Corporate Travel News

Turkey's Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported (19-Sep-2017) 7.0 million foreign arrivals in Istanbul in the eight months ended Aug-2017, up 10.8%. The largest number of visitors arrived from Germany, Iran and Saudi Arabia. [more - original PR - Turkish]

SAS announced (20-Sep-2017) plans to operate four times daily Stockholm Arlanda-Ornskoldsvik service from 08-Apr-2018, operating with ATR 72-600 aircraft. Bookings are expected to commence on 03-Oct-2017. Head of sales Sweden & Finland Anders Wahlström stated "Örnsköldsvik is an exciting market…with a large export-oriented business community". [more - original PR - Swedish]

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport stated (20-Sep-2017) air freight traffic has been "increasing dynamically over the past months" in Hungary, "even exceeding the double-digit growth rate registered in passenger traffic". The airport confirmed plans to commence construction of a new freight facility called 'Cargo City' in 2018. [more - original PR]

Air Mediterranean detailed (19-Sep-2017) route development plans from Athens International Airport, effective 01-Nov-2017:

• Athens-London Stansted: Four times weekly;
• London Stansted-Athens-Erbil: Twice weekly;
• London Stansted-Athens-Baghdad: Weekly;
• London Stansted-Athens-Khartoum: Twice weekly;
• Athens-Stockholm Arlanda-Four times weekly;
• Stockholm-Athens-Erbil: Twice weekly;
• Stockholm-Athens-Baghdad: Weekly;
• Stockholm-Athens-Khartoum: Twice weekly;
• Athens-Jeddah: Three times weekly;
• Athens-Casablanca: Three times weekly;
• Jeddah-Athens-Casablanca: Three times weekly.

Athens International Airport director, communications and marketing Ioanna Papadopoulou said: "Increasing number of connections to destinations including not only already operated markets, such as London, Stockholm and Jeddah, but additionally, markets that are totally new to the Athens market, such as Casablanca, Khartoum, Baghdad and Erbil are offering new travel choices to the travelling public". [more - original PR]

Air Malta chairman Dr Charles Mangion stated (20-Sep-2017) the introduction of the carrier's "Go-Light" fare type is "tangible proof of a changing National airline". The fare type includes two products, 'Go Smart' or 'Go Flex'. Dr Mangion said: "This is a bold step for us, aimed to offer an enhanced and superior product whilst also increasing much needed revenue... The hybrid model adopted provides guests with a unique platform that empowers them to build a tailor made product according to their wants and needs". [more - original PR]

Ireland's Minister for Transport Shane Ross published (20-Sep-2017) a policy statement on revised government policy covering regulation of airport charges at Dublin Airport. Mr Ross said: "I am delighted the Government has agreed to reform how prices are set at Dublin Airport, placing consumers' interests first". Mr Ross also thanked the Commission for Aviation Regulation, supported by Aer Lingus and Ryanair, for its regulatory oversight in the Dublin's development as a "highly connected modern international airport". [more - original PR]

Air Kiribati, via its official Facebook page, reported (20-Sep-2017) Kiribati and New Zealand signed a bilateral air services agreement. The carrier said this "is a major step towards strengthening" its capacity to offer services to New Zealand into the future.

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport stated (20-Sep-2017) since the launch of Uber services at the airport, there has been "more than 1000 rides booked through the app each day" stated CEO Lyell Strambi. As previously reported by CAPA, the ridesharing service was launched at the airport on 15-Aug-2017. [more - orginal PR]

Cebu Pacific reported (20-Sep-2017) the highest passenger market share on Manila-Sydney route, based on data from Australia's Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. Details include:

• 44% of passenger market share during first five months of 2017;
  • 175,782 passengers handled on all carriers, +12% year-on-year;
• May-2017:
  • 14,039 passengers handled, +33% year-on-year;
  • 32,017 passengers handled on all carriers, +11% year-on-year;
• Freight:
  • May-2017: 950 tons, +88% year-on-year;
  • Jan-2017 to May-2017: 4064 tons, +54% year-on-year.

Cebu Pacific VP for marketing and distribution Candice Iyog added: "Australia is one of our strongest international performers and we continue to see enormous growth and opportunities in the region". Cebu Pacific is the only LCC operating on the route and plans to increase frequency from five times weekly to daily for southern summer, effective 01-Dec-2017. [more - original PR]

Australia's Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Ciobo reported (20-Sep-2017) the Tourism Research Australia Australian National Visitor Survey shows tourism is "driving our economy and will continue to into the future" with local tourists spending a record AUD62.6 billion (USD50.2 billion) holidaying within Australia for the year ending Jun-2017, an increase of 7% year-on-year. Combined with international tourist spending of AUD40.6 billion (USD32.5 billion) over the same period, this means spending by overnight tourists reached a new record of AUD103.2 billion (USD82.7 billion). [more - original PR]