Aviation wrap: Qantas-American Airlines JV gets approval, Air Tahiti Nui’s new ANZ structure + MORE
Since last week’s aviation wrap, two things have happened: a cargo plane load of news has made its way to our inboxes, and green tea has been proven as no substitute for double-shot espressos.
Qantas and American Airlines joint business to deliver benefits for millions of travellers
Qantas has today welcomed the United States Department of Transportation’s (DOT) final approval of its joint business with American Airlines, to better serve customers travelling between North America, Australia and New Zealand.
This follows the DOT’s tentative approval of the joint business in early June.
Final approval means Qantas and American Airlines can now coordinate as part of a joint business to deliver new routes, more destinations, reduced travel time, lower fares, and additional benefits for frequent flyers.
Qantas has also launched its “Around the World in 8 Days Sale” covering its domestic and international network across all cabins.
The sale spans eight days (22 – 29 July 2019). Launching today with a domestic-wide sale, a new destination will be on offer each day over the next week.
Fares are available for select travel periods from August 2019 – March 2020, with most fares available over the summer period.
Domestic Economy one-way fares start from $99, including flights from Sydney to Gold Coast; Melbourne to Launceston; and Brisbane to Hervey Bay.
Air Tahiti Nui announces new marketing and distribution structure for ANZ region
Air Tahiti Nui has announced it will take on full management of its Australian and New Zealand distribution, sales and marketing activities.
The move will see the creation of three new jobs within the New Zealand operation and a change of location to Auckland’s CBD, reflecting the location of key customers and trade partners.
The reshaped structure of the New Zealand based team will take place over the next four months, enabling allocation of resources to grow the Australian market.
By the end of the year, the airline will also deliver an enhanced call centre service to customers and trade partners with 24/7 reachability.
Cathay Pacific acquires Hong Kong Airways and opens new Shanghai business lounge
Cathay Pacific has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Hong Kong Express Airways (HK Express). HK Express is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Cathay Pacific; however, it will remain a stand-alone low-cost carrier to “serve a niche value market”.
Cathay Pacific is moving “beyond” with the re-opening of the newly renovated Shanghai Pudong lounge on 18 July.
Cathay Pacific is reopening its newly renovated Shanghai Pudong Cathay Pacific Lounge, marking the introduction of the airline’s awards-winning lounge design to mainland China for the first time.
Located near Departure Gate D69 in Pudong Airport’s Terminal 2 building, the new lounge occupies a space of 970 square metres and follows the warm, inviting style developed by Studioilse – the London-based studio led by Ilse Crawford – seen in Cathay Pacific’s newest lounges across its global network.
Singapore Airlines and Japan National Tourism Organization announce partnership to boost tourism to Japan
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to enhance cooperation in the promotion of travel and tourism to Japan from five key markets.
As part of the partnership, JNTO and SIA will be making significant investments to boost marketing activities, promoting tourism to Japan from Singapore, Australia, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. These markets were identified by both JNTO and SIA due to the high volume of travellers flying to Japan in 2018.
Through the MOC, JNTO and SIA will work closely in joint promotional activities to help achieve Japan’s goal of welcoming 40 million inbound tourists in 2020. This is the first time JNTO is announcing a partnership with an airline.
SIA also announced it will increase the number of services between Melbourne and Wellington, and Melbourne and Singapore, from 1 January 2020, subject to regulatory approval.
From the start of 2020, SQ247/8 will increase from four times a week, to five times weekly catering for increased demand and offering customers more travel options.
Fiji Airways launches unique dining experience to tackle flight fatigue
Fiji Airways has announced a new luxury dining experience, ‘Dine on the Ground’, offering passengers a pre-flight gourmet meal to maximise rest while traveling.
The initiative was launched following research from the airline that found almost a third (31 per cent) of Australian passengers regularly skip in-flight meals in favour of extra sleep. As a result, 38 per cent of food on flights was reportedly being discarded.
As part of the new experience, Business Class and Premier guests taking either a morning or late evening flight out of Nadi will now be invited to a breakfast/dinner at the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge shortly before boarding.
Breakfast guests can enjoy barista-made coffee, made-to-order breakfast items, a full bakery and a wide selection of fresh fruit juices.
For dinner, signature dishes designed by Fiji Airways executive in-house and guest chefs are on offer. Meals are complemented by signature cocktails, mocktails, a full-service bar and the exclusive ‘Fiji Bean Cart’.
Air New Zealand boosts Bali
Air New Zealand is giving its Bali seasonal service a boost in 2020, increasing capacity on the route by 80 percent, with 30,000 additional seats, compared with the current season.
The airline currently operates three services per week between Auckland and Bali’s Denpasar International Airport from late June to mid-October using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which increase by up to four services per week during peak periods such as the school holidays.
