Airlines
Aeroplan, Air Canada Send A Message
In a letter to Aeroplan members, Air Canada’s vice-president, loyalty and eCommerce, Mark Nasr writes: “These past few weeks have been truly unlike anything we've experienced before. For an organization that believes in the power of enriching our members lives through travel, we are acutely aware that your ability to connect with your friends and family has been instantly impacted.” “In light of these unprecedented times, we wanted to share an update on what we're doing to help and what we're focusing on, along with an important message from our President & CEO,...
Air Canada: Unprecedented Action, Unprecedented Times
Air Canada took further action to respond to “the unprecedented impact of Covid-19 upon its business,” reducing its 2020 second quarter capacity by 85% to 90% (compared to its 2019 Q2 capacity) and placing 15,200 members of its unionized workforce on Off Duty Status and furloughing about 1,300 managers. The workplace reductions will be effective on or about April 3 and are intended to be temporary. Calin Rovinescu, president and chief executive of Air Canada, said: “The unpredictable extent and duration of the Covid-19 pandemic requires a significant overall response. To...
COVID-19 UPDATE: HAL, MSC, Transat, Cunard And More
Holland America, MSC, Rocky Mountaineer, Cunard, Carnival extend their service pause; a "Hapi" message from the Solomon Islands; a new video from the U.S. Virgin Islands; SAA; Shep; and more. Holland America Extends Pause Holland America is advising that due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding global health concerns, it’s extending its pause of global cruise operations for an additional 30 days, cancelling sailings scheduled to depart through May 14, 2020. Guests currently booked on cruises from April 14 through May 14 and their travel advisors...
European Airlines: Urgent Government Support Required
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) strengthened its call for urgent action from European governments to provide financial relief to airlines. The latest IATA scenario for potential revenue loss by European carriers is US$76B and passenger demand (measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres) is projected to be 46% below 2019 levels. A decline of this magnitude puts at risk about 5.6 million jobs and $37B in GDP supported by air transport. Some of the impacts at national level include: United Kingdom: 113.5 million fewer passengers resulting in a $21.7B revenue loss,...
Calling All Agents! Vote in Agents’ Choice
With just a few days left, now is the time to vote in Agents' Choice. From airline to tour operator to cruise line to car rental company, and everything in between, vote for all your 2020 favourites in 40+ categories before it’s too late. Proudly sponsored by Collette, Manulife, Trafalgar, Uniworld, and WestJet, agents who vote will be entered in a draw to win one of five fantastic prizes. Results will be announced in the special Agents’ Choice double-issue of Canadian Travel Press / Travel Courier. Baxter Media's annual Agents' Choice Readership Survey is Canada's original,...
Vouchers, Credits Are An Appropriate Approach: CTA
With major disruptions in both domestic and international air travel as a result of the spread of COVID-19, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) advises that for flight disruptions that are outside an airline's control, the Canada Transportation Act and Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) only require that the airline ensure passengers can complete their itineraries. Some airlines' tariffs provide for refunds in certain cases, but may have clauses that airlines believe relieve them of such obligations in force majeure situations. The CTA notes that the legislation,...
COVID-19 Update: Transat, Hola Sun and More
Transat to Operate Special El Salvador, Guatemala Flights Air Transat has announced the deployment of two special flights over the next few days to return Canadians stranded in El Salvador and Guatemala back home. These flights, operated in collaboration with the Government of Canada, are in addition to those already planned by the airline. “To date, our repatriation flights have brought approximately 46,000 customers back home, and this number will continue to rise in the coming days,” says Jean-Marc Eustache, president and chief executive officer of Transat....
Air Canada Foundation Works With Second Harvest
Air Canada and the Air Canada Foundation are working with Canadian food rescue organization Second Harvest's FoodRescue.ca to redistribute fresh food items from Air Canada's in-flight kitchens as the airline begins suspending the majority of its international and US transborder flights as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. “While so many of us are staying home during these extraordinary times, we also remain united in taking care of each other. These difficult moments remind us of the importance of continuing to support our communities and help Canadian families in need,” said...