Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Western Australia Government, via Tourism WA, welcomed (12-Jul-2017) China Southern Airlines' announcement to increase Guangzhou-Perth frequency to five times weekly from 29-Oct-2017. China Southern currently operates four times weekly on the route, which is the only nonstop route between Perth and China. WA Government Acting Premier Roger Cook stated: "China is a vital tourism market for WA with Chinese visitors spending AUD271 million (USD208 million) in the year ending Mar-2017, an increase of 13% on the previous year, making it our second biggest market in that regard. To attract more Chinese visitors and boost visitor spend, increasing aviation access to the State is the key". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Qantas issued (11-Jul-2017) a request to Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) seeking a determination allocating 300 third country seats per week of capacity on the Italy route, to be used to codeshare with Emirates. 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 Qantas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas and Qantas Group;
• The capacity may be used by Qantas to provide services jointly with Emirates. [more - original PR]

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority published (12-Jul-2017) a new eLearning module for the aviation community to help increase awareness of the changes, requirements and benefits of satellite enabled navigation technology known as performance based navigation (PBN). The PBN regulations eLearning module provides a useful overview of the requirements of on-board navigation equipment and the navigation specifications that must be included in flight plans. [more - original PR]

Philippines' Department of Tourism route development group head Erwin F Balane, speaking on CAPA TV, said (Jun-2017) the Department will promote destinations other than Manila in the Australian market with the aim to convince airlines to commence services to new cities. Australia is the Philippines' fifth largest market for arrivals. [more - CAPA TV]

Qatar Airways marked (12-Jul-2017) five years of successful operations between Perth and Doha. Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown stated: "The daily service Perth-Doha service provides more than 4000 weekly seats and connects Western Australia to Qatar Airways' international network of over 150 destinations". [more - original PR]

French Polynesia President Edouard Fritch believes Aeroport De Tahiti (ADT) is best suited to operate Papeete Faaa Airport and will discuss the issue with French Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne (Radio NZ, 12-Jul-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, the French court ordered the termination of ADT's 30 year concession to operate the airport following claims that the concession was awarded without undergoing a tender.

Serko announced (12-Jul-2017) a partnership with Air New Zealand to provide enhanced content and services to business customers. The partnership includes showing features such as seating, videos, imagery and branding that represents the different fare options offered by the airline within the Serko platform. Serko CEO Darrin Grafton stated: "We are keen to see a seamless experience for all traveller bookings, where the customer is experiencing the way that the airlines want their seats and other services sold. It is great to be partnering with Air New Zealand to enable this for business travel". [more - original PR]

Tigerair Australia introduced (11-Jul-2017) a new programme allowing customers the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint by offsetting their share of carbon emissions. Customers can choose to reduce their carbon footprint by donating between AUD0.63-AUD4.85 (USD0.48-USD3.7) per person depending on sector length. Contributions will go to sustainable offset projects that are certified as Australian carbon credit units. [more - original PR]

dnata Newrest announced (11-Jul-2017) it will delivering onboard and inflight catering services in Johannesburg to Qantas Boeing 747-400 aircraft on six times weekly Sydney-Johannesburg service. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia issued (11-Jul-2017) a request to Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) seeking to renew the following determinations allocating capacity on routes which are due to expire within the next 12 months:

• [2007] IASC 118, allocating capacity on the New Zealand route;
• [2008] IASC 110, allocating capacity on the United States route;
• [2013] IASC 106 and [2013] IASC 107, allocating capacity on the Fiji route;
• [2013] IASC 108 and [2013] IASC 109, allocating capacity on the Vanuatu route. [more - original PR]