Airlines
WestJet Reconnecting Canada
WestJet is back big time, restoring service and inaugurating new routes across the country. In Ontario, WestJet is further restoring Ontario's domestic and interprovincial connectivity with the restart of nine routes to and from destinations across Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador by June 30, 2021. And in the process, it will inaugurate two new routes from Toronto and Ottawa to Comox and Victoria. In British Columbia, the Calgary-based carrier is restarting eight routes to and from destinations...
An Ode To Canada From Air Canada
Set in some of this country’s most spectacular and iconic locations, Air Canada’s new on-board, pre-flight safety video is truly an ‘Ode to Canada.’ Coming to a seatback screen near you, the new video takes customers on a stunning journey across Canada while depicting in unexpected ways the safety features of each aircraft. Andrew Shibata, vice-president – brand for the carrier, said that: “Air Canada's new Ode to Canada safety video is a celebration of the best of Canada from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Including our own uniformed employees who are responsible for the...
Sunwing Revises Refund Policy
Sunwing is advising that it has reached a new agreement with the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC) to provide financing for customer refunds. Customers with non-refundable bookings whose vacations were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and who have received a future travel credit or opted to use their Worry-Free cancellation waiver and received travel vouchers, can now request a full refund to their original form of payment. The new policy applies to hotels, flights and vacation packages booked on or before June 25, 2021 for scheduled travel from Feb....
National Airlines Council of Canada: We Don’t Have A Plan, We Have A Puzzle
Following the federal government’s announcement that it was easing quarantine restrictions for Canadians and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated beginning July 5, the industry’s response has been pretty clear. The changes, while a small step, are disappointing because they don’t go far enough and fail to outline a clear and science-based plan. “It was a step forward but only in the context that aviation has been at Stage Zero on the recovery continuum since March of 2020, when all these measures went into effect in the initial stages of the pandemic,” says Mike...
PAL Signs Interline Deal With AC
PAL Airlines, which serves destinations in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, has just signed an interline agreement with Air Canada. The agreement allows passengers to make bookings through a single reservation and transfer between PAL Airlines flights and Air Canada service to domestic and transborder destinations and several destinations on Air Canada's international network. Passengers won’t have to reclaim luggage or complete a new checking process. Interline bookings are now available through bookings made in a GDS by travel advisors. Plans are in place to offer website...
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...