Airlines
KLM Committed To Sustainability
KLM is taking off with a new sustainable travel branding campaign, unveiled in a new commercial on Dutch television. The campaign is also being rolled out worldwide and will run until Jan. 9, 2022. In it, KLM makes clear that it is committed to sustainability and understands the urgency of this issue for its customers and the aviation industry. Earlier this year, KLM launched its “Ready when you are” branding campaign and with the new initiative the carrier said that it is the right time for it to look ahead and draw attention to its commitment to sustainability and its...
Government Says Now Is Not The Time To Travel
The Canadian government has reinstated its advisory against non-essential travel, with Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos telling Canadians that “if you were planning to travel, now is not the time.” Duclos, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland; Inter-governmental affairs minister, Dominic LeBlanc; and Transport Minister, Omar Alghabra, made the announcement of the ramped up travel restrictions. The Health Minister emphasized that the developing epidemiological situation with Omicron and the variant’s ability to spread rapidly, raised concerns...
We’ve Been Here Before
It appears that the federal government will reinstate the non-essential travel advisory – which was only recently lifted in October of this year -- as well as new and stricter testing measures. The moves – reported by multiple media sources – come following a meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the first ministers of the provinces and territories. During that meeting, a range of options for travel restrictions were discussed, including everything from banning non-essential foreign travellers, ramped up testing and more as the federal, provincial and territorial...
United, Virgin Australia Launch New Partnership
United and Virgin Australia Group have launched a new partnership designed to enhance the travel experience between Australia and the Americas. The partnership will add more benefits for both MileagePlus and Velocity Frequent Flyer members as well as access to more one-stop connections to cities across the United States, Australia, Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. The agreement, which is subject to government approval, is set to roll out starting in early 2022. United CEO Scott Kirby said: “The United States and Australia share a special bond and I'm...
Swoop Adds Toronto Lift
Swoop has launched three new flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport with the departure of new non-stop service to Los Cabos, Mexico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; and Kingston, Jamaica. Bert van der Stege, Head of Commercial and Finance, Swoop, said: “The launch of these three new routes demonstrates that Swoop's accessible and affordable fares have caught on in Toronto and highlights the demand we are seeing for ultra-low fare travel across Canada. We know Canadians are long overdue for a warm vacation or reunion with family and friends and while government-imposed...
Air Canada Connects Loved Ones This Holiday Season
With the holiday season upon us, Air Canada is embracing its magic, as for the first time in two years, Canadians will have a chance to escape the feeling that they’ve been living in a bubble. And in a new video, Air Canada tells the story of two people who are separated by their glass snow globe. The video marks a return to storytelling for Air Canada, as it finds ways to emotionally connect its brand to Canadians who haven't been able to travel in nearly two years. This year's spot is a mix of live action and animation, a first for Air Canada. With enchanting Canadian...
Testing, Testing, Testing
With over 100 bookings set to depart over the next month, Caitlin Lajeunesse felt a jolt of panic and fear when the news of testing requirements for all arriving air passengers outside of the US came out. “I was worried this news would bring a wave of cancellations, again,” the owner of Vacations by Caitlin with Independent by Flight Centre told Travel Courier. “As the days have passed, and after a meeting with my MP to get some further details and clarification, I feel confident that travel will remain as planned.” Lajeunesse says the measures are not meant to deter travel,...
Instant Amnesia Leads To Knee-Jerk Restrictions
IATA is calling on governments to follow the advice of the World Health Organization (WHO) and rescind travel bans that were introduced as a response to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus immediately. The global airline industry association notes that public health organizations, including the WHO, have advised against travel curbs to contain the spread of Omicron. In fact, the WHO advice for international traffic in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, is that: “Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread, and they place a heavy burden on lives and...