Airlines
A Celebration To Remember
Air France celebrated the 70th anniversary of its Canadian operations, inviting its partners, suppliers, employees, members of its sales network and its customers to join it for a virtual event to mark the occasion. The carrier’s presence in Canada dates back to Oct. 2, 1950, when an Air France Lockheed Constellation 749 touched down at Dorval airport after stopovers in Shannon and Gander. The first outbound Montreal-Paris flight departed on Oct. 5. Air France KLM Canada’s vice-president and general manager, Catherine Guillemart-Dias was centre stage for the event, talking with...
Air Canada’s Rovinescu Retiring In Early 2021
After leading the company for 12 years, Air Canada’s president and CEO, Calin Rovinescu will be retiring on Feb. 15, 2021, following the completion of the company’s current fiscal year. , its President and Chief Executive Officer, will retire on February 15, 2021. Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, Michael Rousseau will succeed him upon his retirement. On the announcement of his retirement, Rovinescu said: “I have enjoyed a unique and very special relationship with Air Canada and our outstanding people for over three decades, on the front lines of many of the company's...
Air Canada Reopens Calgary Maple Leaf Lounge
Air Canada has re-opened its Maple Leaf Lounge at YYC Calgary International Airport with leading biosafety measures featuring enhanced new protocols for the well-being of customers and employees. With the aim to support local business, the Maple Leaf Lounge is open daily to eligible customers travelling on domestic flights, spotlights Calgary- and Canadian-based products. Andrew Yiu, vice president, product, at Air Canada, said: “We are pleased to again welcome eligible customers to our Maple Leaf Lounge at YYC Calgary International Airport. We have extended our industry-leading...
ACI, IATA Call For Urgent Industry-Wide Support
Airports Council International (ACI) World and IATA reinforced the urgent call for governments to use testing as a means to safely re-open borders and re-establish global connectivity and to prevent the systemic collapse of the aviation industry with non-debt generating financial support. The dual measures would protect countries from the importation of COVID-19 cases, avert an employment crisis in the travel and tourism sector, and ensure that the critical aviation structure remains viable and able to support the economic and social benefits on which the world relies. The Air...
A Difficult Decision
WestJet has announced that it will be indefinitely suspending operations to Moncton, Fredericton, Sydney and Charlottetown while significantly reducing service to Halifax and St. John's. The suspension eliminates more than 100 flights weekly or almost 80% of seat capacity from the Atlantic region starting Nov. 2, 2020. Ed Sims, WestJet president and CEO, explained: “It has become unviable to serve these markets and these decisions were regrettably inevitable as demand is being obliterated by the Atlantic bubble and third-party fee increases.” And Sims continued: “Since the...
Porter Extends Suspension To Dec. 15
Porter Airlines is extending its temporary service suspension to Dec. 15, based on continuing travel restrictions associated with COVID-19. Michael Deluce, president and CEO, Porter Airlines, said: “The flare up of COVID-19 cases in certain markets during the last month dampened any expectation of changes to government restrictions that will enable us to begin flying again in November.” Deluce continued: “The federal government is indicating that they need more confidence about what course the pandemic will take before restrictions are reconsidered. We hope that lifting of...
A Celebration For The Industry
No one will argue with the assertion that the travel industry in Canada needs a reason to celebrate. Certainly, no on here at Baxter Media will argue with that. So, while a global pandemic may have prevented an in-person, hugs and cheek-kissing gala, it didn’t prevent Baxter Media from taking the high-tech route and hosting the 2020 Agents’ Choice Awards Virtual Gala – a first for the industry – to celebrate the favourites in the 21st edition of the annual Agents’ Choice Awards Readership Survey. And by all accounts, it was a great way to pay tribute to those in the travel...
Change Of Plans
Air Canada has concluded an amended transaction with Transat A.T. Inc. that provides for Air Canada to acquire all the issued and outstanding shares of Transat and for its combination with Air Canada. Under the binding agreement, unanimously approved by the Board of Directors of Transat, Air Canada will acquire all shares of Transat for $5.00 per share, payable at the option of Transat shareholders in cash or shares of Air Canada at a fixed exchange ratio of 0.2862 Air Canada share for each Transat share (representing a price for the Air Canada shares of $17.47). The value of the...