ROAD WARRIOR:The business of travelling for work
Wifi is becoming more available on international carriers, but at a cost. Airlines are charging anything from $5-$30 (€4-23) per session. Two airlines operating out of Ireland are providing free wifi for passengers: Norwegian and SAS.
Norwegian, the low-cost carrier, has flights from Dublin to Oslo and Copenhagen, and wifi will be available on its whole fleet by the end of the year. SAS, with substantial routes to the Scandinavian countries and onwards, is rolling out wifi across the fleet. Some services from Ireland already have free access.
ITM’s new name
The Institute of Travel and Meetings, formerly the Institute of Travel Management, (ITM) has reformed in Ireland under the chairmanship of Olive Kavanagh, global travel category manager with Microsoft. The ITM was established in the UK in 1956 and is the leading body for buyers and suppliers of business travel, and helps companies to establish best practice in business travel management.
The ITM will be organising a series of workshops and events, and new members are welcome to join by contacting Kavanagh on OliveK@microsoft.com and (086) 8134030.
Get bonus miles
The autumn travel season begins with a chance to earn extra points and miles when flying with Virgin Atlantic and Emirates. VS will be giving up to 150 per cent bonus miles and up to 12 bonus tier points when you fly between now and February 28, 2013. Register for this offer with Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club. You can double your miles with Emirates Skywards club on 20 routes to the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Economy passengers can earn 50 per cent bonus miles and first and business class can double the miles on flights to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Lagos, among the 20 routes. Book by November 30th for travel by the end of that month.
Qantas says G’day to BA after 17 years
Qantas announced last week that it will be ending the 17-year revenue sharing partnership with British Airways next March and entering into a code sharing agreement with Emirates. The main intercontinental hub for Qantas will move from Singapore to Dubai.
Recently Qantas reported its first loss in 17 years and it has embarked on a stringent cost-cutting programme.
Orders for 35 new Boeing 787 Dreamliners have been cancelled. Traffic to Australia has become dominated by carriers from the Middle East in recent years and the new relationship is expected to help Qantas to strip out some of its costs.
Widen the net
Networking is one of the keys to business success especially in China and Hong Kong. Considerable business networking opportunities are the prizes, along with tickets and entry to the Diamond and Gold membership of the Marco Polo Club, in the Cathay Pacific China Business Awards 2012. The awards recognise the dynamism of Irish and British companies doing business in China and Hong Kong, entry closes on October 31st. See details about how to enter on
CathayPacific.co.uk/awards.