Airlines
Air Transat Takes Off To Portugal
Air Transat will be adding another direct Toronto-Lisbon flight to its transatlantic summer program, which will now be offering daily non-stop service to Portugal via Lisbon or Porto during high season. The new flight will be operated from Toronto, and service will also be available from Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver with the carrier's connecting flights. Annick Guérard, president and general manager of Transat Tours Canada, said: “In addition to travelling with the best leisure airline in North America according to Skytrax, Air Transat clients can benefit from flights to two...
GNTO, Lufthansa Gear Up For 2017
Last night (Feb. 8) was certainly a nasty night in Toronto, but the freezing rain and treacherous road conditions didn't dampen the spirits of those attending the German National Tourist Offices (GNTO) launch of its 2017 celebrations which highlighted a host of special events, including the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther and the Reformation. Antje Splettstoesser, the director of the GNTO Canada, reported that while the final numbers for 2016 aren't in yet, Germany hosted 75.2 million overnight stays between January and November of last year, representing a 1% increase. Canadian...
Air Canada Recognized
Air Canada has been honoured with the “2017 Award for Best Corporate Sustainability Report – Transportation” in Canada, as recognized by the Finance and Sustainability Initiative (FSI). The annual competition aims to promote excellence in sustainable development reporting among Canadian public companies. Air Canada was selected to receive this honour for its 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Report, Citizens of the World, updated annually on www.aircanada.com/csr. The airline's fifth corporate sustainability report details Air Canada's performance during 2015 in four key...
San Antonio, Toronto Connect
Air Canada and the San Antonio International Airport have announced a new daily non-stop flight to Toronto that will begin on May 1, 2017. Canada is already among San Antonio's top international leisure markets, and the pending connection will make it much easier for travellers to experience the heart of Texas. San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor, said: “Daily nonstop service to and from San Antonio and Toronto provides a great opportunity for both cities. With San Antonio celebrating its Tricentennial in 2018, we hope Canadians take advantage of the flights to come see everything we...
Airlines Post Strong Results In 2016
IATA reports that in 2016, full-year global passenger traffic results showg demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 6.3% compared to 2015 (or 6.0% if adjusted for the leap year). The strong performance was well ahead of the 10-year average annual growth rate of 5.5%. Capacity rose 6.2% (unadjusted) compared to 2015, pushing the load factor up 0.1 percentage points to a record full-year average high of 80.5%. A particularly strong performance was reported for December with an 8.8% rise in demand outstripping 6.6% capacity growth. Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's director...
Making It Easier To Earn
WestJet has unveiled its enhanced and energized WestJet Rewards program, simplifying the user experience, along with the ability to earn more rewards, faster. Marshall Wilmot, senior vice-president, marketing and digital for WestJet, said: “We have been continuously working to make WestJet Rewards the best rewards program available to Canadians, and these changes reflect these efforts.” Wilmot noted that: “As of today, WestJet Rewards has no more anniversary earn rate resets, no more changing earn rates at different spend levels, three easy-to-understand tiers and lower...
WestJet to Launch Calgary-Nashville Service
WestJet will become the first Canadian carrier to feature non-stop service between Calgary and Nashville when twice-weekly flights begin May 4. WestJet began service to Nashville from Toronto last year and currently flies six times weekly 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 accessed directly through smartphones, tablets or computers. In other news, WestJet launched daily service from Toronto to Sudbury, Ont. on...
Celebrate Canada With Exclusive Fairmont, AC Package
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Air Canada have partnered to help celebrate Canada's 150th birthday with an exclusive new package, Après in the Air, a collection of unique experiences and adventures at three of Fairmont’s most iconic Canadian properties. The package -- beginning at $300,000 -- includes a round trip for 58 people by private charter with Air Canada’s all Business Class private charter service, Jetz, and stays at the Fairmont Château Laurier, Fairmont Le Château Montebello and Fairmont Tremblant. According to officials, the adventure begins with the...