Airlines
Etihad Initiative Encourages Travel
Etihad Airways is encouraging travellers to start planning their next trip, once travel restrictions ease, with the launch of Etihad Travel Voucher. Guests who purchase an Etihad Travel Voucher between June 10 and June 24, 2020 will receive an extra 50% cash value for future travel from Aug. 1, 2020 onwards. Robin Kamark, chief commercial officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Now, more than ever, we want to give the world something to look forward to. Valid for two years, Etihad Travel Voucher will give our guests plenty of time to plan their future trip, and with 50% extra...
Transat Resuming Operations July 23
Transat A.T. Inc. will be resuming its flights and tour operator activities as of July 23, 2020. The company says that it will offer a new flight schedule to 22 destinations in Europe, the South, the United States and Canada until the end of the summer season on Oct. 31, 2020. It also indicated that it will offer South and Europe packages during this period and will gradually reopen travel agencies in its network starting June 15, 2020. As well, Transat has unveiled its Traveller Care program, rolling out new health measures to ensure the safety of its customers and...
Lufthansa Set To Expand Canadian Services
The Lufthansa Group of airlines will be significantly expanding its services in Canada and abroad over the next few months. This applies to both short and long-haul flights. In Canada, Lufthansa began offering three weekly, non-stop flights from Toronto to Frankfurt and back the week of June 1. On June 22, three weekly flights between Munich and Montreal will resume. On July 2, the airline will begin operating three weekly flights to and from Vancouver via its hub in Frankfurt. Edelweiss – a leisure-focused air carrier and SWISS subsidiary – is planning to resume service to and...
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...