AUSTRALIA: Malindo Air Crew Arrested After Smuggling $21m Worth Of Drugs

Police have busted an international drug syndicate that they allege has been using airline cabin crew on board flights from Malaysia to smuggle drugs into Australia over a number of years.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Victoria Police have arrested eight people in the past 10 days who they allege brought heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine worth $21 million into Australia.

Assistant Commissioner Tess Walsh from Victoria Police said the arrests occurred as part of Operation Sunrise, which involved the AFP, Australian Border Force and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.

The joint investigative team has alleged that the syndicate used cabin crews at Malindo Air, a small airline based in Malaysia, to bring the drugs into the country.

Investigators allege the drugs were brought in via Melbourne and Sydney, carried on the bodies of the cabin crew.

One defendant allegedly told investigators it was his 20th trip into Australia.

Operation Sunrise is a complex, five-month operation targeting an alleged Vietnamese organised crime syndicate based in Melbourne, Assistant Commissioner Walsh said.

Assistant Commissioner Walsh said police believed the syndicate had been operating for at least five years and that the drugs seized so far were clearly not the total amount of drugs alleged to have been imported.

This is a significant seizure but I think reality would say that it's not the total amount of drugs that this team have brought into this country, she said.

Intelligence would tell us that this crew has been operating for some years, I would say five plus I don't know whether or not it's decades.

Those arrested by police include a 38-year-old woman arrested on January 7 in Tullamarine, and another six people arrested in raids at Sunshine North and inner-city Melbourne a day later.

On January 14, a woman from Richmond was also arrested.

Two of the defendants were Vietnamese-born Australians.

Six kilograms of heroin were seized, as well as 8kg of methamphetamine and half a kilo of cocaine.

Luxury cars, $100,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia were also seized.

Assistant Commissioner Walsh said the investigation was active and ongoing.

Malindo Air's website describes it as a premium airline with headquarters in Petaling Jaya, a town just outside of Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement, Malindo Air it was aware that one of its cabin crew had been arrested on arrival at Melbourne Airport on January 7.

While the airline said it had not had any official communication with its staff member or the AFP over the crew member's detention, the person had been suspended with immediate effect.

It said none of the other Malindo Air crew on the flight were detained.

Malindo Air stands ready to co-operate with all the relevant authorities be it in Australia or in Malaysia in this regard, the airline said.

Given all that we know to date and based on the findings of our internal investigations, we are confident that this arrest appears to be an isolated incident arising out of a crew's misconduct.


Tourism Observer

MALAYSIA: Malaysia Airlines Creates New Routes

Malaysia Airlines this week filed initial changes to its winter 2018/19 schedule, effective from 28OCT18. The changes includes the extension of Airbus A380 operational schedule.

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon MH066/067 operational aircraft changes
28OCT18 – 14MAR19 A380
15MAR19 – 30MAR19 A350

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan eff 28OCT18 A330-200 replaces 737-800, 1 daily
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita 15MAR19 – 30MAR19 MH088/089 A380 replaces A350-900XWB

Malaysia Airlines in last week’s schedule update extended Airbus A380 operational schedule to late-October 2018. For the month of September and October, planned A380 operation as follows.

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon 01SEP18 – 26OCT18 1 daily MH066/067 (Except selected dates)
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita 06AUG18 – 27OCT18 1 daily MH088/089 (Previously scheduled until 31AUG18)

Malaysia Airlines in latest schedule update filed additional Airbus A380 service to Tokyo, which sees the Super Jumbo operating 7 of 12 weekly Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita service, from 15AUG18 to 25AUG18 (16AUG18 – 26AUG18 from Tokyo). Planned schedule as follows.

MH088 KUL2330 – 0740+1NRT 388 D
MH089 NRT1020 – 1645KUL 388 D

Previously reported A380 regional service to Australia and Japan as follow:
Kuala Lumpur – Sydney MH123/122 30MAR18 – 31MAR18, 12APR18 – 14APR18, 21JUN18 – 24JUN18, 29JUN18 – 30JUN18, 15JUL18*
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita MH088/089 17MAR18 – 10APR18

Malaysia Airlines in last week’s schedule update filed Airbus A380 service on Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon route, scheduled from 11APR18 to 31MAY18 (ICN departure). MH066/067 service will once again sees the A380 operating on daily basis, instead of A330-300.

The airline operates 10 weekly flights on this route.

MH038 KUL1405 – 2145ICN 333 346
MH066 KUL2330 – 0710+1ICN 388 D

MH039 ICN0010 – 0545KUL 333 457
MH067 ICN1100 – 1635KUL 388 D

Malaysia Airlines this week filed initial changes to its winter 2018/19 schedule, effective from 28OCT18. The changes includes the extension of Airbus A380 operational schedule.

