Airlines
APEX Calls for Immediate Solutions to Electronics Ban
The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) has called for immediate government-approved security solutions for the airline electronics ban announced by the United States and United Kingdom. IATA calculations indicate 393 flights per week will be impacted by the electronics ban. By APEX load-factor calculations, this translates into more than three million affected passengers per year. With airline and government co-ordination, APEX believes that solutions may be rapidly implemented by airlines to further increase security and allow personal electronics on-board. “The US...
American Invites Agents to Discover New Zealand
American Airlines (AA) is offering agents an exclusive fare on flights to New Zealand. For a limited time, IATAN- or CLIA-registered agents are eligible to receive up to a 70% discount on New Zealand airfare and can more easily take a step toward becoming a certified Tourism New Zealand NZ Specialist. The 100% Pure New Zealand Specialist Program is designed to help agents build knowledge of New Zealand and better sell the destination. The free program provides online training modules, webinars and informative videos about what New Zealand’s diverse regions have to offer. A trip to...
Emirates Introduces Laptop Handling Service
Emirates is set to introduce a new service that will enable customers to use their laptops and tablet devices until just before they board their flights to the US. Emirates customers travelling to the US via Dubai will be able to utilize their laptops and tablet devices on the first part of their journeys, and also during transit in Dubai. They must then declare and hand over their laptops, tablets and other banned electronic devices to security staff at the gate just before boarding their US-bound flight. The devices will be carefully packed into boxes, loaded into the aircraft hold,...
WestJet Introduces ‘WestJet Agent’
WestJet has launched WestJet Agent, a new version of its booking tool used by travel agents. Previously known as TA Web, WestJet Agent was developed using feedback from the travel trade. New user-friendly features and enhancements make booking travel easier than ever. “Our travel trade partners shared some great suggestions for how to improve TA Web, and we listened. WestJet Agent offers exciting new features that travel agents asked for, like the ability to make multi-city and open-jaw bookings,” said Jane Clementino, WestJet director of agency sales. “WestJet is dedicated to...
Brussels Airlines Set To Connect Canada With India
Brussels Airlines is preparing to act as a Canada-India bridge thanks to an imminent route that will enable the carrier to offer clients what it says may be viewed as the quintessential European destination en route. March 29 sees the carrier begin five-times-a-week service between Brussels and Mumbai, its first Asian route. The carrier, which falls under the banner of the Lufthansa Group, counts Toronto among its North American destinations, and Christophe Allard, the airline's director for North America, told a March 22 Toronto event that the carrier wants to “connect with the...
TAP Expands Stopover Options
Travellers on TAP Portugal airlines now can incorporate a stopover of up to three days in Lisbon and Porto, at no extra charge, when booking flights from Canada or the US to the Azores (pictured), Madeira or the Algarve. With the expansion of its popular Stopover program to Faro (the Algarve), Ponta Delgada and Terceira (the Azores), Funchal or Porto Santo (Madeira), TAP is making all of its domestic destinations available for a visit to Lisbon or Porto on their way. The airline is adding additional frequencies to each destination. In June, TAP will add a fourth daily flight from...
Sunwing Resumes YVR-Caribbean Services
Sunwing will once again be offering Western Canadians summer service to three Caribbean destinations from Vancouver via Toronto. From May 17 to Sept. 3, Sunwing will offer flights and vacation packages to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Montego Bay, Jamaica and St. Maarten. From June 1 until Sept. 1, flight connections to Punta Cana are available on Thursdays and Sundays. Montego Bay is accessed via weekly service departing each Saturday from June 3 until Sept. 3. Vacationers headed to St. Maarten can take advantage of regular Wednesday service between May 17 and Aug. 31. With...
New US Security Rules Raise Questions
Passengers travelling from 10 airports in eight Middle Eastern and African countries to the US will be barred from bringing laptops and other large electronics into the cabin as carry-ons, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced. DHS is taking this step in response to “[e]valuated intelligence [that] indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items.” The U.K. has since issued a similar ban, and it's reported that Canada is reviewing the situation. Global Business Travel...