News and Updates From The Travel Industry

Jucy Opens Pod Hotel in New Zealand

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND—Jucy, based here, has opened the first in a multimillion-dollar chain of pod hotels in Christchurch. The 271-bed micro-accommodation concept was launched to help relieve the chronic room shortage in Christchurch, according to the company. The self-contained accommodation capsules or pods feature beds, storage lockers a power supply and WiFi connectivity. The new short-stay pods offer low-cost accommodations close to the airport. Jucy CEO Tim Alpe said there has already been strong interest in the hotel with 600 international bookings secured a month before its launch. “We set about challenging the traditional service model of hotels, completely redesigning…

Emirates offering special introductory fares on A380 to Bangkok

Auckland travellers will have the opportunity to fly to Bangkok on a double-decker A380 for the first time when Emirates starts its service to the Thailand capital at the end of this month. And it will launch the new route with special introductory fares from $999 Economy Class return. Emirates will be operating five daily A380 flights from New Zealand from October 31, and among them will be its new Auckland- Dubai service via Sydney and Bangkok.It will be the only service to Thailand from New Zealand featuring the flagship A380 aircraft and the only same-plane daily service from New…

Auckland Airport signs agreement with China’s leading online payment provider

Auckland Airport has signed a joint promotion and marketing agreement with Alipay, China’s leading online payment solution. Alipay is owned by Ant Financial Services Group, which is part of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. Jason Delamore, Auckland Airport’s general manager – marketing and technology, says, “This agreement will help us improve the customer experience for travellers from China, our fastest growing passenger market. The Alipay mobile payment technology will make it easier than ever for Chinese travellers and visitors to enjoy Auckland Airport’s expanding specialty retail and food and beverage offer, and for our retailers to gain access to the growing…

Air New Zealand to introduce inflight wifi

Air New Zealand will begin rolling out inflight wifi on its jet services in 2017. Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon today announced at a media and travel trade event in Sydney that flights between Australia and New Zealand would be the first to receive connectivity. “Air New Zealand is in the final stages of commercial negotiations with Inmarsat and Panasonic Avionics with internet connectivity to be supplied by Inmarsat’s new global GX satellite constellation and integrated with Air New Zealand’s in-cabin Panasonic Avionics technology. Proving flights will begin in the second half of 2017 and world-class internet services progressively available…

Emirates Flagship A380 Aircraft to Moscow and Guangzhou

Moscow and Guangzhou have joined more than 40 Emirates A380 destination cities, providing travellers on the routes with the airline’s best-in-class onboard product and renowned service. Passengers in all classes can enjoy the unparalleled quietness of the aircraft and the 12- time award-winning ice in-flight entertainment system with a choice of over 2,500 channels on-demand. Those travelling on the A380 can stay easily connected to family, friends and colleagues with up to two hours free onboard Wi-Fi. As with all Emirates flights, passengers benefit from a generous baggage allowance of up to 35kg in Economy Class, 40kg in Business Class…

Auckland Airport welcomes Hainan Airlines to New Zealand

Auckland Airport welcomes the announcement by Hainan Airlines that it will start flying to Auckland on 31 December 2016. The inaugural flight will touch down on 1 January, 2017 and will operate three times a week between Shenzhen and Auckland using an A330 aircraft. Hainan Airlines is part of the HNA group and is the largest privately-owned air transport company and the fourth largest airline in terms of fleet size in China. The airline has been operating for 23 years with 162 aircraft in operation and since 2011 has won six consecutive global SKYTRAX five-star airline ratings. The new route…

Air New Zealand to fly Dreamliner for second Vietnam season

Air New Zealand has confirmed it will operate a second season of non-stop services between Auckland and Vietnam from June to October next year and this time passengers will be able to enjoy the comfort of the airline’s state of the art Dreamliner aircraft. For the 2017 season, Air New Zealand will operate two non-stop services a week from Auckland to Ho Chi Minh City using the 302 seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner offering a choice of lie flat Business Premier, Premium Economy, Economy and Economy Skycouch™ seating options. Air New Zealand Chief Sales and Commercial Officer Cam Wallace says Kiwi…

Emirates revamps corporate loyalty programme to provide more value added incentives for business travellers

Tuesday, September 20, 2016 — Dubai, UAE – Emirates has revamped its corporate loyalty programme, Emirates Business Rewards, to provide greater value and added features for customers. The new programme has been simplified and made more competitive to allow for easier redemptions and upgrades even on last minute bookings. One of the biggest features in the newly improved programme is the ability to use Business Rewards Points to book any commercially available seat at any time giving members cash-like convenience. Emirates is the first and only airline in the region to offer such flexibility as part of its corporate loyalty…

Qantas adds new route to Japan

Qantas will launch daily direct flights between Melbourne and Tokyo’s Narita Airport from 16th December 2016,* responding to growing demand and marking the next step in its Asian growth strategy. The new route will be operated by an upgraded, two-class A330-300 with 297 seats – the aircraft widely seen as best in class for the business market. It adds to Qantas’ popular Sydney-Tokyo (Haneda) and Brisbane -Tokyo (Narita) services, launched in 2015, and will connect travellers with the broader Qantas Group network – including Jetstar’s extensive domestic network within Japan and the Group’s services across the Tasman. Continue to full…

Emirates Skywards marks 16 years with over 16 million members

Enhances flight redemption with a combination of cash and Skywards Miles Emirates Skywards, the award-winning frequent flyer programme of Emirates airline, has marked its 16th year milestone with over 16 million members and the successful launch of new initiatives to enhance reward options for members. Since the programme’s inception in 2000, Emirates Skywards members have redeemed a whopping 220 billion Miles on reward flights, hotel stays and exclusive access to the biggest events worldwide. The diversity of the programme’s partners and rewards are reflected in the airline’s global customer base and network spanning six continents and over 150 destinations. More…

Tianjin Airlines to launch the first Chinese flights from Auckland to two major Chinese cities

Tianjin Airlines is a regional airline headquartered in Tianjin Binhai International Airport passenger terminal building, Dongli District, Tianjin, People's Republic of China. Tianjin Airlines, which is Auckland's Chinese carrier, will launch the first Chinese flights from Auckland to Chongqing and Tianjin of China in December 2016. The flights will operate between Tianjin, Chongqing and Auckland three times a week using an A330 aircraft. It will be the first Oceania route for Tianjin Airlines, which plans to use an A330 aircraft on the new routes to two of China's most important economic centers. In May 2016, Tianjin Airlines imported its first…

Emirates releases Europe earlybird fares to 38 destinations

Emirates’ Earlybird fares from New Zealand announced today include a host of Europe destinations - among them London from $1,959 return - across the network of 38 European cities that it flies to directly. The Earlybird fares, for travel in 2017, include 17 points in Europe that will be accessible by A380 flights all the way from New Zealand, including one from Auckland with just one stop, in Dubai. The list of return economy fares from Auckland and Christchurch includes popular destinations such as Amsterdam (from $1,889, all taxes included), Paris and Barcelona (from $1,939), Rome (from $1,969) and Frankfurt…