Corporate Travel News

Montenegro's Prime Minister Duško Marković announced (09-Oct-2017) the Government could "initiate procedures to take responsibility for" and pay off Montenegro Airlines' obligations to creditors. Mr Marković added: "Only irresponsible individuals, politically frustrated politicians and political calculators can criticise the Government's commitment and its intention to support Montenegro Airlines and bring it to the stage when the problems that the Montenegrin Airlines' business represents for the Government and the budget will be better resolved". [more - original PR]

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in its analysis of Airbus' delivery and order information for Sep-2017, stated (09-Oct-2017) TAP Portugal has appeared to cancel orders for two A330-900neos.

Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport announced (09-Oct-2017) LOT Polish Airlines plans to launch 13 times weekly Warsaw Chopin-Oslo service from 25-Mar-2018, operating with Embraer 195 aircraft. Norwegian Air International and Wizz Air also operate the route. [more - original PR - Polish]

Brussels Airlines announced (09-Oct-2017) 10 new destinations for winter 2017/18, with the biggest winter season expansion in the carrier's 15 year history. The airline will serve 80 destinations from Brussels Airport, including 21 long haul destinations. New destinations from Brussels include:

• Agadir: Weekly;
• Almeria: Weekly;
• Boa Vista: Twice weekly;
• Enfidha: Weekly;
• Fuerteventura: Weekly;
• Hurghada: Twice weekly;
• Lanzarote: Three times weekly;
• Marsa Alam: Weekly;
• Palma de Mallorca: Weekly;
• Sal: Weekly.

The carrier also extended summer service to Bordeaux and Funchal into winter 2017/18. [more - original PR]

Air Niugini Cargo Limited announced Express Freight Management as its new cargo sales agent at Henderson International airport in Honiara, effective 09-Oct-2017 (Solomon Star News, 09-Oct-2017). Air Niugini Cargo Limited GM Gus Kraus and Express Freight Management Branch Manager Jebs Benito made the formal announcement in Honiara. The partnership includes five times weekly Port Moresby-Honiara flights and combined sales and marketing activities.

Air Tahiti marked its 30 year partnership with ATR by acquiring two new ATR 72-600s (Radio 1, 08-Oct-2017). Air Tahiti MD Manate Vivish welcomed the acquisition on 06-Oct-2017, during a celebration event for the partnership with ATR. According to the CAPA Fleet Database, Air Tahiti has three ATR 42-600, five ATR 72-600 and two ATR 72-500 aircraft currently in service.

airberlin stated (09-Oct-2017) the investor process for its assets "enters its decisive phase this week". Lufthansa Group and easyJet will conclude exclusivity for the negotiations on the acquisition of airberlin's assets on 12-Oct-2017, as previously reported. airberlin said it is also "still confident about finding investors" for airberlin technik "who are equally interested in the acquisition of assets and the continuation of the company". airberlin stated after tenderers acquire purchase contracts for airberlin's parts, the carrier will "cease its own business step by step" by 28-Oct-2017 "at the latest". airberlin confirmed air traffic of non-insolvent companies NIKI and Luftfahrtgesellschaft Walter will continue. [more - original PR - German]

Tasmania's Government announced (09-Oct-2017) a restructure of Tourism Tasmania in order to become an independent statutory authority. The restructure includes more resources, funding surety, permanent staff and independence from the government. The existing Council will form part of a transition team that will drive the formation of the new statutory authority, with legislation to be introduced in 2018. [more - original PR]

South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) announced (09-Oct-2017) a new partnership with Expedia to deliver five domestic and international campaigns in the FY2018. The campaigns include a dedicated microsite, developed by Expedia Media Solutions, with content on South Australia and accommodation, activities and package deals. The campaigns also include banner ads across the Expedia sites, e-newsletters and social media. [more - original PR]

Fly Baghdad will reportedly receive its first Boeing 737-700 aircraft and commence international services in Oct-2017 (worldairlinenews.com, 08-Oct-2017). Via its official Facebook and Twitter accounts, the airline stated (21-Sep/03-Oct-2017) its new 737 aircraft completed "final checks" to enable international operations, including services to Europe. The aircraft was purchased from a Swiss company.