Airlines
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...
SAA Offers Conference Delegates Special Trade Fares
South African Airways (SAA) is once again offering special travel industry fares for upcoming tourism conferences in South Africa. The 2017 travel trade fares are being offered from North America for travel industry delegates that are attending the World Travel Market – Africa, April 19-21, with International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM-Africa), April 21-23 and We Are Africa, May 1-4, all hosted in Cape Town. Indaba, Africa’s premier and longest-running travel show, hosted by South African Tourism, will be held in Durban May 16-18. These special fares start from $519...
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,...