Airlines
FLYGTA Signs Strategic Deal With SITA
FLYGTA has signed a strategic service agreement with SITA that will provide it with the technology needed to expand sales and distribution at a global scale. Chris Nowrouzi, CEO FLYGTA, said that: “This agreement with SITA will enable our strategic expansion into a market segment which has traditionally been inaccessible in the Global Distribution Systems, which will allow our international partnerships, and their distribution capabilities to thrive.” Nowrouzi continued: “It's a milestone that will bridge a major gap between the commercial and private aviation sectors,...
Sunwing Adding New Lift From Toronto and Montreal
Sunwing will be resuming partial service to select sun destinations from Toronto Pearson International Airport and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport starting on July 30, 2021 following the news that the Canadian government will begin easing border restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers effective July 5, 2021 Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations for Sunwing, said that: “After a difficult year, we’re excited that Sunwing Airlines will be returning to the skies with initial service from two of our busiest gateways.” Dawson continued: “With vaccines rolling...
Swoop Marks Three With Hamilton-Kelowna Link
Swoop Airlines marked its third anniversary by linking Hamilton with the sunny interior B.C. destination of Kelowna -- a route the airline expects will quickly gain a following as Canadians opt to vacation at home as the coronavirus pandemic continues to complicate international travel. Bert van der Stege, Swoop's head of commercial and finance, told a June 18 webinar that the airline – which launched the Kelowna-Hamilton service on June 20 – expects the new route to quickly become its most-popular route during a time “of great opportunities to explore the country.” The...
JNTO, Air Canada Webinar Prize Winners Announced
Last Thursday, Air Canada and the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) jointly hosted a webinar for all interested travel professionals. We had travel agents and consultants from all across Canada in attendance. Acting as MC for the webinar was Mark Hashimoto, Specialty Sales Manager for Asia with Air Canada, and we also saw presentations from Maria Liu on behalf of Air Canada and Priscilla Portsmouth on behalf of JNTO. The webinar also featured some very inspiring content presented by Chef Masaki Hashimoto in the form of a riveting video presentation on Japanese culinary...
Tourism Roundtable Says Canadians Expected More
Canadians expected more. That’s the takeaway from the federal government’s decision to lift some quarantine restrictions for Canadians and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated, starting July 5 according to the Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable (The Roundtable). While acknowledging that the move is an improvement on the current restrictive measures, the Roundtable said that the changes represent a small first step and what Canada urgently needs is a proper plan and a policy on travel that is based on science, is in line with what other countries are doing, and one...
Air Canada Adds Montreal To Cairo Service
Air Canada has added non-stop service between Montreal and Cairo to serve the large Egyptian community established in Montreal and throughout North America, and providing an additional gateway to Africa. Mark Galardo, Senior Vice President, Network Planning and Revenue Management, said: “Air Canada is pleased to offer its first scheduled flights to Egypt. We are strategically rebuilding our international network by adding new routes that support leisure and visiting friends and family travel. With few non-stop options to Egypt from North America, we see opportunities to launch new...
No More Bits And Pieces
A step in the right direction, but still ‘far short’ of the recommendations of Health Canada’s Expert Advisory Panel report that was released at the end of May. That's the message from the National Airlines Council of Canada. In taking note of the federal government's announcement that as of July 5, fully vaccinated Canadians and permanent residents will be exempt from hotel quarantine and mandatory 14-day quarantine, NACC repeated its plea that Canada desperately needs a clear and comprehensive re-start plan for international travel, and an end to one-off piecemeal announcements...
Welcome To The First Phase
The federal government has rolled out details of the first phase of its approach to easing border measures for travellers entering Canada. Beginning July 5, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, fully vaccinated travellers who are permitted to enter Canada -- which includes Canadian citizens, permanent residents and persons registered under the Indian Act; and to foreign nationals eligible to enter Canada as outlined in the current travel restrictions -- will not be subject to the federal requirement to quarantine or take a COVID-19 test on day-8. In addition, fully vaccinated travellers...