AUSTRALIA’S consumer watchdog has granted Virgin Australia preliminary permission to sign a codeshare pricing arrangement with United Airlines (TD breaking news).

Following hot on the heels of a strategic partnership formed with Qatar Airlines earlier this week (TD 11 May), the proposed agreement will see Virgin Australia able to put their code on passenger flight services operated by UA, with the terms of deal to allow United Airlines to set the fare prices for VA to sell, regardless of whether they are sold as a standalone itinerary or as part of an itinerary that includes flight segments operated by Virgin Australia.

Despite Qantas recently raising concerns over VA’s ACCC application to allow it to directly promote fares offered by a proposed network of international Partner Carriers, the ACCC Commissioner Stephen Ridgeway said its draft decision to approve the tie-up was based on the belief it would be in the best interests of travellers and local airline competition.

“The ACCC’s preliminary view is that this proposed codeshare arrangement with United Airlines is likely to result in a public benefit as it will help Virgin Australia re-establish its international network,” he said

“Currently, it appears that VA is unlikely to be able to operate its own long-haul international services in the short term.

“These arrangements are not likely to lessen competition as there is no operational overlap on any routes between Virgin Australia and United Airlines and there are other airlines operating on the routes,” Ridgeway added.

The ACCC is now seeking feedback on Virgin Australia’s full codeshare application.

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FIJI Airways Managing Director & CEO Andre Viljoen has announced his airline’s plans to resume twice weekly direct services to Adelaide commencing on 04 Jul.

After three years of no flights between Adelaide and Nadi, FJ’s fourth Australian destination will join Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, Viljoen revealed to the Fijian Tourism Expo (FTE) opening ceremony last night.

“We’re delighted to relaunch our fourth Australian route [operating Mon and Thu], which will allow us once again to bring our unique Fijian hospitality to South Australia, as well as offer local residents the opportunity to use Fiji as a gateway to other int’l destinations,” he said.

Viljoen also announced the commencement of a flash sale, which kicked off last night, which will see return Economy airfares starting from FJD$899 per person, and return Business from FJD$2,399 per person.

Wearing his other hat as Tourism Fiji Chair, Viljoen said at the country’s current stage of recovery, the most important quality is being open for business, as the next six months of business approach pre-COVID levels.

“We are so proud to see Fiji’s tourism readiness, becoming as world renowned as the country itself,” he said.

“The measures we’ve taken to reopen Fiji’s borders have sent us ahead of dozens of competing destinations.

“Across the tourism industry in Fiji, we are flying out the gates of recovery more committed, more competitive, more service-obsessed, and also more mindful than ever before of tourism’s importance to our country.”

Viljoen was joined on stage by President of Fiji Wiliame Katonivere and Minister for Tourism Faiyaz Koya to welcome delegates to the first in-person FTE in two years – more info Fiji’s recovery on page six.

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AIRBNB has announced what it claims to be the “biggest change” to its business model in a decade, revealing expanded protections for guests, as well as new categories and split stay options.

Labelling it “the most comprehensive protection in travel”, Airbnb’s new AirCover guarantee means its customers are now always protected across four key areas of their stay.

This includes booking protection that offers a refund or alternative accommodation in the event a host cancels a booking within 30 days of check-in, as well as the same pledge if a traveller is unable to check-in due to an issue the host cannot resolve.

Further consumer protections come in the form of the “Get-What-You-Booked Guarantee”, which offers guests who think the accommodation they booked hasn’t lived up to advertised expectations with either alternative lodging or a full refund, while AirCover also provides safety protection for guests via access to trained safety agents, day or night.

“AirCover has been designed directly into the Airbnb app and website, making it easy for you to contact an agent and resolve issues quickly,” Airbnb said.

Meanwhile the accommodation platform has also confirmed guests can now split their trips between two homes, with the Split Stays feature automatically appearing in searches across 14 categories, enabling longer trips.

Airbnb has also expanded its categories search function using machine learning tech to offer 56 segments that organise homes based on their style, location, or proximity to a travel activity.

Airbnb Categories organises homes by uniqueness, which helps people discover places they wouldn’t have otherwise found.

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IN welcome news for the business events industry, New Zealand will open its borders to international visa holders from 1 Aug, NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Arden recently announced (TD breaking news yesterday).

Chief Executive of Business Events Industry Aotearoa (BEIA), Lisa Hopkins said, “New Zealand is really starting to gear up for the future and the announcements today help support this.”

Hopkins believes the news will position New Zealand as a conference, meeting, or incentive destination choice for international event organisers.

“We will have the infrastructure, the talent and the connections, which will make the decision easy to win international conference and incentive travel business.

“The opening of New Zealand’s maritime border will have a positive impact for business events too. Cruise ships, particularly luxury ships, do provide options for the incentive market, but also reinvigorate ports of call with the injection of people and activity.”

According to Hopkins, the “last piece in the puzzle” will be the removal of pre-departure testing, slated for 31 Jul, which has been highly anticipated by customers.

“Today’s announcement is the result of mahi (work) undertaken by many across the events, tourism, cruise, and hospitality sectors with support from Minister Stuart Nash. It is a good news day,” Hopkins concluded.

Pictured: Business visitors meeting at Boomrock, Auckland.

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INTREPID Travel has announced a $7.85 million investment in off-grid accommodation developer CABN, which currently offers 11 “cosy-minimalist escapes” across Australia.

CABN’s self-contained, eco-friendly tiny houses are built offsite from predominantly locally sourced and sustainable materials, and once completed are transferred to private land in partnerships with farmers or other landholders.

The Intrepid investment will accelerate CABN’s plans to deliver over 70 properties by 2023, with the deal feeding into an “increase in the vertical integration of Intrepid’s businesses,” according to CEO James Thornton.

Future plans will see CABN included as featured accommodation in a number of Intrepid trips, with Thornton saying “CABN’s offering and business model aligns perfectly with our move into the accommodation vertical, and is a natural fit within our vision to grow as a purpose-led adventure travel company”.

CABN, which claims a 90% occupancy rate for its existing locations, will continue to be run by founder Michael Lamprell.

Intrepid’s push into the accommodation sector also includes last year’s partnership with Drifter Hospitality Group to acquire and rebrand “sustainable owner-operated premium hybrid hotels (TD 25 Oct 2021).

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