Corporate Travel News

Air New Zealand stated CEO Christopher Luxon remains "strongly committed to Air New Zealand", following reports that he had been approached to potentially replace James Hogan as CEO of Etihad Airways Group (The Australian, 25-Apr-2017). Korn Ferry, Etihad's global recruiter, has also reportedly approached some key executives at Qantas Airways. Etihad is also looking to appoint a group CFO to replace James ­Rigney, who like Mr Hogan is Australian.

Australia's International Air Services Commission (IASC) varied (19-Apr-2017) Determination [2007] IASC 118 to permit the capacity entitlements on the New Zealand route to be used for codeshare services between Air Canada and Virgin Australia. IASC added the following conditions:

• The capacity may be used by Virgin Australia for code share services with Air Canada to be conducted in accordance with Australia's air services arrangements with New Zealand and the codeshare agreement between Virgin Australia and Air Canada dated 01-Apr2017;
• Virgin Australia must apply to the Commission for approval of the use of the capacity if there are variations to the codeshare arrangement which would change the relevant commercial aspects of the codeshare arrangement from a freesale codeshare arrangement to a block space, or viceversa, or if Virgin Australia proposes to add third country routes on which the airlines will codeshare where Australian capacity will be used for services on the route;
• To the extent that the capacity is used to provide codeshare services on the route, the airlines must take all reasonable steps to ensure that passengers are informed, at the time of booking, of the carrier actually operating the flight. Nothing in this determination exempts the airlines from complying with the Australian Consumer Law.

Under the Australia-New Zealand air services arrangements, there is unlimited capacity for Australian carriers to operate scheduled passenger and freight services between Australia and New Zealand, via and beyond to third countries. [more - original PR]

Fiji Airways and Fiji National University (FNU) signed (21-Apr-2017) a three year MoU to establish a collaborative effort between the two organisations by providing certain selected students with practical work experience. The MoU will provide selected candidates from FNU the opportunity for intern positions within the Fiji Airways Group. [more - original PR]

Airports Fiji Limited communications officer Christopher Chand stated aviation authorities are working to identify a suitable site for the proposed New Labasa/Vanua Levu International Airport (Fiji Times, 24-Apr-2017). As previously reported by CAPA, the new airport aims to facilitate growing tourism demand at Vanua Levu island as existing airports on the island, Savusavu Airport and Labasa Airport, are constrained by land.

New Zealand's Civil Aviation Authority is considering additional security checks on Middle East services (Reuters, 23-Apr-2017). New Zealand Transport Minister Simon Bridges said evidence is being reviewed to determine what is appropriate with a decision to be completed by the aviation authority, independent of the government.

Qantas was issued with an investigation notice by Queensland's Department of Environment Heritage and Protection (EHP) over the toxic chemical spill at Brisbane Airport (9news, 21-Apr-2017). EHP executive director Andrew Connor stated the notice put the onus on Qantas to monitor and report the effects of the spill and could attract a penalty of up to AUD182,850 (USD138,212). Preliminary test results of the waterways around Boggy Creek show levels of the chemical have dropped to safe levels for recreational purposes, however, warnings remain in place to avoid eating marine animals caught in the area.

Qantas agreed to compensate those businesses affected by a spill of toxic firefighting foam from one of its hangars at Brisbane Airport into waterways (The Courier Mail, 23-Apr-2017). Qantas Domestic CEO Andrew David met with stakeholders from the fishing industry and stated where there was clear evidence of any commercial harm to the business "we will make that good". Mr David also acknowledged that the issue was a Qantas issue, which has now been fixed.

Tourism New Zealand and Tourism Industry Aotearoa released (21-Apr-2017) the results of the latest 'Mood of the Nation' survey. The research, which was initiated in 2015, measures New Zealanders' perceptions of tourism. The latest survey was conducted by Kantar TNS in Mar-2017. Survey results:

• 96% agreed or strongly agreed that international tourism is good for the country;
• 10% know international tourism is New Zealand's biggest export earner;
• Approximately 50% feel the country attracts about the right number of international visitors; a quarter feel New Zealand should be attracting more, and 21% think New Zealand attracts too many;
• 35% think international visitors put too much pressure on New Zealand;
• When told of forecast growth in annual visitor numbers, 37% felt there was too much growth, while 54% said it was just right and 9% not enough. [more - original PR]

New Zealand Government plans to showcase New Zealand at Expo 2020 in Dubai in order to boost trade in the region (NZ Herald, 23-Apr-2017). The expected cost is set to reach NZD53 million (USD37 million). New Zealand Economic Development Minister Simon Bridges said the opportunity was "relatively big play" for the government however the United Arab Emirates had been one of the fastest growing markets of the past decade.

Fiji Airways and the Fiji National University signed a MoU guaranteeing intern positions within the Fiji Airways Group be available for select students from the university (FBC News, 23-Apr-2017). Under the MoU, internships will be available within airport operations, finance, customer service and back office operations. Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen said the long term goal is that collaborations like this will help reduce unemployment.