Airlines
Porter Partners With Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay
Porter Escapes and Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay have launched a new partnership designed to make Toronto the “must-shop destination” for brides-to-be. All brides that book both a Kleinfeld Hudson’s Bay consultation and a Toronto Porter Escapes travel package will receive exclusive upgrades and promotions, including an extended two-hour initial consultation with a Kleinfeld bridal expert and a $50 discount per person off a Toronto Porter Escapes vacation package. “For many brides, the wedding dress is one of the most significant moments of the bridal experience,” says Jessica...
Cathay Pacific Says Thanks
Cathay Pacific Airways welcomed some 80 travel trade types to its 2016 Top Agent Award Dinner in Toronto last night (May 11) to recognize and thank agents for their support of the carrier. Nick Hays, vice-president, Canada for Cathay Pacific, told Press Today that 26 agencies were being recognized for achieving over $1 million in sales for the airline during the event. As for business out of Canada, Hays said that Cathay Pacific's routes are “healthy” and the airline has had a “good” year from this market. And he observed: “The market is competitive, but that's always...
WestJet Implements Amadeus Ancillary Services
WestJet pre-reserved seats, including Plus seats and fare families, are now available in the Amadeus global distribution channel. WestJet has implemented Amadeus Airline Ancillary Services which enables the airline to empower agents worldwide to better serve their customers’ needs as they book the additional services requested for their flights, all within an efficient and automated booking flow. Amadeus Airline Fare Families has also been implemented for WestJet, making its Econo, Flex and Plus fare options available in the Amadeus System. This will enable the airline to increase...
Pretty In Print
WestJet Vacations has released its new, updated and largest-ever print brochure. With over 324 pages, the 2016-2017 brochure includes more than 450 hotel descriptions, destination overviews, destination maps featuring hotel locations and more. Jane Clementino, director of agency sales for WestJet, commented: “WestJet strives to be easy to do business with and thanks to the valuable feedback from our travel agent partners, we have created a selling tool that does just that.” Clementino said that: “WestJet Vacations print brochure better serves travel agents and their clients by...
WOW Set To Take Off
WOW air, Iceland's ultra low-cost airline, received a warm Canadian welcome recently when one of its bright purple planes touched down on Canadian soil for the very first time. Passengers arriving on the inaugural flight were greeted at the gate by a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Skúli Mogensen, sole owner and CEO of WOW air, observed: “I'm thrilled to be aboard the first WOW air flight to Canada and to start connecting Canadians with Europe at super low fares. The fact that the first plane is touching down in Montreal – a city I lived in for nearly a decade –...
Demand Moderates In March
IATA reports that global passenger traffic results for March indicate that demand (measured in revenue passenger kilometers, or RPKs) rose 5.3%, compared to the same month last year. Capacity grew slightly faster at 5.9% which pushed the average load factor down by half a percentage point to 79.6%. The airline industry association said that March performance showed a moderate slowdown on the year-on-year growth rates recorded in January (7.2%) and February (8.6%) even after adjusting for the leap-year impact in February. Demand for international traffic grew significantly more...
Cathay Pacific Opens New Lounge at YVR
A new executive lounge for First and Business class passengers on Cathay Pacific Airways opened at Vancouver International Airport last week. The airy lounge features a Noodle Bar staffed with a chef preparing selections of Hong Kong dishes, like wonton soup and dim sum. It faces on to a cosy dining room. On the other side of a divider is a lounge with couches, chairs and tables with built-in power sockets. The signature feature of the lounge is large, floor-to-ceiling windows that face north, with views of the runways, aircraft and Vancouver’s mountain landscape. Complimentary...
Air Canada Celebrates New Hamilton-Montreal Service
Air Canada and Hamilton International Airport hosted a group of travel agents May 4 at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport to celebrate the launch of new non-stop service between Hamilton and Montreal. The double-daily service begins on May 24. Pictured at the event in Hamilton are Steve Goodfellow, director of sales – Eastern Canada, Air Canada, Tracey Bellamy, director, Global Accounts, Air Canada, Christine McKay, travel consultant, TravelPath, JoAnne Patterson, leisure and national groups manager, Vision Travel Solutions, Ancaster, and Mike “Pinball”...