Airlines
Cathay Expands YVR-Hong Kong Service
Cathay Pacific Airways is adding three new non-stop flights between Vancouver and Hong Kong, using the new Airbus 350-900XWB aircraft. Starting March 28, 2017 three flights will be added to Cathay's existing twice daily non-stop service, increasing the frequency from 14 to 17 flights per week. According to officials, the three additional early morning departures, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, will provide West Coast passengers with unprecedented travel options to Hong Kong and beyond to multiple destinations in Asia and more than 23 cities in Mainland China. Cathay...
Historic Commercial Flight From US Lands in Cuba
After more than 50 years, the US resumed regular scheduled commercial flight service to Cuba yesterday (Aug. 31). A JetBlue Airways commercial jet from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., marked the first arrival in Santa Clara, Cuba. The airline is one of up to 10 carriers – amounting to roughly 300 flights a week – scheduled to link the destinations this year. Before the arrival of JetBlue Flight 387, passenger air links between Cuba and the US were by charter flights only for the past half a...
‘Sell & Win’ With United
Agents have a chance to win the trip of a lifetime with United Airlines. “Learn, Play, Sell & Win with United” runs from today (Sept. 1) through Oct. 31 and all travel industry leisure sales accounts (wholesale, cruise, tour operator, consolidator) and their sub-agents are eligible to win. Enter your ticket numbers by clicking on the “Sell to Win” tab for a chance to win. United Economy bookings equal one entry; United BusinessFirst, three entries; and United GlobalFirst, five entries. Agents can also take part in a weekly quiz to be eligible for prize drawings of $25...
Sunwing Adds Second Sunshine Flight From Kelowna
Sunwing is expanding the vacation options for residents of Kelowna, BC with the introduction of a new weekly flight to Cancun, Mexico for the coming 2016/2017 season. The flight will depart Sundays between Nov. 6 and April 9, 2017, and is being offered in addition to Varadero, Cuba service. Sunwing Vacations offers travellers a range of resorts in the Cancun region, including Relax Resorts, SplashWorld Resorts, SMILE Resorts and the Sensatori Azul Riviera...
Going Strategic
In a newly released study, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) reports that the concept of the “strategic airline” is on the rise among business travel managers and will be a factor in air carrier negotiations over the next two years. The Evolution of Airline Agreements found that while 89% of survey respondents were satisfied with current airline agreements, 81% said they would be focusing their energies on carriers deemed crucial to the corporate objective. The mechanism for those negotiations is well-established. ACTE President, Kurt Knackstedt observed...
EXCLUSIVE: Toronto Pearson Is Flying High
Make no mistake about it, Toronto Pearson Airport is on course for a bright future, reports Bob Mowat in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. During a luncheon at Toronto's tony Boulevard Club hosted by Baxter Travel Media and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), a group of 40 or so senior airline industry executives had the opportunity to get the inside story on what's new and what's ahead for Toronto Pearson from the GTAA's director aviation business development, John Sharp. Sharp began by telling his audience that in the 1970s, Toronto Pearson served...
Sunwing Adds Sudbury-Punta Cana Flights
Sunwing Vacations is giving residents of Northern Ontario another reason to leave the cold behind this winter with the introduction of a new flight from Sudbury to Punta Cana, starting weekly on Thursdays from Dec. 22. Sunwing Vacations offers a variety of resorts in Punta Cana catering to all tastes. Friends and couples may choose to stay at one of Sunwing’s adults-only Relax Resorts, while Sunwing’s SMILE Resorts offer families a host of exclusive benefits including Kids Stay, Play and Eat Free deals, special teen pricing and complimentary kids clubs. Designed to appeal to...
WestJet Launches Its Status Match to Gold
WestJet is offering members of any airline or travel rewards program the opportunity to obtain gold status in its WestJet Rewards program. It is the third time WestJet has offered the matching program to frequent Canadian flyers and the first time WestJet has offered status match to all airline and travel rewards top-tier program members. “In six years, we have built a loyalty program that we believe offers the best value to the travelling public,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet executive vice-president, Commercial. “We recognize that it can take a long time to reach gold status...