Corporate Travel News

Emirates announced (12-Sep-2017) plans to increase Dubai-Sydney frequency to four times daily, effective 25-Mar-2018. The airline will operate all four frequencies with A380 equipment. The additional frequency will increase capacity on the service by 6846 seats per week and increase the airline's overall Australia capacity by 7.3%. The service will enable greater connectivity from Europe and North Africa to Australia and will complement the rerouting of Qantas' services between Sydney and London to operate via Singapore instead of Dubai. Emirates will also increase Dubai-Brisbane frequency to three times daily on 01-Dec-2017 and operate Dubai-Melbourne service three times daily with A380 aircraft from 25-Mar-2018. [more - original PR]

Tourism Australia reported (12-Sep-2017) visitor arrivals to Australia for Jul-2017. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: 746,100, +4.2% year-on-year;
  • New Zealand: 131,100, +0.6%;
  • UK: 40,300, -5.6%;
  • US: 59,900, +7.9%;
  • Singapore: 28,700, -3.4%;
  • China: 149,400, +24.7%. [more - original PR]

Ryanair plans to launch the following Malta services as per a 11-Sep-2017 GDS and inventory timetable display:

• Malta-Aberdeen: Twice weekly, effective 25-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Bratislava: Twice weekly, effective 25-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Gothenburg: Weekly, effective 31-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Paris Beauvais: Twice weekly, effective 27-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Pescara: Twice weekly, effective 27-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Porto: Twice weekly, effective 26-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Seville: Twice weekly, effective 28-Mar-2018;
• Malta-Tallinn: Weekly, effective 29-Mar-2018.

All services operate with Boeing 737-800 equipment. Ryanair also plans to offer connecting services with Air Malta to African onward destinations. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II] [more - original PR - III - Slovak] [more - original PR - IV]

Zambia's Minister of Transport Brian Mushimba said the country's new national carrier is expected to commence operations in 2018 under the name Zambia Airways (ZNBC, 11-Sep-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, Mr Mushimba said the new airline is necessary to take full advantage of investment in aviation infrastructure.

London Gatwick Airport CEO Stewart Wingate called (11-Sep-2017) on the UK Government to support a second runway following the airport's record 4.9 million passengers handled in Aug-2017. Mr Wingate added: "Later this year, we'll be further adding to our more than 60 long haul connections with routes to Denver, Seattle, Austin, Chicago, Taipei and Singapore starting... As Gatwick continues to grow beyond 45 million annual passengers, we remain ready and willing to build our financeable and deliverable second runway". [more - original PR]

Jetstar Australia and New Zealand CEO Dean Salter confirmed the carrier intends to suspend Townsville-Denpasar service from 21-Mar-2018, as the carrier "cannot see a path to making it sustainable" after having operated the route for two years and has worked with the airport to keep the service operating (The Townsville Bulletin, 11-Sep-2017). Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Leanne Coddington will reportedly meet with new Jetstar CEO Gareth Evans to discuss opportunities for new flights to Townsville.

Amadeus IT Group VP, provider offer management, travel channels David Doctor, via the official Amadeus blog, reported (11-Sep-2017) there is a consumer revolution taking place, with businesses speeding up and "putting data in the driver's seat". According to Mr Doctor:

• As successful digital retailers set new and higher expectations from consumers, aviation will need to respond. Aviation players will need to focus on consumer priorities across 'product, service, and convenience':
  • Consumers expect the same level of service, personalisation, and consistency across channels;
  • Simplify the experience: Enable consumers to start, stop and take up again across multiple devices and channels;
  • Personalisation: Understand and anticipate consumer needs and offer relevant offers at the relevant time;
• Data-driven decisions: It is not only about the data, it is about getting actionable insights from the data;
• For any new technology to deliver on its full potential, it needs to be integrated with core travel industry systems and a part of a full omni-channel strategy;
• LCCs are already successful retailers, adopters of new technologies and their business model is more digitally focused. [more - original PR]

Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David, speaking at a Western Australia (WA) Economics and Industry Standing Committee inquiry into regional airfares, said regional airports in the state are in the top 15 most expensive airports in Qantas domestic network, due to high maintenance, labour and other costs (The West/ABC News, 11-Sep-2017). Mr David said another factor contributing to airfare prices is the "high cost is directionality", with Qantas operating full aircraft in one direction and relatively empty aircraft back from towns where demand is underpinned by fly-in, fly-out traffic.

Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal stated Etihad Airways has no plans to exit its three year old equity partnership with Jet Airways, adding that Jet Airways has no plans for another partner (PTI/The Hindu Business Line, 12-Sep-2017). "We have no plans to sell the stake to another investor. Also, our partner Etihad has no intention to exit their investment in Jet Airways", Mr Goyal said. He added: "Our three-year-young strategic partnership with Etihad Airways continues to to deliver synergies across all areas, including network growth, revenue enhancement, operational efficiencies and cost improvement, to the mutual benefit of both airlines... For another year running, Jet Airways, together with Etihad Airways, carried more passengers between India and the Gulf than any other airline". The synergies enabled one million passengers to connect between India and North America, Europe, Africa and West Asia over Abu Dhabi, Mr Goyal added. In the recent months there have been reports of exploratory discussions between Jet Airways and Delta Air Lines for a stake sale. Jet has also appointed JP Morgan to consider ways to raise funds to reduce debt levels and support continued fleet expansion at the airline.