Corporate Travel News

Tourism Council WA welcomed (21-Aug-2017) an AUD2 million (USD1.6 million) funding announcement by the West Australian State Government to re-prioritise tourism in the state budget through a cooperative marketing campaign. Under the campaign Tourism WA work with cooperative marketing partners such as airlines, travel agents and travel websites to offer incentives for people to travel now and take advantage of reasonable hotel rates, targeting markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, China, Sydney and Melbourne which have short lead times for bookings. Tourism Council WA CEO Evan Hall said the state is "in the midst of a tourism and hospitality downturn" and with "thousands of hotel rooms either recently completed or in the pipeline, a significant increase in leisure visitors is needed to fill them". [more - original PR]

Norwegian Air Argentina outlined (21-Aug-2017) a five to seven year plan which includes launching international services to Australia, the US, Europe and South America. [more - original PR - Spanish]

Ireland West Airport Knock CEO Joe Gilmore stated the Government subsidised airport is "value for money" and contributes to regional development. Mr Gilmore said: "We will always argue on the western seaboard, and in the south-west, that airports need to be supported, need to be invested in because they act as the driver and enabler for regional development... Build it and they'll come. I think the west has a lot to offer. You have to take risks and you have to invest in the right infrastructure". As previously reported by CAPA, ACI EUROPE and Ryanair have both called for increased investment in regional airports to assist regional tourism growth.

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin reported Kazakhstan expressed interest in participating in the resumption of production of the Ilyushin Il-114 turboprop (rg.ru/linta.inform.kz, 18-Aug-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) announced it intends to produce a modernised version of the 50 seat turboprop, for use as a regional and domestic feeder aircraft. UAC intends to certify the updated aircraft by the end of 2018 and start production by 2022. According to the CAPA Fleet Database, there are 16 turboprop aircraft in service with Kazakhstan based carriers.

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport experienced (21-Aug-2017) 100 consecutive months of growth with international passenger traffic between Apr-2009 to Jul-2017. The airport also handled its record highest domestic traffic in a month at 2.24 million passengers. CEO Lyell Strambi expects the growth trend to continue creating demand for more capacity during morning and afternoon peaks: "This is fantastic news for travellers because the addition of more airlines and extra services increases competition, ultimately driving down airfares". [more - original PR]

SWISS CEO Thomas Klühr commented on the long haul potential of new narrowbody aircraft, stating: "I see a potential in this context, as these machines have a considerable range... With this reach, new markets could be considered" (blick.ch, 20-Aug-2017). He added: "We are discussing this within the Group and are examining a possible application... for the A321neoLR.

Icelandair announced (20-Aug-2017) plans to launch three times weekly Reykjavik-Berlin Tegel service on 03-Nov-2017, with plans to expand services to Berlin in summer 2018. Berlin is the carrier's fourth destination in Germany and 30th destination in Europe. Communication director Guðjón Arngrímssom stated the carrier has been monitoring the route but the withdrawal of airberlin prompted the route development (Turisti, 20-Aug-2017). [more - original PR]

Australia's Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) reported (21-Aug-2017) the overall domestic on-time performance for Jul-2017. Details include:

• On-time departures: 79.9%;
  • Virgin Australia Regional Airlines: 86.9%;
  • QantasLink: 83.3%;
  • Qantas: 83.0%;
  • Regional Express: 82.9%;
  • Virgin Australia: 81.1%;
  • Tigerair: 71.2%;
  • Jetstar: 69.5%;
• On-time arrivals: 79.0%;
  • Virgin Australia Regional Airlines: 84.9%;
  • QantasLink: 83.4%;
  • Qantas: 81.3%;
  • Regional Express: 80.6%;
  • Virgin Australia: 78.0%;
  • Jetstar: 73.2%;
  • Tigerair: 69.1%;
• Cancellations: 1.9%;
  • Tigerair: 4.0%;
  • QantasLink: 2.4%;
  • Regional Express: 2.3%;
  • Virgin Australia: 1.9%;
  • Qantas: 1.4%;
  • Jetstar: 0.9%;
  • Virgin Australia Regional Airlines: 0.4%. [more - original PR]

Oman Airports Management Company (OAMC) announced (20-Aug-2017) plans to introduce a new baggage policy across its major airports, including Muscat, Salalah and Suhar, effective 01-Sep-2017. Passengers will no longer be allowed to check in round and irregular shaped luggage such as items wrapped in blankets, linen or tied with rope. This change is applicable to all passengers regardless of carrier, cabin class or destination. OAMC is currently working with all airlines, travel agencies as well as tourism websites to ensure that this policy is clearly communicated to all travelers to and from Oman. [more - original PR - English/Arabic]

Virgin Australia stated the slowing of the regional economy and passenger market due to a weaker resources sector is likely to result in reductions in capacity and frequency on "many intrastate routes" and higher airfares as fly-in, fly-out traffic weakens (Perth Now, 17-Aug-2017). The carrier stated most of its intrastate routes in Western Australia "do not deliver acceptable commercial returns" and that reducing airfares on these routes "will be unlikely to boost demand and will simply reduce the total revenue we would otherwise earn on these services". The carrier noted its total seat capacity on Western Australian routes has fallen by 8% since 2014. Intrastate route seat capacity has fallen by around 24% over the same period. The Western Australian State Government is conducting an inquiry into the high price of regional airfares, which is due to report on 28-Nov-2017.