Airlines
AC to Launch Vancouver, Orange County Service
Air Canada will launch non-stop service between Vancouver and Santa Ana in Orange County, California beginning June 15, subject to final airport authority approvals. Special introductory fares from Vancouver to Orange County start at $187 one-way, all in. Tickets are now available for purchase until March 17 for travel between June 15 and Sept. 30. “We are very pleased to announce new daily, year-round flights from Vancouver to Orange County as we strategically expand our transborder network into the populous greater Los Angeles area,” said Mark Galardo, vice-president, Network...
Air Canada Salutes Women in Aviation
Air Canada marked Women of Aviation Worldwide Week leading up to International Women's Day 2020 by celebrating the achievements of its women employees while also looking ahead to the next generation of women aviators as it announced four admirable winners of the inaugural Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship. The winners of the inaugural Captain Judy Cameron Scholarship, awarded in partnership with the Northern Lights Aero Foundation, each receive $5,000 toward their studies in aviation. Additionally, for the fifth consecutive year, Air Canada featured a flight operated with all female...
United Waiving Change Fee For New Ticket Purchases
United Airlines is waiving the change fee for new ticket purchases. In announcing the move, the carrier said that: “Due to ongoing uncertainty over travel planning, we are offering a waiver for change fees on all fares (including Basic Economy, bulk and fixed fares, etc.).” The new policy took effect from March 3 and continues through March 31 so that newly purchased tickets will be exempt from change fees. United said that, “This change gives customers the confidence to continue with travel plans even with the uncertainty of this situation.” The change waiver applies...
Aeromexico Appoints
Aeromexico has appointed Nicolas E. Perez Olave as its Ontario market manager based in Toronto and Walter Gonzalez as market manager, Quebec and Eastern Canada, based in Montreal. Perez Olave has 23 years experience in the airline industry, holding positions with carriers like British Airways, American Airlines, US Airways and LAN Airlines (now LATAM Airlines) in countries such as Chile, Brazil, the US and Canada and most recently with Aeromexico as its station manager for its YYZ operations for the last five years. Gonzalez has 13 years of airline industry experience working on...
Transat: Book With Peace of Mind
In order to offer travellers more flexibility and allow them to book their next trip with peace of mind, Transat is offering the travellers the possibility of changing their travel dates, destination or hotel at no charge. This policy applies to new bookings for flights on all routes offered by Air Transat and for South packages made between March 4-31 for travel between now and Oct. 31. As a result, it will be possible for travellers to change their booking up to 24 hours before departure. Note that travel must be completed within 12 months of the original travel date and that if...
ACTA Thanks Suppliers
ACTA is applauding the flexibility of suppliers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Wendy Paradis, president of ACTA, points out that many travel suppliers -- including airlines, tour operators, cruise lines and others – have been adjusting their cancellation policies and terms and conditions to accommodate a nervous public and assist front line agents with finding options for their clients. Said Paradis, “Some clients are anxious about upcoming trips and want to know their options, or they are looking to change destinations or postpone travel. Travel agents have told ACTA they really...
Flybe Grounded
Flybe entered Administration today (March 5, 2020) with Alan Hudson, Joanne Robinson, Lucy Winterborne and Simon Edel of EY appointed as Joint Administrators. All of the airline's flights have been grounded and the UK business has ceased trading with immediate effect. Customers are being advised that if they are due to fly with Flybe, they should not travel to the airport unless they have arranged an alternative flight with another airline. And a statement on Flybe's website noted that the airline is not able to arrange alternative flights for passengers. For flights booked on...
Turn For The Worse
An extensive worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus could result in a 19% loss in passenger revenues, According to IATA that would equate to $113 billion – on a scale equivalent to what the airline industry experienced in the 2008 global financial crisis. “In a little over two months the industry’s prospects have taken a dramatic turn for the worse,” stated IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac. ``This is a crisis and governments must take note,” he stressed. The DG added, “Many airlines are cutting capacity and taking emergency measures to stay afloat as they...