Airlines
YVR Airport Workers Threaten Strike Action
Airport workers at Vancouver International Airport issued a 72-hour strike notice yesterday, a move that could affect flights out of YVR this weekend. The labour dispute is between Swissport Canada and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, who handle the airport’s baggage services and clean aircraft. Earlier this month, a tentative agreement was scrapped after union members voted against it. It's reported that the two sides have re-entered negotiations, and airport officials say contingency plans are being put in place in case of a strike. Agents...
AC Launches Altitude Skyriders Kids’ Club
Air Canada is upping the game for young fliers with the introduction of a new kids' club called Air Canada Altitude Skyriders – designed to make flights even more exciting and enjoyable for children between the ages of two and 12 years old. Once parents register their children for free online at Air Canada Altitude Skyriders, children will receive a kit containing a welcome letter, an exclusive Skyriders luggage tag and a logbook to chart their flights. Every time the child travels, he or she will also earn printable badges online to commemorate special milestones or achievements....
Transat, Aéroports de Montréal Unveil Espace Air Transat
Transat has unveiled Espace Air Transat, a space designed to reflect the airline’s image in the newly opened Montréal-Trudeau international airport terminal. Espace Air Transat is designed to welcome travellers in “a lively atmosphere brightened up by the joy of vacations.” “Given that close to a million Air Transat passengers will pass through the Montréal-Trudeau airport in 2017, this unique business partnership with Aéroports de Montréal was a natural move for us, and we are very happy about it,” says Annick Guérard, president and general manager of Transat Tours...
McCafé Takes Flight With WestJet
WestJet has partnered with McDonald's Canada in a move that will see the restaurant's McCafé Premium Roast coffee available aboard WestJet flights. The first flight serving the McCafé coffee took place Nov. 21. By Dec. 1, WestJet will offer the premium roast coffee across its fleet of Boeing 737NG and 767NG aircraft with the company's regional airline, WestJet Encore, to follow. “We are delighted to bring a new way to café on board WestJet and know that our 21 million guests per year will enjoy the taste of a complimentary McCafé Premium Roast Coffee wherever they are...
Pick A Winner
Air Canada is asking Canadians to help select the winner of the Air Canada Athlete of the Year Award 2016. Voters can go to http://athleteoftheyear.aircanada.com/ and vote for one of three finalists who were chosen for proudly flying the Canadian flag by demonstrating a drive for excellence, leadership and integrity. The voting ends Dec. 2 with the winner to be announced Dec. 8, 2016. This year's finalists are: Andre De Grasse – Athletics Derek Drouin – Athletics (High Jump) Rosie MacLennan – Gymnastics (Trampoline) Andrew Shibata, managing director, brand at...
WestJet Adds Arizona Lift
WestJet will launch service to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport from Calgary and Edmonton beginning Jan. 19, 2017 and seats are now available for sale. Bob Cummings, executive vice-president, commercial for WestJet, said: “We are proud of our expanding network of more than 100 cities in over 20 countries, and our reputation as an established, trusted brand with more than two decades of service to Canadians.” Cummings continued: “We have provided hundreds of thousands of our guests with non-stop service between Canada and Phoenix since 2004, and now look forward to bringing low...
Sunwing Adds Calgary-Costa Rica Service
Sunwing has announced the introduction of a new flight from Calgary to Liberia, Costa Rica. Departing weekly on Mondays between Dec. 25 and April 16, 2017, the new service will allow customers to trade in ski goggles for sunglasses this holiday season and experience the famous “Pura Vida” lifestyle of this exotic Central American country. This latest addition to Sunwing’s winter flight schedule (which already includes a number of the region’s most popular vacation hotspots such as Montego Bay, Jamaica and Cancun, Mexico) brings the total number of destinations offered from...
All Quiet On The Biz Travel Front
In its newly released Global Business Travel Forecast for 2017, American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) says that after an uneven 2016 that saw only limited increases in overall pricing, the business travel outlook for next year looks to be similarly subdued, with flat to moderate rate increases expected globally across air, hotel and ground transportation. The forecast notes that the continued slowdown of the Chinese economy and depressed oil prices, the United Kingdom’s impending departure from the European Union, growing populist politics and increased security concerns in...