Corporate Travel News

CAPA Fleet Database analysis (07-Dec-2017) of Airbus Nov-2017 orders and deliveries noted Middle East Airlines (MEA) changed an order for one A320-200neo to an A321-200neo. No more A320neos remain on order for MEA, according to the CAPA Fleet Database.

Retail inMotion launched (07-Dec-2017) a new onboard retail programme for Aer Lingus. The new programme includes a dedicated retail management team to drive revenues and cost efficiencies. Retail inMotion has supported Aer Lingus with retail services including range development, category management, crew training and menu card and catalogue design since Apr-2017. [more - original PR]

Travel Service reportedly signed an order for nine additional Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, increasing its total orders for the aircraft to 39 (Reuters, 07-Dec-2017). The carrier expects to take delivery of eight 737 MAX aircraft in 2018 and 15 in 2019. As previously reported by CAPA, Travel Service plans to deploy 737 MAX aircraft on Dubai, Canary Islands, Cape Verde and Salalah services from Jan-2018.

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development James Macharia, via his personal Twitter account, stated (07-Dec-2017) in order to "keep up with the growing demand" in the aviation industry, Kenya's Government "is geared to bolstering its infrastructure and continuously review its policy on environment and capacity building". He separately added: "In order to ensure that Kenya becomes a globally competitive hub that can be a catalyst of economic growth in the region, the government is working towards transforming JKIA (Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport) into an aetropolis- an airport city".

ACI World‏, via its official Facebook account, stated (06-Dec-2017) Vietnam, India, Iran, Colombia and Saudi Arabia are projected to be the fastest growing markets in the period from 2017 to 2040.

Mauritius' Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth stated (07-Dec-2017) tourism was "one of our most dynamic industries in the past four decades", growing quantitatively at a fast pace, improving qualitatively with more diversified and upmarket products and undergoing "necessary structural changes to build resilience". He added: "It has proved over the years to be one of the most globally competitive sectors of our economy". Annual visitors increased from around 100,000 to over one million over the past 40 years and the number of hotels increased from around 40 to 110 over the same period. [more - original PR]

French Blue, via its official blog, confirmed (07-Dec-2017) plans to launch Paris Orly-San Francisco-Papeete service on 11-May-2018. The route requires final regulatory approvals. The carrier will operate 411 seat A350 equipment, with 376 economy and 35 premium seats. [more - original PR]

Auckland International Airport, via its official Facebook account, confirmed (07-Dec-2017) Philippine Airlines operates three times weekly nonstop Manila-Auckland service with A340 aircraft, effective 06-Dec-2017. The airline upgauged from an A320 aircraft, operating for the past two years via Cairns. While frequency was reduced from four to three times weekly, the larger 254 seat aircraft will add around 14,000 seats p/a to the route (NZ Herald, 08-Dec-2017).

Australia China Business Council (ACBC) reported (08-Dec-2017) research, conducted in partnership with LEK Consulting, shows that one million Chinese tourists arrived in Australia for 2017 year to date, and forecast Chinese arrivals will reach 3.3 million p/a by 2025. ACBC also reported Chinese visitors are the highest spending group of travellers to Australia and found Chinese travellers are more likely to buy Australian products upon their return, to study and to invest in Australia. [more - original PR]