Corporate Travel News

Cobalt Air, via its official Facebook account, announced (08-Dec-2017) plans to launch its "new Business Class product - launching on our Gatwick and Moscow services" from 11-Dec-2017. The carrier operates six times weekly Larnaca-London Gatwick service with A319 and A320 aircraft and twice weekly Paphos-Moscow Sheremetyevo service with A320.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines welcomed (08-Dec-2017) a "sharp" double digit passenger increase in Nov-2017. President and CEO Pieter Elbers stated growth was "especially strong on routes to European destinations and the American continent". He added: "In Africa and the Middle East, KLM succeeded in boosting load factor by 3%, on the back of minimal capacity growth... This confirms that KLM's network strategy is still as fruitful as ever". [more - original PR]

Primera Air CEO Hrafn Thorgeirsson reported the carrier is exploring plans to launch services to Washington Dulles International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport and/or Montreal in 2019, following strong sales on its planned services from the UK and Paris to New York, Boston and Toronto in May/Jun-2018 (Forbes, 08-Dec-2017). Mr Thorgeirsson said once Primera accrues experience operating low cost long haul services using next generation long range narrowbody aircraft on trans Atlantic routes, the carrier plans on "moving east like we are moving west", if traffic rights are favourable. He added Primera will consider operating services from Europe to Kenya, Gambia, Cape Verde, India and the Middle East if trans Atlantic services prove successful.

CAPA - Centre for Aviation stated (08-Dec-2017) Air Caledonie took delivery of an ATR 72-600 (F-OZKN, MSN 1459) on lease from La Roche 2017, as recorded by the CAPA Fleet Database.

Air China, via its official Weibo account, announced (10-Dec-2017) it launched four times weekly Beijing-Brisbane service on 10-Dec-2017, marking the carrier's sixth service between China and Australia and its third Australian destination after Sydney and Melbourne. The airline operates the service with A330-200 aircraft.

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) issued (07-Dec-2017) the following renewal determinations and decision:

• China: [2017] IASC 129 issued in favour of Qantas renewing its unlimited capacity allocation to operate all cargo services on the China route. The determination is valid for 10 years from 24-Oct-2018;
• Indonesia:
  • [2017] IASC 132 issued in favour of Virgin Australia, allocating 1980 seats per week, valid for five years from 08-Oct-2018, and permitting the capacity to be used by either Virgin Australia or another Australian carrier which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Virgin Australia;
  • [2017] IASC 133 issued in favour of Virgin Australia, allocating 1260 seats per week on the Indonesia route, valid for five years from 25-Oct-2018;
  • [2017] IASC 130 issued in favour of Qantas, renewing the capacity allocation on the Indonesia route, valid for five years from 25-Oct-2018.
• Singapore: [2017] IASC 131 issued in favour of Qantas allocating unlimited capacity and frequency on the Singapore route other than all cargo services. The determination is valid for 10 years from 31-Oct-2018;
• New Zealand (NZ): Decision [2017] IASC 220 varying Determination [2014] IASC 102 to include conditions permitting the capacity to be used for codeshare services between Qantas and SriLankan Airlines on the New Zealand route. [more - original PR]

Airbus upgraded (Dec-2017) its 20 year outlook for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific based on stronger expectations for passenger traffic in the region on the rising strength of tourism and the growth in the global middle class. Regional RPKs are projected to increase by 125% over the 20 year period. Projected fleet demand includes:

• Narrowbody fleet: To grow from 350 to 818 aircraft;
• Small/mid-sized widebody: To grow from 252 to 452 aircraft;
• Very large aircraft: To grow from 37 to 88 aircraft. [more - original PR]

SilkAir announced (08-Dec-2017) plans to deploy Boeing 737 MAX aircraft on Singapore-Darwin service on 07-Jan-2018. Darwin Airport will be the first airport in Australia to be served by 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with the carrier recently celebrating the fifth anniversary of services to Darwin. The carrier will also commence 737 MAX service to Cairns on 08-Jan-2018 (Airline Route, 10-Dec-2017).[more - original PR]

Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA) announced (11-Dec-2017) the graduation of the 21st cohort of Regional Express (Rex) cadet pilots and a Vietnamese cadet, destined for Vietnam Airlines. More than 200 Rex cadets graduated from AAPA since 2007 and subsequently transitioned into Rex and its subsidiaries in the rank of First Officer. AAPA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rex. [more - original PR]

Air Sénégal, via its official Facebook account, announced (07-Dec-2017) its officially inauguration on 07-Dec-2017, with the carrier also introducing its new ATR aircraft. As previously reported by CAPA, in Jun-2017 the carrier signed a contract for a firm order for two ATR 72-600 aircraft with an estimated value of EUR50 million at list price. Air Sénégal CEO Mamadou Lamine Sow previously commented: "Since the liquidation of Senegal Airlines, domestic air services have been disrupted within the country. Our ambition is for this new airline to play a major role in Senegal, and in all of West Africa".