Corporate Travel News: April 2021
Airlines/Airports.
Trans-Tasman travel bubble from 19 April
A trans-Tasman ‘travel bubble’ will commence from 11:59 pm Sunday 18 April 2021. Travellers will be able to travel between Australia and New Zealand without the requirement to quarantine on arrival. Contact your dedicated Corporate Travel Management (CTM) consultant for more information, or book via your usual CTM booking method.
Virgin launches new business class menu
Featuring locally sourced produce from Australian farmers, the new Virgin Australia business class menu has officially launched on all flights from 25 March 2021. The menu includes smashed avocado and crumbled feta for breakfast, pumpkin and prosciutto salad for lunch and a halloumi and quinoa salad served alongside an antipasto plate for dinner.
Qantas extends Qantas Club Memberships
Qantas has extended active Qantas Club Memberships as of 23 March 2021, for a further three months. This includes individual, corporate, partner and group memberships and annual guest cards. As of 6 April, the Brisbane, Darwin, Canberra and Melbourne Qantas Club lounges have reopened to travellers.
Air NZ extends Domestic Flexibility Policy
Air New Zealand has issued an extension to its Customer Flexibility Policy for Domestic travel, to align with international travel. Customers who book or currently hold tickets for Domestic flights scheduled to depart up until 11.59 pm on 30 June 2021 will now be able to hold the value of their fare in credit for rebooking until 30 June 2022, for travel to be completed by 30 June 2023, or, amend the date of their flight with change fees waived (any additional fare or tax difference will apply). Click here for the Customer Flexibility Guide.
Qantas to carbon offset Project Sunrise flights
Qantas has committed to carbon-offset every seat on its Project Sunrise flights, as the airline seeks to provide more environmentally friendly travel options for its customers. The Project Sunrise flights will directly connect key Australian hubs to destinations such as London, New York and Paris.
Air NZ opens international lounges
Following the news of the trans-Tasman bubble opening, Air New Zealand has announced its plans to open all international lounges across Australia and New Zealand this month. As of 19 April, eligible travellers can enjoy stopping in at the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth Air New Zealand lounges.
Air NZ adds Hobart to destination list
Hobart has become Air New Zealand’s 10th Australian destination, with a direct service to launch once quarantine-free travel is implemented between the two nations. The route is expected to operate twice weekly on an A320neo aircraft.
Qantas recommences Melbourne to Newcastle
Qantas has recommenced direct flights from Melbourne to Newcastle for the first in more than 10 years. Qantas will operate 12 weekly return flights via the QantasLink brand with its 125-seat Boeing 717, adding more than 3,000 weekly seats between the cities.
BA tier status update
British Airways is extending the protection of Executive Club members’ tier statuses. Members whose Point collection end date falls between 1 July and 31 December 2021 will have their status protected for an additional 12 months, irrespective of how many Points they earn. The move means no British Airways Executive Club member (Bronze, Silver or Gold cardholders) will lose their status this year.
Australia & Singapore travel bubble
A two-way travel bubble between Australia and Singapore could be in place by July or August, says Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack. The agreement would rely on mutual recognition of vaccination certificates between the two countries.
SYD commits to a low-touch airport experience
Sydney Airport has signed a five-year deal with technology specialist SITA, to integrate the SITA Flex platform within Terminal 1 (international) and Terminal 2 (domestic). The technology facilitates a low-touch passenger journey through the use of mobile devices.
Hotels.
Quincy Hotel Melbourne Opening
With 241 rooms from Standard rooms to Hosier Club suites, Quincy Melbourne offers discerning guests a stay to remember. Positioned in the upper midscale category, the hotel features three food experiences, a rooftop pool with views of Melbourne CBD, and exclusive club levels and lounge access.
Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street
Hilton Hotels returned to the Melbourne market last month, with the debut of Hilton Melbourne Little Queen Street. The 244-room property features an onsite restaurant, cocktail bar, fitness centre and multiple meetings and events spaces.
Information on this page is sourced from third party sources. While effort is taken to verify the accuracy of this information, CTM recommends that travellers seek independent advice and/or information from their CTM travel consultant, CTM travel tools, or direct from their chosen travel suppliers relating to the status of supplier services, schedules and booking conditions as information may change regularly.