Airlines
A Staggering Number
It is a staggering number. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) says that 1 million jobs are being lost every day in the travel and tourism sector due to the sweeping effect of the coronavirus pandemic. The growing job losses, the WTTC reports, are affecting every level of the industry and are gathering pace, as countries go into lockdown to tackle the virus. The industry association points to the widespread closure of hotels, suspension of the majority of international and domestic airline flights, cessation of cruise lines operations and growing global travel bans are...
Transat Confirms Temporary Layoffs
Transat A.T. confirmed today that it was temporarily laying off 70% of its workforce in Canada. The Montreal-headquartered company also said that its final flight, before the full suspension of its operations, is scheduled for April 1. Transat announced on March 18 a gradual temporary halting of all its flights until April 18. Operations are being stopped gradually in order to enable Transat to repatriate as many of its customers as possible to their home countries. As of March 18, some 65,000 Canadian Transat customers were at Sun or Europe destinations. By March 22, about...
SAA Suspends International Flights
South African Airways (SAA) is immediately suspending all international operations until May 31, 2020 in response to a government travel ban aimed at stopping the transmission of the Coronavirus (Covid-19). The COVID-19 pandemic and attendant travel restrictions, resulted in substantial decline in demand for air travel. The situation caused many airlines across the world to ground aircraft, release their employees, and to cancel flights. In the case of SAA, this decision means that SAA will only render services on its regional and domestic routes. Following the declaration of the...
Air Tahiti Nui Completes World’s Longest Flight
On March 15, Air Tahiti Nui achieved a new milestone in aviation history with the completion of a 15-hour, 45-minute non-stop domestic and international flight from Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, setting a new record for the world’s longest flight. The record-setting 9,765-mile journey on Air Tahiti Nui’s new Boeing 787-9 Tahitian Dreamliner was made possible by a crew of four pilots, next generation aircraft and eastbound tailwinds. The French Polynesian airline usually operates its Papeete to Paris route with a stopover in Los...
Swoop Suspends All International Flights
Swoop is altering its international operations to help with the global efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. At the end of the operating day on March 22, Swoop is suspending all international and transborder flights and will begin its efforts to bring home the 2,349 Swoop travellers who are currently outside of Canada. This suspension will be in place until May 31. “These are extraordinary times, and we want to be sure our Swoop travellers are safe at home in Canada,” says Bert van der Stege, head of Commercial, Swoop. “Our priority is to bring Canadian travellers home,...
Sunwing Offers Free Seats On Repatriation Flights
Sunwing is offering available seats on its repatriation flights from southern destinations to stranded Canadians, free of charge – including for non-Sunwing customers. “We understand a lot of Canadians are still stranded outside the country and struggling to get home,” said Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group. “That’s why we want to open up any extra capacity we have. It’s the Canadian thing to do.” As part of its ongoing efforts to repatriate Sunwing customers, the travel company is bringing home approximately an additional 11,000 Canadians today, which will...
Air Canada Gradually Suspends Flights
Air Canada is gradually suspending the majority of its international and US transborder flights by March 31. The move comes in response to decisions by national governments, including Canada and the United States, to close borders and restrict commercial aviation as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Subject to further government restrictions, the airline intends to continue to serve a small number of international and U.S. trans-border destinations from select Canadian cities after April 1. The airline also intends to continue serving all provinces and territories with a significantly...
Porter Pauses Operations Starting Tomorrow
Porter Airlines is temporarily suspending all flights at the close of operations on Friday (March 20), with plans to resume service on June 1. The decision is being made in support of ongoing public health efforts to contain COVID-19. Michael Deluce, Porter’s president and CEO said, “COVID-19 is having an unprecedented effect on people around the world and Porter is determined to do our part to support the efforts of the Canadian, US and global authorities in their responses. Restricting activities by people in all communities is what’s required to keep our team members and...