Airlines
It’s All About Choice
One of the first things that Virgilio Russi will tell you about Air Canada's launch of Branded Fares is that it's a “good news story” that's “going to have a big impact” for Air Canada, for its distribution partners and for their customers. In this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press, executive editor, Bob Mowat reports on his conversation with Air Canada's vice-president, global sales, Duncan Bureau and its senior director, sales – Canada, Virgilio Russi for a primer on what Branded Fares are all about. For the full story, check out this week's digital edition...
WestJet Celebrates Its Partners
It was glitz and glamour and lots of fun as WestJet celebrated with its travel agency partners in Toronto at its 2017 Travel Partner Awards which honoured the agencies and agents who have contributed to the airline's success. Lyell Farquharson, vice-president, sales and distribution for WestJet, said: “Our travel partners play a significant role in the success of WestJet and WestJet Vacations and our annual Travel Partner Awards are just one way of saying we value you.” Farquharson noted that: “Every day, our TA partners help us deliver unforgettable travel experiences for our...
Ski For Free With Porter, Ski Vermont
Porter Airlines and Ski Vermont have introduced special offers, including free lift tickets, for the winter season. The first 50 Porter Airlines flight reservations made or Porter Escapes vacation packages booked to Vermont receive two free ski lift tickets per booking. Tickets are available for one of the participating resorts: Jay Peak Resort, Smugglers Notch Resort, Stowe Mountain Resort, Sugarbush Resort, and Mad River Glen. Snow lovers attending this weekend’s Toronto Ski and Snowboard Show can also win a Porter Escapes vacation package. Visit the Ski Vermont booth from...
Air Canada Celebrates New Routes
Air Canada welcomed a high profile group of travel trade types in Toronto last night to celebrate the launch of three new, seasonal routes – St. Vincent, Belize and Cartagena. The additional routes are a continuation of Air Canada's global expansion of its route network and part of its efforts to provide travellers with an abundance of choice. St. Vincent flights begin Dec. 14 and continue to April 12, 2018. Service to Belize starts on Dec. 15 and operates until April 13, 2018. And Cartagena service will run from Dec. 18 to April 9, 2018. Air Canada also recently...
Air Transat Increases Summer Service to Europe
Air Transat has expanded its summer 2018 Europe program by adding direct flights to nine destinations in France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Israel. This is thanks to the addition of an Airbus A330 to its fleet. “The addition of this aircraft next summer allows us to strengthen our presence in key destinations in Europe,” says Annick Guérard, president and general manager of Transat Tours Canada. “Furthermore, Air Transat was the first airline to offer a direct flight between Montreal and Tel Aviv, and we are pleased to add a third flight a week next summer.” In France,...
Primera Air Adds Toronto Routes
Low-cost carrier Primera Air is introducing service to Toronto from its new bases in London (Stansted), Birmingham and Paris. Flights to Toronto will commence three times per week from Birmingham and London and four times per week from Paris as of next spring. “2017 has been a groundbreaking year for Primera Air and once again we are very proud to announce our new direct routes from our European bases to Canada. Toronto will be a great addition to our earlier announced New York and Boston routes from London, Birmingham and Paris,” said Andri M. Ingolfsson, president and chairman...
Air Transat Cancels St. Maarten Season
Due to the impacts of hurricanes Irma and Maria, Air Transat has cancelled flights St. Maarten for the entire season. The carrier also announced that its flights to Puerto Rico, with one flight per week from Toronto, and one flight per week from Montreal, will begin as of Feb. 18. In order to meet the needs of customers, the airline is expanding service to some of its other popular sun destinations – Punta Cana and Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Montego Bay in Jamaica, Florida, including Tampa, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Cuba, mainly Cayo Largo and Holguín, and Mexico,...
You Can’t Skip Portugal
Some 30 suppliers of travel product and services to Portugal were on hand in Toronto yesterday (Oct. 19) to meet with a large group of Canadian travel agents and tour operators and learn more about a destination that could well be a hot one this winter. Portugal's Minister of Tourism, Ana Mendes Godinho was on hand for the event, telling her audience that air capacity – supplied by Air Transat, Air Canada, TAP Air Portugal and SATA – has double out of Canada providing agents with lots of opportunities to sell the destination. And she pointed to additional services and capacity...