Corporate Travel News For South Pacific

Enga Provincial Government Governor Sir Peter Ipatas presented (28-Apr-2017) a PGK250,000 (USD78,198) cheque to Link PNG, a subsidiary company of Air Niugini, as part of the government's first quarter airfare subsidy. Sir Peter stated the airline services are vital for the province as they save time and costs for the people and public servants who would normally travel for almost three hours from Wapenamanda to Mt Hagen for Air Niugini services. The services to Wapenamanda airport are operated by Link PNG's Dash 8 aircraft. Link PNG operates five frequencies a week to Wapenamanda. [more - original PR]

Qantas announced (28-Apr-2017) the opening of the new Qantas Regional Lounge at Coffs Harbour Airport. The new lounge is 25% larger than the previous lounge, catering for up to 40 customers. Customers have access to generous power and data outlets as well as WiFi throughout the lounge. [more - original PR]

Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport promoted (28-Apr-2017) commercial manager Sara Hales to GM, effective 02-May-2017. [more - original PR]

Emirates announced (27-Apr-2017) it will provide an all A380 service from Melbourne when it upgrades its third daily frequency to an A380 operation from 25-Mar-2018. The change will add 945 seats per week to the Australian city, representing a 10% increase in capacity and seamless 'A380 to A380' connections via Dubai to the UK and Europe. The additional weekly seats coincides with Qantas' launch of the Melbourne-Perth-London service, replacing Melbourne-Dubai-London. [more - original PR]

CHOICE released (27-Apr-2017) the results of its annual International Airline Survey, with LCC Jetstar ranked last out of more than 70 competitors from eight different countries. The international survey collected 11,273 responses from eight countries, and was coordinated by 10 consumer advocacy groups including Euroconsumers, Consumers International and CHOICE. Jetstar responded (28-Apr-2017) to the survey, stating the veracity of the report is questionable. Emirates was ranked in first position with the other major Australian carriers, Qantas and Virgin Australia ranking 36 and 51 respectively. [more - original PR]

New Zealand Government Acting Tourism Minister Nicky Wagner announced (27-Apr-2017) tourism spending by both international and domestic visitors continued to grow in 2017. Data from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's latest Monthly Regional Tourism Estimates shows tourism spending is up in all regions in the year to Mar-2017. The fastest growing regions are: the West Coast, increasing 11% to NZD522 million (USD358 million); followed by Nelson, up 10% to NZD343 million (USD235 million); and Tasman, up 10% to NZD303 million (USD208 million). [more - original PR]

Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo, via his official Twitter account, announced (27-Apr-2017) the signing of an Australia and Saudi Arabia air services agreement to drive trade, tourism and investment.

Fiji Bureau of Statistic reported (27-Apr-2017) total visitor arrivals to Fiji fell 3% year-on-year in Mar-2017. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: 54,407, -2.8% year-on-year;
• • Australia: 23,489, -12.3%;
  • New Zealand: 8253, -0.1%;
  • US: 6068, +15.1%;
  • China: 3481, +0.1%;
  • UK: 1553, -5.8%;
  • Canada: 1154, +5.0%;
  • South Korea: 732, +7.6%;
  • Japan: 460, -7.3%;
  • India: 409, +28.6%;
  • Hong Kong: 35, +6.1%. [more - original PR]

Tourism Australia, via its official weekly newsletter, stated (26-Apr-2017) Tourism Australia and Qantas are launching a major marketing initiative in Indonesia and Singapore during Apr-2017 in the lead up to the busy school holiday travel period. The campaign will be led by promotional fares.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), via its monthly newsletter, advised (26-Apr-2017) the Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester issued a new Statement of Expectations to the CASA Board. The document sets out the strategic directions the Government expects CASA to head in between Apr-2017 and mid-2019. It also sets out how CASA is meant to perform its functions and lift performance in a range of key areas. [more - original PR]