Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Air Kiribati, via its official Facebook account, confirmed (21-Jun-2017) it completed its inaugural night test flight at Tarawa Bonriki Airport. The carrier noted: "History made! Air Kiribati was proud to undertake the maiden night flight to commission the new Bonriki airport runway lights. Congratulations to everyone involved and the GOK and MICTTD for making this happen, the contractors Orion and our two pilots who flew the maiden night flight - it's getting exciting!".

Air New Zealand adjusted equipment on proposed three times weekly Auckland-Tokyo Haneda service from Boeing 787-9 to the 777-200ER (Routes Online, 22-Jun-2017). The carrier plans to launch the service in winter 2017/18 season from 08-Dec-2017. As previously reported by CAPA, the carrier plans to split its 10 times weekly service to Tokyo Narita between Haneda and Narita, transferring three services to Haneda Airport.

Fiji Airways, via its official Twitter account, announced (22-Jun-2017) a partnership with CAE for two Boeing 737 MAX full flight simulators (FFS). The simulators will be delivered in 2018 to Fiji Aviation Academy.

Australia Labor Party Federal Member for Granyndler Anthony Albanese urged (22-Jun-2017) the government to expand Western Sydney Airport's Forum to include the Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, as well as the Member for Lindsay Emma Husar. Mr Albanese stated the addition of Ms Husar and Ms Templeman would ensure the communities around Penrith and the Blue Mountains could channel their feedback on issues relating to the project. [more - original PR]

Qantas stated Townsville Airport's proposed increase in airport charge to fund an expansion project may cause "our Townsville services [to be] unsustainable" (Townsville Bulletin, 23-Jun-2017). Qantas insists "we need to get the balance right between cost and practicality so the upgrades don't go beyond what's required in the short term". Townsville Airport CEO Kevin Gill confirmed "we are not asking Qantas or any other airline partner to pay anything more than their fair share".

Statistics New Zealand reported (21-Jun-2017) international visitor arrivals to New Zealand up 8% year-on-year in May-2017. Details include:

• Total international visitor arrivals: 209,170, +8.0% year-on-year;
  • Oceania: 97,472, +10.7%;
    • Australia: 86,384, +11.9%;
  • Asia: 65,872, +1.8%;
    • China: 27,568, -5.0%;
    • Malaysia: 5280, +13.4%;
    • Japan: 5152, -7.2%;
    • South Korea: 5008, +3.0%;
    • Singapore: 3584, -3.4%;
    • Hong Kong: 3056, +23.2%;
  • Europe: 17,440, +14.5%;
    • UK: 7552, +18.6%;
    • Germany: 2736, +2.4%;
  • Americas: 23,552, +18.9%;
    • USA: 16,960, +17.4%;
    • Canada: 2624, +5.1%;
  • Africa and Middle East: 2352, -12.0%;
    • South Africa: 928, -19.4%;
• Departures: 233,063, +10.7%. [more - original PR]

Tourism Queensland welcomed (22-Jun-2017) the launch of Tigerair Australia's Melbourne-Townsville service. North Queensland Minister Assisting the Premier Coralee O'Rourke stated "up until now, Townsville has missed out on opportunities for our tourism industry to grow because of limited interstate flights at convenient times. These new flights are a show of confidence in Townsville's tourism industry, which supports 9000 jobs for locals and injects AUD1.7 billion (USD1.3 billion) into our community". The new service is estimated to inject more than AUD12.5 million (USD9.4 million) in overnight visitor expenditure and deliver more than 35,000 new seats into the region each year. [more - original PR]

Tourism New Zealand released (22-Jun-2017) results of the Mood of the Nation survey which measures New Zealand's perceptions of tourism. Tourism NZ stated:

• 96% of New Zealanders believe that international tourism is good for the country;
• International Visitors:
  • 50% of New Zealanders feel the country attracts about the right number of international visitors;
  • 25% feel New Zealand should be attracting more;
  • 21% think New Zealand attracts too many, an upward trend since December 2015;
• Perceived benefits of international tourists:
  • 53% believe it creates growth opportunities for businesses;
  • 50% believe it creates employment opportunities for residents;
  • 47% believe it creates economic growth for the regions;
• Perceived challenges of international tourists:
  • 39% believe it results in increased traffic congestion on holiday routes;
  • 33% believe it results in increased littering;
  • 33% believe it increases the risk of serious road accidents. [more - original PR]

New Zealand's Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) released (22-Jun-2017) new data showing New Zealand's supply of aviation fuel grew significantly in 1Q2017, year on year, to meet strong demand from the aviation industry. The New Zealand Energy Quarterly, released by the MBIE, shows the amount of jet fuel used for international transport grew by 19%, and domestic travel by 18%. MBIE manager of energy and building trends James Hogan stated demand was met by not only importing more jet fuel but also increasing production at Marsden Point, the country's only oil refinery. [more - original PR]

Townsville Airport, via its official Twitter account, confirmed (22-Jun-2017) Tigerair Australia launched four times weekly Melbourne-Townsville service on 22-Jun-2017, utilising A320 equipment. As previously reported by CAPA, the service will provide more than 1400 seats each week and is expected to inject AUD12.5 million (USD9.4 million) p/a into the Townsville economy. Tigerair Australia head of communications Vanessa Regan stated the carrier is thrilled by the way Townsville had embraced Tigerair since the new services were announced earlier in 2017.