Airlines
Alaska Airlines Joining oneworld
Alaska Airlines is joining oneworld, becoming the alliance’s 14th member airline and bringing even more destinations and flights to customers. Alaska Airlines is working with oneworld to deliver benefits to its guests as quickly as possible, with a hope of joining oneworld around the end of the year. The airline’s wholly-owned regional subsidiary Horizon Air, as well as its regional partner SkyWest Airlines, will join as oneworld affiliate members at the same time. Alaska Airlines was elected as a oneworld member designate following approval by the oneworld Governing...
TAP Resuming 40% Of Flying In September
TAP Air Portugal is expanding its flight schedule to 40% of its pre-COVID flying in September with some 700 weekly roundtrip flights on 76 routes, including 30 flights on eight routes from North America. In August, the airline will fly some 500 weekly roundtrips on 66 routes, including 20 flights from six destinations in North America. With the return of flights, TAP is also extending its Book with Confidence program for all new bookings through Aug. 31. That way, each booking for travel through October can be changed once at no cost (though any fare difference is still...
We’re Up. We’re Running. We’re Open.
The number of people visiting Jamaica is down but the director of the Jamaica Tourist Board says the same doesn't hold true for interest in the tropical island. Donovan White told a Wednesday webinar that Jamaican tourism authorities have "aggressively marketed" their country during the past few months, preparing for the return of visitors. "The demand for Jamaica not only remains strong but grew stronger during these lockdown procedures," White said. Jamaica reopened to international tourists earlier this summer, announcing that tourists would be welcome to stay in a "corridor"...
Plan With Confidence With Star Alliance
Building upon the successful launch of its Travel Information Hub at the end of June, Star Alliance, the world’s largest global airline alliance, has unveiled a series of useful upgrades to now help passengers plan multi-stop itineraries. This unique alliance service was created by Star Alliance and its member airlines to help customers navigate the ever-changing international travel landscape that has resulted from measures taken by governments, regulators, and other stakeholders to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The tool provides information on specific health and hygiene...
UNWTO Counts The Cost Of Travel Standstill
In newly released data, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reveals that up to May of this year, the cost of COVID-19 on international tourism was already three times that of the 2009 Global Economic Crisis. As the situation continues to evolve, the United Nations specialized agency has provided the first comprehensive insight into the impact of the pandemic, both in tourist numbers and lost revenues, ahead of the upcoming release of up-to-date information on travel restrictions worldwide. In the latest edition of the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, data shows that the...
Recovery Delayed
In its latest global passenger forecast, IATA reports that the recovery in traffic has been slower than had been expected. The airline industry association’s latest base case scenario reveals that: Global passenger traffic (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) will not return to pre-COVID-19 levels until 2024, a year later than previously projected. The recovery in short haul travel is still expected to happen faster than for long haul travel. As a result, passenger numbers will recover faster than traffic measured in RPKs. Recovery to pre-COVID-19 levels, however, will also...
Thinking Outside The Box
In order to survive over the past few months, travel companies have adapted, made core business adjustments and found creative ways to move forward and drive future business in a responsible manner. This week, Travel Courier chats with Intrepid Travel, Air Canada and Globus family of brands about some of the innovative ways they’re staying top of mind with travellers and agents alike. A new strategy With COVID-19 impacting not only the entire travel industry but the world at large, Intrepid Travel made the decision to change its marketing strategy. “This is not business as...
Air Transat Makes Changes In the West
Air Transat says that due to the many challenges that our industry is facing, it will not operate any flights from Western Canada to the South or USA for winter 2020-2021. However, the carrier did say that it will operate domestic flights from Vancouver and connecting flights to Europe via Toronto and Montreal. Noting that the “details will be unveiled shortly,” Air Transat advised that: “Since the current situation does not allow us to foresee resuming these routes in the near future and there will therefore be no practical option to use vouchers with Air Transat from their...