10 SEPTEMBER 2015
ISSUE 21
MINSK WINS OVER RUSSIANS SCOTLAND’S FONAB CASTLE HOTEL TOPS TRIPADVISOR’S TOP 10 CASTLE HOTEL LIST, WHICH WAS COMPILED BASED ON REVIEWS AND OPINIONS FROM MILLIONS OF TRAVELLERS.
08 SWISS WINTER LURES AMERICANS
13 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE
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AIRPORTS
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CRUISING
07
TOURISM BOARDS
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ACCOMMODATION
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GENERAL
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AIR
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WHO’S MOVED
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PHOTO ALBUM
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NEWS & EVENTS
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EUROPEAN CASTLE HOTELS LEAD THE WORLD’S TOP 10
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MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
Austrian Airlines Sees Stronger July Traffic Austrian Airlines celebrated a three percent rise in passenger numbers, having carried more than 1.1 million travellers in July.
CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Inna Armeanu
DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670
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EXCHANGE RATES
Accurate as of
10/9/2015 COUNTRY
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CURRENCY
1EUR=
US (USD)
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1.12
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0.73
Switzerland (CHF)
Franc
1.09
Japan (JPY)
Yen
135.43
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his resulted from growth in the airline’s European and intercontinental flight traffic. Available seat kilometres (ASK) rose by 0.7 percent, whereas revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) were up by three percent. In the period from January to July, the Austrian flag carrier transported more than 6.1 million passengers, a decline of 5.5 percent year-on-year. While European demand was down due to the situation in Ukraine and Russia, figures to the Middle East rose in spite of the prevailing crisis.
Fiji Airways H1 Profit Soars Fiji Airways Group set a new record for the first half of the year (H1), having reported an operating profit before tax of USD17.5 million (EUR15.5 million) – a year-on-year improvement of USD2.1 million (EUR1.8 million).
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he group represents Fiji Airways and its subsidiaries, plus a 38.8 percent stake in the owning company of Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island. Nalin Patel, chairman, Fiji Airways, commented, “The key driver of our underlying profitability was a 6.7 percent increase in passenger numbers for the first six months of the year and a 4.7 percent increase in our overall revenue. While there is no room for complacency, we are seeing some excellent results from the financial growth plan that Fiji Airways has had in place since 2014.” 10 SEPTEMBER 2015
MARKET UPDATE
Double-digit Increase for Turkish Airlines Turkish Airlines recorded a 10.7 percent rise in passenger numbers, having carried a total of 34.4 million travellers between January and July.
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he surge was fuelled by a 14.1 percent growth in domestic demand and a 14.5 percent improvement in international-to-international transit figures. Available seat kilometres (ASK) rose 11.2 percent, while revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) was up 10.3 percent. As of the end of July, Turkish Airlines was serving 376 destinations, up from 259 in the same month in 2014, 228 of which were international routes. Correspondingly, the airline’s fleet expanded from 259 to 276 aircraft.
Business Remains Solid AEGEAN Airlines Beats for SAS Economic Crisis Around 2.6 million passengers flew with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) in July, pushing load factor to 86.9 percent – the highest recorded figure in a single month for the carrier.
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he company’s intercontinental capacity increased by 0.6 percent; the traffic however was down 0.9 percent. The airline decreased its offering on European and intra-Scandinavian routes by 1.7 percent yet demand surged 0.3 percent. Domestic numbers rose one percent as capacity grew 3.1 percent. The carrier’s currency adjusted yield and revenue per passenger per available seat kilometre climbed 4.8 percent and one percent respectively, slightly higher than expected.
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
AEGEAN Airlines carried 1,473,568 passengers in July, 240,000 more than in the same month in 2014, recording a 19 percent increase.
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nternational traffic was up 28 percent compared to July 2014 across all of the company’s bases, with the largest surge being registered in Athens at 37 percent, with 808,450 travellers passing through the hub. The strong performance is the result of the introduction of new destinations and promotions enabling locals to travel despite economic difficulties. Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO, AEGEAN Airlines, stated, “There are great challenges and difficulties, but tourism can once again become a driver for recovery and it should be supported.”
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MARKET UPDATE
Edinburgh Airport Sets New Summer Record
July Traffic Surges at Brussels Airport
More than 1.2 million passengers travelled through Edinburgh Airport’s terminal this July, breaking previous records set in summer 2014.
