Airlines
WTM Advisor Calls For Decarbonizaiton Of Aviation Sector
WTM’s Responsible Tourism Advisor, Harold Goodwin is calling for “effective action” to decarbonize the aviation sector. Goodwin’s comments come as momentum builds towards the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26. The 26th edition of the conference will be held in Glasgow from Nov. 1 to Nov. 12, 2021 under the presidency of the UK. WTM London will be taking place at ExCel London during COP26 – Nov. 1 to Nov. 3 – and will have a day focused on the climate crisis. Goodwin says it is “Time for effective action at COP26” and he has...
UK Moves Cautiously To Reopen International Travel
In case you were wondering both Canada and the U.S. are on the Amber list of the United Kingdom’s new travel traffic light list as that country makes cautious moves towards reopening for international travel. The UK government in announcing the new system said that given that the virus is still spreading in many parts of the world, people should not be travelling to amber and red countries for leisure. And it said that 10-day managed hotel quarantine requirements will remain in place for those permitted to return to England from ‘red’ countries, and quarantine at home...
WTTC Welcomes UK Traffic Light System Launch
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has reacted to the UK’s launch of a traffic light system to restart international travel, with its president & CEO, Gloria Guevara observing: “We welcome this first initial step by the UK government to begin opening the door to international travel with the announcement of today’s ‘traffic light’ system.” “However,” Guevara continued: “airlines and the wider Travel & Tourism sector will be hugely disappointed that the U.S., which has a similar vaccination success rate has not been included on the ‘green list’...
Jane Clementino Joins DTW As Director Canada
Jane Clementino is joining Discover the World as its new Director Canada following the announcement that Joanne Lundy is retiring after 28 years in that role. Clementino is a well-recognized travel executive in Canada with 30 years of experience in aviation, corporate travel management, and retail travel. She has extensive knowledge of the travel marketplace, distribution channels, and supplier relations, combined with strategic insights and business development capabilities – which have produced a great track record of revenue and brand growth. As for Lundy, during her tenure...
The Key To The Revival
If there is a key to reviving international travel, then that key is vaccinations according to new research from ForwardKeys. It notes that two destinations, Greece, and Iceland -- which have announced that they will welcome vaccinated visitors this summer -- have seen inbound flight bookings pick up dramatically from the moment of their announcements. And three origin markets, Israel, the US and the UK -- where vaccination campaigns are particularly well advanced -- have seen outbound flight bookings climb more steeply than elsewhere. ForwardKeys points out that Greece -- whose...
IATA Reports Upsurge In March Demand
IATA reports that passenger traffic fell in March 2021 compared to pre-COVID levels (March 2019) but rose compared to the immediate month prior (February 2021). The industry association points out 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 March 2019, which followed a normal demand pattern. Total demand for air travel in March 2021 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) was down 67.2% compared to March 2019. That was an improvement over the 74.9%...
Air Canada By The Numbers
In releasing the details of Air Canada’s first quarter 2021 financial results, the carrier’s president and CEO, Michael Rousseau said that: “The persistence of COVID-19 and its resurgence in Canada are weighing heavily on the Canadian airline industry, as reflected in Air Canada's first quarter results. Still, through the hard work and dedication of our employees, we are operating a limited schedule for necessary travel and to ship essential cargo. I thank our employees for their professionalism and assure them, as well as our investors and all stakeholders, that better times lie...
No Plan, No Recovery
ACTA is warning that unless there is a plan for the recovery of this country’s travel and tourism industry, Canada will be left behind. The industry association has been outspoken in urging the federal government to develop a recovery plan, outlining what needs to be part of that plan in its 2021 Travel & Tourism Recovery Plan. And it also pointed out that while the travel industry is putting health and safety measures in place, it needs the government to work with industry on rapid testing, contact tracing, vaccine documentation and protocols -- in order to ease travel...