Airlines
Turkish Airlines expands its Canadian network
Turkish Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its Canadian operations starting in July 2026. Türkiye’s flag carrier will add additional frequencies on its routes connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) to Istanbul Airport (IST), offering Canadian travellers more options than ever to reach Türkiye and beyond through its unparalleled network. With the new schedule additions, Turkish Airlines will offer 7 weekly flights from Toronto (YYZ), 4 weekly flights from...
Air Transat adds new Montreal-Istanbul non-stop
Air Transat is launching a new non-stop route between Montreal (YUL) and Istanbul (IST) that begins Oct. 29, 2026. Operated year-round on an Airbus A330, the service will run twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sebastian Ponce, Chief Revenue Officer at Transat, said that: “Expanding our program from our hometown is great news for Quebecers and the local business community.” And Ponce continued: “Through our partnership with Turkish Airlines, Istanbul becomes much more than a destination, it’s a gateway to one of the most diverse global networks, spanning the Middle...
“You are important to us:” WestJet celebrates advisors at second annual Agency Summit
Over the past 30 years, WestJet has grown significantly from three aircraft and five destinations to expanding into transatlantic routes and adding service to the likes Cardiff and São Paulo, as well as incorporating Dreamliners into its fleet. While a lot has changed, Andrei Losinski, Account Manager, Agency Sales, told a packed room yesterday at its second annual Agency Summit in Toronto that one thing that hasn’t changed is its focus on people, including travel advisors. “We’re flying from Tokyo to Calgary. We’ve come a long way and a lot has changed, but while a lot...
Middle East War leads to 3.4% drop in April air passenger demand
New data released by IATA indicates that the war in the Middle East has caused a 3.4% drop in global passenger demand in April 2026. IATA’s data shows that: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), was down -3.4% compared to April 2025. Excluding the Middle East, demand increased by 1.2%. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometres (ASK), decreased -2.9% year-on-year. The load factor was 83.1% (-0.4 ppt compared to April 2025). International demand fell -5.3% compared to April 2025. Excluding Middle East, demand grew by 1.9%. Capacity was down...
WestJet Airlines President Diederik Pen announces plans to retire
WestJet has announced the planned retirement of WestJet Group Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of WestJet Airlines Diederik Pen. Timing is dependent on onboarding his successor, but is anticipated for the first quarter of 2027, at the latest. Until then, he will stay fully in charge of overseeing the airline and leading operations teams. A global search for his successor is underway and Pen is actively involved in the search process and will be supporting a seamless transition. Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group CEO,...
WestJet takes off with ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ powered by HTS
HTS' (Hopper Technology Solutions) Cancel For Any Reason ancillary product, is now available on WestJet.com and the WestJet app. Cancel For Any Reason allows guests to instantly cancel their flight up to 24 hours before departure and receive a refund percentage of their trip cost back to their original form of payment, no questions asked. Upon booking with WestJet, guests may opt in for either an 80 or 100 per cent refund directly in the WestJet booking flow, allowing for seamless flexibility. Jorge Rozo, WestJet Deputy Chief Commercial Officer and Senior Vice-President, Revenue...
Air Canada Foundation makes an impact
The Air Canada Foundation has released its 2025 Impact Report, outlining the meaningful difference it made in communities across Canada through its charitable partnerships, fundraising initiatives and the engagement of Air Canada employees nationwide. Through its programs and collaborations with Canadian-registered charities, the Foundation remains committed to improving the health and well-being of children and youth. Its work is guided by three core pillars: Health, supporting pediatric hospitals and community organizations to improve health outcomes; Protection, addressing...
Air Transat expands service to France from Quebec City
Air Transat, has launched new routes connecting Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport to two major French cities: Marseille and Nantes. These exclusive additions enhance its transatlantic offering from Quebec City and reflect Air Transat’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the French market. The Quebec City (YQB) – Marseille (MRS) route was inaugurated on May 21 and will operate once weekly, on Thursdays, until Oct. 9, 2026. Meanwhile, service between Quebec City (YQB) and Nantes (NTE) will begin on June 2, with one weekly flight every Tuesday through Oct. 20,...