With just under 2.5 million passengers, Brussels Airport had a busy July.
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t was only two years ago, we broke our first million passenger month and now in our peak we have grown by 20 percent,” highlighted Gordon Dewar, CEO, Edinburgh Airport, noting that the growing figures demand further investments at
the airfield. During the month under review, international and domestic traffic followed similar paths, rising 10.2 percent and 10.6 percent respectively.
Brussels Airport
Edinburgh Airport
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aving welcomed on average 80,000 travellers per day, the airfield saw a 6.3 percent rise on July 2014, which is in line with the surge seen at other European airports. Moreover, the number of transfer passengers showed a sharp 16.9 percent increase, which, according to the company’s management, demonstrates the growing importance and the development of Brussels Airport as a hub in the global Star Alliance network. In addition, cargo volume registered a year-on-year rise of 18 percent. The facility has been recording significant improvement during the past few months, courtesy of the four new cargo airlines that started operating at the hub.
Estonian Air: Passenger Numbers on the Rise Estonian Air carried 65,643 passengers in July, an improvement of 18.4 percent compared to July 2014.
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ndrek Randveer, chief commercial officer, Estonian Air, commented, “July passenger figures correspond to the increasing demand on our destinations as well as active sales efforts in Estonia and external markets. Especially high domestic demand is on our seasonal routes to holiday destinations Nice and Berlin, as well as Paris, Vienna and Split. On our regular routes, the most requested destinations in July were Amsterdam, Kiev and Trondheim.” During the first seven months of the year, the airline handled a total of 341,591 travellers, signalling a growth of 8.5 percent over the corresponding period in 2014.
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10 SEPTEMBER 2015
NEWS AIRPORTS
Strong Footfall Across Norwegian Airports
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riven by domestic traffic, passenger numbers at Avinor’s airports rose by more than two percent in July compared with the same month in 2014, reaching 4,726,456 customers. The volume of domestic travellers jumped 2.7 percent, while international traffic increased by 1.8 percent. ”The disappointing summer weather in Norway this year caused many Norwegians to book last-minute trips to warmer climates. The increase is most likely a result of this and the fact that [2014’s] summer in Norway was one of the best,” explained Jasper Spruit, traffic director, Oslo Airport.
Oslo Airport
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Rainy Summer Boosts Traffic Out of Manchester
BSCA Enjoys Rise in Passengers
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anchester Airport saw a 6.1 percent year-onyear increase in passenger numbers in July, fuelled by the rainy summer season experienced at the north of England. During the month, a recordbreaking 2,557,327 people travelled through the hub, setting a new all-time high rolling annual total of 22,620,304 passengers. Scheduled international flights were up 8.7 percent year-onyear and charter traffic rose by three percent. Ken O’Toole, managing director, Manchester Airport, said, “The wet weather in July combined with additional capacity we have this summer across Europe and long-haul destinations in the US, Hong Kong and to the Middle East has given Manchester Airport a fantastic boost and we are well on track for our best and busiest summer ever.”
n July, 708,098 passengers passed through Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA), representing an increase of nine percent compared to the 651,130 in the same month in 2014. During the summer period, the top five most visited cities from the airport were Warsaw, Budapest, Milan, Madrid and Bucharest. Jean-Jacques Cloquet, CEO, BSCA, commented, “We are continuing to grow, in no small part due to the hard work of our employees and the trust that our airline partners put in us.”
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CPH: Reasonable Growth in H1
Copenhagen Airport
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openhagen Airports (CPH) displayed a good first half of the year (H1) with a revenue improvement of 2.5 percent. Primarily driven by surge in the non-aeronautical business, profit before tax jumped 4.4 percent to DKK619.3 million (EUR83 million). Passenger numbers at the airport amounted to over 12 million, the same as in H1 2014. The volume of locally departing travellers showed an increase of four percent, while transfer customers were down by 12.2 percent. Overall, long-haul traffic rose by 0.9 percent, and domestic figures decreased by six percent.
