Airlines
WestJet Consolidating 15% Of January Flights
“Over the past 72 hours, we have seen a significant increase in delays and cancellations impacting our business. As we work to stabilize our operation to best serve our guests, we understand this has been immensely challenging and frustrating and for that we apologize,” writes Harry Taylor, Interim President and CEO, WestJet Group, Inc. in a message to customers and the travel trade. Taylor continues: “We could not have anticipated the rapid and unpredictable impact of the Omicron variant on our people and operations, coupled with prolonged frigid temperatures across Western...
Canada Jetlines Gets First A320-200
Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. has taken delivery of its first A320-200 aircraft from Jackson Square Aviation. With a projected growth of 15 aircrafts by 2025, Canada Jetlines aims to offer the best-in-class operating economics, efficient aircraft design, and accessible flight options without sacrificing quality or convenience. The newly established all-Canadian carrier will provide convenient air travel options offering more value and travel choices than competitors to coveted sun-destinations, with launch slated for Spring of 2022. Brad Warren, VP Maintenance Operations for...
AC’s Judy Cameron Named To Order Of Canada
Air Canada’s Captan Judy Cameron has been named to the Order of Canada. Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer and Public Affairs, said of the announcement: “On behalf of everyone at Air Canada, we salute and applaud Judy on receiving Canada's highest honour that recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation, and enriching the lives of others while making a difference to this country. Judy has been a trailblazer throughout her entire career, and she continues to be a tremendous ambassador,...
Swoop Takes Off To Palm Springs, Orlando
Swoop has launched non-stop service to Palm Springs and Orlando from Edmonton International Airport. The airline's twice weekly non-stop service to Palm Springs operates on Mondays and Thursdays, while flights between Edmonton and Orlando (Sanford) will operate weekly on Fridays. In light of the Level 3 travel advisory being re-issued by the Government of Canada, Swoop, as part of the WestJet Group, is advocating for the preservation of the measures in place for fully-vaccinated international air travel. Swoop president, Charles Duncan noted that: “Since the onset of the...
Transat Offers Update On Changes, Cancellations
In a message to travel advisors, Transat says that “unfortunately travel demand has slowed since the recent government advisory to Canadians to avoid non-essential international travel.” And it continues that: “Since then, we have offered those booked to travel Dec. 16, 2021 to Jan. 12, 2022, the opportunity to change their travel dates or to cancel and receive a travel credit. To make changes, agents must call our Contact Centre, there will be no change fee, but any fare difference will apply. Requests for cancellation must be submitted using our online cancellation...
Forecast 2022
2021 had all the hallmarks of becoming a successful year, but unfortunately for a number of reasons, it didn’t quite achieve its potential, writes Eric Barber, vice president, national sales, Realstar Hospitality, in the latest issue of Canadian Travel Press. At one point, Barber observes: “A week ago, I would have painted a very optimistic picture of 2022 for our industry. A week is a long time in the travel business these days, and unfortunately any optimism I had is now gone.” Barber joins Collette’s Brett Walker; Flight Centre Travel Group’s Chris Lynes;...
SAA Clarifies Ticket Refund Policy
South African Airways (SAA) has informed travel advisors in the U.S. and Canada that the airline is continuing to process ticket refunds through the Refund Accounting Department in their North America Regional Office for customers whose flights were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To make the process more efficient, travel advisors have been asked to forward any refund requests for wholly unused or partially used tickets issued in the U.S. via email to: [email protected] or [email protected] for review or processing. For SAA tickets issued in Canada or Mexico, the...
St. Kitts Welcomes Return Of Air Canada
Air Canada returned to St. Kitts recently, marking the first time the airline has visited the destination in over a year. The arrival of the full flight of vaccinated visitors was another welcome boost for tourism adding to the twin-island Federations' record cruise tourism, which has seen a steady stream of ship arrivals including a record 21 ships visiting across the island's four ports in recent weeks. Earlier this month, St. Kitts announced that fully vaccinated international travellers (age 12 and older) arriving into the Federation are no longer required to test...