Corporate Travel News

British Airways announced plans to launch twice weekly London Heathrow-Seychelles service, effective 24-Mar-2018. Service will operate with Boeing 787-9 equipment. [more - original PR]

Small Planet Airlines Germany reportedly plans to expand its fleet to 10 A320 aircraft by the end of 2018 and launch services from Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Hannover and Leipzig to destinations in Egypt, Greece, Malta and Spain (AeroTelegraph/ATO.ru, 16/19-Sep-2017). According to the CAPA Fleet Database, the carrier's fleet currently includes three A320-200s.

Brussels Airlines plans to commence route integration with Thomas Cook Airlines Belgium (TCAB) from 29-Oct-2017 (Routes Online, 19-Sep-2017). Brussels Airlines' SN code will eventually replace TCAB's HQ code from 29-Oct-2017, with the following routes subject to the change:

• Brussels-Agadir;
• Brussels-Almeria;
• Brussels-Boa Vista-Sal Amilcar-Brussels;
• Brussels-Djerba;
• Brussels-Enfidha;
• Brussels-Funchal-Gran Canaria-Brussels;
• Brussels-Gran Canaria;
• Brussels-Hurghada;
• Brussels-Lanzarote;
• Brussels-Lanzarote-Fuerteventura-Brussels;
• Brussels-Marrakech;
• Brussels-Marsa Alam;
• Brussels-Palma Mallorca;
• Brussels-Tenerife Sur.

As previously reported by CAPA, the Belgian Competition Authority approved the integration of TCAB assets into Brussels Airlines on 12-Sep-2017. Under a partnership agreement announced in Mar-2017, Thomas Cook will transfer 160 crew members, airport slots and two A320 aircraft of TCAB into Brussels Airlines.

Tourism Ireland reported (19-Sep-2017) a 31% year-on-year increase in North American visitors to Northern Ireland in 1Q2017. Tourism Ireland is engaged in an extensive North American promotional programme over 2017, including highlighting Northern Ireland's tourism offerings in partnership with Tourism NI. [more - original PR]

Egencia released (19-Sep-2017) the fourth edition of its 'Business Travel and Technology Survey'. The survey found "surprising differences" in the perceptions and confidence levels of global business travelers on the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality on corporate travel, with foreign business travelers much more pessimistic about the potential of emerging technologies to improve the business travel experience, compared to confidence levels of US business travellers:

• 55% of US business travellers believe AI advancements can improve their travel experience. US business travellers also recognise the need for balance between technology and human interaction;
• Business travellers in regions have lower confidence levels in how AI advancements can improve their business travel experiences in the future. Sweden and Norway were the least likely to believe AI advancements will improve their travel experiences, at 37%, followed by 41% in the UK and Germany, 42% in Australia, 44% in Canada and France, and 47% in Singapore;
• The US is the most demanding for mobile accessibility across devices, with 76% wanting greater cross-device integration;
• 68% of business travellers in Singapore and Sweden want to more efficiently manage their travel across devices, compared to 65% in Canada and Norway, 64% in France and the UK, 62% in Germany. [more - original PR]

Air Centre One founder Rob Leach commented (20-Sep-2017) that the fuel crisis at Auckland International Airport is putting New Zealand's international reputation at risk, and New Zealand is being bypassed by wealthy private jet owners on flights between Australia and the US due to the shortage. Air Centre One reported three aircraft headed for the US were re routed routed via the Pacific Islands to refuel rather than at Auckland. [more - original PR]

Tourism New Zealand conducted (19-Sep-2017) a training roadshow for more than 400 travel agents across the UK and Europe. Eight of New Zealand's nine international marketing alliances took part in the roadshow, along with 10 product suppliers, including Air New Zealand. The roadshow visited Newcastle, Birmingham, London, Zurich, Munich and Frankfurt. [more - original PR]

OACIS partnered (19-Sep-2017) Amadeus to introduce world's first 'pop up' check-in service with Virgin Australia as the first airline customer. The service uses Amadeus' Airport Common Use Service (ACUS) cloud technology to set up a full check in facility complete with bag drop at any location off airport including cruise terminal, hotel, train station, or a major conference or event. OACIS then securely transports the luggage to the airport and injects them directly into the airport baggage system. As previously reported by CAPA, Virgin Australia was the first airline to adopt the service and has already piloted it at the Sydney Overseas Passenger Terminal. Amadeus head of airport it sales, Asia Pacific Sarah Samuel stated: "Through this partnership, airlines are no longer restricted in the way they manage passenger flow…they can be agile in their service offerings, avoid queues and congestion, and create a better traveller experience. In the future, they may be able to do away with the airport check-in desk all together, opening up that space for other revenue opportunities". OACIS plans to expand the service throughout Australia and New Zealand within the next 12-18 months. [more - original PR]

flydubai announced (19-Sep-2017) plans to double operations to Russia for the 2017/18 winter season, in response to growing demand. From late Oct-2017, the airline will operate 40 times weekly to 10 destinations in Russia. The carrier will commence Makhachkala, Ufa and Voronezh services and add capacity to its existing destinations of Kazan, Krasnodar, Mineralnye Vody, Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Samara and Yekaterinburg. Travel from Russia to Dubai increased 97% in 1H2017 and the airline noted growing demand since changes to UAE visa requirements enabled Russian passengers to secure a free 30 day visa on arrival. [more - original PR]

Willis Lease Finance Corporation (WLFC) completed (19-Sep-2017) a sale and leaseback transaction on three Boeing 737 NG aircraft with Fiji Airways, supported by the Willis Lease 'ConstantThrust' programme. The deal includes elements from Willis Lease's leasing, trading, and materials businesses to provide a tailored solution designed to support Fiji Airways' fleet renewal plan, as the carrier transitions from the 737 NGs to the 737 MAX. WLFC president Brian R Hole said the lessor's 'ConstantThrust' programme means Fiji Airways will access its fleet planning capabilities and existing CFM56-7B portfolio to "reduce or eliminate the need for engine maintenance" as these aircraft transition out of the carrier's fleet. [more - original PR]