Airlines
Emirates Adds Two Weekly Flights To Toronto Schedule
Emirates will introduce two additional flights to its Toronto schedule, complementing its existing schedule and providing even more choice and convenience to travellers. The additional Toronto flights will be introduced on Aug. 18 and will operate on a Saturday departing Dubai as EK241 at 3:30 a.m., arriving in Toronto at 9:30 a.m. The return flight, EK242, leaves Toronto at 2:25 p.m. and arrives in Dubai at 11:40 a.m. the next day. On Sundays, EK241 will depart at 3:30 a.m. and arrive in Toronto at 9:30 a.m. The return flight, EK242, will leave Toronto at 2:30 p.m, arriving in Dubai...
Primera Air Introduces New Montreal Route
Nordic low-cost carrier Primera Air has launched a new route between Paris and Montreal. Flights will start Oct. 28 aboard the new Airbus A321neo fleet. Light class ticket prices start from $169 one-way. Montreal-Paris will be Primera Air’s third transatlantic route to the Canadian market after flights between Toronto, London and Paris, which started earlier this summer. Anastasija Visnakova, CCO, commented, “We have already done 500 flights between Toronto and Europe. Both our London and Paris routes have been performing very well, and this has encouraged our plans to...
Star Alliance Expands Connection Service to Pearson
The Star Alliance Connection Service is now available at Toronto Pearson International Airport, assisting passengers with tight connections between Star Alliance member airline flights. Dedicated Connection Service staff use special software to monitor the transfer window for customers with onward flights. Cases where passengers and checked bags appear in danger of missing a connection are automatically highlighted. The Connection Service agent can thereby already consider the various options available to ensure that the customer reaches the onward flight, or if necessary book...
Air Canada and Partners Make Bid for Aeroplan
Air Canada, The Toronto-Dominion Bank, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Visa Canada Corporation, on behalf of a corporation to be formed, have made a proposal to Aimia Inc. to acquire its Aeroplan loyalty business (including approximately $2 billion of Aeroplan points liability at March 31, 2018) for $250 million in cash, representing a total purchase price of approximately $2.25 billion. According to officials, the proposed transaction, if accepted by Aimia, will ensure value and continuity for their members as well as customers of Air Canada, TD, CIBC and Visa. The proposal...
Aeroplan Transforming To Be Bigger, Better
Building on previously announced plans, Aimia Inc., parent company of Aeroplan, has unveiled further details of the future the Aeroplan program, focused on three pillars – offering increased flexibility, delivering leading value and improving the member experience. Recently appointed Aimia chief executive officer, Jeremy Rabe (pictured), commented on the future of the program, “The value Aeroplan already delivers to members is unmatched in the Canadian travel loyalty rewards industry. In transforming Aeroplan to be the best travel loyalty program in Canada, we will...
Power Of The People
Donald Trump’s exhortation of “America First” and all the debate around NAFTA might have some in the travel industry wondering: how does this affect me? Quite likely much more than you think, writes Brett Walker in an exclusive commentary in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. While few, if any of us, will have a smidgen of influence on any future trade agreement; tourism as a whole plays a very important role in trade. Yet, your industry and mine, our business interests and our personal and collective futures are rarely mentioned in any political or even...
Transat Enhances Onboard Pet Policy
Air Transat is now allowing passengers in Economy Class the opportunity to travel with their pet in the aircraft’s cabin. This new service, which aims to provide passengers with greater peace of mind, enhances the existing pets and service dogs policy. Thus, cats and dogs 10 kg (22 pounds) or less (including the weight of the cage) will be allowed on the vast majority of the carrier's flights. The caged animal must be placed under the seat in front of the traveller. In case an allergic passenger is seated close to an animal, accommodating measures will be taken once on...
Delta, WestJet Sign Transborder JV
Delta Air Lines and WestJet have signed a definitive deal that will see the two airlines “create a comprehensive transborder joint venture arrangement” that they say is designed to offer consumers an extensive route network within the U.S. and Canada. Delta CEO, Ed Bastian (on the left in the photo) said that: “Delta's future is global and together with WestJet, we can augment the two airlines' capabilities and bring together our strengths in this important trans-border market.” Bastian pointed out that “Combined, we will be able to offer more destinations to customers...