Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes, speaking at the 2017 Paris Air Show, commented on the potential resumption of Adelaide service by AirAsia X, stating: "We had it, we pulled out of it, but at that time were were a different airline. Now I think we are in much better shape, so I hope we can do it in the not too distant future" (AAP, 21-Jun-2017). Mr Fernandes aims to create connectivity to "smaller destinations in Australia" such as Broome. Mr Fernandes added: "I think it is much more important to go to Adelaide than London right now. There are places begging for more connectivity, and South Australia is one of them".

Tourism Council WA urged (20-Jun-2017) the Western Australia Government to reconsider submerging Tourism WA into a new department, as the latest visitor statistics show a decline in the number of people travelling to and within the State. The State Government announced plans to absorb Tourism WA, the independent agency responsible for promoting WA, into the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation as part of its Machinery of Government changes. Following the announcement of the restructure, tourism businesses and industry bodies across WA voiced significant concerns with the potential impact of the changes. Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall stated: "States that are performing well in domestic tourism, such as Queensland, have specialist tourism marketing organisations solely focused on increasing visitation and jobs. Every state that has submerged their tourism marketing organisation within a department has regretted and later reversed the decision." [more - original PR]

Australia's Tourism & Transport Forum (TTF) welcomed (20-Jun-2017) the NSW Government's record investment in the tourism and transport sectors in its 2017/18 Budget. TTF CEO Margy Osmond stated "the Berijiklian Government's $193 million investment in tourism and major events is an almost 10% increase on last year's Budget, and will ensure NSW cements its position as Australia's number one visitor economy and place to visit". Ms Osmond also stated the 2017/2018 Budget continued the Government's transport revolution with yet another record investment in public transport and transport infrastructure across Sydney and regional NSW. [more - original PR]

Western Australia (WA) Government plans to evaluate the cause of high airfares on regional routes in WA and offer recommendations to improve the situation (The West Australian, 20-Jun-2017). Broome Airport CEO Paul McSweeney said the main reason is low traffic volume on these regional routes and Broome Airport retains competitive aeronautical fees despite the "high operating costs in this region".

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) announced (19-Jun-2017) from 01-Jul-2017 most organisations directly involved in any aviation occurrence investigated by the ATSB will be identified in the report and on the investigation web page. The change in policy will ensure ATSB's compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization's recommended practices. It will also ensure that the ATSB has a consistent and transparent approach across all of its aviation, rail and marine safety investigations. [more - original PR]

Alliance Airlines Australia extended (21-Jun-2017) a contract with Citic Pacific Mining (CPM). The contract includes air charter services and an initial 50% increase in services to the new Cape Preston (Sino Iron) Aerodrome. The opening of the Aerodrome provides direct access to the site for CPM and will see weekly frequencies increase from 16 to 24. [more - original PR]

Brisbane Airport media and corporate communications manager Leonie Vandeven reported (20-Jun-2017) to CAPA the airport recorded 11% year-on-year growth for international traffic in May-2017. This was the second consecutive month of double digit growth. The airport attributed this to strong demand on routes to South Pacific islands and capacity growth to/from North Asia. Brisbane Airport anticipates further growth on North Asia traffic, with Cathay Pacific increasing frequency seasonally and simultaneously removing Cairns stopover from four times weekly Brisbane-Cairns-Hong Kong triangular service during winter 2017 season, and China Airlines operating daily Taipei-Brisbane from Dec-2017.

Air New Zealand is set to embrace technological innovations and digital channels to better communicate with customers, and also to therefore increase onboard ancillary revenues (Future Travel Experience, Jun-2017). Air New Zealand manager direct ancillary revenue, commercial Dianne Parry-Ernst stated the carrier has been examining the customer journey to identify stages where ancillary products have a limited presence and strengthening the retailing approach at these key points in order to increase customer awareness and offer customers the right product at the right time, via their preferred platform. An example of this strategy includes the launch of the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot, Bravo Oscar Tango or Oscar, to improve customer communication.

Brisbane Airport launched (20-Jun-2017) a terminal guide for travellers with dementia, developed in cooperation with Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration: Carers and Consumers (DCRC-CC). The guide identifies the international dementia friendly symbols and takes users through the different airport zones, outlining what to expect in the bag screening area, duty free regulations, customs, quarantine, transfers and immigration. CEO and MD Julieanne Alroe said the resources kit would be integrated into customer service training for airline staff and other airport workers. [more - original PR]

New Zealand Air line Pilots' Association (NZALPA) believes the cost of training is bringing about a shortage in the supply of pilots (NZ Herald, 21-Jun-2017). NZALPA president Tim Robinson stated "student loans covered only two-thirds of the cost of training for a commercial pilot licence and while not at crisis point, the shortage of pilots was starting to bite. There is a pilot shortage in New Zealand and we believe the issue is only going to get worse in the next few years - there's a lack of trained pilots going through the system to go on to employment".