Airlines
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...
Simply Spectacular
Emirates passengers clearly won't be bar-red from enjoying some of the finer things in life while airborne. Don McWilliam, Emirates country manager for Canada, told a Toronto gathering this week that those travelling in Premium and First Class with the carrier will find a “spectacular bar” for their use alone and Dom Perignon will be served to First Class passengers, with Emirates now being the “No. 1 purchaser of Dom Perignon in the world.” The airline also has its own wine cellar in Burgundy. First Class passengers are also invited to use a shower while airborne. The...
Swoop Partners With Navitaire
Low-fare carrier Swoop has named Navitaire as its reservation system partner. “Swoop is here to provide low fares for the price-sensitive traveller and our partnership with Navitaire will help Swoop create the low-cost structure and ancillary capabilities needed to ensure our success,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet executive vice-president, Strategy. “Navitaire offers an easy-to-use reservation system allowing the complete unbundling of products and services as well as enabling digital self-service. We are giving the power to the customer to decide what they want to pay for and what...
WestJet Connects Hamilton-Las Vegas
WestJet will begin non-stop service between Hamilton, Ont. and Las Vegas, effective Dec. 29. Service between John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport in Hamilton and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas will operate twice weekly beginning Dec. 29, running through April 27,...
Island Air Files For Bankruptcy Protection
Hawaii Island Air, Inc. (Island Air) announced has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an effort to continue normal operations while navigating through legal challenges recently presented by the lessors of its aircraft. According to officials, the bankruptcy filing was caused by threats of legal action to ground the aircraft and strand hundreds of passengers. The filing prevents the threatened action and allows Island Air to continue interisland service for its customers. During the reorganization process, Island Air expects to fly its scheduled routes as normal and honour...
SAA Puts Fares on Sale to South Africa
South African Airways (SAA) has introduced special sale fares to South Africa at prices from US$829 (restrictions apply) round-trip for travel from New York-JFK International Airport or Washington, DC-Dulles International Airport to Johannesburg. Other special fares include Cape Town for US$859 round-trip, or Durban for US$869. These sale fares are available for purchase through Oct. 31 for travel from Oct. 26 to Dec. 9 and Jan. 10 through March 31,...