Airlines
Europe’s Summer Travel Season Sees Mixed Results
In new research, ForwardKeys reports that international flights to European destinations in July and August reached 39.9% of pre-pandemic levels; which is significantly better than last year (which was 26.6%), when the COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread lockdowns; and vaccines were not yet approved. However, ForwardKeys notes that the picture was very mixed, with some destinations doing considerably better than others; adding that the outlook is not improving, as bookings slowed towards the end of the summer period. Looking at performance by country, Greece was the stand-out. It...
Flash: Air Transat Launches Fall Seat Sale
Air Transat has launched what it’s calling its 10,000 Seats Under $299 flash sale and it’s inviting Canadian travellers to book their fall travels to the South or Florida, or within Canada. The promotion is valid for new individual bookings made between Sept. 3 and Sept. 13, 2021 for flights departing from Montreal, Quebec City or Toronto for travel between Sept. 20 and Dec. 16, 2021, to the South (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, St Maarten), Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando) and within Canada (Calgary, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto,...
Tough Winter In The Forecast For European Airlines
According to GlobalData, European airlines can expect to face a tough winter as a result of the ongoing pandemic and the fact that travel confidence is likely to remain supressed. However, the data and analytics company says that low fares will be key to stimulating demand as travel restrictions are likely to continue. Gus Gardner, associate travel and tourism analyst at GlobalData, observes that: “With revenue still suppressed, airlines will have a tough winter ahead. During what is traditionally the offseason in Europe, the pandemic is likely to make operating conditions...
Air Canada Resuming Service From Toronto Island
Air Canada will resume service to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Toronto Island beginning Sept. 8, 2021 with five daily return flights to Montreal. Mark Galardo, senior vice president, network planning and revenue management at Air Canada, said: “We are pleased to restart our operations at Billy Bishop airport and offer our customers the choice to fly in and out of Toronto Island, which is popular among business travellers for its proximity to the city centre and its ability to connect travellers to our global network through Montreal.” Galardo continued: “Our schedule...
Sunwing Makes Vaccinations Mandatory For All Employees
Sunwing will be requiring all new and existing employees across all Canadian divisions to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The new policy aligns with the Canadian government’s recent announcement that it intends to require vaccination across all federally regulated industries later this fall. Employees will have until Sept. 13, 2021 to provide proof of their full vaccination status or their intention to vaccinate. For employees who are not yet vaccinated and plan to get vaccinated, they will also be required to provide proof of their full vaccination status no later than...
Border Measures Continue To Drag On Air Demand
IATA reports that both international and domestic travel demand showed significant momentum in July 2021 compared to June, but demand remained far below pre-pandemic levels. With the airline industry association indicating that extensive government-imposed travel restrictions continue to delay recovery in international markets. In reporting the results, IATA said that because comparisons between 2021 and 2020 monthly results are distorted by the extraordinary impact of COVID-19, unless otherwise noted all comparisons are to July 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern. ...
SAA Takes Off Sept. 23
South African Airways (SAA) is set to resume operations beginning Sept. 23, 2021, with tickets going on sale today (Aug. 26). Voyager bookings and Travel Credit Voucher redemption will be available from Sept. 6. Interim CEO Thomas Kgokolo said: “After months of diligent work, we are delighted that SAA is resuming service and we look forward to welcoming on board our loyal passengers and flying the South African flag. We continue to be a safe carrier and adhering to COVID-19 protocols.” Initially, SAA will operate flights from Johannesburg to Cape Town, Accra, Kinshasa,...
Porter Updates Dash 8-400 Fleet, Prepares To Take Flight
As it prepares for its return to flying on Sept. 8, Porter Airlines reports that it has completed the modernization of its De Havilland Dash 8-400 aircraft fleet with a series of updates. Now all 29 aircraft feature the new TiSeat E2 from Expliseat, along with a number of other cabin enhancements. The new seats use a combination of composite and titanium materials, making them approximately 50% lighter than the previous seats and reducing aircraft weight by approximately 1,000 lbs. This reduces approximate annual fuel consumption by 500,000 litres and corresponding CO2 emissions by...