News for South Pacific

Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG) chairman Gary Smith stated (14-Nov-2022) FCTG's corporate business secured new accounts with an annualised spend of approximately AUD2.5 billion (USD1.7 billion) during FY2022, while retaining a high percentage of its client base. Corporate total transaction value increased 158% year-on-year to AUD5.6 billion (USD3.8 billion) and returned to pre-coronavirus levels on a gross basis in Jun-2022, six months earlier than anticipated. [more - original PR]

HSBC Australia and Star Alliance launched (15-Nov-2022) the HSBC Star Alliance Credit Card in Australia. Australian customers can earn Star Alliance Points on eligible credit card purchases that can be converted to miles/points with Air Canada, Air New Zealand, EVA Air, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Thai Airways and United Airlines. HSBC and Star Alliance stated the card is the world's first credit card created with an airline alliance and will be issued exclusively on Visa credit. [more - original PR]

Flight Centre Travel Group MD Graham Turner announced (14-Nov-2022) the following highlights for the company's global corporate business:

• Underlying AUD58 million (USD38.8 million) EBITDA for the four months to 31-Oct-2022, up from AUD28.8 million (USD19.3 million) underlying loss in 2021;
• Record total travel value (TTV) of AUD2.6 billion (USD1.7 billion) for Q1FY2023;
• Record monthly sales for Sep-2022 and a "similar result" in Oct-2022. [more - original PR]

Tourism Research Australia announced (Nov-2022) business expenditure continues to recover in Aug-2022. This was down 8% on pre coronavirus Aug-2019. The number of business trips was also down 18% compared to Aug-2019. Business travel is of particular importance to the visitor economies of Australia's capital cities. It enables value added events such as conferences, seminars and trade fairs. [more - original PR]

Batik Air (Malaysia) plans to resume daily Bali-Sydney service from 12-Dec-2022, operating with Boeing 737-800, according to OAG and the CAPA Route Changes Database. Garuda Indonesia, Virgin Australia, Qantas Airways and Jetstar Airways also operate the route.

Qantas Group launched (10-Nov-2022) the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) coalition programme, with Australia Post, Boston Consulting Group, KPMG Australia, Macquarie Group and Woodside Energy signing on as foundation members. Members will pay a premium to reduce around 900 tonnes of their air carbon emissions p/a by contributing to the incremental cost of SAF rather than using traditional carbon offsets. The coalition will initially contribute to the incremental cost of up to 10 million litres of SAF sourced by Qantas at London Heathrow Airport, which represents around 15% of the fuel Qantas ordinarily consumes on flights out of London, and from 2025 to a further 20 million litres each year sourced out of Los Angeles and San Francisco. Qantas is currently in negotiations with a number of offshore suppliers to source additional supplies of SAF, which is in high demand globally and which the national carrier would prefer to source domestically. The foundation members will also receive enhanced reporting on the emissions from their flying activity and employees will get fast-tracked access to Qantas Frequent Flyer's Green Tier programme. Qantas will continue discussions with a number of other companies looking to join the coalition. The SAF coalition will extend Qantas' existing corporate offsetting programme, Future Planet, which enables companies to offset emissions through certified, high quality projects in Australia and overseas. [more - original PR] 

Gold Coast Airport, via its official Facebook account, announced (10-Nov-2022) its international terminal expansion opened on 10-Nov-2022. 

Los Angeles International Airport, via its official Twitter account, announced (08-Nov-2022) United Airlines resumed three times daily Los Angeles-Melbourne service using Boeing 787-9 equipment on 28-Oct-2022. The carrier plans to increase frequency on the service to daily from 01-Dec-2022. According to OAG, United last operated the service in Mar-2020. Qantas Airways also operates the route.

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce stated (04-Nov-2022) restructuring the Qantas Group business "is a key driver of the turnaround we're now seeing", noting in the long term, it will make the company more competitive. Mr Joyce said a key factor in recovery is the rebound in travel demand on both an international and domestic level. Leisure travel bookings have reached more than 130% of pre coronavirus levels and business travel has reached more than 100%. Mr Joyce said: "The third factor in our accelerated recovery has been an increase in market share, domestically and particularly in corporate, SME and international". [more - original PR]

Jetstar Airways launched (03-Nov-2022) Sydney-Seoul service on 03-Nov-2022. Jetstar will operate three times weekly with Boeing 787 equipment, carrying up to 100,000 travellers p/a between the two cities. The service has been made possible with the support of NSW Government and Destination NSW. [more - original PR]