Corporate Travel News

TUI Group CEO Fritz Joussen reiterated the need for airline consolidation in Europe (The Telegraph, 27-Aug-2017). "I think in time there will be exits of competitors in Europe and we just need to take care of how those exits are managed", he said. On airberlin, Mr Joussen stated the carrier's insolvency "is not a bad thing... But we are looking at it through the lens of our people and customers".

Sweden's Transport Agency granted (25-Aug-2017) Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, SAS, Sparrow Aviation, Högkusten Flyg AB and BRA - Braathens Regional Airlines permits to operate domestic services. The permits may be extended for a maximum of 24 months. [more - original PR]

Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce announced (28-Aug-2017) a reorganisation of its executive leadership team. The changes among the direct reports to Mr Joyce are:

• Jon Scriven (Group executive of people and culture) will retire after eight and a half years at Qantas. Lesley Grant, currently CEO of Qantas Loyalty, will step into this role;
• Jayne Hrdlicka will move from CEO of Jetstar Group to become CEO of Qantas Loyalty and Digital Ventures, which will now also include innovation;
• Gareth Evans will move from CEO of Qantas International to become CEO of Jetstar Group;
• Alison Webster, who is currently executive manager of freight, catering and airports, will become CEO of Qantas International;
• Olivia Wirth will take on responsibility for customer and digital strategy, in a new role of chief customer officer. This is in addition to her existing responsibilities for brand, marketing and corporate affairs;
• Andrew Finch will take on the responsibility for Office of the CEO in additional to his current responsibilities as general counsel and company secretary;
• Andrew David, currently CEO of Qantas Domestic, will also assume responsibility for Qantas Freight, Catering and Airports.

New group management committee (from Nov-2017):

• Andrew David - CEO Qantas Domestic & Freight (currently CEO Qantas Domestic);
• Gareth Evans - CEO Jetstar Group (currently CEO, Qantas International & Freight);
• Andrew Finch - General counsel & group executive, office of the CEO (currently general counsel and company secretary);
• John Gissing* - Group executive associated airlines & services;
• Lesley Grant - Group executive, people & culture (currently CEO, Qantas Loyalty);
• Jayne Hrdlicka - CEO Qantas Loyalty & digital ventures (currently CEO, Jetstar Group);
• Tino La Spina* - CFO, Qantas Group;
• Rob Marcolina* - Group executive strategy, transformation & IT;
• Andrew Parker* - Group executive government, international and regulatory affairs;
• Alison Webster - CEO Qantas International (currently executive manager, freight, catering & airports);
• Olivia Wirth - Chief customer officer (currently group executive, brand, marketing & corporate affairs). [more - original PR]
  

* unchanged

Qantas Group: "Over the past three years, our senior executive team has led the Group through a major turnaround. We're now entering a phase of ongoing improvement and innovation, and these changes will help drive that. This is also about making the best use of the considerable leadership talent at the top level of our organisation", Alan Joyce, CEO. Source: Qantas Group, 28-Aug-2017.

Labasa Airport announced plans to install runway lighting system to provide the airport with night landing capabilities (Fiji Village/Fiji Sun/Fiji Times, 26-Aug-2017). The project is estimated to require USD400,000 and will commence in Sep-2017, with works scheduled to complete by late Nov-2017. Fiji Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said this project will enhance "frequency of flights and flexibility", allowing "greater opportunities for Fiji Link and Northern Air to reschedule themselves and increase profits". Mr Sayed-Khaiyum added currently: "No airport in Fiji makes a profit except Nadi [Nadi International Airport]". Northern Air (Fiji) is expected to conduct the airport's inaugural night service upon completion.

Air New Zealand announced (25-Aug-2017) plans to deploy Boeing 787-9 aircraft to Samoa. The carrier will operate three weekly 787-9 frequencies from Auckland to Apia from Nov-2017 and Mar-2018, and up to six frequencies a week to Apia between Apr-2018 and Oct-2018. Other frequencies will be operated with A320 equipment. Air New Zealand senior manager Pacific Islands Brent Roxburgh stated the addition of widebody services comes in response to growing customer demand for travel to and from Apia, adding that the 787-9 will add around 20% more seats into Samoa year-on-year. [more - original PR]

Fiji Airways requested (25-Aug-2017) the US Department of Transportation renewal for its operating authority for scheduled air transport service between Nadi and Honolulu, operating via Kiribati, Christmas Island. Due to an administrative oversight, a renewal application was not filed before 15-Aug-2017. The carrier has operated these services for almost 12 years. [more - original PR]

Qantas announced (25-Aug-2017) upgrades to its domestic business lounge and Qantas Club at Melbourne Airport. The improvements have been designed by Woods Bagot, adding 40% more capacity to the business lounge and 10% more capacity to the Qantas Club. Combined, the lounges will be able to accommodate around 130 more people compared with the current configuration. Work will commence in Nov-2017, with construction completed in stages to allow ongoing lounge access during the scheduled 12 month build. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia announced (25-Aug-2017) a five year partnership with Carlton Football Club, becoming the club's co-major partner and official airline partner through to at least the end of 2022. Virgin Australia has been a platinum partner of the Carlton Football Club for the past three seasons, and earlier in the year signed as interim co-major partner. Virgin Australia will retain the front space on the Club's away guernseys, as well as all major branding assets across the Club's AFL program. Virgin Australia will also retain naming rights to all of Carlton's premium match day hospitality events including the President's Club by Virgin Australia and the Virgin Australia Carlton Lounge. Virgin Australia also becomes the co-naming rights partner to Carlton's 'IN Business' programme, and will continue to partner with Carlton Media productions including 'The Journey' and 'Bloodlines.' [more - original PR]

Cook Islands Ministry of Finance & Economic Management reported (27-Aug-2017) visitor arrivals to Cook Islands for Jul-2017. Details include:

• Visitor arrivals: 16,406, -0.4% year-on-year;
  • New Zealand: 11,882, -5.4%;
  • Australia: 2223, +6.0%;
  • US: 755, +31.5%;
  • Canada: 149, +91.0%. [more - original PR]

flyadeal aims to commence international services by mid 2018, following the planned launch of domestic operations on 23-Sep-2017 (Reuters/Arab News, 24/25-Aug-2017). CEO Con Korfiatis said: "We see enormous opportunity to offer more choice particularly out of another base" and added: "We saw the low fares airline space as a white space for us to grow into. We are primarily looking to come in and stimulate rather than have to survive on taking from anybody else". The airline will target young travellers, with around half of Saudi Arabia's population estimated to be younger than 25. Mr Korfiatis said: "Saudi Arabia and the region have a very young and digitally savvy population that has an increasing thirst for low fare travel domestically and across the region" and commented: "That's the demographic that's the future of this airline".