Hello,
Welcome to 2018.
In late 2017, IATA (International Air Transport Association) released their new Global Passenger Survey*. While not specific to corporate travellers, the three key areas on the wishlist for travellers are certainly very relevant to both business and leisure travel.
Firstly, most passengers prefer to be independent. 49% prefer self bag-drop, and 72% prefer self-boarding. Secondly, passengers want to be kept updated, with 63% saying real-time information to passengers is the top service to improve. And thirdly, they want to be presented with relevant offers to them, whether it’s lounges, baggage or ancillary products.
Fascinating insights. It seems that the control of the journey is certainly shifting more towards the passenger, in a very positive way. As well as our own APX technology enhancements which will help fulfill these wishes, we look forward to seeing the many passenger experience enhancements being developed in global aviation as we speak. Bring it on.
View the full IATA survey highlight report here.
* 10,675 air passengers interviewed across all regions between May and August 2017
Wendy van Lieshout
General Manager, APX
Camp Quality 2018
by Carl Sinclair, Team Manager - APX Auckland
One of the benefits of working for APX is being given a day every year to volunteer in the community. In 2018, I decided to step up my game and dedicate a whole week to be a Companion for Camp Quality.
APX Travel Management proudly supports Camp Quality, which is a volunteer charitable trust dedicated to running camps where fun, friendship and a can-do culture inspire children living with cancer. The programme provide a stress-free and caring environment for the children where fun and friendship are combined with achievable challenges - allowing the children to “just be kids”.
One of the great benefits of being a companion is that you feel like a big brother. You are matched with a child who has similar interests which helps build trust and friendship. The week was action packed from day one with highlights including a visit to Rainbow's End, Stardome, a black tie dinner, and rounding up the week with a "Future Themed Disco".
The smiles and laughs from the kids make it so worthwhile. Camp Quality was an unforgettable and truly rewarding experience and I'm already planning to be part of the upcoming winter minicamp and next summer camp.
We will be sharing our journey with Camp Quality on Facebook and LinkedIn – follow APX to discover our latest efforts and fundraising initiatives for 2018.
Win with Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart!
Just a stone’s throw away from the waterfront in the Quay Park precinct, Adina Apartment Hotel Auckland Britomart is in a prime position for both leisure and corporate guests. The hotel is located only 200 metres from Auckland's largest venue for world class concerts and events, and also within walking distance to corporate offices nearby.
The property includes 159 rooms including studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and penthouse apartments, as well as an on-site gym, restuarant Yard Bar and Eatery, Wi-Fi and car parking.
Studio rooms are equipped with kitchenette facilities, while the larger apartments include more complete kitchens as well as laundry facilities, making the Adina an ideal choice for both long-stays as well as short-stays.
The hotel also features two modern conference and event spaces - one can accommodate up to 45 delegates theatre-style, and the other room can accommodate up to 12 delegates boardroom style.
Both meeting spaces can be booked through your APX consultant.
Adina have generously given us a luxury weekend escape to WIN, including two nights for two in a premier studio apartment! Just answer the following question to enter the draw:
What premier Auckland indoor concert and events arena is Adina located across from?
Airline safety measures up in 2018
AirlineRatings.com recently released their list of 20 safest airlines for 2018. Included in the list of safest airlines are Air New Zealand, Qantas, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Hawaiian Airlines, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia.
The rating system is derived from a series of safety audits that are based on comprehensive analysis of information from the world's governing airline body (IOSA) and leading association (IATA), as well as governments and crash data. These audits are translated into a rating system comprised of seven stars, with each of the major safety audits carrying the ability to earn two stars.
The top 20 airlines were recognised for being at the "forefront of safety, innovation, and launching of new aircraft", according the AirlinesRatings.com's Editor-in-Chief Geoffrey Thomas.
In addition to the findings of the study was the release of Aviation Safety Network's findings that no deaths occurred on commercial passenger jets in 2017, making it the safest year on record for commercial air travel.
To find out more information about airline safety and performance, we recommend the IATA website or AirlineRatings.com as good resources to check the safety rating of your chosen airline. Both websites are great resources when weighing up possible airline options for an itinerary.
Delays to Dunedin airport due to road closure
Due to road closure at the Mosgiel underpass on State Highway 1, travellers may experience delays in travelling to and from Dunedin airport. The closure will be in effect until mid-April. The purpose of the closure is to re-surface the road and install flexible side and median safety barriers, which are both important safety measures for travellers on this route.