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon MH066/067 operational aircraft changes
28OCT18 – 14MAR19 A380
15MAR19 – 30MAR19 A350

Kuala Lumpur – Taipei Taoyuan eff 28OCT18 A330-200 replaces 737-800, 1 daily
Kuala Lumpur – Tokyo Narita 15MAR19 – 30MAR19 MH088/089 A380 replaces A350-900XWB

Malaysia Airlines in last week’s schedule update filed additional Airbus A350-900XWB operating service, scheduled for Seoul Incheon and Hong Kong between July and September 2018. Following is planned A350 operation, based on KUL departure.

Kuala Lumpur – Hong Kong MH072/073
13AUG18 – 28AUG18 Day 12
06SEP18 – 12SEP18 Day 34
15SEP18 – 21SEP18 Day x123
24SEP18 Day 1

Kuala Lumpur – Seoul Incheon
MH038/039 27JUL18 – 29AUG18 2 weekly (3 weekly from 04AUG18, 5 weekly from 12AUG18)
MH066/067 23JUL18 – 31AUG18 1 daily


Tourism Observer

Qatar Airways CEO Calls For Fair And Transparent Rules For World Aviation

Al Baker delivered a keynote in front of leading aviation experts and executives from around the world, gathered at the Centre for Aviation conference in Sydney.

He opened his speech addressing the crowd on Qatar Airways’ resilience on the anniversary of the illegal blockade against the State of Qatar.

He then shifted on the importance of fairness and regulation in the aviation sector.

CEO Akbar Al Baker said: This week has brought airline CEO and aviation leaders from around the world together in Sydney for the IATA Annual General Meeting, providing the perfect platform for this Centre for Aviation event, of which I am delighted to have taken part.

The aviation industry continues to grow, and events such as the IATA AGM and these Centre for Aviation events, are crucial to bring together leaders from all over the world and enable face-to-face discussion and debate.

In my capacity this year as Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors, I will continue to champion such open debate in the name of fairness and regulation in the aviation sector, he said.

Al Baker did not specify on what he meant of fairness and regulation in the aviation industry.

However, a quick search on Google, the general idea is to ensure a fair and transparent market.

This is quite ironic coming from one of the state-owned, heavily subsidized Gulf carriers accused of unfair market practices.

Moreover, this is the same chief executive that claimed in his keynote that the airline must be led by a man because it is a very challenging position.

Al Baker immediately apologised for this sexist remark.

While women accounted for 5% of all airline CEOs; as of 2014, 12 out of the 248 airlines operating worldwide were led by women.


Tourism Observer

AUSTRALIA: Three Blue Ducks Opens in Brisbane

It might have been a quiet opening back in beachside Bronte, Sydney, in 2010, but it didn’t take long for Three Blue Ducks’ hearty, wholesome cooking to become a hit.

So much so that outposts in Rosebery also in Sydney and Byron Bay soon followed.

Now Three Blue Ducks has crossed the border and landed in Brisbane, and this time its arrival is anything but quiet.

Launching on Friday inside W Brisbane, the city’s first five-star hotel to be built in 20 years, it’s one of the most anticipated venue openings of 2018.

Behind the three ducks are six mates: Mark LaBrooy, Chris Sorrell, Sam Reid-Boquist, Darren Robertson, Jeff Bennett and Andy Allen.

Speaking on opening day, LaBrooy says the process of this venue has been completely different to the others, given they’ve had to work so closely with the hotel.

We’re not familiar with the hierarchy and bureaucracy that comes with a hotel, LaBrooy says. That’s made for some interesting pre-opening challenges.

LaBrooy says the challenges mostly revolved around the day-to-day running of the restaurant but they’ve also had to make a few major changes, including the temporary scrapping of a rotisserie.

The restaurant’s menu features a bunch of favourites mixed with new dishes.

Breakfast ranges from a cheese omelette to more elaborate options such as hay-smoked salmon kedgeree with cucumber, coriander, toasted almonds, currants and pickled ginger.

The lunch and dinner menus are for the most part the same as in Sydney and Byron, except for the inclusion of a few more grill dishes for the daytime trade.

A Ducks Cheeseburger, for example. Dinner shifts the focus to woodfired dishes such as lamb shoulder with pea, zucchini, squash, red onion, mint and lemon dressing.

There are seven beer and cider taps featuring brews from nearby Green Beacon, Newstead Brewing and Ballistic. There’s also an extensive wine list, with a couple on tap.

The restaurant’s fit-out is a contemporary stunner with an understated colour scheme. Large ground-to-ceiling windows capitalise on the view over the river and flood the space with natural light.

LaBrooy and Reid-Boquist plan to stay behind for the first two months.

Then all the owners will rotate in-and-out to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Brisbane has really grown on all of us, LaBrooy says.

There’s a lot happening here and we want to be apart of it.


Tourism Observer

FRANCE: Air France And Qantas Re Establish Codeshare Agreement

Qantas and Air France have renewed its codesharing agreement on May 23, offering further connectivity between Europe and Australia via Asia.

