LATAM Airlines Group has unveiled the first image of its Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge-inspired aircraft, following the recent opening of Star Wars Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Air Chathams is already aiming for a second service to Norfolk Island following the launch of its weekly flight on Friday.

‘Historic data from when other airlines operated the route (including Air New Zealand) indicates that is very possible,’ says Air Chathams general manager Duane Emeny who draws parallels with the airline’s Chatham Island services.‘We have been

Aircraft from Asia and America could soon be landing at Port Vila’s Bauerfield Airport with the completion of recent upgrades.

Air Canada’s sales from this market, in advance of the coming direct service between Auckland and Vancouver mid December, have already exceeded expectations, says the airline’s general manager Australia and New Zealand Vic Naughton.

A ground-up rebuild of the Singapore Airlines mobile app has resulted in enhanced booking and check-in flows, improving transaction time by up to 60%.

Air Tahiti Nui will soon be advertising for three new roles, following the announcement late last week that the carrier will take on the full, solus management of its New Zealand and Australian distribution, sales and marketing activities later this year.

Qantas has new perks for customers travelling to Australia, offering discounts on local experiences.

Air Vanuatu (NF) is updating trade on its flights that are using a Nauru Airlines aircraft from Auckland to Vanuatu and vice versa.

Fiji Airways has been awarded the coveted Skytrax four-star rating at the 2019 Skytrax World Airline Awards in Paris, joining a select group of airlines in this category.

Hamilton Airport is to undergo a multi-million dollar upgrade to its terminal buildings and carpark.

Having a premium economy product on the AKL-SFO route now puts United Airlines on a par with joint venture partner Air New Zealand, says Julie Reid, director Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti sales for UA.
‘Most airlines have premium economy and people are prepared to pay a bit more for a good middle ground product,’ she says. ‘It is already proving popular on the AKL-SFO route.’

Singapore Airlines’ destination of the month is South Africa.

Aircalin has special fares starting from $249 one-way AKL-NOU, including taxes, for sale until 26 April 2019.

Strong turn-outs in the provinces, with a particularly pleasing attendance from brokers, mean the JAWS (Joint Airline Workshops) format is alive and well after some 25 years, organisers say.

The number of New Zealanders travelling to South Africa has held up better than may have been expected with the visa woes and difficulties in the past year, according to Tim Clyde-Smith, country manager Australasia with South African Airways.

Macao’s mascot, Mak Mak, has taken to the skies with her image painted on the livery of one of Air Macau’s new aircraft.

The ease and convenience of using Vancouver Airport as a gateway to other points in North America (either in transit or combined with a stopover) is being emphasised to the New Zealand trade from Air Canada as the airline prepares for the introduction of direct AKL-YVR seasonal service later this year.

Singapore Airlines has extended its HighFlyer Agent Incentive that gives agents a chance to win a return trip to Southeast Asia.

AirAsia will start services from Bangkok to Brisbane from 25 June 2019. Operated by its Thai affiliate, Thai AirAsia X, the service will fly from Bangkok’s low cost hub, Don Muang International Airport.
Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) secured the services with Queensland Government support under the Attracting Aviation Investment Fund (AAIF), along with partners Tourism and Events Queensland and Brisbane Marketing.
AirAsia X will fly four times-a-week and expects to attract close to 25,000 visitors every year. Thailand is one of Queensland’s emerging markets – 19,000 Thais visited over the last year and spent A$44m.

Etihad Airways has operated the world’s first commercial flight using locally produced sustainable fuel.

Philippine Airlines will launch new non-stop services between Manila and Delhi, India; Hanoi, Vietnam; and Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Singapore Airlines hosted 100 Christchurch travel agents to an A350 promotional evening this week, held at the South Bar, Christchurch Airport.

There is some confusion around the new relationship between Air New Zealand and Qantas that follows the cessation of the current NZ-VA partnership, says Cam Wallace, chief revenue officer with Air New Zealand.

The airport is not the destination – it is actually an obstacle between the customer and where he or she wants to go, the TAANZ Summit hosted by Air New Zealand heard last week.

Air New Zealand has unveiled an initial-concept multiplayer spatial computing gaming experience in Los Angeles at the first L.E.A.P. conference.

Can agents expect any compensation for the time and effort they have put into solving issues for clients who have been affected by the 787 Rolls Royce engine issues?

