Virgin Australia, a wholly owned subsidiaries;
• The capacity may be utilised for joint services with Singapore Airlines and Etihad Airways. [more - original PR]

Sydney Airport MD and CEO Kerrie Mather stated (20-Jul-2017) Jun-2017 international passenger traffic growth of 9.7% year-on-year "represents our strongest monthly result this year". Ms Mather explained traffic is driven by "higher load factors and larger aircraft" with routes to China doing particularly well. [more - original PR]

Australia's Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) reported (21-Jul-2017) the overall domestic on time performance for participating airlines for Jun-2017. Details include:

• On-time departures: 85.3%;
  • Qantas: 90.5%;
  • Virgin Australia Regional Airlines: 89.1%;
  • Virgin Australia: 88.2%;
  • QantasLink: 86.4%;
  • Regional Express: 83.8%;
  • Jetstar: 77.2%;
  • Tigerair: 74.1%;
• On-time arrivals: 85.0%;
  
  • Qantas: 89.5%;
  • Virgin Australia Regional Airlines: 87.7%;
  • Virgin Australia: 87.1%;
  • QantasLink: 86.5%;
  • Regional Express: 81.3%;
  • Jetstar: 80.7%;
  • Tigerair: 73.2%;
• Cancellations: 1.4%;
  • QantasLink: 2.6%;
  • Tigerair: 2.1%;
  • Regional Express: 1.7%;
  • Virgin Australia: 1.1%;
  • Jetstar: 0.7%;
  • Qantas: 0.7%;
  • Virgin Australia Regional Airlines: 0.4%. [more - original PR]

Fiji Bureau of Statistics released visitor arrival results for June-2017 highlighting that tourism remains the key reason for visitors (Fiji Times Online, 20-Jul-2017). Tourist arrivals made up 75.6% of the 76,598 visitors who arrived in Fiji during the month.

Qantas unveiled (20-Jul-2017) a new range of inflight tableware for customers dining in first, business, premium economy and the Qantas lounge network. The tableware has been created by Australian Industrial Designer and lead designer of the Qantas Boeing 787 cabin interiors, David Caon. [more - original PR]

Qantas, vis its official Twitter page, announced (20-Jul-2017) all eligible Qantas Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members will now have access to selected Alaska Airlines business class lounges as part of a reciprocal codeshare agreement.