Flights are available to book from June 5 for travel starting July 20, 2018.

Air France will add its flight codes to Qantas Flights between Hong Kong, and Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane as well as between Singapore (SIN) and Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth.

The French carrier’s customers will also be able to access codesharing services from Sydney to five cities across Australia’s domestic network: Canberra, Hobart, Adelaide, Cairns, and Darwin.

In return, Qantas will add its code to flights operated by Air France between Singapore, Hong Kong, and Paris-CDG, as a continuation of connections between Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth.

The new agreement will let the two carriers come together and codeshare onto as many as 200 flights per week.

Air France’s eligible customers can also use the Qantas lounged in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia.

Likewise, Qantas’ eligible customers are now able to use Air France lounges in Paris, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

We are very pleased to be re-establishing a partnership with Qantas, said Patrick Alexandre, EVP Commercial Sales, and Alliances at Air France-KLM.

Thanks to this agreement, the Air France-KLM group will be able to offer one of the best possible travel solutions for its customers from Europe to Australia, he added.

This new cooperation confirms our group’s desire to expand in the Asia-Pacific region, said Alexandre.

Alison Webster, CEO of Qantas, added that “this is great news for our customers who want to travel to Europe via Asia, giving them another option to get to Paris and more opportunities to earn Frequent Flyer Points.”

Despite the fact that Qantas and Air France are members of different alliances, the opportunity to earn miles on these codeshare flights is now possible.

The return of this popular codeshare delivers on our strategy of partnering to provide customers with access to an expanded network and more seamless travel experiences wherever they want to fly, Alison Webster says.

With the carrier recently expanding its presence out of London with direct flights to Perth on its brand-new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Europe is finally at direct reach for the Australian carrier.

Through this codeshare with Air France, Australian customers will now have a more seamless experience.


Tourism Observer

AUSTRALIA: Qantas Planes Narrowly Miss A Collision At Perth Airport

Two Qantas flights had a near-miss in Perth when one plane crossed a runway into the path of another jet commencing take-off.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the serious incident, which occurred on Saturday after a Qantas flight from Sydney landed, cutting across a departing plane.

The flights involved in the incident, which happened around 2.40pm, were QF 567 from Sydney to Perth, and QF 582 heading the other way.

Both aircraft were Boeing 737s.

The pilot of QF 567 had to brake hard as the other jet, travelling to Sydney, was forced to abort its take-off.

An initial ATSB report said the landed aircraft was supposed to stop short at a holding point before the runway, but the pilots kept going until air traffic controllers told them to brake immediately.

The close shave occurred in an area known as a runway incursion hotspot, the ATSB said.

As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the flight crews and controllers on duty in the Perth control tower, examine recorded data from both aircraft and radar, and review recorded communications between the flight crews and air traffic control.

Qantas said it will also review the incident, and it is assisting the ATSB with its investigation, with a final report expected in a year.


Tourism Observer

AUSTRALIA: Etihad Flight To Abu Dhabi Was Target Of Plane Terror Plot

Etihad Airways said Tuesday it was helping Australian police with their investigation into an alleged plot to bring down a plane, as authorities sifted through evidence from counter-terrorism raids.

Four men were arrested in Sydney on Saturday evening, with security tightened across all major Australian domestic and international airports as investigators search several homes across the city.

Local media on Monday reported that the men, who have not yet been charged, planned to use poisonous gas or a crude bomb disguised as a meat mincer, although details of the alleged plot have not been confirmed by police.

"The Etihad Airways aviation security team is assisting the Australian Federal Police with its investigation and the matter is ongoing," the Abu Dhabi-based carrier said in a statement.

"Etihad is complying fully with the enhanced security measures at airports in Australia and monitoring the situation closely. Safety is the airline's number one priority."

Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi, which could have carried up to 500 people, was the target.

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said on Sunday an improvised explosive device was involved.

Unidentified officials told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation the suspects reportedly Lebanese-Australian might have links to the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.

Justice Minister Michael Keenan told the national broadcaster he would not comment on the IS links, but stressed the significance of the attack if it had taken place.

What is very clear is that, if these allegations were to have gone ahead, it would have been just an enormously dreadful thing to have happened to our country, he said late Monday.

"It's clear that this has been inspired by radical Islamic ideology.

We're obviously looking at the links that they have to the organisation within the Middle East, but there's nothing further that I can say about that at this stage, he added.

Australia's national terror alert level was raised in September 2014 amid concerns over attacks by individuals inspired by organisations such as IS.

A total of 12 attacks, before the latest one, have been prevented in the past few years and 70 people have been charged.

Several terror attacks have taken place in Australia in recent years, including a Sydney cafe siege in 2014 which saw two hostages killed.



