Corporate Travel News

Air New Zealand announced (18-Dec-2017) plans to increase Christchurch-Nadi frequency to five times weekly from 26-May-2018, offering nearly 6000 extra seats on the seasonal service, an increase of more than 40%. The airline operates the service twice weekly between July and October, increasing to three times weekly at peak times. The new frequencies will be operated by A320 equipment. Air New Zealand chief revenue officer Cam Wallace said the airline tripled capacity between Christchurch and Fiji over the past five years. [more - original PR]

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport chief of aviation Simon Gandy, commenting on Qantas' plans to launch Melbourne-San Francisco service with Boeing 787-9 equipment, said (15-Dec-2017) the "new economics of long-haul services that the Dreamliner delivers mean non-stop services between Melbourne and San Francisco now stack-up commercially for airlines". Mr Gandy added the route is "the perfect example of just how these aircraft will change the face of global aviation in the coming years" and noted Qantas is Melbourne Airport's 10th airline to offer nonstop travel on a 787. Melbourne-San Francisco service will commence in late 2018. [more - original PR]

flydubai launched (15-Dec-2017) three times weekly Dubai-Kilimanjaro-Dar Es Salaam-Dubai and Dubai-Dar Es Salaam-Kilimanjaro-Dubai services on 15-Dec-2017. flydubai is the first UAE based carrier to operate direct Kilimanjaro service and Emirates will codeshare on the services. [more - original PR]

Meridiana announced (14-Dec-2017) its summer 2018 network from Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport. Meridiana will continue year round service to Milan Linate, Rome Fiumicino and Bologna and will also launch services to London Gatwick, Moscow Domodedovo, Venice, Turin, Bergamo, Milan Malpensa, Naples, Verona and Milan Bergamo from 25-Mar-2018. [more - original PR]

Aero Contractors CEO Ado Sanusi said the carrier aims to dispose of a stake in its shareholding capital to an outside party (Daily Trust, 03-Dec-2017). Mr Sanusi stated 19 proposals from local and foreign investors were received, of which six were shortlisted with a further shortlist of a preferred bidder, second bidder and standby bidder planned. Mr Sanusi said the decision to bring in a strategic investor is part of controlling shareholder Asset Management Company of Nigeria's (AMCON) turnaround plan for airline. Aero Contractors was 100% owned by the Ibru family before state controlled AMCON secured a 60% stake as part of a debt/equity conversion scheme. In Feb-2016, AMCON exercised its majority shareholder status to replace Aero's board and conduct a forensic audit of its accounts. Under the turnaround plan, AMCON oversaw improvement of the airline's operational assets including its MRO unit. Mr Sanusi also confirmed Aero is in talks with Airbus, Boeing and Bombardier, among others, on fleet renewal plans.

SkyUp announced (14-Dec-2017) plans to launch scheduled Kiev-Odessa and Kharkiv-Odessa services from the end of May-2018. The carrier also plans to launch scheduled Kiev-Barcelona, ​​Kiev-Dubai and Kiev-Larnaca services from 2018. International charter services from Kiev, Kharkiv, Lviv and Odessa to Alicante, Antalya, Barcelona, Bodrum, Burgas, Dalaman, Dubai, Hurghada, Larnaca, Palma de Mallorca, Rimini, Sharm el-Sheikh, Tivat, Tenerife, Tirana and Varna will launch in 2018. The carrier plans to expand its network from 2019. Scheduled services operate under a low cost model without baggage and selected additional services. [more - original PR - Ukrainian]

Widerøe announced (14-Dec-2017) plans to launch three times weekly services from Bergen Flesland Airport to Billund on 25-Jun-2018, Munich on 13-Aug-2018 and Hamburg on 14-Aug-2018 and twice weekly Bergen-Gothenburg service on 16-Aug-2018. The carrier plans to deploy Embraer E190-E2 aircraft on Hamburg and Munich services. Widerøe also plans to launch four times weekly Kristiansand-London Stansted service with Bombardier Q400 aircraft, effective 13-Aug-2018. [more - original PR - Norwegian] [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Norwegian Air Shuttle announced (14-Dec-2017) plans to launch the following Europe-US services with Boeing 787-9 aircraft in summer 2018:

• New York JFK-Madrid Barajas: Three times weekly, effective 18-Jul-2018;
• New York JFK-Amsterdam Schiphol: Four times weekly, effective 07-May-2018;
• Los Angeles-Madrid: Four times weekly, effective 16-Jul-2018;
• Los Angeles-Milan Malpensa: Four times weekly, 18-Jun-2018.

Norwegian offers 61 nonstop trans Atlantic services to 16 destinations in Europe and will be the sole carrier operating nonstop year round services from Los Angeles to Madrid and Milan. [more - original PR]

Qantas confirmed (15-Dec-2017) delivery its second Boeing 787-9, named 'Waltzing Matilda'. The second aircraft allows the carrier to commence international services with its 787-9s, initially operating Melbourne-Los Angeles service. The arrival of the third and fourth 787-9 aircraft in early 2018 will enable the carrier to commence Perth-London service, originating in Melbourne. All eight 787-9 aircraft will be delivered by the end of 2018, with four based in Melbourne and four based in Brisbane. [more - original PR]

Queensland Airports Ltd reported (14-Dec-2017) its busiest November ever in Nov-2017. Details include:

• Passengers: 698,794, +4.8% year-on-year;
  
  • Gold Coast Airport: 544,012, +3.7%;
  • Townsville Airport: 135,321, +8.8%;
  • Mount Isa Airport: 16,895, +10.8%;
  • Longreach Airport: 2566, stable. [more - original PR]