Corporate Travel News

Fly Corporate announced (04-Aug-2017) plans to launch five times weekly Melbourne-Orange service on 09-Oct-2017. The new service will operate Monday to Friday departing Orange at 09:50 and Melbourne's Essendon Airport at 12:20, utilising Saab 340B Plus aircraft. Fly Corporate CEO Andrew Major stated: "Following commencement of our direct Brisbane-Orange service in Feb-2017, the requirement for a similar service between Melbourne and Orange was apparent. We have chosen to operate this service utilising Melbourne's Essendon Airport due to its close proximity to the Melbourne CBD as well as other great advantages". [more - original PR]

Australia's Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester announced (03-Aug-2017) the Director-General of Security has lowered the terror threat level posed to Australia's aviation industry. Mr Chester stated: "Passengers are able to arrive at airports for check in as normally advised, however as a precaution, some of the additional security measures will stay in place including: screening of passengers and luggage; hardened cockpit doors to prevent unauthorised access to the cockpit; plainclothes inflight security officers; and passenger and baggage screening and reconciliation, to ensure unauthorised items are not placed on an aircraft. [more - original PR]

Aerocare commenced (03-Aug-2017) ground handling services for the Qantas Group at Hobart Airport. Aerocare's Hobart operation now handles QantasLink and Jetstar's services which equates to an average of 114 services per week. [more - original PR]

Airports Vanuatu Limited, via its official Facebook page, reposted (01-Aug-2017) reports that Port Vila Bauerfield Airport and Espiritu Santo Pekoa Airport's rehabilitation under the Vanuatu Aviation Investment Project (VAIP) are scheduled to commence before the end of Aug-2017. Contractors were given three months from May-2017 to set up bases, mobilise equipment and machinery, recruit and hire personnel and carry out consultations with surrounding airport communities most likely to be impacted by the project. VAIP manager Harrison Toar Luen stated preparatory works are on schedule, mobilisation of specialised machinery such as asphalt concrete plant and a paver by the contractors are two weeks away from arrival, while negotiations with the leaseholder for the laydown site of aggregates are being finalised.

Hong Kong Airlines and Fiji Airways signed (03-Aug-2017) a new codeshare agreement, covering Fiji Airways' Nadi-Hong Kong and Nadi-Auckland services and Hong Kong Airlines' services between Hong Kong and Bangkok, Tokyo and Osaka. Fiji Airways MD and CEO Andre Viljoen stated: "This partnership is a key part of our growth and presence in the region, and the three destinations are welcome additions to our network. The arrangement will allow through check in of customers and their luggage all the way to their final destinations, offering convenient transit options in Hong Kong and Nadi". Fiji Airways onboard service will now include Asian menus and availability of Mandarin and Cantonese interpreters on every flight between Hong Kong and Nadi. [more - original PR]

Tourism New Zealand signed (03-Aug-2017) an MoU with Chinese online travel agency Ctrip to promote New Zealand to the agencies 300 million members. Tourism New Zealand GM Asia Gregg Wafelbakker stated: "China is New Zealand's second biggest tourism market and our top priority is to continually improve the travel quality and experience for Chinese travellers. Our partnership with Ctrip will see the launch of the first online flagship store for New Zealand-based travel providing Chinese travellers with all the information they're looking for about our country, activity and accommodation recommendations, and reservation capacity". [more - original PR]

Air New Zealand announced (04-Aug-2017) plans to increase Auckland-Honolulu capacity by 75% between Apr-2018 to Oct-2018. The carrier will operate an additional 94 return services during the period, moving from four times weekly to daily and up to nine times weekly during the Jul-2018 school holiday period. Services will be operated by Boeing 787-9 and 777-200 aircraft. [more - original PR]

Darwin Airport raised its capital investment programme from AUD60 million (USD47 million) to AUD70 million (USD55 million) (NT News, 02-Aug-2017). CEO Ian Kew stated despite slower passenger and economic growth: "I am a definite believer that it will bounce back". Mr Kew explained: "Around 85% of market is domestic travellers and we are operating in a climate of expensive airfares which adds to the problem of a flat economy". The airport expects to receive six million passengers p/a by 2037.

Air New Zealand announced (03-Aug-2017) plans to increase Vancouver-Auckland capacity by 20% between Jan-2018 to Jul-2018. Frequencies will increase from seven to eight times weekly during Jan-2018; from five times weekly to daily during Feb-2018; from four to five times weekly during Mar-2018 and Apr-2018; and from three to five times weekly during May-2018 to mid-Jun-2018. [more - original PR]

Australian Airline Pilots' Association (AusALPA) called (02-Aug-2017) for changes to airport security to bring Australia's aviation security regime up to world's best practice. AusALPA president Captain Murray Butt stated: "While airline crews, passengers and air-side retail staff were thoroughly screened, other airport workers were not. We believe it would enhance airport security if all airline staff who have access to aircraft, were screened to the same level as personnel entering through the terminal." AusALPA is also concerned that passengers can board domestic flights without adequate ID checks. [more - original PR]