We would like to advise travellers to allow an additional 20 minutes travelling time to avoid the risk of missing their flight departing from Dunedin airport, or otherwise use an alternative route for travel to the airport.
Qatar Airways' Qsuite has arrived
Qatar Airways’ award-winning new product, Qsuite, officially landed at Washington Dulles International Airport on 6 January 2018, making it the second U.S. destination to offer the innovative new Business Class product.
Qsuite was first introduced on flights to London Heathrow Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and, most recently, made its highly-anticipated U.S. debut last month at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Qsuite features the industry’s first-ever double bed in Business Class, as well as privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room, a first of its kind in the industry. Qatar Airways proudly launched Qsuite at ITB Berlin in March 2017 to outstanding global acclaim, and has set a new standard for luxury travel with this innovative product.
Qsuite is planned for the Auckland – Doha service later this year.
Singapore Airlines to commence flights from Melbourne to Wellington
Singapore Airlines yesterday announced a major change to its Wellington operations, revealing it will de-link the service from Canberra, and instead connect Wellington to the world via Melbourne.
From 1 May 2018 SQ291/292 will no longer operate, with the two trans-Tasman capitals to be serviced via alternate points and flights in Australia.
Following the final SQ291/292 flight between Wellington and Canberra on Monday 30 April, the new flight SQ247/248 will begin operations on a Singapore-Melbourne-Wellington v.v. routing from Thursday 3 May.
The service will continue to operate four times a week, however the days of operation from Wellington will change to Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The service will be operated by a Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
Singapore also currently operates seven flights weekly from Auckland and Singapore, as well as seven code-share services with Air New Zealand, and ten flights weekly between Christchurch and Singapore.
Singapore Airlines General Manager New Zealand, Mr Simon Turcotte, said,“While the route has grown, we have determined that there are greater long term benefits for Wellington operations if we de-link from Canberra and link the service to Melbourne."
Subject to regulatory approval, the changes announced today will take effect from Tuesday 1 May 2018
with tickets made available for booking from Thursday 25 January.
Interline agreement with Jetstar and Hawaiian Airlines
Jetstar and Hawaiian Airlines have launched a partnership that will enable travellers from New Zealand to connect to Hawaiian Airlines' service to Hawaii and onto the mainland United States, with the use of Jetstar's domestic services within New Zealand.
Jetstar New Zealand's domestic flights from Wellington, Christchurch, New Plymouth, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Napier, Nelson and Queenstown will now connect in Auckland with Hawaiian Airlines' non-stop flights to Honolulu. Hawaiian Airlines also connects from Honolulu with 15 major cities on mainland USA.
Hawaiian Airlines will also increase the frequency of its flights between Auckland and Honolulu from 21st March, from three to five non-stop weekly flights.
Peter Ingram, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Hawaiian Airlines said, “We are thrilled to make our authentic brand of warm Hawaiian hospitality accessible to more New Zealand travellers."
Blackout dates for 2018
We would like to remind travellers of the following backout dates for accommodation in New Zealand's major centres over 2018.
Auckland
Black Caps vs. Australia - 16 February
Cricket T20 Tri-Series Final - 21 February
Bruno Mars concert dates - 27, 28 February and 2, 3 March
Volvo Ocean Race - 8 - 11 and 15 - 18 March
Ed Sheeran concert dates - 24 - 26 March
All Blacks vs. France - 9 June
Katy Perry concert dates - 20, 21 August
All Blacks vs. Australia - 25 August
Pink concert dates - 4, 5, 7, 8 September
Taylor Swift concert - 9 November
Wellington
All Blacks vs. France - 16 June
All Blacks vs. South Africa - 15 September
World of Wearable Arts - 27 September - 14 October
Christchurch
Golden Oldies - 1 - 30 April
Cup and Show Week - 12 - 17 November
If you are planning on travelling over these dates, please be advised that accommodation rates may be higher than usual, and flights may be very heavily booked. We would advise travellers on these dates to make their bookings early to avoid the possiblity of their preferred flights or accommodation being unavailable.
APX operations over Waitangi Day
APX offices in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will be closed over Waitangi Day, Tuesday, 6 February.
As per our usual procedure, our After Hours teams will be available to assist with urgent queries. If you need to get in touch with an After Hours consultant, you may call the number of your usual APX consultant, and follow the prompts to be diverted to an After Hours consultant.
Alternatively, you may call APX on 0800 TRAVEL (0800 872 835) to speak to an After Hours consultant.
