Airlines
WestJet Ratifies Agreement With Flight Dispatchers
WestJet reports that WestJet flight dispatchers, represented by the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA), voted 90% in favour of a three-year agreement. The vote does not include WestJet Encore. The agreement starts May 18 and expires May 18, 2022. “This agreement is beneficial for the long-term sustainability of WestJet, WestJet Dispatchers and our WestJetters,” said Jeff Martin, WestJet chief operations officer. “We thank our employees for their collaboration and openness to reaching an agreement.” “This is a positive step in the right direction and a...
KLM Gives Back
As part of its “Bringing people together” campaign, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines recently invited Toronto millennial Yulenka to surprise her grandfather in Mumbai. Her inspirational tale back to her roots is featured in a video at youtube.com/watch?v=4Etnjk1zXtw. Yulenka is one of the million Canadians with Indian origins. She immigrated to Canada when she was two. She confides that part of her never made the trip. This visit allowed her to connect to her heritage. Surprising and spending time with her grandfather ensured keeping the family’s culinary and cultural identity...
Another Blockbuster!
Now this is going to be quite a combination. Air Canada is entering into an “exclusive agreement” with Transat A.T regarding the proposed purchase by Air Canada of all issued and outstanding shares of Transat and its combination with Air Canada. The proposed transaction – valued at approximately $520 million or $13 per share of Transat (on a fully diluted basis -- will create a Montreal-based global travel services company in leisure, tourism and travel distribution operating across Canada and internationally. Air Canada said in its announcement that it has all the...
It’s Business As Usual At WestJet
Following Monday's unexpected announcement that WestJet has approved a $5 billion sales transaction with Onex, the airline's board of directors is assuring its partners and travellers that it's still business as usual at WestJet. In a statement, officials said, WestJet will “benefit from Onex’s aerospace experience, history of positive employee relations and long-term orientation. Onex is investing in WestJet’s culture, its leadership, its values, its people and its strategy.” It went on to state that with this transaction, WestJet will remain proudly headquartered in...
Onex Corporation Acquiring WestJet
Wow! Now this came out of nowhere. WestJet Airlines Ltd. has confirmed that it has entered into a definitive agreement that provides for its acquisition in an all-cash transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Onex Corporation and its affiliated funds will acquire all outstanding shares of WestJet for $31 per share, after which WestJet will operate as a privately-held company. The purchase price represents a 67% premium to Friday's (May 10) closing share price and a 63% premium to WestJet's 20-day volume-weighted average trading price. The transaction value is approximately...
IATA Reports Latest Traffic Results
IATA reports that March 2019 traffic results showing that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 3.1%, compared to the same month a year ago, which was the slowest pace for any month in nine years. Those results are due largely to the timing of the Easter holiday, which fell nearly a month later than in 2018. On a seasonally-adjusted basis, the underlying growth rate has been relatively steady since October 2018 at a 4.1% annualized pace. Capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) for the month of March grew 4.2% and load factor dropped 0.9 percentage point...
FlyNeutral Takes Off
Air New Zealand and its customers have purchased over NZD$1 million worth of carbon offsets from permanent New Zealand native forestry projects through the airline's voluntary carbon offsetting program, FlyNeutral. The program was re-launched in late 2016 and it gives the airline's customers the option to offset the carbon emissions associated with their flights when booking online. The funds collected all go directly towards the purchase of certified carbon credits, which help to remove carbon from the atmosphere. Carbon credits are purchased from a range of permanent native...
Air Transat Let’s The Good Times Roll
Carrier Launches Non-stop Flights between Montreal And New Orleans Air Transat is adding New Orleans, Louisiana, to its portfolio of fall and winter destinations. Beginning in November 2019, the airline will offer two direct flights a week from Montreal, giving travellers a chance to experience the festive atmosphere of jazz clubs or a contemplative stroll along the Bayou. Annick Guérard, chief operating officer, Transat, said that: “With the steady demand for New Orleans, Air Transat is pleased to be the only airline to offer non-stop service from Montreal to this unique...