Big Fat Airline Wrap

It’s Tuesday, which means two things here at Travel Weekly. The first is that it’s airline wrap day, and the second is that we’ve forgotten our lunch for the second day in a row.

Vietnam Airlines turns over AU$82.4 million profit in the first six months of 2018

Vietnam Airlines has today announced a profit rise of 87 per cent in half-year on year results compared to the same period last year, pocketing AU$82.4 million since January 2018. The airline maintained its remarkable performance due to increased operational flexibility in the transportation of passengers and cargo.

In the first six months of 2018, Vietnam Airlines operated 72,800 flights with a high on time performance of 90 per cent; and transported 13.7 million passengers – an increase of four per cent compared to the same period last year. Cargo transported reached 167,000 tons, up 8.5 per cent over the same period, and close to 100 per cent of the planned targets for both the international and domestic markets.

Vietnam Airlines’ total consolidated revenue was estimated at AU$2.1 billion (VND 49.8 trillion) while the parent company’s revenue was estimated at AU$1.6 billion (VND 36.3 trillion). The Group’s pre-tax consolidated profit reached AU$57.8 million, more than double the planned figure.

Emirates introduces new range of toys on board bringing back customer favourites

Emirates has introduced new toys from the Emirates Fly with Me collection and Lonely Planet Kids activity bags for children travelling in all classes. The new range of toys feature Lewis the Lion, Peek U the Panda, Ernie the Penguin and Savanna the Elephant, voted as the four favourite characters by customers and fans in a social media competition held last year. The new collection will be on board all flights and across all classes from this month.

The brand new product range includes a vibrating plush for infants up to 2 years old, and a travel case sketcher which includes puzzles, games and stickers for children aged three to six years old. On long haul flights, infants will be given a dual purpose plush toy with a printed activity blanket while older kids will receive a plush backpack with activity kits.

Parents travelling with infants are not forgotten either, receiving an amenity kit with all the essentials for travelling with a baby, including a bib, spoon, baby wipes, changing mat, diaper rash cream and a small diaper bag.

Fast growing Xiamen Airlines uses SITA technology to set competitive fares

Xiamen Airlines, which is experiencing major growth across its domestic and international network, is using sophisticated software from SITA to set its fares competitively in all markets. The airline, which handled 32.7 million passengers in 2017, is highly profitable. It has achieved profits 31 years in a row and is now using SITA Airfare Insight to optimize its fares-related decision making.

More than 180 million fares are published worldwide at any one time, and typically full-service airlines will update fares throughout their distribution network of GDSs, travel agencies and websites, several times a day.  By using SITA’s Airfare Insight Xiamen Airlines can stay ahead of the competition. It can set its fares based on a clear view of what its competitors are doing in markets across the world.

Airfare Insight automatically identifies the relevant fare changes in the marketplace. It then immediately ensures appropriate prices are in place to support the airline’s overall commercial strategy.

Tiger air announces return of the “Pay to Go, Come Back for $1′ sale, featuring over 10,000 seats to 14 destinations

Tiger air Australia is offering Australians the opportunity to snap up a bargain over the next 48 hours with the return of its ‘Pay to Go, Come Back for $1’ sale.

Over 10,000 $1 fares are available across Tigerair Australia’s 21 domestic routes for travel between mid-February and mid-April 2019. To bag a bargain, simply purchase a fare to your destination of choice and get in quick to secure a $1 return flight.

The ‘Pay to Go, Come Back for $1’ sale commences at midday AEST today and runs until midday AEST Wednesday 22 August (or until seats sell out).Tigerair Australia also accepts ZIP so you can fly now and pay later.