Airlines
Aloha Raptors
Hawaii Tourism Canada hosted Toronto area travel trade types at the Raptors game against the L.A. Clippers last night. And while the Clippers trimmed the Raptors – 117 to 106 – the warm welcome of the Hawaiian Islands made the evening all worthwhile. Check out the Go Hawaii website – https://www.gohawaii.com/ca – to find all you need to know about the islands In the photos: Baxter Media's Wendy McClung; Air Canada's Simona Cercel and Baxter Media's David McClung Air Canada's Duncan Bureau; Dana Gain of Norwegian Cruise Line; and Colin Wood of Hawaii Tourism...
Transat Makes Changes To Baggage Policy
Air Transat is modifying its checked baggage policy for all bookings to Cuba and Haiti made as of April 3. Cuba: Air Transat is extending its current checked baggage policy for the South and the United States to include Cuba. That means that passengers who book a flight in Eco Promo or Eco as of April 3 will now have to pay $25 for their first piece of checked baggage of 23 kg. Passengers who book a flight in Eco Extra or a package in Economy Class will be allowed one piece of baggage. And passengers who book Eco Max or Club Class will be allowed two pieces of baggage. Haiti:...
Swoop Increases Frequency Out of Hamilton
Low-fare carrier Swoop is adding a fourth Boeing 737-800 aircraft to its fleet and an increased weekly frequency schedule out of John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton, Ont. beginning Aug. 16. The announcement comes less than two months after Swoop announced its initial schedule release on Feb. 1, with service starting from Abbotsford, Hamilton, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Halifax, beginning June 20. The addition of a fourth aircraft will increase weekly frequency almost two-fold for Hamilton-Edmonton and Hamilton-Abbotsford, while service from Hamilton to Halifax and...
Ireland Is Epic
Air Canada's global sales team – along with officials from Tourism Ireland and Shannon Airport – hosted about 150 tour operators, travel agents and members of the Irish community in Toronto last night to celebrate the carriers new flights to Ireland. Virgilio Russi, senior director sales, Canada for the airline, welcomed the crowd, telling them that the addition of the Toronto-Shannon and Montreal-Dublin services (which begin in June) will certainly give them “lots of seats to sell.” Russi added that the new Ireland routes will be the first to feature Air Canada's new Boeing...
WestJet Taking Care Of Agents
Not to put too fine a point on it, there is a heck of a lot going on at WestJet these days. So it seemed like a good idea to reach out to Jane Clementino, Director of Agency Sales and let her tell you the latest in the ongoing WestJet story. In this Exclusive Question & Answer session, Clementino talks to Canadian Travel Press about WestJet's relationship with its travel agent partners; new product and service developments that agents should be watching out for in the coming year; what makes WestJet different; and, in Clementino's own words, the fact that WestJet believes that:...
Sunwing Launches Summer Domestic Flight Program
Sunwing’s domestic summer flight service returns May 15 and travellers booking by April 15 can receive up to $200 per couple off their flight. Daily flights between Toronto and Vancouver are available from May 15 until Sept. 5. For Canadians looking to journey east, Sunwing offers flights to Newfoundland. Travellers can take advantage of Monday to Friday flights to St. John’s between June 13 and Sept. 5, twice-weekly flights to Gander on Tuesdays and Fridays between June 15 and Sept. 4 and weekly flights to Stephenville running on Wednesdays between June 13 and Sept....
WestJet Launches Mexico City Service
WestJet has launched service to Mexico City from Calgary, to be followed by flights from Vancouver to the Mexican capital beginning today (March 15). “WestJet is proud to be at the forefront of expanding on vital trade and tourism linkages between Mexico and Canada,” said WestJet president Ed Sims. “Non-stop, year-round flights from Calgary and Vancouver to Mexico City connect the country to one of the most important major markets in the Americas and expand on growing opportunities for Canada/Mexico tourism.” WestJet begins service with four weekly flights between Calgary...
The Fight Is On For Passenger Rights
The fight is on for passenger rights in Canada. A letter-writing campaign initiated two weeks ago has already generated tens of thousands of e-mails to senators from thousands of Canadians who want the Senate to amend the government’s proposed transportation bill. The grassroots campaign initiated on Bill-C49.ca by Air Passenger Rights, a volunteer advocacy group, expresses concern about the fact that the proposed bill dramatically reduces existing rights for airline passengers in Canada. The proposed bill, currently before the Senate, would roll back many of the protections...