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
CRUISING NEWS Overland Adventures with Silversea
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ltra-luxury Silversea Cruises created a diverse range of enriching overland adventures to complement 2016’s world cruise. A total of 20 orchestrated optional land programmes will escort guests inland to explore natural wonders, spot exotic wildlife, discover ancient cultures and landmarks and fly to isolated regions. Departing in January, and sailing from Fort Lauderdale to Venice, the cruise lines’ World Cruise 2016 will be hosted aboard the elegant, allsuite Silver Whisper, enabling guests to voyage 115 days in luxury across six continents as they visit 51 ports in 31 countries.
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Crystal Cruises Redefines Customer Experience
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ollowing the announcement of its latest project, Crystal River Cruises, Crystal Cruises revealed that its two river vessels, set to launch in March 2017, will feature the largest accommodation units and space-toguest ratio available in the market. Passengers will enjoy all-inclusive six-star service and facilities that will include 70 suites with walk-in wardrobes, king-size beds, plus two penthouse suites, spacious public areas, a fitness centre and other perks. Itineraries will be crafted to maximise time in port and showcase some of Europe’s most amazing scenery. “We continue to listen to what our guests and the luxury traveller want, and river cruises are what they have been telling us they want for some time,” said Edie Rodriguez, president, Crystal Cruises.
Norwegian Unveils 2016/ 2017 Winter Itineraries
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orwegian Cruise Line has released new cruises for its autumn and winter 2016/2017 deployment. Norwegian Star will sail to Asia, Australia, India and New Zealand, while Norwegian Epic will offer three-, four-, and seven-night itineraries from Port Canaveral. Norwegian Spirit will return to homeport in Europe year-round, sailing through the Mediterranean with departures from Barcelona, Istanbul and Venice. Additionally, Norwegian Jade will be deployed during winter from Tampa to the Caribbean, while Norwegian Jewel will sail two new 14-night Panama Canal itineraries from Los Angeles and Miami in February 2016 and two in February 2017.
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NEWS TOURISM BOARDS Minsk Wins Over Russians
Vienna: The Bustling Ninth District
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ith a range of attractions, from Sigmund Freud’s consulting rooms to Franz Schubert’s birthplace, summertime bars on the banks of the Danube Canal, an artisanal chocolate factory, the university campus and Austria’s largest hospital, Vienna’s ninth district continues to attract increased numbers of visitors. Located between the historic first district and the Gürtel, a busy thoroughfare that separates the inner and outer district, the area is also known as Alsergrund and hosts numerous university faculties and institutes, making it a lively place where science and culture join forces. One of the most popular parts of the district centres on the cobblestones of Servitengasse, where visitors can pick up unusual plants and flowers.
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insk proved to be the top CIS destination among Russian travellers this summer, according to online booking service provider, Oktogo.ru. Based on reservations made during the month of August, the region’s most popular cities also included Tbilisi, Almaty, Kiev, Yerevan, Baku, Astana, Bishkek, Chisinau and Tashkent. Russian tourists travelling independently spent an average of four days in these destinations. In the Belarusian capital, Russian visitors paid on average some RUB3,000 (EUR37) per day for accommodation. The most expensive city was Baku, where cost reached RUB6,000 (EUR74), however, travellers did not break the bank in Bishkek, where some RUB1,200 (EUR15) was spent on hotels.
Gartenpalais Liechtenstein
More Brits Flock to Slovenia in H1
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he number of UK visitors to Slovenia rose by 25 percent in the first half of the year (H1), according to Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. Travellers from the UK also spent longer periods in the country, 15 percent more nights than in H1 2014. June alone saw record-breaking performance by this market with a 43 percent increase in arrivals and a 23 percent surge in overnight stays. Tine Murn, head, UK and Ireland communications, SPIRIT Slovenia, Public Agency for Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Development, Investment and Tourism, said, “We believe Slovenia is a perfect destination for British holidaymakers with its stunning nature, incredible range of activities and rich culture – all only two hours away.”
Bled
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10 SEPTEMBER 2015
TOURISM BOARDS NEWS Slovenia LuresMaritime More Foreign A Successful EventTourists Held in Tallinn
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g t d’ÖÖ ties par eek r u i o v T i W t e c l e a are n Bicyc ht to lif n g i l o u l Ta re bro cionad s a fi that spor t a o bring by a order t e lovers in bik rent ther? e f f i d toge
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allinn Maritime Days took place between July 17 – 19, and one of its highlights was the Grand Maritime Parade, which all festival guests could take part in. The parade began at Pirita harbour, making its way to Old City Harbour. It featured 80 vessels, including boats from Sweden and Finland. Bike trek Tour d’ÖÖ took place alongside the sea parade, featuring hundreds of cyclists. The route for both the seafarers and cyclists started at Pirita Harbour and ended at the Seaplane Harbour and Old City Harbour. After the sea parade, Tallinn Maritime Days officially opened with a grand opera gala.