Singapore Airlines has launched its A350 premium economy and business class seat display at Christchurch International Airport, running until Sunday 14 October, with the chance to win flights for two in premium economy class.

• At The Beasley in Christchurch…... At The Beasley in Christchurch…...
• Corey Marshall, Canuckiwi; with Justine... Corey Marshall, Canuckiwi; with Justine...
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UA’s Trivia roadshow kicked off last Tuesday in Christchurch with the city’s agents updating their knowledge on United, Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Cruising in the USA, Memphis & Alamo car hire.

Hong Kong Airlines will add Macao to its network from tomorrow, following the signing of a codeshare agreement with ferry services company, TurboJET.

Lufthansa crews have taken off in traditional Bavarian costume, in time for Munich’s Oktoberfest.

Virgin Australia accelerate is now available to New Zealand registered businesses.

Cathay Pacific is closely monitoring approaching Super Typhoon Mangkhut which is expected to make landfall on Sunday.

The resumption of the seasonal service from Auckland to Los Angeles on 30 October, as well as the recent announcement of a short term increase in base commission to 10% were among the key messages to trade from American Airlines’ vice president Asia Pacific Sales, Shane Hodges when he visited New Zealand last week.

Emirates is bringing an early Hogmanay treat for New Zealanders heading to Scotland next year with a $1599 return fare to Edinburgh, among other earlybird fare offers covering its Europe network.

Sabre Corporation has recently implemented Sabre Branded Fares for Hong Kong Airlines, now giving agencies the ability to create tailored offers for travellers.

China Southern Airlines was reminding independent agents that it will be flying the 787-900 on one of its two daily services from the end of October to end of March.

Thai Airways’ 787-9 Dreamliners have now returned to service on its AKL BKK AKL sector. The Dreamliners are equipped with wi and live TV through all cabins.

Samoa Airways has quickly seen the positive impact of being on GDS and is gaining traction with the trade through the development, says Dwayne Bentley, the carrier’s marketing and communications specialist.

Emirates has refreshed its premium offering with products for Kiwis travelling in first and business class.

Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has selected SITA to support the modernisation of the country’s biggest airports, implementing a transformation of airport and communication technology across 26 airports.

The technology will improve passenger experience while preparing the airports for an expected surge in passenger numbers over the next few years. Passenger traffic across all Saudi airports climbed to 92-million in 2017, a 7.7% increase compared with the previous year. SITA is implementing its AirportConnect® Open platform which allows airlines to work seamlessly at airports while delivering a smooth self-service from check-in to boarding. In addition, SITA is providing GACA with a baggage management solution, enabling GACA airports to meet the baggage tracking requirements of IATA’s Resolution 753.

Fiji Airways and Alaska Airlines have strengthened their codeshare partnership, adding a number of destinations to the Fijian carrier’s network via its San Francisco hub.

In October, Virgin Australia will launch two new Trans-Tasman routes between Wellington-Sydney and Queenstown-Melbourne, and seasonal services to Newcastle from Auckland.

Wellington Airport passengers will be the first in New Zealand to experience Fiji Airways’ new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft when it launches on the Wellington to Nadi service from December 2018.

Qatar Airways will launch direct five-times weekly flights to Gothenburg, Sweden starting 12 December, making it the airline’s second Swedish gateway after Stockholm.

Gol Linhas Aéreas (G3) received the first of its Boeing 737 Max 8s recently, part of the order of 120 aircraft that it closed with the US manufacturer.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on the governments and air navigation service providers of Europe to address the region’s airspace bottlenecks, as new data reveals that delays so far this year have more than doubled compared to 2017.

An introductory premium economy airfare from Auckland to London of $3439 return (includes applicable taxes) is now available to coincide with the launch of the Philippine Airlines' A350 on the Manila to London/Heathrow route.

The successful China Southern Airlines direct service between Guangzhou and Christchurch is about to record another first.

Qantas is excited about the opportunities offered by the New Distribution Capability (NDC) and thinks agents should be too, a technology conference in Bangkok heard last week.

Air Chathams has announced it will launch a new regional flight service between Kāpiti and Auckland from 20 August. Air Chathams will operate 36 flights a week between Auckland and Kāpiti, which will offer travellers up to 1152 seats per week on board its fleet of Saab 340 aircraft.