Business Travel News: January 2024

Airlines/Airports

Jetstar to boost international capacity

This year, Jetstar is set to boost its international capacity from Melbourne, adding more than one hundred thousand low-fare seats. This involves increasing the flight frequency for destinations such as Auckland, Christchurch, Singapore, Bangkok and Phuket. To learn more, please visit here.

Thai Airways resumes daily Perth-Bangkok flights

Starting from 31 March, Thai Airways will reintroduce daily flights between Perth and Bangkok. The airline will use its Boeing 787 Dreamliner for this seven-hour flight. This will be the only direct flight available between these two cities, as all other airlines require a stopover at their respective hubs. If you would like to learn more, please click here.

Qatar Airways reveals 2024 network expansion

Qatar Airways has announced its network expansion plans for 2024. The airline aims to enhance connectivity across Europe with the resumption of daily direct flights between Doha and Venice starting from 12 June. In addition, starting from 1 July, Qatar Airways will introduce a new daily direct service between Doha and Hamburg. To view the schedule for these new services, please click here.

Air New Zealand brings Wamos Air to Auckland-Perth

From 9 February to 30 April, Air New Zealand will switch its Boeing 787 to Wamos’ Airbus A330 between Auckland and Perth. The Wamos business class adopts a more conventional 1-2-1 layout, however, the aircraft lacks a premium economy cabin and WiFi.

Air New Zealand partners with Starlink

Air New Zealand has announced a new partnership with satellite internet service provider, Starlink, to introduce free internet on domestic aircraft. Starlink offers reliable high-speed, low-latency in-flight internet allowing passengers to access the internet for a range of activities such as streaming video content or working onboard. It is expected that this will be installed on a domestic aircraft in late 2024 before being introduced to other domestic aircraft during 2025.

Air New Zealand becomes world’s safest airline

In the latest annual AirlineRatings.com list, Air New Zealand has narrowly beaten Qantas to be crowned the world’s safest airline. Closely following Qantas were the likes of Virgin Australia, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways. AirlineRatings.com considers various factors when making its judgement, these include audits from aviation’s governing and industry bodies, safety initiatives, and fleet age.

Rex welcomes a 10th Boeing 737 to its fleet

Rex Airlines has added a tenth Boeing 737 to its fleet, marking the third addition since July. They are also expected to receive another 737 before the end of FY24. With these additions, the airline will have more capacity to offer higher frequency on popular routes and the introduction of new routes.

Sydney Airport adds an Uber pickup zone

At the end of last year, Sydney Airport’s domestic terminal added a dedicated Uber pickup zone outside the Terminal 3 arrivals door. It has also been confirmed that this area is exclusive to Uber, and other rideshare competitors will have to use the more distant Priority Pickup area. To learn more, click here.

Hotels

InterContinental Auckland to open shortly

On 30 January, Auckland will welcome its latest luxury hotel, The InterContinental Auckland. With 139 rooms and suites, the hotel will boast views of the Waitemata Harbour and surrounding areas with internal design features that put an emphasis on Maori culture. Guests will also have access to an onsite signature restaurant and amenities such as a fitness centre.

Marriott Hotels brand set to debut in South Australia

Marriott International has announced that it will debut the Marriott Hotels brand in South Australia with the opening of the Adelaide Marriott Hotel in mid-2024. Located in the heart of Adelaide’s CBD, this hotel will boast a 15-storey tower with 285 guestrooms offering sweeping views of the city skyline and Victoria Square. Additionally, it will also include two dining venues, leisure facilities and more than 535 square meters of meeting and event space.

Horizon by SkyCity to open in March

From 1 March, Horizon by SkyCity, Auckland’s newest five-star hotel will be open to guests. Bringing 303 rooms, this hotel will have various entries that allow guests to move through the city with a pedestrian laneway, street-level access, and unique air bridges connecting to the SkyCity precinct and the New Zealand Convention Centre.

Marriott Hotels to welcome Westin Hotels & Resorts in Adelaide

Marriott International has recently signed an agreement for the introduction of The Westin Adelaide in late 2026. This 236-room new-build hotel will be situated in a strategic location in Adelaide’s CBD and will be a significant part of a new mixed-use development. The development will integrate with the Keystone Adelaide Tower and will also include retail outlets, office tenancies and an observatory. The hotel will feature a sky lobby, restaurant, cafe, fitness centre, swimming pool and over 700 square metres of event and meeting space.

Singapore to welcome world’s largest Mercure hotel

In the first quarter of 2024, Singapore will welcome the world’s largest Mercure Hotel positioned between the CBD and Chinatown. The 989-room hotel will offer diverse dining options and additional amenities such as a landscaped pool deck and an indoor gym. More information can be found here.

TFE’s The Eve Hotel set to open in 2024

This year, TFE is set to open inner city Sydney’s newest boutique offering, The Eve Hotel Sydney. This 102-room boutique hotel will be nestled in the new lifestyle precinct, Wunderlich Lane, within the Surry Hills Village. Characterised by beautiful laneways and greenery, the hotel will feature a rooftop deck, swimming pool, bar and restaurant.

Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort receives sustainability recognition

The Novotel Cairns Oasis Resort has recently been awarded Ecotourism Australia’s Sustainable Toursim Certification. In doing so, it becomes the first resort in North Queensland to achieve this recognition and Accor’s sixth property to do so. Over the past few years, the hotel has developed several initiatives to support the local community and its environment. These include the resort’s biodiversity reef restoration program, partnership with ecoSPIRITS, and an Indigenous employment scheme.