Mir Castle Complex, Belarus
Belarus Eases Visa Restrictions for China
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n a bid to capture a larger share of the lucrative Chinese market, Belarus has introduced a 72-hour visa-free entry, exit and transit for visitors from the Asian destination. The new rules will be valid for all citizens of China that arrive on direct flights from the airports of the country of nationality and have a valid visa of the European Union or Schengen Zone member states. The move is expected to make visits to Belarus more convenient and hassle-free.
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION NH Expands in Rome with New Central Property
Rome
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H Hotel Group has sealed the deal for its sixth hotel in the Italian capital, to be operated under its premium brand, NH Collection. The latest addition is located in a heritage-protected historical building close to Roma Termini, the city’s central train station, and is slated to open by the end of the year, following refurbishment. The hotel will be divided into four floors, accommodating 180 rooms featuring meeting and event venues with a capacity of up to 350 people, and a bar and restaurant that can be accessed directly from the main square. There will also be a spacious outdoor garden for observing the remains of the former Servian Wall, built in the early fourth century.
H10 Hotels Penetrates Lisbon
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H10 Duque de Loulé
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he H10 Hotels has opened H10 Duque de Loulé, its first hotel in the Portuguese capital. The four-star superior hotel with 89 rooms is near Praça do Marquês de Pombal in the city centre, enabling direct access to a thriving shopping district filled with summer terraces and live music at night. The property is situated in a historical building dating back to the 18th century and pays tribute to Portuguese ceramic craftsmanship through period portraits made up of traditional hand-painted blue and white tiles. Additional features include a small fitness centre, a business corner and a meeting room accommodating 80 people.
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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SSA ABLOY Hospitality has implemented a full range of its product solutions at the second Hyatt-branded hotel in Armenia, Hyatt Place Jermuk, which aspires to welcome guests to a smartly designed, high-tech and contemporary environment. The landmark project includes the introduction of VingCard Vision, a flexible locking-system management software platform with touch-screen technology, as well as VingCard Signature radio-frequency identification contactless electronic door locks, which provide guests with the highest of standards in room security and convenience. In addition, the hotel’s units feature the ultrasecure Sentinel 41 digital safes, while to add to convenience, ASSA ABLOY Hospitality’s PolarBar minibars have also been installed.
Hyatt Place Jermuk business centre
ASSA ABLOY Equips Armenian Hyatt Property
Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg
Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg Starts Revamp
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rt-Invest Real Estate has begun the renovation of Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg, located on Kaiser-Friedrich-Promenade near the town’s Spa Gardens. The property will welcome five additional rooms and a new spa and gym area, while three of its floors will get a facelift. The project is scheduled for completion by late 2016. ”We will be renovating the whole of the hotel including the rooms, the public areas and the facade,” announced Peter Ebertz, head of hotels, Art-Invest Real Estate, stressing that this will be a new era in terms of design concept. ”We are delighted to be able to bring the history of this building back to life in a modern form,“ added Ilgo Hagen Höhn, director, Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg.
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
ACCOMMODATION NEWS
NH Earnings Gain Momentum in Q2
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H Hotels’ first half results indicated that earnings accelerated during the second quarter (Q2) due to stronger business volumes, as well as the positive outcome from the first initiatives rolled out under the scope of the group’s five-year plan. The key hotel performance indicators gathered intensity with respect to prior quarters. Excluding the impact of Hoteles Royal acquired this year, the chain’s Q2 revenue rose by 6.8 percent to EUR371.5 million, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) climbed 25 percent to EUR65.3 million. As a result, the group reported a recurring net profit of EUR15.7 million between April and June, a year-on-year growth of 85.8 percent.
