Airlines
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As the federal government considers potential new measures to reduce air travel, the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) and unions representing over 325,000 Canadian workers are urging it to consult with them before it enacts any new measures. Airline passenger traffic has dropped precipitously since the onset of the pandemic. As of November 2020, international arrivals had dropped a staggering 93%. With already dramatically reduced passenger traffic, Canada’s airlines have attempted to continue essential operations with unpredictable to non-existent revenues. Tens of...
WestJet Celebrates Return Of The 737 MAX
WestJet began reactivating its B737 MAX aircraft Thursday, demonstrating its confidence in the safety of planes that it and other carriers grounded over safety concerns in 2019 by having two, senior airline executives on board its first flight since idling the planes nearly two years ago. A first B737 MAX flight flew from Calgary to Vancouver, while a second reversed the route. The first flight carried 71 passengers, among them Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO, and Chris Burley, board chair of the airline. An airline clearly eager to demonstrate its confidence in an aircraft that...
Transat Web Page Features Hotel Partner Test Info
In an effort to help travellers comply with the new government measure requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to travel to Canada, some of Transat's hotel partners are now offering COVID-19 testing services on-site or at an external clinic. To simplify the process for travel agents and their clients, Transat has compiled a list of these hotels on its website along with details relating to the testing service (price, appointment scheduling, processing time, etc.). Furthermore, a clearly marked logo has been added to each resort’s information page. For any...
ATPCO Buys SITA’s Airfare Insight
ATPCO has purchased SITA’s fare management system, Airfare Insight (AFI). The deal enables product consolidation with the integration of AFI into Architect, ATPCO’s new pricing tool. Both companies have committed to supporting airlines during the migration period, which will see SITA customers adopting Architect. The deal was struck after both companies jointly reviewed their respective offerings and future development programs and agreed, given the challenges airlines are facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the right time to optimize industry investments and consolidate...
IATA Urges Support For Digital Vaccination Certificate
IATA is urging the European Union to support an initiative from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to agree to a common digital European COVID-19 vaccination certificate that would enable those who are vaccinated to travel freely within Europe without COVID-19 testing. In an open letter to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and copied to key policy-makers across the EU, IATA Director General and CEO Alexandre de Juniac called on EU States to coordinate a policy that would see Europe safely gain the economic and social benefits of renewed freedom of...
Quebec Premier Calls For Non-Essential Travel Ban
Quebec Premier François Legault is calling on the federal government to ban non-essential international travel. The Premier indicated that he wants to avoid reliving the situation linked to the March 2020 March break, which could have disastrous consequences for the provinces health system. While Premier Legault said that it's understandable that some people have to travel for humanitarian reasons, he also made it clear that there is no reason to buy all-inclusive packages in the South as new, more contagious strains of coronavirus emerge. pretty much everywhere in the...
Martin Retiring From WestJet
Captain Jeff Martin, executive vice-president and chief operating officer for WestJet is retiring effective Feb.26, 2021. Martin will be returning to the U.S. to be with his family. Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO, said: “We are very grateful for all that Jeff has done for our airline in his two and a half years including the successful launch of our Dreamliners, industry-leading on-time performance, the creation of a world-class Operations Control Centre and harmonious labour relations.” Martin reflected that: “After more than 31 years in the industry, Feb....
AC Resuming Boeing 737 MAX Operations On Feb. 1
Air Canada has confirmed that following Transport Canada’s (TC) Airworthiness Directive and January 20, 2021 lifting of the existing Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) for the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, the aircraft ungrounding by regulatory bodies worldwide, along with its own independent assessments of the aircraft and operating procedures by its specialized safety and flight operations experts, it will be resuming Boeing 737 MAX commercial operations on Feb. 1, 2021. Captain Murray Strom, vice president, flight operations at Air Canada, said that: “We are very confident the nearly two-year...