Corporate Travel News

Airbus CEO Tom Enders said the manufacturer's board will decide on a successor as CEO "in due course, behind closed doors and in the sole interest of Airbus, its employees and shareholders" (Reuters, 15-Dec-2017). Airbus announced Mr Enders will depart the company after Apr-2019 and Airbus COO and Airbus Commercial Aircraft president Fabrice Bregier will leave the company in Feb-2018, after he informed the board he would not seek to become CEO.

Aer Lingus announced (15-Dec-2017) plans to introduce two additional A330 aircraft for summer 2018 operations. The aircraft will assist plans to develop Dublin Airport into a major trans Atlantic hub for Aer Lingus. The carrier also expects to receive at least eight A321LR aircraft from 2019. [more - original PR]

United Airlines filed additional changes to its planned summer 2018 Asia Pacific schedule, effective 24-Mar-2018 (Routes Online, 16-Dec-2017). Changes include adjustment of first class booking availability on three class Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Previously, the majority of routes operated with the aircraft displayed first class as unavailable for booking from 01-May-2018. Details are as follows:

• Chicago O'Hare-Beijing: First class on 777 available to book until 31-Aug-2018;
• Chicago O'Hare-Hong Kong: First class on 777 available to book until 31-Aug-2018;
• Chicago O'Hare-Shanghai Pudong: First class on 777 available to book until 31-Aug-2018;
• Chicago O'Hare-Tokyo Narita: First class on 777 available to book until 31-Aug-2018;
• Newark-Tokyo Narita: 777-300ER continues operating daily, replacing previously filed 777-200ER, effective 01-Aug-2018;
• San Francisco-Chengdu: Timing changes from San Francisco, moving to midnight hours. Seasonal fourth weekly frequency, previously scheduled from 23-May-2018 to 03-Sep-2018, is cancelled. To operate with 787-8 equipment for the entire summer season, instead of between 26-Mar-2018 and 02-May-2018 only;
• San Francisco-Taipei Taoyuan: 777-300ER continues operating daily, instead of previously scheduled 777-200ER and 787-9, effective 25-Mar-2018;
• Washington Dulles-Tokyo Narita: First class remains available to book until 30-Apr-2018;
• San Francisco-Xian: Seasonal service cancelled.

United Airlines operates to 29 Asia Pacific destinations, with Northeast Asia and Southwest Pacific among the carrier's top five largest international markets by seats, according to OAG.

Ryanair agreed (15-Dec-2017) to recognise pilot unions in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Details include:

• Ryanair to change its long standing policy of not recognising unions in order to avoid any threat of disruption to passengers and services from pilot unions during the Christmas period;
• Unions recognised on the condition they establish Ryanair pilots committees to deal with Ryanair issues, as the carrier will not engage with pilots who fly for "competitor airlines in Ireland or elsewhere";
• Ryanair called on pilots' unions to call off planned industrial action on 20-Dec-2017.

Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary commented: "Putting the needs of our customers first, and avoiding disruption to their Christmas flights, is the reason why we will now deal with our pilots through recognised national union structures and we hope and expect that these structures can and will be agreed with our pilots early in the New Year". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Russia's Minister of Transport Maksim Sokolov signed (15-Dec-2017) a cooperation agreement with Egypt's Minister of Civil Aviation Sherif Fathy. The document establishes the legal basis for work on preparation for the resumption of air services and will come into effect in Jan-2018. Mr Sokolov said the agreement is the first step towards the resumption of air services. Mr Sokolov added service to Cairo could resume from Feb-2018, however noting there is a lot of work ahead. Aeroflot commenced work on the resumption of Cairo service, according to Mr Sokolov (TASS/Izvestia, 15-Dec-2017). [more - original PR - Russian] [more - original PR - Arabic]

Airbus board of directors announced (15-Dec-2017) the following executive changes to "ensure an orderly succession in the Executive leadership of Airbus":

• Airbus CEO Tom Enders advised the board he does not wish to seek another term beyond his current mandate, which runs until Apr-2019. During 2018 the board will assess internal and external executives for the role with a view to announcing Mr Enders' successor in good time for confirmation at the 2019 AGM;
• Airbus COO and Airbus Commercial Aircraft president Fabrice Brégier indicated to the board that, as he does not intend to be part of the selection process for the CEO position in 2019, he will step down in Feb-2018 and pursue other interests;
• Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury will succeed Mr Brégier as Airbus Commercial Aircraft president. [more - original PR]

Air New Zealand announced (15-Dec-2017) plans to increase Wellington-Queenstown frequency from daily to 12 times weekly from Apr-2018. The airline will operate the additional frequencies with A320 aircraft, adding 38,000 one way seats per week and increasing capacity by around 50%. According to CAPA's Air New Zealand Profile, the carrier operates a combination of ATR 72 and A320 equipment on the route. [more - original PR]

Regional Express (Rex) announced (15-Dec-2017) plans to end Taree-Sydney service, effective 27-Jan-2018. Services between Newcastle and Sydney, shared with Taree, will continue to operate as normal with 36 weekly frequencies. Rex GM network strategy and sales Warrick Lodge said the Taree route is "loss making" and the "impetus to withdraw from the route originated" with a refusal by the Mid Coast Council to supply a three phase power outlet to the airport apron. Mr Lodge said this required investment of less than AUD1000 (USD765) and Rex was prepared to invest AUD23,000 (USD17,590) for a new three phase ground power unit that would "improve operating efficiencies and reliability on the route". Mr Lodge added the carrier "was dismayed by the decision of the Mid Coast Council to hold back key services for the primary user of Taree airport given that Council had spent in excess of $4.2M on airport upgrades over the previous three years without consulting with Rex to understand its needs". [more - original PR]

Tourism Western Australia (WA) invited (15-Dec-2017) tourism industry operators to participate in a digital campaign with Ctrip to promote Western Australia as a holiday destination to Chinese tourists. The campaign will run from 28-Dec-2017 to 30-Jun-2018 with a travel period of Jan-2018 to Sep-2018. The objective of the campaign is to increase destination awareness, stimulate demand for travel to WA and increase bookings for tourism experiences and accommodation. Ctrip has more than 300 million members with one in five Chinese tourists booking outbound travel through the online agent. China is now WA's largest inbound market by visitor expenditure. [more - original PR]

Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH (FBB) set (15-Dec-2017) Oct-2020 as the new opening date for Berlin Brandenburg Airport. FBB stated it will "use all available options for equity and debt financing" to achieve the planned opening. The "exact amount" of liquidity required will be advised to the FBB supervisory board at the beginning of Mar-2018. [more - original PR - German]