Switzerland
Swiss Winter Lures Americans
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merican nationals spent six percent more nights in Swiss hotels between November 2014 and this April than in the corresponding period in the 2013/14 winter season. “We are pleased to see that American travellers chose Switzerland as their winter destination – this year even more, since we were celebrating a major anniversary in winter tourism, which started in St. Moritz in the Engadin valley 150 years ago,” explained Alex Herrmann, director, Americas, Switzerland Tourism. The numbers for the winter season support a positive trend that has been developing over the past five years. Since 2010, Switzerland has reported an increase in hotel overnight stays from the US every year, a rise from roughly 1.4 million to almost 1.65 million.
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NEWS
EUROPEAN CASTLE HOTELSFour LEAD THEBudapest WORLD’S Seasons Adds TOP 10
Fonab Castle Hotel
Scotland’s Fonab Castle Hotel tops TripAdvisor’s top 10 castle hotel list, which was compiled based on reviews and opinions from millions of travellers.
New Restaurant
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he 26-room luxury property was followed by Castle Hotel Auf Schoenburg in Germany and Hotel Castello di Sinio in Italy. The top 10 was rounded off by another two Italian and two Irish establishments, an English, a Czech and a South African destination. “For travellers seeking the royal treatment, TripAdvisor has identified the top castle hotels where guests can surround themselves in old world elegance,” commented Brooke Ferencsik, director of communications, TripAdvisor, noting travellers can book an autumnal escape without breaking the bank.
CFRPs Growing Vitality for Aerospace Industry
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COMPOSITES EUROPE
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uring its 10th trade show instalment, from September 22 – 24, in Germany, COMPOSITES EUROPE will shed light on suppliers of fibre-reinforced composites solutions for aircraft manufacturers. According to assessments delivered by experts in the German Federation for Reinforced Plastics 2014 market report, the aerospace market segment, including defence, will continue to help shape the development of the carbon fibrereinforced polymer (CFRP) market in the future. The authors forecast growth rates of eight to 13 percent in the next few years, propelled by the latest widebody aircraft including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 777X. Projections call for carbon composites turnover to reach approximately USD6 billion (EUR5.3 billion) in 2022 alone.
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
AIR NEWS airBaltic Links Helsinki with Vilnius
Air Malta: New Fleet Utilisation Plan
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ir Malta’s fleet renewal plan is expected to save the airline EUR41 million over the next five years. This emerges from workings that were presented to the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association by the airline, which showed how its strategy will salvage EUR8.2 million per year while flying the same number of passengers. Philip Micallef, CEO, Air Malta, elaborated, “Airplane utilisation is a key performance indicator in the industry. Since airplanes are expensive to lease, the more they are used, the higher the return. It does not make sense to leave such expensive assets idle in winter for more than half of the time.”
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irBaltic has inaugurated a new route connecting Helsinki and Vilnius, offering an ideal option for short weekend getaways. The route will be operated seven times a week by Bombardier Q400 aircraft. Vilnius was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 for its Old Town and architecture.
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NEWS AIR Ryanair: Over 10 million Passengers in a Month
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yanair’s traffic surged 11 percent to 10.1 million customers in July, and the low-cost carrier celebrated the milestone of carrying over 10 million passengers in a single month. Load factor rose four percentage points to 95 percent, and rolling annual traffic until July jumped 15 percent to 95.3 million customers. Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer, Ryanair, commented, “Ryanair customers can look forward to more service enhancements in the autumn, as we continue year two of our Always Getting Better programme.�
Airbus Enhances Wings for New A350-1000
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irbus started assembling the first-ever Airbus A350-1000, with the wings for the aircraft being currently made in Broughton, North Wales. The A350-1000 wing has the same span of the A350-900 that is already in use, but 90 percent of the parts have been modified and the trailing edge has been extended to resize the wing for the additional payload and range. Being 32m long and six metres wide, it is the largest single part made from carbon fibre composite material in use in civil aviation today.
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10 SEPTEMBER 2015
AIR NEWS
British Airways Links Glasgow and Salzburg
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cots seeking somewhere to slope off for a skiing holiday or enjoy the sound of music will get the chance this winter to fly directly from Glasgow to Salzburg. Starting December 12, British Airways will, for the first time, offer pointto-point services between the two cities onboard an Airbus A319-100 aircraft. The seasonal flights will be operated once a week on Saturdays. “We are sure the new direct service will prove popular with our customers and those who want a quick and easy direct route to Salzburg from Glasgow to experience the slopes – and the après-ski,” commented Francois Bourienne, commercial director, Glasgow Airport.