Next year the airline aims to operate its seasonal services from 11 April through to 24 October with up to six services per week (subject to regulatory approvals).
Qatar Airways to launch direct flights to Gaborone
Qatar Airways is pleased to announce the launch of its new service to Gaborone, Botswana, starting 27 October 2019.
The capital and largest city of Botswana will be the airline’s first destination in the African country.
The three-times weekly flights will be operated by an Airbus A350-900 aircraft, featuring 36 seats in Business Class and 247 seats in Economy Class.
Emirates to introduce services to Mexico City via Barcelona
Emirates has announced plans to launch a new daily service from Dubai (DXB) to Mexico City International Airport (MEX), via the Spanish city of Barcelona (BCN), starting on 9 December 2019.
Emirates’ Mexico City flight will be a linked service with Barcelona, meaning customers can now travel between the two cities in unprecedented style and comfort. Citizens from Mexico, Spain and the UAE only need their passports to enjoy visa-free travel to each respective country.
The new route will be operated with a two-class Emirates Boeing 777-200LR which offers 38 Business Class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration and 264 seats in Economy Class.
The new 777 flight will also offer up to 14 tonnes of cargo, opening access to more global markets for Mexican exports such as avocados, berries, mangoes, automotive parts and medical supplies.
Emirates SkyCargo has been flying freighters to/from Mexico City since 2014 already and in the last year carried over 22,500 tons of cargo on the route.
In another announcement, Australian members of Emirates Skywards, the loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, can use travel and shopping spends from their winter escape this year to earn more Skywards Miles.
Miles earned through Emirates Skywards’ special offers can be redeemed for flights on Emirates, flydubai and other partner airlines or can be used to access a variety of retail and lifestyle rewards.
Emirates Skywards members will also now be able to earn Miles when shopping for their favourite fashion and lifestyle brands at more than 1,300 boutiques across The Bicester Village Shopping Collection located in Europe and China.
Members will earn 1 Skywards Mile for every EUR 1, GBP 1 or RMB 10 spent at any of the Bicester Villages.
Miles can be credited to the member’s Skywards account by presenting a shopping receipt and Skywards membership number at any of the Bicester Villages’ Tourist Information Centres.
The villages offer guests the opportunity to shop leading fashion and lifestyle brands while enjoying savings of up to 60 per cent on the recommended retail price in Europe and up to 80 per cent in China.
Latest News
Flight Centre’s Big Red Sale starts today
Flight Centre’s biggest sale has just landed giving Aussies the chance to lock in more affordable holidays close to home and overseas with saving of up to 50 per cent. The Big Red Sale starts today, 9 May, and runs until 5 June 2024. Flight Centre Global Managing Director Andrew Stark said that after the […]
Aurora Expeditions announces savings for solo travellers
Aurora Expeditions has today announced savings for solo travellers thinking of going north for the summer. Adventurous solo travellers can take advantage of no solo supplements, enjoying a guaranteed private cabin on select departures during Aurora’s Arctic 2024 season with plenty of options available on unforgettable voyages visiting Greenland, Svalbard, Northwest Passage, Iceland and more. […]
Etihad and Tourism officials launch free Abu Dhabi Stopover
Etihad Airways and the UAE’s Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi have announced the launch of Abu Dhabi Stopover which invites guests flying through to turn their stopover into a free hotel stay and holiday. The Abu Dhabi Stopover, exclusive to Etihad Airways, will enable passengers to enjoy a convenient free stay in […]
New MSC Australia boss talks hot topics for local cruisers, including the Caribbean
New MSC Australia boss, Antonio Paradiso, spills the Caribbeans on where he expects Aussie cruisers will go next.
Contiki’s latest campaign inspires travellers to engage with the world around them
Hands off! Influencers invited on holiday and told not to post anything. We can assure you they're back at it now.
Aussies a hit on the conference floor for IPW 2024
Diana Ross on opening night, Keanu's Dogstar band and a dozen lobster rolls. All in a week's work at IPW 2024.
Disney excited about prospects of cruise business as Disney Treasure nears completion
Disney's booming cruising business is set to knock Disneyland experiences out of the park.
Scoot’s first E190-E2 flights take off between Krabi and Hat Yai
When flying's a pitch. Airline lite Scoot offers a standard seat pitch of 29” on its new 112-seater.
Premium hotel operator ERDI launches it’s own academy in heart of Melbourne
ERDI expects to be shaken not stirred with the launch of its ERDI Academy in its Melbourne hotels.
Tropical North Queensland action-packed events calendar for adventure enthusiasts
Sporting enthusiasts and adventure seekers are gearing up for an action-packed year in Tropical North Queensland, with a lineup of sports events and adrenaline-pumping experiences set to take centre stage in 2024. Leading the charge is the highly-anticipated return of the Crankworx World Tour ‘Paradise Edition’ to Cairns from 22-26 May 2024. The mountain biking […]
Singapore Airlines Group first to receive SAF from Neste as AU/NZ play catchup
Singapore leaving many in their green dust. Here in Australia, we're hoping for a tortoise and the hare type outcome
Qantas Red Tail sale discounts more than 200,000 fares
Qantas marketers forever thankful to the team who chose the red and white colours. How else would they name a sale!
