Airlines
WestJet Celebrates Travel Agents
WestJet is celebrating Travel Agent Day as part of its annual TA Appreciation month-long celebration, a campaign created by the airline to recognize and thank its valued agent partners for their support. “We again thank our travel agent partners for their incredible help and support of WestJet over the past 20 years. You have been pivotal in the success of our airline,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet executive vice-president, Commercial. “We pride ourselves on our great working relationships with our TAs and we continue to invest in the travel trade industry to ensure we are always...
National Updates Summer Schedule
Orlando-based National Airlines has announced changes to its planned summer flight schedule, including the postponement of expansion at Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) in New York and transitioning to seasonal service at Windsor International Airport (YQG) in Ontario. Windsor service will transition to seasonal status beginning May 22 as the company analyzes market demand and fleet priorities. National is delaying the June 1 launch of service from Long Island to Puerto Rico due to lack of available aircraft for expansion service. The change affects planned flights from Long Island...
Air Canada Posts Q1 Results
Air Canada has reported first quarter 2016 record EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and aircraft rent) of $460 million compared to EBITDAR of $442 million in the same quarter in 2015. For the 12 months ended March 31, 2016, Air Canada's EBITDAR margin was 18.3%. Air Canada recorded adjusted net income of $85 million or $0.30 per diluted share compared to adjusted net income of $122 million or $0.41 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2015. On a GAAP basis, in the first quarter of 2016, Air Canada reported operating income of $154 million...
British Airways Launches Europe Sale
British Airways is offering special package deals to Europe this fall, with flight plus hotel deals to top destinations such as London, Dublin, Barcelona and Rome. Package prices start from US$999 per person for travel to London from New York (JFK and Newark), Boston, Washington, DC or Baltimore, based on double occupancy. The deal includes roundtrip World Traveller economy airfare, five nights at the Royal National hotel, taxes, fees and carrier charges. Similar package deals are also available from all other British Airways US gateways to London. The vacation deal runs through May...
Ethiopian Airlines Marks 70 Years of Service
As it marks 70 years of service this month, Ethiopian Airlines took time to thank agents for their support yesterday (April 20) and inform them on all that's new during a breakfast seminar in Toronto. The Star Alliance member offers three weekly flights out of Toronto, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays – a service airline officials say they would like to see increased. Ethiopian Airlines, which works extensively with Air Canada across Canada, and has seen 400% growth in the past 10 years and offers a fleet of 76 aircraft with an average age of five years. Ethiopian was the...
Air Canada to Launch YVR-Delhi Service
Air Canada has introduced new non-stop flights from Vancouver to Delhi, India, beginning Oct. 20 in time for Diwali festivities. The seasonal, three-times weekly flights complement Air Canada's Toronto-Delhi non-stop service launched last fall. To promote the new Vancouver route, Air Canada is offering special introductory fares starting as low as $999 round trip, all-in. Tickets are now available for purchase. “Customer response to our Toronto-Delhi service has been extremely positive, and with this new seasonal Vancouver route, we are strategically increasing our presence in the...
SAA Celebrates Freedom Day With Sale Fares
South African Airways (SAA) is celebrating South Africa’s Freedom Day with a five-day sale offering special fares from New York-JFK and Washington, DC-Dulles to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and East London. Freedom Day Fares start at US$1,299 (restrictions apply) from Washington, DC-Dulles to Johannesburg and US$1,399 (restrictions apply) from New York-York to Johannesburg for travel during the peak summer season. The special fares are available for sale through April 30, for travel June 1 through Aug....
WestJet Offers 24/7 Social Media Support
WestJet now supports guests' questions, comments and requests 24/7 via its social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter. “We welcome more than 20 million guests on board every year and we are thrilled to be the first Canadian airline to respond to their needs around the clock on social media,” said Greg Hounslow, WestJet manager, Emerging Media. “Guest care has been at the core of WestJet's success since the beginning and we made this further investment in our social presence to continue to meet the evolving needs of our guests. With our international expansion it is critical to...