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UAE: Etihad Airways Introduces Changes to Ground And Inflight Services

In an effort to offer ground and inflight services of increased value and flexibility, Etihad Airways announced it is gradually proceeding with a series of changes, based on customer feedback.

According to an announcement, the airline’s complimentary chauffeur service is retained at Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi hub and has been replaced – as of July 3 – in all other cities with a paid option at specially negotiated rates.

The airline will also extend the paid airport transfer option to all guests across all cabins and allow Etihad Guest members to accrue miles on their chauffeur bookings.

The decision by Etihad Airways to change its offering has been taken to provide increased choice and to ensure fares remain as low and as competitive as possible, while retaining best-in-class service for all guests, in all cabins,” said Mohammad Al Bulooki, Etihad Airways Executive Vice President Commercial.

Guests travelling in “The Residence”, Etihad’s 3-room suite onboard the flagship Airbus A380 fleet, will continue to receive complimentary chauffeur services at all A380 destinations, specifically in Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Sydney and New York.

First and Business Class tickets issued prior to 3 July 2017 will not be affected by these changes and will receive complimentary chauffeur service across destinations where the service is currently offered.

Furthermore, guests travelling on Etihad Airways Business Class tickets can now pay and upgrade to the airline’s luxurious flagship First Class Lounge & Spa when flying from, or transiting through Abu Dhabi.

Paid Access to Lounges for Economy Class Passengers

Etihad Airways will also offer Economy Class guests paid access to its growing portfolio of dedicated lounges around the world, including its premium lounges in Abu Dhabi, London, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Washington D.C., New York JFK, Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles.

Moreover, the airline introduced an innovative new ‘Neighbour-Free Seat’ option in Economy Class, which provides guests with the opportunity to bid for up to three empty seats next to their original seat, thus enjoy more space, comfort and privacy, at an affordable price.


Tourism Observer
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AUSTRALIA: 40 Passengers Removed From Qantas Flight Because Plane Was Too Heavy To Fly

Up to 40 passengers on board a Perth-bound Qantas flight have been removed from the aircraft because it was reportedly too heavy to fly.

Passengers on board the Boeing 737-800 Sydney to Perth flight, according to Radio 6PR, had their names called out and were told to disembark the plane.

One passenger commented her row was empty by the time the plane took off.

A Qantas spokeswoman said an issue with the fuel pump had affected the plane’s load readings.

As a result, a number of customers were reaccommodated onto the next available service, which departed shortly after, she said.

Keeping the upheavals against various airlines companies worldwide, the Australian company, however, arranged for subsequent flights for the deplaned passengers.

Thanking everyone for their co-operation and support the spokesperson added, We sincerely thank our customers for their patience and understanding.

The flight which was scheduled to arrive in Perth at 7.40pm was delayed by over an hour, due to the “overload” problem.

To be fair, the airline, under Alan Joyce, has done a very good job of making the most of a difficult operating environment, and the shares are trading over five times higher than their 2014 lows. But that's recent history.

You see, there was a time, way back before the global financial crisis, when Qantas was the target of private equity interest.

Those whose memories are long enough (and not too scarred by the events of 2008 and 2009) might remember the name Airline Partners Australia.

The group offered $5.45 per Qantas share in December 2006, a bid strongly endorsed by Qantas' then-chairwoman Margaret Jackson.

She was howled down and derided by many of the business and investing community at that time, many of whom said the deal – despite being about 30 per cent more than the then-current share price – undervalued the airline.

History tells us that Jackson was dead right.

Despite trading at a premium to the bid price in the months after it was unveiled,in the vain hope that another takeover would come, it then slumped and hard.

Only now, in June 2017 – almost 11 years later – has the share price recovered to the same level as that bid.

That's some lost decade.

In hindsight, that's an easy call to make. But it was plainly obvious at the time, too. That $5.45 represented 21 times the airline's trailing profit of $0.26 per share – a lot for any company, but crazy for a capital-heavy airline in strongly and irrationally competitive market.

But it gets worse: in the following 11 years, the company earned $0.82 per share. No, not each year. No, not on average.

If we graciously exclude inflation, that $5.45 was 66 times the average profit over the next 11 years. And shareholders said no.

Of course, it's easy looking back. But even at the time, expecting that Qantas' future would be all roses, after decades of low profits and cut-throat competition was, as Yes, Minister's Sir Humphrey might have said, courageous.

The four most dangerous words in investing are 'this time it's different'.

Which leads us to another question. Given the historical parallel that the share price has now reached, what should we make of Qantas today?

Is it a new airline? Is it different this time? Well, as I mentioned above, Joyce has done a great job with Qantas.

This is an industry in which avoiding bankruptcy is no mean feat, let alone presiding over a share price that's almost at a 10-year high.

And Jetstar's existence, and relative success, does change the situation somewhat, allowing Qantas to compete with low-cost carriers.

