CHINA
AIRLINES
LOGANAIR AND BMI JOIN FORCES
BMI REGIONAL AND LOGANAIR ARE JOINING FORCES to create a new regional airline group.
The Ascott Limited invests in ‘China’s Airbnb’
SERVICED APARTMENT OPERATOR THE ASCOTT LIMITED has invested more than £55m in
Tujia.com – China’s equivalent to Airbnb. The joint venture means Ascott will operate and franchise serviced apartments through the home-sharing site. It will also help Ascott meet its target of 20,000 units in China by 2020.
Ascott is the largest international serviced residence owner-operator in China with more than 14,000 apartment units in 77 properties across 24 cities.
AIRFARES Etihad’s new fare structure
ETIHAD AIRWAYS IS INTRODUCING A NEW FARE STRUCTURE to provide more “choice and clarity”. Eight new fare choices offer
different baggage allowance and flexibility options, and include benefits that would have needed to be purchased separately. From September 14, all bookings will be split into distinct bands. Economy includes Economy Breaking Deals, Economy Saver, Economy Value and Economy Freedom. Business includes Business Breaking Deals, Business Saver and Business Freedom, while in first class there will only be one ‘fare family’ – Freedom. The Gulf carrier has also changed its excess baggage
14 BBT SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
policy with the cost of purchasing an additional 23kg piece of luggage reduced by up to 90 per cent on some routes, with a further reduction of up to 30 per cent if pre-purchased directly with Etihad.
Etihad Airways COO Peter Baumgartner said: “In most industries there is a move towards allowing customers to tailor and customise their experience. Some guests want to travel light and on a budget, while others want to be able to make last-minute travel decisions, carry extra baggage or earn more miles.” The new fare structure will be available through all of Etihad’s booking channels.
Beijing-based Tujia’s apartment sharing site, valued at more than US$1 billion, caters for business and leisure travellers in China and overseas. Ascott CEO Lee Chee
Koon said: “China’s lengthening list of billion- dollar technology start-ups is an indication of investors’ confidence in the country’s booming internet sector. “By investing in Tujia, a
frontrunner in the online apartment sharing platform, Ascott is now well positioned to benefit from this growth.” ¢ Serviced apartments feature, p98
They will now operate under a new holding company, Airline Investments Limited (AIL), which has taken control of BMI Regional. It will be run by CEO Peter Simpson. The company will have 46 aircraft, carrying around 1.5 million passengers a year with an estimated turnover of £200 million. It will employ 960 people, flying 47 routes across 10 countries.
Both BMI and Loganair will continue to operate as a “distinct business and brand”. AIL said the consolidation of the two airlines under one company will provide “natural efficiencies and economies of scale that will enhance both carriers”.
BMI Regional operates an all-jet fleet comprising 18 Embraer 135 and 145 aircraft. Loganair operates 28 aircraft and connects Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles to destinations in Scotland. It also provides other regional air links from its bases at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness, Kirkwall and Norwich.
EVENTS
LINE-UP ANNOUNCED FOR ACTE CONFERENCE
ACTE’s next global conference, in conjunction with AFTM (Association Francaise des Travel Managers), will take place on October 14-16 in Paris. Education sessions will be centred around ACTE’s ‘five pillars’: industry innovation; traveller centricity; data access and analytics; talent development; and community. Keynote speakers include Air France-KLM CEO Alexandre de Juniac, and Easyjet chief Carolyn McCall. The conference will include a gala evening and networking events. ¢ For information, visit
acte.org and see p127
AIRLINES QANTAS RECOVERY
QANTAS HAS ANNOUNCED A RETURN TO PROFIT and outlined plans to purchase new aircraft, reduce debt and return AUS$505 million to shareholders. The Australian national carrier reported an underlying
pre-tax profit of A$975 million compared with a record loss of A$646 million last year. Qantas also said it will acquire eight 787-9 Dreamliners to “gradually” replace five of its older Boeing 747s on international routes and open up a “range of potential new city pairs”. Four of the aircraft will be introduced in 2018 and four will arrive in financial year 2019.
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