Bristol to Welcome New Wizz Air Route
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ristol Airport will soon be connected to yet another destination when Wizz Air commences services from the British city to Košice. Effective from October 10, the low-cost carrier will offer two weekly flights to the Slovakian destination on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The announcement closely follows the addition of Sofia, Bulgaria to the airline’s network from Bristol. With Košice, the total number of Wizz Air destination’s from the airport stands at three, as besides Sofia, the carrier also operates to Katowice, Poland.
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
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NEWS AIR
airBaltic Boosts Sweden – Latvia Links
Edinburgh to Welcome Finnish Itinerary
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irBaltic has introduced a new route between Riga and Stockholm Bromma airport, served with five weekly flights. Christophe Viatte, chief commercial officer, airBaltic, commented, “Riga – Stockholm Bromma is a convenient link for the business traveller between the capitals of Sweden and Latvia, and complements our excellent RigaStockholm Arlanda service that we operate up to four times daily.” The airline will deploy a Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft on the route, and the flights will last around an hour and 10 minutes.
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Turkish Airlines and LOT Deepen Cooperation
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innair will operate a new direct flight from Helsinki to Edinburgh, between April 18 – October 27, 2016. Mike Cantlay, chairman, VisitScotland, noted, “We welcome this exciting new direct route by Finnair, which will make it even easier for visitors from Finland and also Asia, one of our emerging international markets, to come to Scotland. The Chinese visitor market alone contributes on average GBP37 million (EUR50.7 million) to the economy each year.”
urkish Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines signed a letter of understanding to bring more benefits for their customers through increased connection alternatives and even better product, enabling them to travel with convenient stopovers and one ticket only to even more destinations globally. “This strategic partnership […] will enable both carriers to enhance their presence on their respective markets, while contributing their efficiency on the routes agreed within the scope of extended cooperation,” explained Temel Kotil, CEO, Turkish Airlines. “This will give our passengers all advantages of worldwide and supplementary networks of both carriers,” added Sebastian Mikosz, CEO, LOT Polish Airlines.
Temel Kotil (left) and Sebastian Mikosz
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
AIR NEWS Austrian Airlines to Fly to Marrakech
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Marrakech
ravellers looking to escape the cold weather this winter will have the chance to travel from Vienna to Marrakech. Starting November 14, Austrian Airlines will operate weekly services on Saturdays to the Moroccan tourist hotspot onboard an Airbus A319. “In addition to Miami, Mauritius and Colombo as new long-haul tourist destinations, we are now expanding our flight offering to medium-haul holiday destinations,” explained Andreas Otto, chief commercial officer, Austrian Airlines, saying that this strategy also helps compensate for the strong seasonality of the business.
Finavia Forges Ahead with Helsinki Airport Project
Helsinki Airport
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inavia is moving forward with the extensive development programme for Helsinki Airport with the goal of meeting the requirements of growing passenger volumes. The corporation has since signed two separate construction contracts with a total value of about EUR260 million. Construction is slated to begin in early 2016 for the terminal work and for the groundwork on the apron, which is expected to serve 20 million travellers. Kari Savolainen, CEO, Finavia, noted, “The major investments within the development programme will enable us to maintain good flight connections to Finland and strengthen Helsinki Airport’s position in the worldwide competition.”
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NEWS AIR
Aeroflot Codeshares with Saudi Airline
Norwegian Links Copenhagen and Boston
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its and flot ser ve o r e s A ners tion par t destina ies r 2 nt 1, 05 77 cou e? in 1 orldwid w
n May 2016, Norwegian will open a new nonstop service between Copenhagen and Boston, the airline’s ninth long-haul route out of the Danish capital. The carrier already operates between Copenhagen and New York, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. “An increasing share of our passengers are Americans, showing that there is a demand in the market. With more nonstop routes between the continents, even more Americans will visit Europe and Scandinavia, which is positive for the economy and the tourism industry,” commented Bjørn Kjos, CEO, Norwegian.