Indeed, even Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has been buying airline shares since.
Foolish takeaway

We can't know the future. Maybe the skies ahead are indeed clear and free of turbulence for The Flying Kangaroo. But, as Sir John Templeton famously observed, the four most dangerous words in investing are, "This time it's different".

Airlines are notoriously cyclical businesses. And with Qantas' profits – and share price – near 10-year highs, the risks are clearly to the downside. I can't speak for what Jackson would do these days, with the share price around 2006 levels, but I'd suggest investors should take her advice from those days, and take the money. There are better opportunities out there.

AUSTRALIA: Regional Express Or Rex In Emergency Landing After Pilot Forced Engine To Shut Down

A regional Australian airline plane made an emergency landing this morning after the pilot was forced to shut down an engine, barely a week after a propeller fell off another aircraft mid-flight.

The Regional Express (Rex) plane carrying 23 passengers was heading to Sydney when a warning light came on in the cockpit, with the pilot managing to safely return to the town of Dubbo, the carrier said.

"We were about ten minutes out of Dubbo and all of a sudden there was this big loud noise and a shaking of the aeroplane," passenger Tim Evans said.

"I happened to be in a seat just next to the engine and I saw these flames came out of the engine.

"Then it did another big bang and a shake of the plane and all of these embers came out of the engine and I looked at the propeller and it was clear the engine had stopped."

It was the same Saab 340 model plane as involved in a near-disaster last Friday when a pilot shut down one of two engines after "abnormal indications" before the propeller sheared off.

Despite this, the flight landed safely in Sydney.

"It is not possible to tell at this stage whether the cause is from foreign object ingestion such as a bird or from engine failure," Rex said in a statement about the latest incident.

"It is also clear that this matter is unrelated to the incident regarding the propeller of flight ZL768 on March 17."

Following last week's scare, which is being investigated by transport authorities, Rex removed from service all planes using similar propeller gearboxes and shafts, accounting for six jets from its fleet of 55.

Regional Express is Australia's largest independent regional airline, operating 1,500 weekly flights to 58 destinations throughout the country.

CUBA: American Travellers Yearning To Visit Cuba

As 2016 brought an easing of travel restrictions between the US and Cuba, Havana has seen the highest year-over-year increase in online searches for 2017, according to one travel company.

The Cuban capital has seen a 191% increase in searches on Kayak, which has named it the top trending destination in the company’s 2017 Travel Hacker report.

The surge in interest is unsurprising, as US airlines have begun operating commercial flights into Cuba for the first time since the 1960s. As relations between the US and Cuba improve, travel for American citizens has become less restricted, and naturally, many Americans are eager to see the country for themselves.

The top 10 trending destinations around the world are: Havana, Cuba; Reykjavik, Iceland; Auckland, New Zealand; Bali, Indonesia; Tokyo, Japan; Cartagena, Colombia; Lisbon, Portugal; Medellin, Colombia; Calgary, Canada; and Sydney, Australia.

This is a change from last year, when six European cities featured in the top 10 trending destination, compared to two for 2017.

And while some destinations are more coveted than last year, the company also listed the destinations that are the most popular overall. Kayak’s list of most popular destinations looks at the most-searched destinations, according to more than 1 billion searches on the site.

The most popular locations will keep American travellers close to home, as the top 10 most searched cities are: Las Vegas, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, Denver, Miami, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington DC.

AUSTRALIA: AccorHotels Takes 15 Australian Hotels

AccorHotels has reached a new agreement for the restructuring of its Australian portfolio, which will include the acquisition of 15 ibis hotels in the country.

Under the terms of the deal with a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), the European hotel group’s real estate unit, HotelInvest, will acquire 15 ibis and ibis Budget properties comprising almost 1,600 rooms for a total of AU$200 million (US$145m). The agreement includes hotels in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne, as well as two airport hotels.

In addition, AccorHotels has agreed long-term management agreements for 16 of its Australian hotels. These include ibis, ibis Styles, Mercure, Novotel and Pullman properties with a combined inventory of more than 2,500 rooms. The new contracts will run for 50 years.

“This deal is in line with our stated strategy to optimise cash flow generation, reduce earnings volatility and restructure lease contracts into owned and managed hotels,” said John Ozinga, chief operating officer of HotelInvest. “The acquisition of the economy hotels in key locations is a signal of our continued focus on supporting the Group’s growth strategy by holding a selective portfolio of profitable hotel property assets.”

The agreement involves a portfolio which was purchased by the ADIA subsidiary in 2013.

QATAR: Qatar Airways Marks Seventh Anniversary In Melbourne, Australia,

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “As we continue to grow apace in Australia, we have seen a clear need to inject additional capacity on the Melbourne service. We are delighted to introduce our A380 aircraft to Melbourne after seven years of operation to the world’s most liveable city.

Qatar Airways has marked its seventh anniversary in Melbourne, Australia, by announcing plans to introduce its superjumbo A380 aircraft to Melburnians from 30 June 2017 in order to meet rising passenger demand.

