Corporate Travel News: June 2023

Airlines/Airports

Qantas and Jetstar to fly from Western Sydney Airport

Qantas and Jetstar have announced that they will be flying from the new 24-hour Western Sydney Airport once it opens in late 2026. The initial plans are for Qantas and Jetstar to field five and ten single-aisle jets respectively. Once operated, these aircraft will carry approximately four million passengers within the first year.

Multiple airlines to begin offering passengers free Wi-Fi

The race for in-flight connectivity has well and truly begun as various airlines strive for free and fast Wi-Fi solutions for their passengers. Qantas passengers on most flights to and from Singapore, Bali, Manila, and Jakarta, will now enjoy fast free Wi-Fi due to the footprint of the Sky Muster satellite. Similarly, both Singapore Airlines and Emirates are now offering passengers free Wi-Fi by signing up for their respective free membership programs. Meanwhile, Air Canada has outlined steps towards their ‘free Wi-Fi roadmap’ whereby passengers will soon have access to five channels of live TV and a selection of streaming content services including Netflix.

Air New Zealand explores the use of bag-tracking technology

Following a successful domestic pilot program in April, Air New Zealand are broadening their testing of the baggage tracking feature. This test run will now include 25% of app users travelling domestically and 5% of app users travelling on a short-haul international flight.

Virgin Australia Status Match Offer

If you are a CTM client, you are eligible for a Status Match on Frequent Flyer Membership equivalent of Velocity Silver Status or above. This provides various benefits such as Virgin Australia lounge access and international priority check-in for Silver members and priority baggage and access to Fly Ahead* for Gold members. Click here for more information. *T&Cs apply.

Qantas releases new lounge guesting rules

In order to reduce crowding in Domestic Qantas Clubs and Qantas Business Lounges, passengers’ guest access is changing from 15 June 2023. According to the Qantas website, guests of Qantas lounge users will only be eligible to join when travelling on Qantas-operated and eligible partner flights that depart on the same day. Click here to read further details.

Virgin Australia begins rolling out domestic bag-tracking

In the second week of May, Virgin Australia became the first local carrier to introduce digital bag-tracking on checked luggage. Although this feature is only available on flights between Brisbane and Sydney, other capitals are anticipated to follow by mid-year.

Rex introduces Sydney-Adelaide flights

From 29 June, Regional Express will be adding a daily Sydney-Adelaide Boeing 737 service. Similarly to past offers, Rex will be providing special launch fares as they take another step towards their ambition to offer flights between every capital city in Australia.

Qantas to introduce digital bag-tracking for passengers

Although Qantas has been tracking baggage internally for over 10 years now, the feature was never available for passengers. However, Qantas has announced that by the end of 2023, baggage tracking will be added to the Qantas app.

Qantas now allows you to pay to have an empty seat next to you

On a dozen key domestic routes within Australia, Qantas is now allowing customers to pay between $30 – $65 on top of their standard economy fare to have the seat beside them left vacant. This will make economy flights more bearable for people who value elbow and legroom for maximum comfort.

Air Canada announces new partnership with IAGOS

Air Canada has outfitted one of their A330 aircraft with special diagnostic sensors that are designed to track climate change and air quality. This will allow IAGOS to collect worldwide data for several climate parameters, proving valuable for future research.

Qantas to launch boarding groups on domestic flights

From June, Qantas will look to introduce US-style boarding groups as an attempt to streamline their existing boarding process. This trial will see passengers divided into five zones and assigned to one of the five groups. Click here to read more.

Singapore Airlines increase capacity for Auckland and Christchurch

From November, Singapore Airlines will boost their capacity to New Zealand with the return of their Airbus A380 to Auckland alongside additional services to Christchurch. This will deliver an additional 1,526 seats a week between the two cities to help cater for the year’s end peak in travel demand.

Qantas adds global destinations to meet soaring demand

From October this year, Qantas plans on adding roughly one million seats to its international network over the next 12 months. This offers customers more options across Asia, the United States, and the Pacific.

Air New Zealand’s last 777-300 is back from the Mojave Desert

Air New Zealand has announced that their last 777-300 aircraft stored in the Mojave Desert during the pandemic has returned to the skies. After spending more than 855 days in storage, the aircraft is back flying commercial services such as Auckland to San Francisco.

Qantas makes its much-anticipated return to San Francisco

Qantas’ Boeing 787 has finally made its return to San Francisco from Sydney with a new thrice-weekly service kicking off recently. Despite the delay in implementation, this service provides a long-awaited West Coast alternative to LAX.

Five new Avios-only flights revealed by British Airways

British Airways announce five Avios-Only flights which open hundreds of extra reward seats over the next twelve months. These seats can be purchased using Avios at static rates. Click here to view further details.

Qantas doubles Japan flights ahead of the seasonal influx

From 26 November, Qantas will be adding extra flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Tokyo-Haneda. These additions are well-timed for the seasonal peak in travel demand experienced in late December.

Air Canada announces plans to open four new lounges

Air Canada is planning to open four new lounges in Toronto, San Francisco, Montreal, and Vancouver in the coming years. The overall aim of this is to lift the ground experience to match the ever-changing in-air experience.

Hotels

Accor plans to open Novotel Melbourne Box Hill in 2025

Accor has announced that a new hotel, Novotel Melbourne Box Hill, will be set to open in January 2025. This will feature 132 guestrooms along with event and conference capabilities that include a 200-capacity ballroom.

Hilton announces new extended-stay brand

Hilton has announced a new creative brand under the working title, ‘Project H3,’ which is designed to cater for long-stay guests. Extensive research has resulted in an apartment-style offering complimented by Hilton’s award-winning hospitality which will address a traditionally underserved audience.

The launch of Rydges Resort Hunter Valley

The Rydges Resort Hunter Valley has now opened with expectations of becoming one of the premier destination resorts in the NSW region. This development is significant as the attractions and activities in the surrounding area make it desirable for groups, conferences, and incentives.

Minor Hotels hint at Australian expansion plans

The expansion of Minor Hotels Australian portfolio will be reflected in the opening of Avani Mooloolaba Beach Hotel and NH Collection Sydney in 2025. While already familiar to Europeans, the launch of the NH brand in Australia will place them firmly on the map.

IHG partner with Mori Trust to open new hotel in 2024

This deal marks a substantial partnership between IHG, a leading hotel company, and Mori Trust, a well-known Japanese real estate developer. The plan is to open Hotel Indigo Nagasaki Glover Street in late 2024.

Singapore’s famous Grand Hyatt set to reopen at the end of the year

Although the refurbishment has taken over six months longer than anticipated, the Grand Hyatt is poised to be reopened later this year. The fully refurbished form includes changes to the wings, a fresh culinary concept and new sustainability initiatives.

IHG launches Wi-Fi Auto Connect

IHG has announced that IHG One Rewards Members will now automatically connect to Wi-Fi upon arrival at more than 5,000 IHG hotels worldwide. This is available through the IHG One Rewards mobile app on both iOS and Android and doesn’t require a password or login.

Wellington opens a new conference and exhibition centre

New Zealand’s capital city has officially opened its new purpose-built events venue, Takina, with a traditional Maori blessing. This centre contains 10,000 sqm of flexible conferencing space that has already attracted 50 multi-day conference bookings within its first year.

Accor’s new Hotel Morris is now open

The new boutique Handwritten Collection hotel, Hotel Morris, has now opened on Sydney’s Pitt Street. This takes residence in a well-known Italian Renaissance building that houses 82 guest rooms with six different ensuite varieties. Click here to read more.