Corporate Travel News

Fliggy VP Jerry Hu, commenting on the company's MoU with Qantas, noted that the popularity of mobile device use for internet access and the impact this has on commerce, means Fliggy "can provide brands with a large customer base, as well as facilitate direct communication with their customers" (Travel Trade Gazette Asia, 15-Aug-2017). Qantas and the Alibaba Group subsidiary signed an MoU earlier in Aug-2017, allowing Qantas to sell its content in China on the Fliggy online platform. The Alibaba Group online marketplace reaches more than 500 million consumers in China.

Virgin Australia CEO John Borghetti reported "some pretty significant flows" in cargo bookings for Melbourne-Hong Kong service and said the service is "opening up opportunities for us on the cargo side" (Air Cargo News, 15-Aug-2017). Mr Borghetti commented: "As we go forward, once we establish ourselves, firstly with more services, we can then go into the second phase of seeing how we expand this with freighters etc".

Auckland Airport announced (15-Aug-2017) it will hold its 2017 annual meeting on 26-Oct-2017. The airport is accepting nominations of directors to be considered for election until 31-Aug-2017. Nominations may only be made by shareholders entitled to attend and vote at the meeting, and must be accompanied by the consent in writing of the person nominated. [more - original PR]

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport confirmed (15/16-Aug-2017) ground traffic is operating as per normal for a Wednesday morning as of 06:30 on 16-Aug-2017, following a strike by taxi drivers on 15-Aug-2017 which impacted vehicle movements through the terminal forecourt. The airport offered passengers free shuttle bus service to the city on SkyBus. [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

AirAsia X introduced (16-Aug-2017) self service check-in kiosks at Gold Coast Airport as part of the airport's roll out of common use passenger processing systems. The airport is the first in Australia to feature AirAsia X self service check-in kiosks and will be followed by Sydney Airport, Melbourne Tullamarine Airport and Perth Airport. AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said: "This major initiative is part of our ongoing mission to continuously innovate with technology and practice cost efficiency". [more - original PR]

Ryanair lodged (15-Aug-2017) competition complaints with the German Bundeskartellamt and the EU Commission regarding the "obvious conspiracy playing out in Germany", between the German Government, Lufthansa and airberlin, to "carve up" airberlin's assets. Ryanair also alleged the parties are "excluding major competitors and ignoring both EU competition and State Aid rules". Ryanair stated: "This manufactured insolvency is clearly being set up to allow Lufthansa to take over a debt free Air Berlin which will be in breach of all known German and EU competition rules". [more - original PR] [more - CAPA Analysis]

airberlin filed (15-Aug-2017) to commence insolvency proceedings, in order to continue with "the restructuring process that is already underway". The proceedings are due to Etihad Airways intending to no longer provide airberlin with financial support. airberlin stated Germany's Federal Government, Lufthansa and other partners are "supporting airberlin in its restructuring efforts", with the Federal Government offering an EUR150 million bridging loan to maintain flight operations. The carrier confirmed all services operated by airberlin and NIKI will continue as planned, bookings remain valid and all services can still be booked. Etihad Airways stated the development is "extremely disappointing for all parties, especially as Etihad provided "extensive support to airberlin for its previous liquidity challenges and restructuring efforts over the past six years". Etihad provided EUR250 million in additional funding to airberlin in Apr-2017, however stated: "airberlin's business has deteriorated at an unprecedented pace, preventing it from overcoming its significant challenges and from implementing alternative strategic solutions". Etihad intends to "support airberlin's management during these difficult times", while emphasising: "we have a commercial relationship with airberlin across a range of areas, including codeshare operations". [more - original PR - airberlin] [more - original PR - German - BMVI] [more - original PR - German - ver.di union] [more - original PR - Etihad] [more - BMVI video] [more - CAPA Analysis]

Melbourne Tullamarine Airport welcomed (15-Aug-2017) the operation of Uber at the airport following the legalisation of ridesharing services in Victoria. The airport launched dedicated wait zones for Uber users, located inside the terminal forecourt at T1, T2 and T3 and at Level 2 of T4 Transport Hub. Passengers can be dropped off anywhere along Departures Drive and T4 Transport Hub drop-off zone on Level 1. Uber state manager for Victoria Lucas Groeneveld stated: "We know thousands of Uber riders open the app at Melbourne Airport every week, and we're now thrilled to offer them safe, reliable and affordable" services at the airport. Victorian Taxi Association CEO Georgia Nicholls said "We understand ridesharing providers will be charged for access in a similar way that taxis are and welcome this equality for commercial providers". Uber drivers will reportedly incur an access fee of AUD4 (USD3) per trip. [more - original PR]

Senegal's President Macky Sall reportedly appointed Philippe Bohn as Air Senegal CEO, replacing Mamadou Lamine Sow (afrique-sur7.fr/Reussir Business/Seneweb.com/Xalimasn.com, 14-Aug-2017). Mr Sow was appointed chairman, replacing Thierno Niane.

Neos resumed seasonal charter services between Italy and Mombasa on 19-Jul-2017, followed by Meridiana on 21-Jul-2017 and Blue Panorama Airlines (tourismupdate.co.za, 15-Aug-2017). Blue Panorama suspended Mombasa services due to security concerns in 2011 and now operates three times weekly Milan-Zanzibar-Mombasa service. Enter Air resumed Warsaw-Mombasa service in Jun-2017 and Condor Flugdienst operates twice weekly Frankfurt-Mombasa and weekly Munich-Mombasa services.