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eroflot has entered into a codeshare agreement with Saudi Arabian Airlines, further expanding the two carriers’ network between popular business and leisure destinations in Russia and the Gulf country. Subject to regulatory approval, the airlines will cooperate on a number of routes, including Moscow – Cairo – Jeddah, Moscow/St Petersburg – Istanbul – Jeddah/Riyadh, Moscow – Dubai – Riyadh, as well as Jeddah – Cairo – Moscow, Jeddah/Riyadh – Istanbul – Moscow/ St Petersburg and Riyadh – Dubai – Moscow. According to Vitaly Saveliev, CEO, Aeroflot, the agreement will open new opportunities for passengers of both companies.
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10 SEPTEMBER 2015
NEWS Serko and Expedia: Transforming Corporate Travel Market
Thomas Cook Stays Put in Peterborough
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erko, specialists in online travel booking and expense management for business, has formed a new strategic partnership with Expedia to enable its Serko Online customers to search and book Expedia- and Wotif-branded content through its online booking tool. The agreement offers the travel company’s inventory of properties across Australia and New Zealand, including its catalogue of hundreds of thousands of hotels globally using both brands. In doing so, the corporate sector has access to an immense inventory and rates, translating into significant travel budget savings.
International Arrivals to Europe Recover
homas Cook’s UK & Ireland is set to relocate its operations from the company’s current offices in Bretton to West Point House on Lynch Wood Business Park, having decided to remain in Peterborough, until April 2016. The holiday company will lease the entirety of the building and, together with the landlord, will fully refurbish the office and social areas over the next nine months. Salman Syed, managing director, UK and Ireland, Thomas Cook, commented, “We spend many hours at work, and it is essential that we create the right culture and environment to perform to our full potential.”
Geneva Hosts WEF Meetup
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ome 450 young leaders convened in Geneva as the World Economic Forum (WEF) organised the Annual Curators Meeting for Global Shapers. The gathering was designed to ensure that the voice of millennials is included in the debate on how to address a range of global challenges, including youth employment, climate change, the future of Internet and gender parity. Participants, aged between 20 and 30, presented the projects run in their local communities and held a series of workshops on their impact and sustainability. The event offered an opportunity for feedback and advice on these projects by a global community of peers as well as WEF experts.
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Participants of the meeting
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he latest results from Air Travellers’ Traffic Barometer compiled by European Cities Marketing and ForwardKeys indicate that Europe shows recovery signs. After a flat growth in the second quarter (Q2) of the year, expectations are high regarding intra-European bookings for the third quarter, with a 5.4 percent surge forecasted. During Q2, international source markets rose by 1.1 percent compared to 2014, mostly driven by long-haul traveller numbers that climbed 2.4 percent. The intra-European segment – which accounts for the 60 percent of all arrivals to the continent – increased by just 0.2 percent.
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WHO’S MOVED
MICHAEL HAMELINK
CAN GÖKTAŞ
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Michael Hamelink is the new CEO of Aigle Azur. His main mission will be to carry out the long-term strategy of the French airline. Hamelink brings with him 20 years of experience. He started his career in 1992 as a management trainee at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and then continued in financial roles in Belgium, Luxemburg, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, the Netherlands and London. In 2008, he was appointed as Air France-KLM’s regional general manager for Eastern Africa, before joining Madala Airlines as chief financial officer. After his finance director role at Lonrho Aviation, he worked as senior advisor of international investments at HNA Aviation in China. He joined Aigle Azur this March as chief financial officer.
Can Göktaş has returned to The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul as general manager. Göktaş is well-familiar with the property, having played a key role in its opening in 2001 as director of sales and marketing, a position that he held for several years. Prior to his appointment, he held high-level executive positions with Kempinski before becoming the company’s regional director of sales for Turkey and Southern Europe. After graduating from Bosphorus University with a degree in tourism and hotel management, Göktaş started his career with Divan Group and Swissôtel The Bosphorus in Istanbul. In 2014, he completed his master’s degree from NEOMA Business School in Paris where he specialised in luxury brand marketing.
JOHN DI BERT
ALEXANDER HÖRNER
John Di Bert has been named senior vice president and chief financial officer of Bombardier, effective from August 10. His appointment follows an extensive international search for the right candidate. Di Bert spent the past 14 years with Pratt & Whitney Canada, where he most recently worked as vice president of customer service and finance. In this position, he designed, developed and implemented various company-wide initiatives that helped maintain sound financial performance throughout the years. Earlier in his career, he worked at Rolls-Royce Canada as manager of financial accounting and reporting, as well as at KPMG as senior auditor for major clients in the key sectors of manufacturing, retail and distribution.
