Airlines
WestJet Pilots Vote to Join ALPA
The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) reports that the more than 1,400 pilots at WestJet have voted for representation by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA). With 97% of eligible pilots participating in the election, 62% voted in favour of joining the world’s largest pilot union. “WestJet pilots told us that it’s time for a certified union, and the Organizing Committee worked hard to build unity within their group,” said ALPA president, Capt. Tim Canoll. “With ALPA representation, pilot unity plays an integral role in supporting the process of...
Air Canada Takes Off To Berlin
Travel trade types in Toronto celebrated with Air Canada and representatives from the German National Tourist Office and Visit Berlin as the airline added Berlin to the destinations that its “ever-expanding” route network now serves. AC's vice-president, global sales, Duncan Bureau told an audience of about 120 that with the launch of Berlin service – beginning June 3 and operated four times a week by Air Canada rouge – the airline has now introduced 20 new destinations to its route network so far in 2017. Last year, Bureau pointed out, Air Canada launched service into 28...
Believe It Or Not: Airline Customer Satisfaction Improving
Despite plenty of recent bad publicity, it seems lower fares, better on-time performance, fewer lost bags and the lowest bump rate ever recorded have contributed to steady improvement in customer satisfaction with North American airlines, according to a J.D. Power 2017 North America Airline Satisfaction Study. In fact, according to the survey, overall customer satisfaction with airlines has reached its highest level ever, continuing a trend that now stretches five consecutive years. “It’s impossible to think about airline customer satisfaction without replaying the recent images...
The Right Decision For Everyone
Air Canada will launch its own loyalty program in 2020 when the airline's commercial agreement with Aimia – the operator of Aeroplan – expires. Effective June 30, 2020, Aeroplan will no longer be the loyalty program for Air Canada. Aeroplan has been independently owned and operated by Aimia for almost a decade. By operating its own loyalty program, Air Canada will be better able to strengthen its customer relationships and deliver a more consistent end-to-end customer experience. Calin Rovinescu, president and CEO of Air Canada, said: “Our relationship with our more than...
SunExpress Makes The Switch
SunExpress – which is the joint venture of Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa – has made the switch over to IBS Software's PSS platform, iFly Res, to power its passenger reservation, ticketing, and departure control operations. The carrier has a fleet of over 70 aircraft and it carried 8 million passengers in 2016 to more than 80 destinations across Europe, Turkey and Northern Africa. iFly Res enables a strongly enhanced general communication between SunExpress and its important distribution network, the European travel agencies. The new system contains the distribution standard...
WestJet Introduces ‘Plus Lowest’ Bundle
In a move designed to give travellers more options, WestJet has introduced a fourth fare bundle called “Plus Lowest,” with the carrier now offering two fare options under the Plus umbrella – Plus Lowest and Plus Flexible. With Plus Lowest, clients pay a lower fare, change fees will apply, and the fare will be non-refundable. With Plus Flexible, no change fees apply and the fare has a refundable option. Both Plus Lowest and Plus Flexible clients enjoy the added comfort and onboard amenities included in WestJet's Plus fares. There is no change to commissions as a result of this...
WestJet Launches Calgary’s First Non-Stop to Nashville
WestJet has launched new, non-stop service between Calgary and Nashville (Metropolitan Nashville Airport). The carrier is now offering twice-weekly access to Nashville from Calgary. WestJet began service to Nashville from Toronto in 2016 and currently flies daily on WestJet Encore. Flights from Calgary to Nashville will be operated on WestJet's Boeing 737 aircraft featuring the enhanced Plus product and WestJet Connect, WestJet's inflight entertainment system, which is accessed directly through smartphones, tablets or...
Icelandair Going Year-Round from YVR
Due to increased demand from Vancouver, Icelandair is increasing its current seasonal service to Iceland to a full year-round schedule starting this winter. Icelandair offers three cabins of service with one checked bag, personal in-flight entertainment systems and gate-to-gate Wi-Fi available for all passengers. The expanded Icelandair service will further strengthen YVR and Icelandair’s successful partnership, which started with the launch of its YVR-Keflavik International Airport (KEF) service in 2014. The flight will continue to use the Boeing 757 aircraft and will depart YVR...