Corporate Travel News

Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF) CEO Margy Osmond welcomed (30-Aug-2017) a nine year, AUD397 million (USD314 million) plan to redevelop the Adelaide Convention Centre, noting the development will pave the way for Adelaide to take full advantage of the business and major events markets. According to Ms Osmond, conferences and business events "are an important driver of Adelaide's visitor economy", with business events are "a particularly lucrative market with visitors often spending up to four times more than regular tourists on accommodation, restaurants, entertainment, shopping and transport". [more - original PR]

Ryanair reiterated (30-Aug-2017) calls for Berliners to vote 'Yes' on the 24-Sep-2017 referendum to keep Berlin Tegel Airport open. Ryanair noted Berlin Brandenburg Airport, due to replace Tegel, will have capacity of only 27 million passengers p/a. Ryanair stated this is less than Dublin Airport, located in a city with one third of Berlin's population. Ryanair stated: "With almost 33m passengers already travelling through Berlin's two existing Schonefeld and Tegel airports last year, the planned closure of Tegel will leave Berlin with less airport capacity than its existing traffic". [more - original PR]

British Airways announced (30-Aug-2017) plans to launch the following trans Atlantic services from London Gatwick Airport for summer 2018:

• London Gatwick-Toronto: Three times weekly, effective 01-May-2018;
• London Gatwick-Las Vegas: Three times weekly, effective 27-Mar-2018;

British Airways also operates London Heathrow-Las Vegas service. British Airways will operate 21 trans Atlantic services from Gatwick over summer 2018. [more - original PR]

CAE announced (30-Aug-2017) the expansion of its agreement with Air Niugini to support the airline's Fokker F100 pilot training needs in the region. Pilots began training in 2H2017 and CAE instructors are delivering type-rating training at the CAE Perth Training Centre in Australia. Air Niugini has been a CAE customer since 2016. [more - original PR]

Zambia's Minister of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba said the Government is investing more than USD1 billion in developing aviation infrastructure, including the expansion and improvement of airports (The Times of Zambia, 29-Aug-2017). Mr Mushimba said: "We feel that to take full advantage of that investment, a national airline is needed especially that it can play the catalytical role to accelerating economic development".

SCAT Airlines, via its official Facebook account, announced (29-Aug-2017) it received EASA authorisation to operate services to destinations in the EU. The carrier will study and plan new, potential routes.

French Blue CEO Marc Rochet confirmed new destinations are being considered for 2018 (clicanoo.re, 29-Aug-2017). "We look at everything, Mauritius... could open in 2018", he said, along with service to the Seychelles. Mr Rochet concluded: "There are plenty of high growth roads, there is a good growth in the West Indies, and the North Atlantic".

airberlin adjusted plans to reduce its winter 2017/18 schedule to the US, according to a 29-Aug-2017 GDS inventory and timetable display. Bookings are not available for certain services, or have been reduced. Details include:

• Berlin Tegel-Abu Dhabi: Reduce from twice daily to daily from 17-Sep-2017, suspend service from 30-Sep-2017;
• Berlin Tegel-Chicago: Suspend daily service from 30-Sep-2017;
• Berlin Tegel-Los Angeles: Suspend three times weekly service from 30-Sep-2017;
• Berlin Tegel-San Francisco: Suspend four times weekly service from 29-Sep-2017;
• Duesseldorf-Boston: Suspend daily service from 30-Sep-2017.

Air Kiribati, via its official Facebook account, confirmed (28-Aug-2017) plans to launch Tawara-Honiara-Brisbane service on 30-Aug-2017, operated in partnership with Solomon Airlines.