Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

JETGO Australia, via its official Facebook page, announced (20-Jul-2017) two new routes from Wollongong to Melbourne and Brisbane commencing 30-Oct-2017. Wollongong-Melbourne is planned to operate six times weekly, excluding Saturday, while Wollongong-Brisbane will be five times weekly, excluding Tuesday and Saturday.

Sydney Airport officially opened (19-Jul-2017) the onsite Mantra Hotel on 19-Jul-2017. The eight storey, 136 room hotel, is located within the T2/T3 domestic precinct with views overlooking the runway. MD and CEO Kerrie Mather stated this hotel will "meet the need for additional hotel accommodation" at Sydney Airport, "providing even more value and choice for our customers - whether they want a convenient place to stay close to the airport or an easy commute to the CBD". [more - original PR]

Gold Coast Airport received (20-Jul-2017) approval from the Australia Federal Government for its 2017 master plan, providing guidance on development of airport facilities, infrastructure and land uses to meet traffic requirements over the next twenty years. This master plans particularly focused on growth within the next five years to 2022. Proposed infrastructure upgrades include continued terminal expansion, additional aircraft parking stands, development of a high quality hotel and planning for future heavy and light rail facilities. The airport is forecast to receive 16.6 million passengers p/a by 2037. The final master plan will be published by late Sep-2017. [more - original PR]

Tourism Tasmania released (Jul-2017) its International Market Approach report which aims to grow annual visitor numbers to Tasmania to 1.5 million and generate visitor expenditure of AUD2.5 billion (USD2 billion) by 2020. The report identified Tasmania's highest priority markets, which include North America, Continental Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and China. [more - original PR]

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi believes Virgin Australia previously limited Australia-Samoa frequency in order to justify higher air fares (NZ Radio, 19-Jul-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, the JV between Virgin Australia and the Samoa Government concludes in Nov-2017 and Virgin Australia has now applied to increase frequency to five times weekly. Mr Sa'ilele Malielegaoi stated "the Government would play a vital role in Virgin's application and it would be stupid to say yes".

Delta Air Lines subsidiary Delta Private Jets appointed (18-Jul-2017) Virgin Australia former COO Gary Hammes as president. Mr Hammes will be responsible for both financial and operational performance, growing the Delta Private Jets brand and the travel solution, as well as transforming the customer service platform. [more - original PR]

Singapore Airlines plans to increase Singapore-Sydney frequency from 33 to 35 times weekly, effective 05-Dec-2017 to 31-Jan-2018 and replace A330-300 with Boeing 777-200ER equipment on one of four daily Singapore-Perth frequencies, effective 01-Mar-2018 (Airline Route, 18-Jul-2017). The airline will operate the additional Singapore-Sydney frequencies with 777-200ER equipment. The carrier also operates Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne services, according to OAG.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi said Air New Zealand is considering more Boeing 777 services to Apia Faleolo Airport (Radio NZ, 19-Jul-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, Virgin Australia has also applied to Australia's International Air Services Commission, to increase seats offered to Samoa.

Auckland Airport announced (19-Jul-2017) GM aeronautical operations Judy Nicholl will be leaving the company in Oct-2017 to pursue the position of Counties Power CEO. Recruitment for Ms Nicholl's replacement will commence "in the coming weeks" said CEO Adrian Littlewood. [more - original PR]

The Loop Duty Free revealed (18-Jul-2017) the first phase of its newly renovated duty free store at Auckland Airport's International Departure hall. The renovation is part of the airport's wider international terminal redevelopment project that began in late 2015. Renovation will continue to complete the upgrade by Dec-2017. [More - original of PR]