Airlines
Zika Concerns Growing
Tourism industry heavyweights in Canada are moving to deal with fears that travellers may have about the Zika virus, while at the same time reporting they've only seen limited concern here about a health threat that the World Health Organization last week said is spreading “explosively,” reports Ian Stalker in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. The WHO has now declared the Zika virus is an international health emergency following a Feb. 1 meeting: with authorities reporting it has now been found in more than 20 countries, most of them in Latin America. One WHO member...
Air Transat Pilots Send A Signal
Air Transat's pilots have given their union a mandate for a strike. The pilots voted in favour of authorizing a legal strike yesterday, with 96% of the 524 eligible pilots – who are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA) – taking part in the ballot and 97% of those voting in favour of withdrawing services if required. Capt. Patrice Roy, chairman of Air Transat's ALPA Master Executive Council, said: “These results serve as a notice to the company that our pilots are united and stand firm behind our goal of achieving a fair and equitable contract....
Air Canada, CALDA Reach New Agreement
Air Canada and the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA) have signed a new contract, subject to ratification, on collective agreement terms for 12 years. Air Canada's flight dispatchers are based at the airline's Operations Centre near Toronto Pearson International Airport and assist flight crew in the preparation for flight departures and arrivals. “This 12-year agreement with CALDA is a historic achievement that recognizes the important contribution of Air Canada's flight dispatchers and, together with our other employee groups, will support long-term and profitable...
Dragonair Rebranded
The Cathay Pacific Group has entered a new era of growth and opportunity for its two airlines. Cathay Pacific’s wholly owned sister airline Dragonair is to be rebranded as Cathay Dragon. The two will remain as separate airlines, operating under their own licences. By more closely aligning the two brands, officials say the rebranding will capitalize on Cathay Pacific’s international brand recognition and leverage on Cathay Dragon’s unique connectivity into Mainland China – one of the world’s fastest-growing business and leisure travel markets. The airlines’ customers will...
Turkish Airlines Teams Up With Warner Bros.
Turkish Airlines has launched a partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures on the highly anticipated action adventure film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In the movie, a pivotal scene unfolds aboard a 777 Turkish Airlines plane. Outside the movie, Turkish Airlines is unveiling innovative movie-themed experiences that give fans around the world an inside look into the world of the iconic Super Heroes facing off for the first time on the big screen when the film comes to cinemas worldwide beginning March 25. Drawing inspiration from the film, Turkish Airlines has created an array of...
WestJet Encore Best for On-Time Performance
WestJet Encore flights arrived at their destinations on schedule more than 90% of the time in 2015 – the best among North American regional airlines – according to FlightStats.com's seventh annual global on-time performance awards. “To be the best in North America at arriving on time just a few short years after launching WestJet Encore is an extraordinary achievement,” said Ferio Pugliese, president, WestJet Encore, and executive vice-president, WestJet. “Over the last 12 months we have made a concerted effort to improve our on-time performance and this is a tribute to the...
WestJet Adds Lift Out Of Toronto
WestJet is launching new non-stop service from Toronto to Nashville and Los Angeles as part of its 2016 summer schedule. Bob Cummings, executive vice-president, commercial for WestJet, said: “We are excited about our schedule and connectivity out of Toronto. By this summer we will operate more than 120 flights per day from Toronto including new services to Nashville, Los Angeles and Boston in addition to our previously announced daily service to London, England. Building on our already strong connectivity into Toronto from across Canada is a key element of our strategy for profitable...
Emirates Tops Million Mark On Instagram
Emirates has become the first airline to hit the one million follower mark on Instagram. The Dubai-based airline launched its Instagram channel in November 2013 and in less than three years, it has used diverse and engaging content to generate over 5.8 million likes and comments. From sports, lifestyle and travel, to adventure and food, Emirates uses the channel to tell visual stories that embody what the brand stands for: connecting people with what they love. Creative activations such as its hugely popular “Emirates Cabin Crew Instagrammers” campaign - where six members of...