Corporate Travel News

Sydney Airport introduced (29-Sep-2017) the indoor Baidu Maps app to offer visitors a real time navigation aid at terminal 1 International. Sydney Airport is the first organisation to utilise the app outside of greater China. The Chinese based indoor maps feature gates, check-in counters, amenities and retail outlets, viewable with the app's intuitive layout such as 3D views, zooming for granularity and search functionality. Users can also share feedback on retailers through the app. The initiative is part of Sydney Airport's open data strategy, MD and CEO Kerrie Mather stated: "This is an exciting addition to our offering, just months after introducing Google Maps across our terminals". [more - original PR]

Air Niugini announced (28-Sep-2017) it will be switching over to its new Sabre Corporation 'SabreSonic' passenger service system (PSS), effective 30-Sep-2017. The migration process will commence at 03:00 and will be completed on 09:00. During this period, all reservations and bookings via Air Niugini sales offices, the Air Niugini website and travel agencies will not be available. Passengers travelling on 30-Sep-2017 are required to check in at least three hours prior to departure on the domestic sector and at least four hours for the international sector, to avoid congestion during check in. The introduction of the Sabre PSS will enhance the customer experience in during online sales and is a part of Air Niugini's larger Business Transformation Program. Air Niugini will also engage Sabre on a transformation programme, combining technology and business consulting initiatives to reduce costs and improve customer experience. [more - original PR]

Air New Zealand chairman Antony Carter said (28-Sep-2017) the carrier does not anticipate a "material impact to our 2018 earnings" from the fuel pipeline rupture at Marsden Point that disrupted refuelling operations at Auckland Airport. [more - original PR]

German Airports Association (ADV) reported (27-Sep-2017) the following traffic highlights in Aug-2017:

• Passengers: 23.3 million, +6.0% year-on-year;
  • Domestic: 3.7 million, +3.3%;
  • Europe: 15.3 million, +5.3%;
  • Non-Europe: 4.2 million, +11.7%;
  • Transit: 42,136, -3.2%;
• Cargo: 407,269 tonnes, +9.6%;
• Aircraft movements: 215,951, +2.4%. [more - original PR - German]

CAPA - Centre for Aviation, in a report entitled: 'Brussels Airlines takes on Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium's schedule, paves way for VLM to return', stated (27-Sep-2017) Brussels Airlines has recovered market share since 2014. In 2008, the first full year after Brussels Airlines was created from the 2007 merger of SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express, LCCs operated a 19% share of seats in Belgium led by Ryanair, whose share was just under 11%. LCC seat share in Belgium then grew steadily to reach 40% in 2014, when both Ryanair and Vueling entered the main Brussels Airport and Ryanair's share was 21%. Meanwhile, Brussels Airlines' seat share declined from 29% in 2008 to 25% in 2014. However, it has mounted a recovery since then, taking its share to 27% in 2016 and 29% in 2017, back to its level of 2008. The share of LCCs in total has not gained since 2014, easing back slightly to 39% in 2016 and 2017. [more - CAPA Analysis]

Ryanair notified (27-Sep-2017) Alitalia's bankruptcy commissioners that it "will not be pursuing our interest in Alitalia or submitting any further offers for the airline". Ryanair attributed the change in interest "in order to focus on repairing" rostering issues through winter 2017/18. [more - original PR]

Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he "encouraged" Qantas CEO Alan Joyce to add more flights between north Queensland and Sydney, to accommodate demand for the NRL grand final (Hit 103.1 Townsville/AAP, 27-Sep-2017). The discussions between the Prime Minister and the Qantas CEO follow a letter written by federal north Queensland MP Bob Katter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission concerning pricing of flights by Qantas, Jetstar Airways and Virgin Australia from Townsville to Sydney.

Cape Town & Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment (Wesgro) confirmed (27-Sep-2017) Cape Town Air Access "lined up" three direct airline services to Cape Town International Airport and two expansions. Wesgro said details of the services will be announced in 'due course'. [more - original PR]

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) CEO and director of aviation safety Shane Carmody reported (26-Sep-2017) a consultation exercise is underway as part of updating and improving the regulations covering aerodromes. CASA is seeking responses on 11 specific proposals to make changes to Part 139 of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations and the associated manual of standards. The aim is to make the aerodrome safety requirements more streamlined, flexible and practical. CASA will also seek to reduce regulatory costs and burdens wherever possible. The current aerodrome regulations were made in 2003 and changes in technology, international standards and best practices mean an update is timely. [more - original PR]