Airlines
EXCLUSIVE – IATA All Business At AGM
The top executives from the world's airlines are in Sydney, Australia wrestling with a range of issues impacting on air travel at the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) annual general meeting. PressToday's Quebec editor, Mike Dunbar is on hand for the event and offers the following notable quotes from the meeting so far: Director general Alexandre de Juniac on the industry’s slim margins despite healthy profits, ”Compared to other industries, a 4.1% margin or $7.76 per passenger is not a large number.” Qantas CEO Alan Joyce on the same subject, “It doesn’t...
Passenger Demand Slows in April: IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports global passenger traffic data for April shows that demand (revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose by 6.2% compared to April 2017, which was down from a 12-month high of 9.7% in March. Comparisons with the year ago period are impacted by developments a year ago – including the comparatively late timing of Easter in 2017, which boosted April traffic. April capacity (available seat kilometres or ASKs) increased by 5.9%, and load factor climbed 0.2 percentage point to 82.3%, which was a record for the month of April,...
WestJet Says Thanks To Agents
With a potential labour action now resolved, WestJet is offering travel agents 4% commission on all domestic Econo fares to thank its partners for their support. Commission can now be earned on all Econo fares for new air-only bookings made between June 1 and June 30 for travel within Canada from June 1 to July 31. WestJet's vice-president, sales and distribution, Lyell Farquharson said, “We know the potential labour action caused frustration for you and your travellers, and we want to extend a sincere thank you to all our travel trade partners for your patience.” And he...
Cathay’s 35th YVR Birthday Benefits A Charity
Charitable organizations in BC have until June 30 to apply for a special gift from Cathay Pacific (CX) valued at $35,000. The airline is marking 35 years of flying non-stop between Vancouver and Hong Kong and has launched the contest to support a worthy BC charity while celebrating the anniversary. Charities are invited to apply by sharing a “compelling and creative” reason as to how and why it would benefit from winning. It’s up to each organization to decide on how to produce their submissions. Thirty-five years ago, on May 1 1983, Vancouver became the first destination...
To The Azores And Beyond
Azores Airlines hopes to do with the Azores – Portugal's nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean - the same as Icelandair has done with Iceland. With a hub in Ponta Delgada, Gavin Eccles, chief commercial officer, Azores Airlines plans to position a stopover in the archipelago as a way for travellers to experience two unique destinations for the price of one. “A Canadian can be in Europe in five hours,” he told a Toronto gathering last night (May 30) presented by Azores Airlines and the Portugal National Tourist Office. “We are offering clients the ability to...
SAA Savings
South African Airways (SAA) has introduced “Sizzling Summer Savings” featuring special summer fares for travel from New York (JFK) to Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban, South Africa. Fares start from US$1,099 roundtrip (restrictions apply) and are available for purchase through June 6 for travel from June 1 to Aug. 10. “It’s always a good time to visit South Africa, but SAA’s Sizzling Summer Savings has made it even better with affordable fares from the Big Apple to the Big Five,” said Todd Neuman, executive vice-president, North America for South African Airways....
WestJet Strike Averted
WestJet and the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have agreed to a settlement process through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, thus averting a potential strike. The parties have agreed to mediation, and if required, final and binding arbitration. According to WestJet officials, travellers can now book WestJet with...
Air Transat Serving Up A New Experience
Air Transat is welcoming the summer vacation season with the introduction of enhancements to the inflight experience it offers its customers. The airline has unveiled the 2018 Chef's Menu by Daniel Vézina and improved its meal offer in Economy Class on transatlantic flights for the upcoming summer season. Among other things, the airline has introduced an all-new Canadian wine in the Club Class menu and offered its passengers the newest issue of Atmosphere magazine on board. Air Transat's president and general manager, Jean-François Lemay observed that: “At Air Transat, going...