Bannisters by the Sea unveils retreat style package for new mothers
Three hours in the car with a newborn from Sydney might be tough, but trust us, it'll be worth it when you arrive.
Nothing Bonza can do to prevent loss of planes, ACCC concerned by latest aviation developments
Going, going, gone. It seems...
APT offers destination incentives to enjoy the Best of Asia
Whether its a cocktail by the beach or a hike through the mountains, APT has you covered. You'll find us at the beach!
Disney Days returns with Inside Out 2 showing in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland
Time is running out for agents to register their Expression of Interest to an exclusive screening of the much-anticipated Disney and Pixar film, Inside Out 2, hosted by Disney Destinations Australia/New Zealand team and partner United Airlines. Places are limited and applications must be in by 17 May. In addition to the screening of the […]
Get ready to roll the marketing dice with Susan Coghill: Travel DAZE EXEC 2024
It's heating up in Cairns and we're not talking about the weather! Get ready for a marketing masterclass with Susan.
Aranui Cruises slashes prices with No Single Supplement and Half Price offers
French Polynesian cargo cruise line Aranui Cruises is slashing thousands off its 2025 Austral and Marquesas Islands cruises with an autumn sale offering 50 per cent off the second guest in a twin share room and no single supplement for solo travellers. On sale until June 21, 2024, Aranui’s 12-day roundtrip voyage from Papeete to […]
Cebu Pacific campaign aims to boost Aussie trips to the Philippines
Cebu Pacific's bouncy singalong ad campaign 'Fly to Happy, Fly to the Philippines’ aims to get more bums on seats.
Tauck’s new river and small ship ocean cruises, plus increased Seine capacity
Tauck adding itineraries like it's going out of fashion, which cruising certainly isn't.
Railbookers and La Dolce Vita Orient Express partner up for new luxury Italian itineraries
Fancy a luxurious trip through Italy? Who are we kidding, we know you do. Start your daydream here.
Luxury Travel Collection’s Nikki Glading spills all on member network perks: Travel Weekly TV
We urge you to enjoy this in true LTC style and lift a glass of bubbles with lunch today.
Auckland’s new domestic terminal comes with all the modern gadgets
We're not talking about drones or VR goggles, but these updates will change the game in Auckland.
Air New Zealand crew sign up for Sign Language Week
Have you signed up for Sign Language Week? Let this be your sign to do so!
Holland America Line gives one lucky winner the Ultimate Alaskan Cruise Experience
There's only one winner, so it's sort of like the Hunger Games of cruise prizes... but no one gets hurt.
TAG’s Byron Carr excited about K-Pop induced Asia expansion
Carr to go all Gangnam Style with TAG's Asian expansion
CATO celebrates 25 years with anniversary dinner
CATO's putting on a fancy spread to celebrate 25 years as other 25 year olds celebrate their HECS debt being cut.
Fiji Tourism Exchange 2024 opens with a vibrant ceremony at Sofitel Fiji Resort, Denarau
Two days in Fiji! If you didn't attend this conference we're sure you've got FOMO.
Raes on Wategos celebrates 30th birthday and guests get the presents
World famous luxury boutique hotel Raes on Wategos, in Byron Bay, has launched its 30th birthday celebrations with a Raes Indulgent Escape package. Available for all stays of two nights or more, from June to August, the curated package offers an invitation to indulge in a shared celebration of Raes 30th birthday, whilst revelling in […]
Seabourn’s two new value-add offers for 2024-25
Seabourn's doing a two for one deal. Kind of like a fast-food promo but its luxury cruising.
PONANT commercial team expands to meet growing demand in APAC
Can't remember that Ponant contact you met at a networking event? Good chance they're included in this update.
Gen Z and millennials on track for rise in Europe rail trips, says TruTravels
Despite what you think, Gen Z and Millennials are not 'off the rails', but instead want a fast track to Europe.
$230m joint Novotel & ibis Styles Melbourne Airport hotel prepares to open
Dear all business travellers, you're Melbourne experience just got a whole lot better.
Envoyage premieres Worldwide 2024 in Santiago
There has been a warm reception for 300 attendees at Envoyage's gabfest in Santiago, Chile.
Disney Destinations launches epic Aussie agent incentive
Everyone needs a bit of Disney in their life (apparently) and agents can get their next dose for free here.
IPW 2024: 960,000 Aussies took the trek to the Land of the Free last year
Nearly 6,000 travel industry reps descend on LA. Thankfully for all of their bosses, it's not in Vegas.