Airlines
TravelBrands Launches FlexAir by Encore
To help Canadian travel agents protect and close more cruise bookings with confidence, TravelBrands Encore Cruises has launched FlexAir by Encore. The new air booking solution allows advisors to hold qualifying flights with $0 due at time of booking, giving them more time to finalize their clients’ cruise plans without risking today’s airfare or losing momentum on the sale. Key benefits of FlexAir by Encore include: $0 due at time of booking* Hold flights for up to 30 days prior to departure* Protect today’s pricing* Sell with confidence, not pressure FlexAir...
Welsh tourism execs promising Canadians a warm welcome in Cardiff
Tourism executives from Wales were in Canada last week, getting the word out about WestJet's upcoming launch of its new seasonal flights to Cardiff in May of this year and letting Canadian travel advisors and tour operators know just exactly what Wales has to offer their clients. Visit Wales’ Stephen Nase and Cardiff Airport’s Lee Smith and Wayne Moye delivered that message to travel trade types in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto and they were well pleased with the reception they received from the travel trade here in Canada. And there is certainly lots of excitement about...
Air Canada takes off with first-ever winter seasonal service to Sapporo
Air Canada has announced that it will be launching the only non-stop flights from North America to Sapporo, beginning December 2026. Air Canada is the leading carrier offering the most seats between Canada and Japan. The airline’s new winter service to Sapporo complements existing year-round services to Tokyo-Narita and Tokyo-Haneda, and summer seasonal services to Osaka-Kansai. Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo, said: “Air Canada’s global network is further strengthened by the addition of Sapporo, a premier winter...
Air France marks 50th anniversary of Concorde’s first commercial flight
It has been 50 years since Air France operated its first commercial Concorde flight to Dakar and Rio de Janeiro on Jan. 21, 1976. Five decades later, the airline is celebrating this iconic legacy and symbol of excellence in French aviation by launching an exclusive collection of merchandise that will soon be available on shopping.airfrance.com. The airline will also premiere a special documentary retracing the history of this French aviation legend on its YouTube channel starting today (Jan. 21, 2026). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNwLZ2jwDGc&t=2s For those who are...
Air Transat Launching Loyalty Program with Desjardins and Visa Canada
Air Transat is launching a new loyalty program designed to reward loyal customers by providing them with accessible and personalized benefits. Supported by a strategic partnership with Desjardins Group and enabled by Visa, this program will multiply benefits for its customers, offering an enriched experience at every stage of their journey. The launch is planned for the second half of 2026. In a statement, the company said that the collaboration is part of a strategy that will offer travellers an innovative loyalty program with exclusive benefits and an enhanced experience. And...
Air Canada’s new #FlyTheFlag Campaign Champions Resilience and Team Canada Spirit
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games fast approaching, Air Canada has released a powerful new campaign featuring Team Air Canada Athlete Ambassador Tyler McGregor, captain of Canada’s Para ice hockey team, as he prepares for the Games. Entitled Tyler’s Walk, the powerful video spot tells the story of McGregor’s resilience after a life-changing event, bringing to light the obstacles Team Canada athletes must overcome in pursuit of their dreams – and one athlete’s unwavering commitment to sporting excellence. McGregor said that: “Hockey has...
WestJet returning to prior standard economy seat pitch in response to feedback, guest data
WestJet said today that it is changing its cabin-configuration approach on the limited portion of its fleet where it had densified seating. The move comes following a review of operational data and feedback from guests and WestJetters, and will see the airline return to its prior standard seat pitch for economy cabins on these recently reconfigured aircraft by removing one row of seats. Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “WestJet tried seat pitches that are popular with many airlines around the globe as they serve to provide affordable...
WestJet picks Flex Pay to provide its travellers with flexible payment options
WestJet has chosen Flex Pay, Upgrade’s Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution, to provide flexible payment options to travellers booking flights. WestJet guests can now use Flex Pay to spread the cost of their flights into simple, affordable monthly installments. Jennifer Bue, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Deputy CFO WestJet, said that: “At WestJet, we’re committed to making air travel as accessible and seamless as possible for our guests. By choosing Flex Pay, we’re giving travellers more flexibility to book their flights in a way that works best for them. Whether planning...