Airlines
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...
Air Canada Suspends St. Vincent Flights
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourist office is advising that following new restrictions on Canadian travellers that impacted on demand, Air Canada has decided to cancel flight operations to several routes including St Vincent and the Grenadines from Jan. 23 for this current 2021 winter season. This is a temporary measure until April 11, when we hope the environment will be more conducive to traveling. St. Vincent and the Grenadines notes that its tourism office staff in Canada is working remotely as mandated by the Canadian government, but can be reached by telephone at (416)...
A Crisis In Canadian Aviation
In a no-punches pulled statement, Mike McNaney, President and CEO of the National Airlines Council of Canada (NACC) said that today’s (Jan. 13, 2021) announcement by Air Canada of further service cuts and layoffs – which came hard on the heels of WestJet’s announcement last week that it was reducing service and employment levels due to the pandemic – “captures the stark reality that we are losing connectivity and service to communities across Canada at a rate that threatens to unwind billions of dollars in investment made over the past ten years, investment that has supported...