Airlines
Qatar Offers Free Laptops on US Flights
In response to the electronics ban, Doha-based Qatar Airways is offering passengers a replacement laptop on flights to the US. According to officials, the “Laptop Loan” service ensures business travellers can continue to work as they travel on Qatar flights. The complimentary PC laptops will be available to Business Class passengers traveling on all US-bound flights and can be collected after boarding. Customers will be able to download their work on to a USB before stepping on board to pick up where they left-off. Qatar Airways is also offering a special service at the gate...
Europe’s Troubled Skies
Air traffic controller (ATC) strikes – causing massive delays and thousands of cancellations -- have become a Europe-wide phenomenon of late but those delays have paled into insignificance compared with the disruption caused by the continent’s air traffic management’s (ATM) inefficiencies, reports Quebec editor, Mike Dunbar in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. According to Pete Curran, IATA’s assistant ATM director, European passengers suffered more than 14 million minutes of delay in 2015; the bulk of which was due to the inefficiencies, with one million due...
Urgent Call For Electronics Ban Alternatives
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called on governments to urgently find alternatives to recently announced measures by the United States and the United Kingdom to restrict the carry-on of large electronic items on certain flights departing the Middle East and North Africa. “The current measures are not an acceptable long-term solution to whatever threat they are trying to mitigate. Even in the short term it is difficult to understand their effectiveness. And the commercial distortions they create are severe,” said IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac....
Turkish Airlines Honours Top Partners
Turkish Airlines held its first Toronto Agency Awards Ceremony last night at the Delta Toronto East Hotel honouring its top partners from 2016. Attendees were treated to a guest speaker, author Shashank Nigam, writer of SOAR which examines the airline industry, live music, dinner and an awards ceremony. Turkish Airlines, which flies to more countries than any other airline in the world, is renowned for its service and numerous connections made through Istanbul. Pictured at the event are Turkish Airlines' (l-r) Zafer Bolukbasi, general manager, Toronto, Tariq Anwar and Ayhan Ugur....
Porter Boosts North Bay Service
Porter Airlines has introduced a new schedule of daily flights between Toronto (Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport) and North Bay. According to officials, the improved departure times allow business travellers from North Bay to leave home in the morning, complete a full day of meetings in Toronto and return the same night. There is also a wider range of connecting flight options to numerous Porter destinations beyond Toronto, including Ottawa, Montreal, Thunder Bay, New York, Chicago and Boston. During the summer, weekday flights will also have continuing service to and from...
WestJet Updates Pre-Travel Notification Process
WestJet has updated how it communicates electronically with clients, in accordance with the industry standard set by IATA – ensuring clients receive timely and relevant operational information about their booking. The airline is advising agents that when a clients' contact information is included in their booking it results in a more enjoyable travel experience. Clients receive relevant flight information such as check-in reminders, as well as pro-active notifications about disruptions or delays that may affect them. WestJet has put together a detailed guide that lists all of the...
Air Canada Recognized
Air Canada has been named one of Canada's “Best Diversity” employers for 2017, the second consecutive year the carrier has been awarded this distinction. In naming Air Canada, Mediacorp Canada Inc. cited the airline's success promoting women, including in non-traditional roles. The award is based on Mediacorp's Canada's Top 100 Employers project, which also included Air Canada for the fourth consecutive year for 2017. “Diversity is a powerful tool in business. Studies show that diverse groups generate greater creativity and innovation. It is also essential for attracting and...
Canada Urged To Eliminate Crown Rents
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is urging the Canadian government to eliminate Crown rents as a way to improve the competitiveness of its aviation sector over consideration of airport privatization. “The Canadian government has already pocketed about $5 billion as the historical landlord of airport property. That’s a $5 billion disincentive to travel, to visit this wonderful country or to plan a business trip,” said IATA director general Alexandre de Juniac. “Eliminating Crown rents would boost Canada’s GDP by over $300 million annually, create more than...