Airlines
Safety Above All
WestJet has unveiled its travel hygiene program under the Safety above all umbrella, detailing what WestJet guests can expect when travelling to ensure their health and safety. Billy Nolen, vice-president, safety, security and quality for WestJet, explained that: “Safety, including hygiene and health, is above all at WestJet, which is why the already-existing mantra was selected to communicate our hygiene efforts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Nolen continued: “Safety is at the forefront of every decision and initiative at WestJet and our efforts on health and hygiene...
Airline Losses Top $84 Billion: IATA
In its newly released financial outlook, IATA reports that airlines are expected to lose $84.3 billion in 2020 for a net profit margin of -20.1%. Revenues will fall 50% to $419 billion from $838 billion in 2019. In 2021, losses are expected to be cut to $15.8 billion as revenues rise to $598 billion. Alexandre de Juniac, IATA’s director general and CEO, commented: “Financially, 2020 will go down as the worst year in the history of aviation. On average, every day of this year will add $230 million to industry losses. In total that’s a loss of $84.3 billion. It means...
Safe With Sunwing
Sunwing is introducing new measures to give travellers peace of mind when heading on vacation in a post-pandemic world. The Safe with Sunwing commitment ensures the health and safety of customers across their entire vacation experience, from the moment they check in, to their airport transfers, throughout their resort stay and their journey home. Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing, said: “As a Canadian family-owned and operated business and the largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing is committed to adding increased health and safety measures throughout the entire...
Brussels Airlines Set To Take Flight On June 15
Brussels Airlines is set to restart its commercial flights from its hub at Brussels Airport on June 15. The carrier said that based on market demand and ongoing travel restrictions, the airline will offer an adapted and downsized summer schedule, which will consist of approximately 30% of Brussels Airlines' originally planned summer schedule in Europe and 40% of the long-haul summer program. Between June 15 and August 31, the airline indicated it will gradually add destinations to its flight network to reach 59 destinations in 33 countries in Europe, Africa and the US by...
IATA Reports ‘First Signals Of Uptick’
IATA is reporting that demand for air services is beginning to recover after hitting bottom in April. Passenger demand in April (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs), plunged 94.3% compared to April 2019, as the COVID-19-related travel restrictions virtually shut down domestic and international air travel. This is a rate of decline never seen in the history of IATA’s traffic series, which dates back to 1990. More recently, though, figures show that daily flight totals rose 30% between the low point on April 21 and May 27. This is primarily in domestic operations and...
Sabre Makes Strategic Moves
Sabre Corporation says that it’s taking critical steps to successfully position the company for long-term growth. This includes the strategic realignment of its airline and agency-focused businesses, as well as other measures to support the new organizational structure. Sean Menke, Sabre’s president and chief executive officer said: “Today, we announced a critical step toward completing our transformation into a new Sabre. We began this transformational journey over two years ago with the unveiling of our SabreNext strategy and the creation of our Travel Solutions organization....
Antigua And Barbuda Welcomes First Flight
Antigua and Barbuda has begun the rebuilding of its tourist trade, with the destination welcoming an American Airlines plane Thursday evening carrying visitors and locals to a destination that had joined other countries in closing its borders to tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Miami-Antigua service will be followed by the now-confirmed restart of other routes from the United States and Britain this summer, with Antigua ready to welcome visitors back to a destination that has responded to the pandemic by implementing measures that will be in place as soon as passengers...
Breaking Barriers
ForwardKeys reports that domestic air travel in China -- which has been recovering slowly in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak -- has now reached more than 50% of what it was at the equivalent moment in 2019, based on issued air tickets. As well, analysis of flight ticketing data reveals a significant uptick in last minute domestic flight bookings in China between May 11 and May 21. During that period, the lead time between ticketing and travel shortened dramatically; 72% of flight tickets were issued within 4 days of the travel date, compared with 51% at the equivalent point in...