Airlines
Air Canada Earns Top Marks For Health, Safety
Air Canada has been certified as a global champion for its commitment to the health and safety of customers and employees, receiving Diamond certification from the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying. This recognizes the numerous initiatives Air Canada has taken since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Air Canada CleanCare+ program, a suite of biosafety measures the airline continues to refine and enhance with best practices from around the world. Air Canada is one of the first airlines in the world, and the only airline in Canada, to receive the Diamond...
TAP Offers More Miles For Travel
Members of TAP Air Portugal’s loyalty program, TAP Miles&Go, now have new benefits to enjoy with Miles4Extras, using their mileage points to purchase seat upgrades, extra baggage or sports equipment, access to lounges, or FastTrack services among other benefits. And even customers who travel less frequently, or who have not yet accumulated enough miles to be able to book trips with miles, now can choose benefits tailored to their miles when travelling. New benefits include seat upgrades starting from just 1,500 miles, the speed of FastTrack for 2,900 miles; entry to TAP’s...
AC Implements Capacity and Workforce Reductions
Air Canada is reducing its first quarter system capacity by an additional 25% as it adjusts its network under its COVID-19 Mitigation and Recovery Plan. The system-wide changes, will result in a workforce reduction of approximately 1,700 employees, in addition to the over 200 impacted employees at its Express carriers. The carrier said that it is working with its unions on mitigation programs. Lucie Guillemette, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Air Canada, said that: “Since the implementation by the Federal and Provincial Governments of these increased...
CDC Expands Testing To All Arriving Air Passengers
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has expanded its requirement for a negative COVID-19 test to include all air passengers entering the United States. The CDC notes that testing before and after travel is a critical layer to slow the introduction and spread of COVID-19, continuing that this strategy is consistent with the current phase of the pandemic and more efficiently protects the health of Americans. As a result, before departure to the United States, a required test, combined with the CDC recommendations to get tested again 3-5 days after arrival and stay home for...
Zoghlin Takes Over At ATPCO
Alex Zoghlin has begun his new role as President and CEO at ATPCO following a two-month, in-depth handover with the executive team. His strategic focus over the next year is accelerating the 56-year-old organization’s ongoing transformation, with an emphasis on making it easier for the airline industry to work with ATPCO in its capacity as a standards body and technology provider, with the intent to dramatically reduce the complexity, cost, friction, and barriers to entry for new and existing customers. Zoghlin will also explore opportunities to help airlines increase their...
Transat Clarifies Proposal Situation
Citing recent media and analyst reports that state that on Dec. 22, 2020, Pierre Karl Péladeau made a proposal to acquire the shares of Transat A.T. Inc. ("Transat" or the "Corporation") that would remain open for a period of 24 hours in the event of a rejection of the arrangement with Air Canada by regulatory authorities, Transat is clarifying the situation for shareholders and other stakeholders. Transat says that these reports may mislead some investors into believing that there is an offer from Pierre Karl Péladeau's investment firm, Gestion MTRHP Inc. ("MTRHP"), at $6.00 per...
NACC Welcomes Minister, Reminds Of Critical Role
The National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) welcomed Omar Alghabra as Canada’s new minister of transport, reminding him that it was a critical time for this country’s airline industry. In a statement, NACC president Mike McNaney said: “We want to welcome Minister Alghabra to his new portfolio as he assumes the role at a critical time for our industry. Decisions made by the federal government in the coming weeks and months will directly and forcefully impact the future of Canadian aviation, the future of our employees, and the future of the communities we serve.” McNaney...
Alghabra Named New Transport Minister
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau unveiled a cabinet shuffle today that included a new Minister of Transport and he also confirmed that the Canada-US border would remain closed for non-essential travel until Feb. 21. The cabinet shuffle came following the announcement by Navdeep Bains -- the now outgoing Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry -- that he would not be running in the next election. Mississauga Centre MP Omar Alghabra is moving into the Cabinet to take over the Transport portfolio. Marc Garneau moves from Transport to Foreign Affairs, while François-Philippe...