Corporate Travel News

Fiji opposition MP Viliame Gavoka recommended the allocation of FJD18 million (USD8.8 million) provided by the Government to Fiji Airways for marketing be removed (Fiji Times, 14-Jul-2017). Mr Gavoka said the allocation was unnecessary for a company that was the most profitable in the country. Fiji Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum responded, stating the Government wanted the carrier to get a bigger market share and the grant went towards marketing the route network of the airline.

Virgin Australia launched its first inflight duty free service on the Melbourne-Hong Kong route (The Moodie Davitt Report, 13-Jul-2017). Virgin Australia's launched Melbourne-Hong Kong on 05-Jul-2017, with the new duty free service already available.

Air New Zealand announced (14-Jul-2017) it will release its financial results for FY2017 on 23-Aug-2017. [more - original PR]

Fiji Airways announced (13-Jul-2017) its business class guests as Los Angeles International Airport will have access to the oneworld Lounge, located on Level 5 of the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Access to the lounge will be offered exclusively to Fiji Airways guests seated in business class and eligible Tabua Members. [more - original PR]

Australia's Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) released (13-Jul-2017) the Domestic Air Fare Index for Jul-2017 which showed the 'Best Discount Fare' Index (Jul-2003 = 100) for domestic travel increased 4.4% year-on-year to 59.9 in Jul-2017. 'Restricted economy' increased 4.2% year-on-year and 'Business class' increased 0.8% year-on-year. [more - original PR]

Western Australia Government, via Tourism WA, welcomed (12-Jul-2017) China Southern Airlines' announcement to increase Guangzhou-Perth frequency to five times weekly from 29-Oct-2017. China Southern currently operates four times weekly on the route, which is the only nonstop route between Perth and China. WA Government Acting Premier Roger Cook stated: "China is a vital tourism market for WA with Chinese visitors spending AUD271 million (USD208 million) in the year ending Mar-2017, an increase of 13% on the previous year, making it our second biggest market in that regard. To attract more Chinese visitors and boost visitor spend, increasing aviation access to the State is the key". [more - original PR] [more - original PR - II]

Qantas issued (11-Jul-2017) a request to Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) seeking a determination allocating 300 third country seats per week of capacity on the Italy route, to be used to codeshare with Emirates. The request comes as a result of the recent conclusion of revised air services arrangement between Australia and Italy. The request includes:

• The allocation is requested for a period of five years;
• The capacity will be fully utilised by 31-Jul-2018;
• The capacity may be utilised by Qantas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas and Qantas Group;
• The capacity may be used by Qantas to provide services jointly with Emirates. [more - original PR]

Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority published (12-Jul-2017) a new eLearning module for the aviation community to help increase awareness of the changes, requirements and benefits of satellite enabled navigation technology known as performance based navigation (PBN). The PBN regulations eLearning module provides a useful overview of the requirements of on-board navigation equipment and the navigation specifications that must be included in flight plans. [more - original PR]

Philippines' Department of Tourism route development group head Erwin F Balane, speaking on CAPA TV, said (Jun-2017) the Department will promote destinations other than Manila in the Australian market with the aim to convince airlines to commence services to new cities. Australia is the Philippines' fifth largest market for arrivals. [more - CAPA TV]

Qatar Airways marked (12-Jul-2017) five years of successful operations between Perth and Doha. Perth Airport CEO Kevin Brown stated: "The daily service Perth-Doha service provides more than 4000 weekly seats and connects Western Australia to Qatar Airways' international network of over 150 destinations". [more - original PR]