Airlines
Porter Lands In Charlottetown, Confirms Year-Round Service
Porter Airlines has launched flights between Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Charlottetown Airport (YYG) and has also confirmed plans to serve the route year-round. As Porter arrives in Prince Edward Island, the airline now flies to all Atlantic provinces for the first time, reinforcing a commitment to building its presence in Eastern Canada. Porter is the only airline offering year-round, daily non-stop service between Charlottetown and Ottawa. The direct service begins with 11 weekly flights, increasing to 14 weekly round trips during the summer peak season. As of Oct. 29,...
WestJet, Pilots Reach Tentative Deal, Strike Averted
Strike action by the 1,800 pilots at WestJet and Swoop has been averted after the WestJet Group and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) reached a tentative agreement on the second collective bargaining agreement between the organizations. The next step in the process will be a ratification vote by membership. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIyfFglqDPo Commenting on the tentative agreement, Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “The WestJet Group is pleased to have reached a tentative agreement that is industry-leading...
WestJet Group Begins ‘Taking Down’ Its Network As Pilots Strike Looms
WestJet Group has started ‘taking down’ its network as it prepares for labour action by WestJet and Swoop pilots. The company said that it is taking the action in order to ensure that the airline can avoid abandoning aircraft in remote locations without support and it enables the proactive communication with guests and crew to minimize the potential for being stranded. The decision to cancel flights comes as the WestJet Group remains in a stalemate with the union regarding unreasonable wage expectations that if realized would permanently damage the financial viability of the...
Booking Data Points To Strong Peak Season Travel
IATA is reporting ‘high levels of confidence’ among travellers for the peak Northern summer travel holiday season. This corresponds with first quarter 2023 forward bookings data for May-September which is tracking at 35% above 2022 levels. The survey covering 4,700 travellers in 11 countries shows that: 79% of travellers surveyed said that they were planning a trip in the June-August 2023 period While 85% said that peak travel season disruptions should not be a surprise, 80% said that they expected smooth travel with post pandemic issues having been resolved Forward...
Will They Or Won’t They?
Friday, May 19 could be a very bad day for travel advisors and their customers after the union representing WestJet’s and Swoop’s 1,700 pilots issued a 72-hour strike notice to WestJet management and the government and WestJet responded by issuing a lockout notice to the union. Bottomline here ... a work stoppage could occur as early as Fri., May 19, 2023, at 3 a.m. MT. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) – which represents WestJet and Swoop pilots – said that it could have filed the strike notice this past weekend, but agreed to extend negotiations in order to allow...
WestJet Adds Lift From Winnipeg
WestJet will launch nonstop transborder service between Winnipeg and Atlanta beginning Sept.6, 2023, operating five times weekly, on a year-round basis. The new route which will provide direct connectivity between Manitoba to the southeast United States and beyond while furthering the airline's commitment to boosting economic growth by significantly strengthening the province's air access. John Weatherill, WestJet, Executive Vice-President and Chief Commercial, said: “It is great to be back in Winnipeg, announcing a new, direct link between Winnipeg and Atlanta. Today's...
Lufthansa City Center Adds In Canada
Lufthansa City Center Canada Travel Office is the latest new franchise member of Lufthansa City Center, and has been operating in the market since 2002. The corporate focused agency belongs to Airnets International. The company has been active in Canada for the past 30 years. Airnets works with the largest networks/host agencies in Canada providing the highest level of technical service for more than 80 airline contracts. Furthermore, Airnets has been recognized by many airlines over the years as an elite agency in terms of sales volumes. Martina Groenegres, Managing Director of...
Exceeding Expectations
Air Canada has reported its first quarter results for 2023, which Michael Rousseau, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, describes as ‘impressive’ and a reflection of the ‘strength’ of the carrier’s brand. Highlights of the results include: Record first quarter passenger revenues of $4.088 billion, more than double the first quarter of 2022, on a 53 per cent increase in operated capacity Record first quarter operating revenues of $4.887 billion, 90 per cent higher than first quarter 2022 and about 10 per cent higher than first quarter 2019 ...