Airlines
IATA Partners With Unilabs
IATA and Unilabs have signed a deal that will incorporate Unilabs’ worldwide COVID-19 testing network into IATA Travel Pass. The agreement will make Unilabs one of the first major lab groups to be integrated into IATA’s Travel Pass app. Proof of a negative Covid-19 test is required by many governments as a condition of entry, and the app makes the process seamless, secure, and easy. Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, pointed out that: “COVID-19 testing will play a role in re-starting international travel. Travellers will need to understand test requirements, locate labs,...
Government Restrictions Continue To Dampen Demand
IATA is projecting net airline industry losses of $47.7 billion in 2021 (net profit margin of -10.4%); which is an improvement on the estimated net industry loss of $126.4 billion in 2020 (net profit margin of -33.9%). Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General, said that: “This crisis is longer and deeper than anyone could have expected. Losses will be reduced from 2020, but the pain of the crisis increases. There is optimism in domestic markets where aviation’s hallmark resilience is demonstrated by rebounds in markets without internal travel restrictions.” But Walsh points...
JetBlue Landing In Vancouver In 2022
JetBlue is coming to Canada for the first time ever, beginning in the summer of 2022. Scott Laurence, head of revenue and planning, JetBlue, said: “Almost since day one, both our customers and crew members have been asking us to add flights to the middle of the country and into Canada.” Laurence continued: “We can’t wait to shake up the status quo in these markets currently dominated by high-fare carriers, and we look forward to introducing new customers to JetBlue favourites like live seat-back TV, free Wi-Fi, the most legroom in coach and great service from our friendly...
GBTA Supports 2021 Budget
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) said that it supports this week’s federal budget that directs over $800 million to increase safety and improve facilitation for all travellers coming to Canada, or travelling within, for business or leisure as part of its plan for a post-pandemic recovery. The GBTA said that this confirms that the federal government recognizes the critical role that air travel plays in facilitating trade and commerce, not only between countries but between Canadians from coast to coast. Nancy Tudorache, Regional Vice President Canada of the GBTA, said...
Sunwing Set To Take Off From Thunder Bay
For the 16th consecutive year, Sunwing will be back offering vacation packages to Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic from Thunder Bay in 2021. Flights begin in December 2021 and will run weekly until the middle of April 2022. Andrew Dawson, president of tour operations for Sunwing, said: “Supporting regional airports and providing Canadians across the country with more convenient ways to head to the tropics has always been important to us here at Sunwing.” Dawson continued: “Our seasonal flight service from Thunder Bay has been consistently popular over the years and...
Budget 2021: Industry Welcomes Support But More Will Be Needed
For the travel trade, let’s call the first federal budget in two years a further reprieve. The industry asked for the extension of a number of key support programs like the wage and rent subsidy and the lockdown support programs and all of them are being extended until Sept. 25, 2021. However, the budget papers state that the government will “gradually decrease the subsidy rate, beginning July 4, 2021, in order to ensure an orderly phase-out of the program as vaccinations are completed and the economy reopens.” Not surprisingly, ACTA’s initial response indicated that it...
NACC: Budget Takes Positive Steps, But Work Remains
While the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) welcomed measures supporting aviation and the travel and tourism sector in today’s federal budget, it also cautioned that much work still remains to address the devastating impact of COVID-19. Mike McNaney, president and CEO of the NACC, said: “As the government has repeatedly stated, a healthy aviation sector is critical to our economy and our overall recovery from the pandemic.” He pointed out: “Today’s Budget has taken steps to assist the sector during the immediate crisis. But more work is required, in particular the...
Air Canada, ACV Brief Trade On Refunds, Commissions
Following the news that a long awaited deal between Air Canada and the Canadian government had been reached, the airline and Air Canada Vacations executives held a virtual travel trade town hall yesterday (April 13). Lucie Guillemette, Air Canada’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer — and the newly announced President of Air Canada Vacations — kicked off the meeting outlining several key takeaways for travel advisors. Notably, the scope of refunds also applies to customers who voluntarily chose to cancel non refundable tickets, not just flights cancelled by Air...