Airlines
Air Canada to Launch Calgary-London, Ont. Service
Air Canada will launch new daily, seasonal flights between Calgary and London, Ont. beginning June 24 until mid-October. Flights will be operated onboard Air Canada Rouge Airbus A319 aircraft with a choice of two cabins, WiFi options and in-flight entertainment streamed to personal devices. “We are pleased to expand Air Canada's domestic network linking London, Ontario to our Calgary hub with daily seasonal flights this summer. We have strategically added these non-stop services between the considerable southern Ontario market and Alberta to offer both convenient point-to-point...
US Virgin Islands Upbeat About Lift
The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism reports that airlines serving the Territory are satisfied with their route performance and some are looking forward to increasing capacity to the islands in the months ahead. Speaking following the 12th Routes Americas conference in Québec last week, Commissioner Designee Joseph Boschulte said the conference presented the destination with an opportunity to update airline partners on the progress the islands have made since the hurricanes of 2017. Airline executives were particularly interested in learning of the reopening of several hotels...
St. Kitts Talks Lift At Routes America
The St. Kitts Tourism Authority was on hand for the 12th annual Routes Americas held at the Quebec City Convention Center in Quebec City last week. The three-day event included a full program of conference sessions discussing the latest issues and challenges facing aviation in the Americas region and provided a platform for St. Kitts to meet with key airline decision makers. Hon. Lindsay F.P. Grant, Minister of Tourism, International Trade, Industry and Commerce for St. Kitts & Nevis, commented: “Our participation in Routes Americas each year is a key component of the...
Air Italy Takes Off With Toronto Pride
Air Italy is launching its first direct flights to Canada on May 6 with the inauguration of its direct Milan Malpensa-Toronto service. Along with the new service, Air Italy also announced that it is partnering with the Toronto Pride 2019 Festival as the Official European Carrier of the event. The new route which will be the third new international launch of 2019 in May -- following the scheduled launch of services to Los Angeles and San Francisco on April 3 and April 10 respectively -- will make Toronto Air Italy's fifth new North America route after the 2018 launches of New York and...
Air Canada Makes Some Changes
Air Canada has announced that it will seek shareholder approval at its 2019 annual and special meeting of shareholders to amend its articles of incorporation to increase the limits of foreign ownership and control of its voting shares to those permitted by amendments made to the Canada Transportation ACT (CTA) in 2018. The amendments to its articles will be undertaken by way of a court supervised and shareholder approved statutory plan of arrangement. Prior to the CTA amendments, no more than 25% of the voting interests of a Canadian air carrier could be owned or controlled by...
What A Surprise!
Swoop released its family focused #OnlyOnSwoop video and kicked off its associated campaign this week. The two-minute video features the 21-member Kryk family enjoying a surprise reunion vacation arranged by Swoop, in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). The action follows the Kryk family, who have not all been together since 2010, to many of the top attractions in Las Vegas, while capturing the heart-warming reunion of Hamilton parents, Patricia and Lewis with their extended family. The campaign demonstrates Swoops values of connecting Canadian...
Air Canada Reports Annual Results
Air Canada has reported its full year 2018 EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, impairment and aircraft rent) of $2.851 billion compared to full year 2017 record EBITDAR of $2.928 billion. The airline reported an EBITDAR margin of 15.8%, in line with its projections. Air Canada reported 2018 operating income of $1.174 billion compared to 2017 operating income of $1.371 billion. Adjusted pre-tax income amounted to $952 million in 2018 compared to adjusted pre-tax income of $1.165 billion in 2017. On a GAAP basis, the airline reported net income of...
New Dreamliner Shines For WestJet
WestJet took the travel trade in Western Canada behind-the-scenes last week to show off its brand, new 787 Dreamliner. The carrier's agency partners were also able to chat with WestJet's top executives, including Ed Sims, president and chief executive officer; Arved von zur Muehlen, chief commercial officer; Jeff Martin, chief operating officer; Louis Saint-Cyr, vice president guest experience and in-flight operations and Richard Bartrem, vice president of marketing communications. Along with those conversations, WestJet's valued agency and corporate partners were able to walk...