Airlines
Saint Lucia Says Welcome Back To Canadians
Saint Lucia is welcoming Canadian visitors back this fall with Air Canada Vacations starting on Nov. 7, 2020. The first flight back to Saint Lucia will depart from Toronto after nearly eight months of no air service as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Air Canada will resume its direct nonstop service from Toronto (YYZ) to Saint Lucia (UVF) operating on a once a week frequency every Saturday, then increasing to (3) weekly flights starting in December 2020. Saint Lucia officially opened its borders to international travellers on June 4, 2020 as part of Phase One of the...
Air Canada Welcomes New Rapid Testing Initiative
Not surprisingly, Air Canada is welcoming yesterday’s joint announcement by Alberta and the federal government that they were teaming up on a joint initiative for a pilot project to test international and transborder travellers arriving in Alberta for COVID-19. As the industry is well aware, Air Canada has been a leader, as well as a strong advocate, for the use of rapid testing to protect customers and employees. Earlier this year, the carrier partnered with McMaster HealthLabs (MHL) and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority for a study on testing that continues to yield results...
WestJet To Begin Providing Refunds Starting Nov. 2
The WestJet Group of Companies said it will begin providing refunds to original form of payment for those guests with flights cancelled by WestJet and Swoop, from any time period, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Beginning Mon., Nov. 2, 2020, WestJet will systematically contact eligible guests, beginning with those with flights cancelled at the onset of the pandemic. The refund process is expected to take six to nine months to work through eligible requests. Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO, said: “We are an airline that has built its reputation on putting people first....
Air Canada Using Jetz Fleet On Select Winter Routes
Air Canada is making its fleet of all-Business Class, Jetz charter aircraft available to customers for commercial flights as it redeploys the fleet on popular winter routes. Each of the airline’s four Airbus A319 Jetz aircraft are configured with only 58 North American Business Class seats -- less than half the normal number of seats on this aircraft type -- providing an elevated level of comfort and service. Mark Galardo, vice president of network planning and alliances at Air Canada, said: “Air Canada is very pleased to offer its customers a unique opportunity to travel...
Copa Is Back At Pearson
After seven months of not operating regularly, due to travel restrictions imposed by governments in the region as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Copa Airlines will resume operations from Toronto, Pearson International Airport and the Hub of the Americas in Panama. Initially, Copa will operate up to three weekly flights connecting from Pearson International Airport to Panama City, Republic of Panama; Santiago, Chile; Montevideo, Uruguay; Brasilia, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Bogota, Colombia; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Guayaquil and Quito, Ecuador; Buenos Aires,...
ATPCO: Delivering End-To-End Solutions In A Time Of Crisis
Chris Phillips doesn’t hedge, telling Canadian Travel Press this week that “this is by far the worst crisis we have had to face, and its uncertainty, randomness and market volatility is a massive challenge.” However, in the first of a two-part piece, the head of global sales and accounts for the Airline Tariff Publishing Company (or ATPCO) points out that initiatives are already in place to help the industry and “we aren’t stopping here and will continue to strive for more innovation to help our airline and industry partners in the coming months and into 2021.” For over...
BoC Could Hold Rate Until At Least 2023
According to half of the economists (47% or 7 out of 15) on Finder’s BoC Interest Rate Forecast panel, the Bank of Canada could hold the interest rate until at least 2023. A third of the panel expect the rate to hold until some point in 2023 while an additional 13% say it will hold beyond then; with Scotiabank deputy chief economist, Brett House believing the rate will remain unchanged until at least the end of 2023. Said House: “We forecast that the Bank of Canada will keep the overnight rate target on hold until the second half of 2023 owing to the magnitude of the output gap,...
Update On Lanmei From AirlinePros
AirlinePros Canada Inc. reports that Lanmei Airlines of Cambodia (IATA: LQ/961) is now an active member of BSP Canada. Lanmei has opted for mass e-plating (general concurrence) so that all fully IATA registered travel organizations in Canada may start issuing tickets on LQ e-stock. LQ can be booked in all major GDS systems, such as Amadeus, Sabre and Apollo. At this time LQ will be progressively introducing credit card acceptance(VI/MC/DC) forms of payment for use in GDS. That is in addition to standard “cash” transactions. Agents may claim 3% commission POS on LQ operated...