The 517-seater A380 aircraft will increase Qatar Airways’ current daily capacity by 44 per cent on this route to meet the growing travel and trade demand, connecting Melbourne-based passengers and freight to more than 150 destinations globally.

Well-travelled Melburnians will find our seamless and quick connections via Doha’s Hamad International Airport a great and easy travel option. And our expansive European network provides plenty of homecoming options for one of Australia’s most culturally diverse cities, which is home to many families from European heritage including the United Kingdom, Italy and Greece.”

Melbourne is the original home for Qatar Airways in Australia, with the airline adding services to Perth, Sydney and Adelaide thereafter. The airline first started flying to Australia’s second largest city on 6 December 2009 with a 259-seater B777 aircraft. With the introduction of daily A380 services, capacity on the Melbourne route will have increased two-fold since 2009.

The A380 aircraft features a luxurious and exclusive First Class Cabin with ultra-wide seats, which recline into a flat bed, two-passenger table extension dining, and designer sleeper suits, flight slippers and amenities. Passengers travelling in Qatar Airways’ award-winning Business Class can also enjoy direct aisle access with the 1-2-1 seat configuration and a suite of entertainment options including on-board Wi-Fi, keeping them fully connected while up in the air.

In addition, passengers in First and Business Class can relax and socialise at the on-board lounge located on the upper deck of the superjumbo.

The 517-seat capacity is spread across twin decks in a tri-class configuration of eight seats in First Class, 48 seats in Business Class and 461 in Economy Class, featuring world class amenities and first rate services that set it apart from other aircraft.

Passengers travelling from Melbourne to London and Paris can enjoy the Qatar Airways A380 experience throughout their journey to these two European destinations.

Melbourne – Doha Daily Flight Schedule:
Doha (DOH) – Melbourne (MEL) QR904 Departs: 20:50 Arrives: 17:20 (+1)
Melbourne (MEL) – Doha (DOH) QR905 Departs: 22:05 Arrives: 05:25 (+1)

NEW ZEALAND: Airbnb In New Zealand

The number of Airbnb listings in New Zealand has doubled to more than 15,000 with hosts earning on average $3800 a year.

The home sharing company says that while this may not sound like a lot, the impact can often be "life changing."

It says they use this income to help pay off their mortgage, pay the bills and afford groceries.

Airbnb today revealed the average host age in New Zealand is 47 years old and almost half are over 50.

New Zealand hosts rented out their houses or rooms for an average of 26 to 27 nights a year. They were evenly split between entire houses and single rooms in a property.

There are around 4000 listings in Auckland and the most popular suburbs in Auckland are: Auckland Central, Grey Lynn, Ponsonby, Newmarket and Mount Eden.

The top five international markets Airbnb travellers to New Zealand originate from are Sydney, Melbourne, London, Singapore and Brisbane.

The top five destinations New Zealanders are travelling to on Airbnb are London, Melbourne, New York, Paris and Sydney.

Airbnb has listings in 191 countries and over 34,000 cities around the world and there are more than two million Airbnb listings worldwide.

Since the company was founded in 2008, there have been over 80 million guest arrivals at Airbnb listings worldwide.

Bloomberg reports Airbnb has secured a US$1 billion debt facility from some of the largest US banks to help grow even more.

The financing gives Airbnb more money to spend on global growth strategies and expansion beyond home-sharing. The San Francisco-based company is building add-on travel services

Overseas and in this country its running big advertising campaigns to recruit more hosts.

While Airbnb hasn't announced plans for an imminent initial public offering, investment banks often arrange debt facilities for successful private companies in hopes of building relationships to win future business like underwriting an IPO. Facebook got an US$8 billion package of financing from a group of banks in 2012, some of which helped take the social network operator public two months later.

Airbnb, last valued at US$25.5 billion, has watched Uber raise more than $11 billion in cash and debt. That number could climb by at least $1 billion when Uber, worth almost $68 billion, closes its latest debt financing.

The Airbnb data comes as the hotel industry says 2015 was an exceptional year for properties in New Zealand.

Tourism Industry Aotearoa's 140 member hotels which enjoyed an average 78.8 per cent occupancy in 2015, up 3.1 points on 2014, TIA Hotel Sector Manager Sally Attfield says.

This was the highest occupancy rate in five years.

The average daily rate (across all star grades) rose to $157, up $12 on the previous year, and also a five year high. This generated total revenue of $1.17 billion, up from $1.05 billion in 2014.

The strong performance is a result of improvements in the New Zealand economy and an increase in international visitor arrivals. New Zealand welcomed more than 3.1 million visitors in 2015 - 9.6 per cent more than in 2014.

SOUTH AFRICA: Emirates To Make More International Flights To Cape Town

Emirates Airline has announced a third daily flight between Cape Town and Dubai, starting July 4.

