Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Tourism Council WA (TCWA) welcomed (27-Jun-2017) the four new Tourism WA Commissioners announced by Tourism Minister Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA. Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall stated: "As Commissioners, tourism industry operators who are exposed to the market are highly accountable for visitor growth and attuned to industry needs. This accountability is particularly important in the midst of the current Machinery of Government changes that will see Tourism WA incorporated into the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation". The new Commissioners are:

• Manny Papadoulis, Icon Tourism MD, Tourism Council WA chair, Australia's Coral Coast chair;
• Kevin Brown, Perth Airport CEO;
• Karen Priest, Mandurah & Peel Tourism Organisation CEO, Tourism Council WA director;
• Linda Wayman, former Southern Cross Austereo GM and former EventsCorp GM. [more - original PR]

Tourism New Zealand announced (27-Jun-2017) changes to its Board with the completion of director Norm Thompson's term, a second term for director Chris Parkin and new Board member Jan Hunt. [more - original PR]

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) approved (26-Jun-2017) Qantas' request to increase passenger capacity via Determination [2017] IASC 112 allocating to Qantas 100 seats per week in each direction on the Indonesia route. The capacity may be used by Jetstar Airways to provide services jointly with Emirates. The determination is valid for five years from 26-Jun-2017. [more - original PR]

Australia's Government announced (25-Jun-2017) the removal of the outgoing passenger card when departing Australia. From 01-Jul-2017, the paper-based passenger card will be removed as part of a move towards a more efficient and streamlined process for travellers. Australia Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton stated the Government is committed to improving the traveller experience, reducing regulation and strengthening border security. The automated process will add to existing passenger processing technology and will help reduce queuing times and get travellers to their destination more efficiently. [more - original PR]

Airline Customer Advocate Australia released (Jun-2017) its annual report for 2016, highlighting the volume of complaints received by carriers in Australia. According to the report, Tigerair received the most complaints at 39.1 per million, followed by Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Qantas. Tigerair stated 0.0035% of all passengers it flew in 2016 complained to the ombudsman, which was "extremely low" compared to other industries. [more - original PR]

Flight Centre Travel Group's (FCTG) corporate division and Airbnb announced (26-Jun-2017) a partnership to provide customers with the home sharing service when travelling for business. FCTG's corporate brands, including FCm Travel Solutions, Corporate Traveller, Campus Travel and Stage & Screen, will have access to Airbnb for Business. The new accommodation offering will give FCTG's corporate customers access to more than three million listings worldwide, which are available to be booked through the home-sharing platform. [more - original PR]

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Agency (CASA) CEO and director of aviation safety Shane Carmody said (25-Jun-2017) the formation of the new Aviation Safety Advisory Panel, to come into effect on 01-Jul-2017, is a substantial overhaul of the way CASA consults with the aviation community and the new body will 'reboot' CASA's consultation processes. The changes will "streamline consultation and ensure the aviation community is directly involved in the early setting of safety and regulatory objectives and policies" according to CASA. Representatives from Qantas Airways, Virgin Australia, the Australian Airports Association, the Australian Aviation Associations Forum, the Regional Aviation Association of Australia and Recreational Aviation Australia will sit on the panel. [more - original PR]

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Agency (CASA) CEO and director of aviation safety Shane Carmody commented (25-Jun-2017) that the growth of unmanned aircraft is a current challenge for the agency as it needs "to deal with both emerging technology and a new group of people who have had little or no exposure to aviation". Mr Carmody stated that one of the priorities of his five year term as director of aviation safety "will be bringing this new group into the broader aviation community, so that together we maintain and improve Australia's aviation safety performance". [more - original PR]

Cairns Airport appointed (26-Jun-2017) Paul McLean to the role of CCO-aviation, commencing early Aug-2017. CEO Norris Carter stated Mr McLean's responsibilities include growing airline services and passenger numbers to the airport, as well as route development focusing on "direct international connections". [more - original PR]

Pacific Private Private Jet, Air Rarotonga's Jet charter division, announced (22-Jun-2017) it received its Airline Operator's Certificate (AOC) covering passenger charter operations throughout the South Pacific Islands with Cessna Citation II jet. [more - original PR]