Airlines
Loyalty Is A Two-Way Street
Air Canada is updating Aeroplan Elite Status members to let them know that it is ensuring their status remains in effect and to give them flexibility and certainty. The changes include the extension of current Elite Status until the end of 2022, in addition to a previous extension through 2021, as well as the possibility to accelerate their status qualification in the years ahead. Mark Nasr, Senior Vice President, Products, Marketing and eCommerce at Air Canada, said that: “Loyalty is a two-way street, and we understand and appreciate why so many of your travel plans are interrupted...
Flair Lands In Montreal
Flair Airlines is expanding service to include Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL) starting July 1, 2021, with direct flights to Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax and Abbotsford. The addition of Flair’s service to Montreal marks a milestone for the airline as it brings the first domestic ULCC service to the region. Flair’s network continues to grow within Canada as new aircraft are added to their fleet and preparation continues for the safe restart of travel. Flair’s ambitious expansion focuses on domestic markets first, ensuring all Canadians are connected with affordable...
IATA Research Backs Rapid Testing For Restart Of Travel
IATA is urging governments to accept best-in-class rapid antigen tests in fulfillment of COVID -19 testing requirements following the publication of new research by OXERA and Edge Health. The OXERA-Edge Health report, commissioned by IATA, found that antigen tests are: Accurate: The best antigen tests provide broadly comparable results to PCR tests in accurately identifying infected travellers. The BinaxNOW antigen test, for example, misses just one positive case in 1000 travellers (based on an infection rate of 1% among travelers). And it has similarly comparable performance to...
Trillion Dollar Impact
The World Travel & Tourism Council’s annual Economic Impact Report (EIR) reveals the full and devastating impact of COVID-19 had on the global Travel & Tourism sector last year, which suffered a massive loss of almost US$4.5 trillion. The annual EIR from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, shows the sector’s contribution to GDP dropped a staggering 49.1%, this compared to the overall global economy which dropped by just 3.7% last year. Vast losses run up during 2020, paint the first full picture...
WestJet Adds 11 In Western Canada
WestJet is unveiling details of 11 new domestic routes across Western Canada. The routes will offer new nonstop service for 15 communities across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. The enhancements follow an announcement made earlier in the week to return previously suspended service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec City. https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=3PpYUYvHtBM Ed Sims, WestJet President and CEO, said: “As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada's economic...
Airports Will Prevail
Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) marked the one year anniversary this week of the decision to close the U.S. and Canadian border to non-essential travel to contain the spread of COVID-19. The Council said in a statement that: “One year ago, this week, governments around the world began implementing travel restrictions and lockdowns to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. At the time, we commended the U.S. and Canadian governments for their leadership in making the difficult but necessary decision to prioritize the protection of the health and safety of citizens...
US Industry Hoping For July 4 Resumption Of Travel
Leaders of the U.S. travel and aviation industry are calling on the Biden Administration to commit to a plan for reopening the country to inbound, international visitation by May 1. The U.S. Travel Association is among the 26 organizations to sign a letter urging the White House “to partner with us to develop … a risk-based, data-driven roadmap to rescind inbound international travel restrictions.” U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow, said: “Travel and tourism is the industry hardest hit by the economic fallout of COVID-19, and the damage is so severe that...
WestJet Restoring Regional Routes
WestJet is restoring flights to the communities of Charlottetown, Fredericton, Moncton, Sydney and Quebec City after service was suspended as a result of COVID-19. The reinstatement of service will restore WestJet's complete network of pre-COVID-19 domestic airports. Ed Sims, WestJet, President and CEO, said: “We committed to return to the communities we left, as a result of the pandemic, and we will be restoring flights to these regions in the coming months, of our own volition.” Sims continued: “These communities have been a crucial factor in our success over...