Alexander Hörner has been appointed chairman of the Europe sales advisory board of the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. Hörner, who currently serves as vice president of sales at Steigenberger Hotels, will focus on the profile of the Sales Manager 2020. The main aim is to use conferences, training courses and webinars to prepare sales teams for the challenges of today and tomorrow. Determined to contribute to the organisation’s know-how, Hörner explained how the board identifies trends in the hotel sector and is considered to be the leading voice in the fields of hospitality, sales and marketing, revenue management and leadership development.
10 SEPTEMBER 2015
PHOTO ALBUM
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to. Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Rixos Borovoe Hotel hosted the winners of the Kazakhstan in the Eyes of Foreign Media contest
An Air Malta loyal passenger celebrated her 95th birthday with the airline’s CEO (left)
In the last week of summer, Renaissance Minsk Hotel celebrated the associates’ appreciation week
Norwegian airline Widerøe and children's cancer association Barnekreftforeningen offered a fun day to their little friends
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NEWS & EVENTS Tallinn’s MICE Capabilities in the Spotlight
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Tallinn
uring the first eight months of the year, Tallinn Convention Bureau attended six destination marketing events to introduce the city’s conference and incentive possibilities to industry stakeholders from around the globe. Over the past months, the Estonian capital came under the spotlight in London, Vilnius, Istanbul, Lausanne and Frankfurt, with the organisation holding a total of 235 meetings with international planners from different associations, corporations and event management companies. The planners were mostly interested in the accessibility of the city and different incentive activities. In the coming months, the bureau will be present at related events in Amsterdam, Brussels, Barcelona and Warsaw.
EVENTS OTDYKH 2015 Moscow, Russia September 15 – 18 www.tourismexpo.ru Focussing on three distinct segments, the event is a global platform for MICE, luxury and leisure travel experts.
Air Astana Named Official Carrier of EXPO-2017
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stana EXPO-2017 has signed a memorandum of cooperation with Air Astana, Kazakhstan’s flag carrier, to become a partner in the exhibition and hold the exclusive status of official air carrier of the show. Within this framework, there are plans to integrate the airline’s online reservation system onto the event website and activate a joint public relations campaign. Additionally, all Astana transit and arriving passengers will be given tickets to the exhibition in 2017.
IFTM TOP RESA Paris, France September 29 – October 02 www.iftm.fr Established in 1978 in Deauville, it is a must-attend business-tobusiness event focussing on leisure tourism. In 2008, it became a multi-target show covering business, leisure and events.
Edinburgh Festivals Attract More Visitors in August
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omestic visitor numbers to Scotland’s capital increased by two thirds during the peak festival season, with 290,000 domestic trips having been made to Edinburgh in August, compared with 186,000 in July. Overnight domestic guests contributed GBP73 million (EUR101.5 million) to the city’s economy. International visitors made around 174,000 trips to the Scottish capital and the Lothians during the month, generating GBP63 million (EUR87.6 million) in expenditure. Malcolm Roughead, CEO, VisitScotland, said, “The Scottish capital comes alive in August which is why, time and time again, visitors flock to the city in their thousands, boosting the local and national economy.”
UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MARKET Kiev, Ukraine September 30 – October 02 www.ukraine-itm.com.ua With 70 percent of the exhibition’s space already booked, the event is to host tourism authorities from Turkey, India, Thailand, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Palestine, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Hungary, among others.
Britain & Ireland Marketplace Returns to London
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ondon's Wembley Stadium will host Britain & Ireland Marketplace, the business-to-business workshop for British and Irish product, on January 26, 2016. European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), together with VisitEngland, Visit Wales, VisitScotland, Tourism Ireland, British Hospitality Association (BHA) and Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) will present the best tourism product that the nations and regions have to offer. Martine Ainsworth-Wells, director of marketing and commerce, ETOA, said, ”The refreshed Britain & Ireland Marketplace will build on past achievements and ETOA, along with our partners, will continue to provide a forum for efficient and worthwhile business networking.”
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TRAVELEXPO Lucerne, Switzerland October 23 – 25 www.travelexpo.ch With Cyprus as a featured holiday destination, this autumn exhibition aims to provide travel agents and tour operators with ideas on non-conventional winter vacation escapes.
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