Airlines
IATA Welcomes EASA Mask Mandate Recommendation
IATA is welcoming new guidance from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) removing its recommendation that masks should be required in-flight. EASA’s updated Aviation Health Safety Protocol, published 11 May, calls for the mandatory mask rule to be relaxed where rules have been relaxed for other transport modes. This important shift reflects the high levels of vaccination, natural immunity levels, and the removal of domestic restrictions in many European nations. The updated guidance also acknowledges the need to move from an emergency situation to a more sustainable mode of...
Avery Re-Joins WS As VP, Commercial Strategy
WestJet has announced that former WestJetter, Chris Avery will rejoin the carrier as its Vice-President, Commercial Strategy. The appointment is effective immediately. John Weatherill, WestJet Executive Vice-President, Commercial, said: “Chris' knowledge and experience will be critical as we continue to drive growth and accelerate recovery. We are thrilled to welcome Chris back to the WestJet team as travel demand ramps up and we focus on our long-term commercial strategy.” Avery returns to WestJet following five years with Canadian North where he served as President and CEO...
Air North Takes Off From Toronto
Air North has broadened its presence in the South by providing a direct link between this country's largest city and the capitals of both the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. The Whitehorse-based carrier Tuesday launched a twice-weekly Whitehorse-Yellowknife-Toronto route, with the Ontario capital joining a network that also includes Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa. The route was praised by visiting Yukon officials at a reception at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. "I'm absolutely thrilled to be here today...for Air North's inaugural...
Sabre Maps The New Normal Of Travel
In a new study – “Mapping Travel’s New Normal” -- Sabre Corporation identified prominent shifts in travel. The wide-ranging study highlights the different areas of focus for airlines and agencies as both sectors seek to capture opportunities for recovery and for future growth. Commissioned by Sabre and carried out by Munich-based management consultancy Dr. Fried & Partners, the study involved both quantitative and qualitative research with 500+ decision-makers from airlines and travel agencies. Respondents were surveyed in eight languages across 20 countries in EMEA,...
ACTA Says Airport, Passport Delays Need To Be Addressed
With Canadian travellers experiencing significant delays at airport security and customs & immigration check points and long wait times for Canadians renewing passports in-person, ACTA is calling on the government to urgently address the situation. The association notes in a statement that these delays are caused by several factors, including labour shortages and increased administrative burdens due to legacy COVID-19 policies, as well as absenteeism. Wendy Paradis, president of ACTA, said: “Canada’s travel industry, including travel agencies and independent travel agents,...
Swoop Takes Off To Kelowna
Swoop has launched new daily, non-stop, flights between Kelowna and Edmonton. Bert van der Stege, Head of Commercial and Finance, Swoop, said: “We're pleased to be adding new flights between Edmonton and Kelowna, providing more ultra-low-cost connectivity for the Okanagan region. With summer fast approaching, we're seeing record demand for domestic travel, and we're proud to meet that demand by introducing more convenient and affordable air travel options." Swoop introduced service between Kelowna and Winnipeg in May 2019 and it has now restarted service between these two...
WestJet Takes Off For The Eternal City
WestJet has launched service to Rome from Calgary, marking the first-ever scheduled connection between Calgary and Rome. Angela Avery, WestJet, Executive Vice-President, External Affairs, said that: “The launch of our highly-anticipated Calgary-Rome service is an incredible milestone for both WestJet and our guests, as we've been looking forward to this moment, for more than two years.” Avery continued: “With its rich history and culture, it is no surprise that our guests are eager to visit Rome. We are thrilled to provide Western Canadians with increased connectivity...
Air Transat Launches Montreal-Amsterdam Route
Air Transat has launched direct service between Montreal and Amsterdam that will operate until mid-October with three flights per week at the height of the season: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. With this service, the airline is responding to the significant demand from travellers who want to discover Europe this summer and strengthening its fast-growing transatlantic operations. Joseph Adamo, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Transat, said: “We are very excited to provide our customers with easy access to another jewel of European culture. Amsterdam joins 18 other...