Corporate Travel News

Jetstar plans to develop its virtual assistant Ask Jess to include customer promotions and complete bookings (Straits Times, 24-Apr-2017). Launched in Nov-2013, Jetstar restricts the chatbot's access to its reservation systems, which includes customers requesting to view their booking, payment status and resending of itineraries.

New Zealand installed (21-Apr-2017) 15 eGates at Auckland Airport's arrivals, with one more unit due to arrive in Jun-2017. The new equipment is part the government's NZD6.6 million (USD4.6 million) programme to double eGates capacity across the country's major international gateways. With 50 eGates currently fully operational across the nation, the final delivery to Auckland Airport in Jun-2017 will mark the completion of the programmes. [more - original PR]

South Australia Tourism released (20-Apr-2017) data related to the 2017 Santos Tour Down Under. Key findings for 2017 include:

• AUD56.5 million (USD42.5 million) in economic value;
• 840,000 total spectators;
• 43,000 event specific visitors;
• 683 full time equivalent jobs. [more - original PR]

Cobham Aviation Services announced (20-Apr-2017) it has been awarded a two year contract by Australian mining company, OZ Minerals, to provide fly-in, fly-out services between Adelaide, Port Augusta and Prominent Hill copper-gold mine in northern South Australia. As previously reported by CAPA, Alliance Airlines recently announced it lost the contract and would no longer be servicing OZ Minerals. Cobham Aviation Services CEO Peter Nottage stated approximately 15 new aviation jobs are being created in Adelaide as a result of the contract being awarded, which includes a three year extension option. Services will commence in Aug-2017 and involve up to 20 services a week using a mix of jet and turboprop aircraft to suit OZ Minerals' requirements. [more - original PR]

Jetstar CIO Claudine Ogilvie discussed the carrier's key innovations for 3Q2017 stating: "Jetstar is focusing our innovation on growth across Asia with technology as a leader and enabler to improve customer experience and employee engagement" (CIO, 19-Apr-2017). Ms Ogilvie believes Jetstar will continue to invest in infrastructure within the cloud to remain flexible and agile; while improving decision making and technical direction and ensuring it aligns with Jetstar's business strategy.

Christchurch International Airport signed (21-Apr-2017) a MoU with Alibaba to boost micro trading for small and regional businesses in New Zealand with Chinese visitors before, during and after their visit. The agreement covers Alibaba's existing apps such as Alitrip, Fliggy and Ant Financial's Alipay and Tmall Global. Airport CEO Malcolm Johns stated "Our goal is to build a better experience for Chinese visitors… Alipay's availability in New Zealand not only makes it easier for visitors to buy while they are here, but also unlocks value a Chinese visitor can provide to New Zealand". Mr Johns commented the "raw power" of Alibaba Group "is not its mass, but its individuality…it's about the one-on-one direct trading relationship that allows for surgical micro-exporting to develop", New Zealand "is one of the best placed countries for micro-exporting" with so many small/medium businesses. [more - original PR]

Queensland prawn farmers are requesting compensation from Qantas due to toxic firefighting foam which leaked from its hangar into the Brisbane River limiting the available area for the trawlers to operate (9news, 20-Apr-2017). Moreton Bay Seafood Association vice president Michael Wood stated he lost a AUD10,000 (USD7518) order due to fears the river was contaminated. Qantas is yet to comment on any compensation claims.

Auckland International Airport announced (20-Apr-2017) GM airport development & delivery Graham Vincent Matthews disposed of 21,084 Auckland Airport shares. The disposal was due to Mr Matthews ceasing to participate in the airport's Executive Long Term Incentive Plan and the consequential termination of the relevant interest in unvested ordinary shares. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia commenced (20-Apr-2017) the three month beta testing period of its inflight wireless internet on one of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Passengers travelling on the WiFi enabled aircraft are able to use the service free of charge during the testing period. As previously reported by CAPA, Virgin Australia partnered with inflight connectivity provider Gogo and satellite provider Optus for the service. Virgin Australia Group Executive John Thomas stated "We're looking forward to receiving guest feedback about our inflight connectivity over the next three months to ensure we are able to offer the best possible service in the sky". Virgin Australia will finalise its business model after considering customer feedback and the results of the testing period. [more - original PR]

Virgin Australia announced (20-Apr-2017) plans to ntroduce twice weekly Perth-Canberra service during Parliamentary sitting weeks to cater for increased demand. The new service will be operated by Boeing 737 aircraft, on Thursdays and Sundays each parliamentary sitting week. Services in 2017 are currently on sale, with 2018 dates to be advised once the 2018 Parliamentary sitting calendar is released. [more - original PR]