Flight EK778 departs Dubai at 10h50 and arrives in Cape Town at 18h30.

Flight EK779 departs Cape Town at 20h05 and arrives in Dubai at 07h30.

The airline now has connections to New York, London, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Rome, Sydney, Athens, Mumbai, Shanghai, Milan, Beijing, Munich, Hong Kong, Phuket, Bangkok, Singapore, Medina, Deli, Male and more.

AUSTRALIA: PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts

PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts is kick-starting the new year with a series of discounted packages sure to tempt MICE planners in 2016. Conferences booked at three of the top PARKROYAL venues, (PARKROYAL Parramatta, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney and PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport) will come with a reduced delegate rate including room hire and complimentary catering.

PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
To herald in the new year, PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney has an Executive Residential Meeting Package to give your Directors and Executives the royal VIP treatment at this award winning property.

Included in the Executive Package is a conference concierge, meeting room hire and set up, with each meeting room incorporating state-of-the-art technology including data projectors, screens, white boards, flip charts and high-speed WI-FI. All corporate events will enjoy a hands-on catering team, offering delegates tea and coffee on arrival, breakfast served in either the hotel’s exclusive Club Lounge or BARKERS Restaurant and a delectable 2 course dinner and complimentary drink at ABODE Bistro & Bar. Guests will also be granted exclusive access to the drinks and canapés in Club Lounge.

Additionally, the Executive Package grants delegates PARKROYAL Club Lounge Benefits which includes a priority check-in, an Executive breakfast 6.30am to 10.30am, Twilight Drinks and Canapés from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, access to Business facilities and concierge service, a daily laundry service, complimentary in-room Internet and a guaranteed late check-out of midday.

PARKROYAL Parramatta
The soon to be completely refurbished PARKROYAL Parramatta has on offer their new ‘EARLY BIRD’ deal for January 2016 only. A premier events space, PARKROYAL Parramatta boasts 13 modern and stylish hotel meeting rooms, each fully equipped with high-level technology including integrated sound systems, state-of-the-art screens and projectors, high-speed WI-FI access and the cutting-edge brand messaging tool, Event Backdrop, all within comfortable and contemporary surrounds.

Perfectly crafted catering packages are available to complement corporate functions as well as the option of a customised menu with the help of PARKROYAL Parramatta’s experienced culinary team. Offering ample parking facilities and ease of access to the area’s main retail, entertainment and business precinct, PARKROYAL Parramatta is an ideal venue for conferences and events of all kinds.

PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport
With the welcoming of a new season, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport, with its unrivalled location for business travellers, has on offer a Summer Day Delegate Package complete with a brand new menu.

Ideally connected to Tullamarine Airport through an aerobridge, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport’s sophisticated meeting rooms and professional facilities make it a premier corporate function venue in Melbourne. With over 1,000 square metres of dedicated events space spread across 16 modern and spacious meeting rooms, PARKROYAL Melbourne Airport can accommodate conferences and events of all kinds.

The new Summer Day Delegate Package offers complimentary main conference room hire from 8.00am to 5.00pm, incorporating state-of-the-art technology, on-site audio-visual support, a Business Centre secretary available to assist with all enquiries and unlimited access to Wi-Fi to ensure your guests stay connected. To complement any function, the Summer Day Delegate Package also includes a delectable catering offering of sparkling mineral water on arrival, morning tea accompanied by two gourmet food items, a fresh deli lunch consisting of a selection of sandwiches, wraps, salads and desserts and afternoon tea accompanied by two gourmet food items.

FIJI: Fiji Airways Outlines A330-300 Operation in 16Q1

Fiji Airways earlier this month has outlined planned Airbus A330-300 operation, as the aircraft scheduled to join the airline’s operation in 16Q1.

As of 15DEC15, planned A330-300 operation from January to March 2016 as follow.

Nadi – Auckland
06JAN16 – 14JAN16 Day x127
15JAN16

Nadi – Los Angeles
16JAN16 – 30JAN16 Day 6
02FEB16 – 08FEB16 Day 12
14FEB16 – 20FEB16 Day 67
27FEB16 – 19MAR16 Day 6
24MAR16 – 26MAR16 Day 46

Nadi – Sydney
16JAN16 – 30JAN16 Day 6
11FEB16

Configuration of the A330-300 is C24Y289.

ARGENTINA: Aerolineas Argentinas To Code Share On New Route From Buenos Aires To Auckland

The new service will operate three times a week into Ministro Pistarini International Airport in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires and will be flown on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft wth Business Premier beds and comfortable new Premium Economy seats.

Aerolineas Argentinas also offer codeshare flights on Air New Zealand's services from Auckland to Sydney and Melbourne.

We recommend the world to travel to Argentina, one of the hidden gems of world tourism and can be sure that a mutual love of rugby and the outdoors will mean more and more kiwis will travel to this amazing country.

