Travel Updates

Avoid Melbourne business travel on Nov 18/19 (Australian Business and IT Expo on November )

November 18, 2011 to November 19, 2011

Unless you’re attending the Australian Business and IT Expo on November 18 and 19, BCD Travel’s Melbourne business travel office advises against corporate travel around these dates.

Thousands of people are expected to attend the event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Southbank.

Major conventions often result

Latest Spate of Customs Strikes to Hit Airports Tomorrow

As part of the ongoing dispute between the Government and the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), customs officers are preparing to strike tomorrow Thursday 27 October. Strikes in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are planned to run for 24 hours from midnight, with smaller strikes in the other capital cities.

International travellers should expect major delays tomorrow, especially at airports on the Eastern

What iOS 5 Means for Business Travellers

Apple has just released it’s latest the latest iteration of their mobile phone software, iOS 5. The upgrade brings a number of features which will be great for business travellers on the road. We’ve put together a list of some of the main ones, Australian Business Traveller has a few more.

Customs Staff Likely to Strike Thursday

Tomorrow may see more strike action from airport customs staff frustrated at federal government intervention in pay negotiations. Staff are fighting for a 13% pay raise over 3 years.

Negotiations continue today but strikes are likely to cause nationwide minor delays to international services tomorrow.

BCD Travel Australia will provide further traveller updates tomorrow.

More information about the strikes

Revealing the New Business Traveller

Technology has fundamentally changed the premise of modern business travel. Video conferencing technology such as Skype has meant that connecting with people across the world is easier than ever, so why is travelling still important? Six Pixels of Separation has an fantastic write-up on why business travel is still important, and how to make the most of

It’s Here! ANA’s Boeing 787 Dreamliner Delivered

It’s the newest passenger plane from Boeing, and it’s certainly something. Japanese airline ANA has taken delivery of the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner yesterday complete with a huge celebration. Stylish inside and out, the new aircraft certainly deserved the fuss.

Jaunted.com has photos and some information on the new plane. They make a note of the:

LED

Telstra Launches 4G Wireless Network Across Australia

In a leap forward for business travellers wanting to connect to the internet on the move, Telstra has finally opened up it’s 4G network to the general public. The new network is available in capital cities and select regional areas, and offers speed 2 – 3 times faster than the existing 3G network. Australian Business Traveller has

Transport Workers Union to target busy weekend

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) is targeting Qantas passengers on one of the busiest weekends of the year by instructing 3,800 baggage handlers, ground staff, and other Qantas employees to go on strike for one hour on Friday 30 September.

If it proceeds, the strike is expected to disrupt the travel plans of thousands of people including football fans travelling

QANTAS PREPARING FOR UNION STRIKE TUESDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER

Qantas is readying contingency plans after 3,800 baggage handlers, ground staff and other employees announced a four hour walkout next week.

The national strike by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) during next Tuesday’s morning peak — 5am to 9am — would be accompanied by running work bans that could affect flights for up to two days, Qantas said.

“Our priority

Avoid Perth for business travel in late October

Corporate travellers heading to Perth in the last week of October should book their flights and accommodation as soon as possible, as they will be competing with thousands of visitors attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Scheduled for October 28 to 30, visitors will no doubt arrive early in the week for what will