Etihad Airways Opens New Premium Lounge

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways officially opened the airline’s First and Business Class Lounge at JFK International Airport. The new lounge is the second in the United States to join the airline’s collection of premium lounges offered worldwide for its guests.

Conveniently located close to the gate area after the security checkpoint in JFK’s International Terminal 4, the new lounge offers guests a unique travel environment reflecting twenty-first century Abu Dhabi modernism and embodies the highest levels of luxury and comfort for discerning travelers accustomed to world-class air travel experiences.

Mr. Hogan said, “The opening of Etihad Airways’ new First and Business Class Lounge at New York’s JFK International Airport reinforces our commitment to investing in the travel experience and providing our guests with the highest levels of comfort, luxury and world-class hospitality at every point in their travel journey – on the ground and in the air.”

The airline’s new JFK lounge – which enhances its global lounge facilities in Abu Dhabi, Frankfurt, London Heathrow, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Sydney and Washington, D.C. – is designed with the “Facets of Abu Dhabi” brand theme and exclusively offers guests of Etihad Airways a series of signature moments of discovery and relaxation throughout the space. The lounge is adorned with the brand’s geometric design concept and uses a color palette that reflects the varying hues of the landscape of the UAE, from the darker sands of Liwa to the lighter colors seen in the Northern Emirates, designed by Chicago-based architect firm Gensler and global brand consultants Landor Associates. The new JFK lounge opening expands upon the airline’s strategic lounge development plans.

Amenities in the JFK lounge include a sculptural showcase bar and lounge with an extensive and bespoke cocktail and mocktail offering developed in partnership with a leading London-based beverage consultancy, Fluid Movement – underpinning Etihad’s commitment to culinary innovation and world class food and beverage. In the lounge’s dining area, guests can select from a choice of a la carte and international buffet options.

The lounge is appointed in custom furnishings by Boss, offering a range of distinct seating styles throughout the extensive seating areas available within the lounge. Further features include luxurious restrooms with showers and changing rooms, dedicated male and female ablution and prayer rooms, a library and luggage storage.

Etihad Airways guests travelling in The Residence by Etihad™, First Apartments or Business Studios have access to the lounge pre-flight. A private lounge is accessible exclusively to guests travelling The Residence by Etihad™, complementing the private luxury offered with this service in-flight.

Etihad Airways’ A380 featuring The Residence by Etihad™, First Apartments, Business Studios and Economy Smart Seats commenced service between Abu Dhabi and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on November 23, 2015. The daily A380 service replaces a Boeing 777 and complements a second B777 daily flight between the two cities (operated by Etihad Airways on a Jet Airways-branded aircraft).

Etihad Airways commenced services to New York’s JFK Airport on October 26, 2006 and today offers twice daily non-stop flights to Abu Dhabi. Additionally in the United States, Etihad offers daily service between Abu Dhabi and Washington, D.C., Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as service three times a week to Dallas/Fort Worth.

AUSTRALIA: Limited Edition Gin On Qantas

Rockpool mixologists Ryan Gavin, Max Gurtler and Jacob Dykes, along with Four Pillars’ distiller Cameron Mackenzie handpicked the botanicals which include red and green Szechuan, quandong, macadamia nuts, fresh grapefruit peel, tangelos and Rosie Glow apples. Combined with the traditional Four Pillars botanicals, the result is an Asian-inspired, Modern Australian gin with softness and spice.

The ‘Modern Australian Gin’ will be poured in the Qantas First lounges in Sydney, Melbourne and Los Angeles, as well as the Hong Kong and Singapore lounges. The Rockpool Mixologists have designed three special cocktails, Hanky Panky, Gin Spritzer and The Doctors Order which will be featured in the Sydney and Melbourne First Lounge.

The gin will also be poured throughout Rockpool Group restaurants across Australia and will be available to purchase through Qantas epiQure, via the Four Pillars website and at the Four Pillars Distillery.

Cameron Mackenzie, Four Pillars Distiller said it was a great partnership that has resulted in an even greater product.

“As it says on the side of the bottle, when the opportunity arose to make a gin with the Rockpool Mixologists for Qantas, how could we say no? We’re really excited to extend our Bartender Series and welcome the newest member of the family; the Modern Australian Gin,” said Mackenzie.

“The gin itself is exceptional. The Asian spices give it a lovely warm mouthfeel, while the macadamia nuts give it softness and the apple and quandong give it freshness and a touch of the exotic. It’s delicious, it’s different and it will make a great drink, however you choose to enjoy it,” Mackenzie continued.

The limited edition drop is available to purchase for Qantas epiQure members for $80 at Qantas epiQure (www.qantasepiqure.com.au), or at the Four Pillars Distillery in Healesville or via the Four Pillars website (www.fourpillarsgin.com.au), for $85 from 3 December 2015.