Airlines
WestJet Spreads The Holiday Cheer
Tis the season... it was a #WestJetChristmas come early as thousands of WestJet employees – led by Santa dressed in blue pants, jacket and hat – hit the streets and airports yesterday (Dec. 9) around the WestJet world with the goal of performing 12,000 random acts of kindness in a 24-hour period as part of WestJet's 12,000 Mini-Miracles Day. Beginning in Halifax, Santa travelled aboard a WestJet Boeing 737 where he will made stops in Toronto, Calgary, Yellowknife (delivering gifts by dogsled) and Vancouver (where he handed out toys at Ronald McDonald House B.C.). Santa was joined...
Air Transat Hosts Special Flights to the North Pole
For the 11th year in a row, Air Transat and The Children’s Wish Foundation teamed up to create a magical, unforgettable experience for hundreds of sick children across Canada as part of the Flights in Search of Santa event. These annual flights bound for the North Pole take off simultaneously from Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. Air Transat is also donating more than $143,000 to the foundation, representing the amounts collected over the past year as part of the air carrier’s Small Change, Big Hearts program and other initiatives. The memorable day began at the Air Transat...
‘Less Poor Than We Were Before’
The International Air Transport Association has upped its industry-wide profit outlook for this year and next. The main beneficiaries will be North America's carriers, which will be reaping more more than half of the global total this year and next, according to the new numbers. IATA CEO Tony Tyler announced that the worldwide outlook for 2015 is now for a $33 billion net profit and $36.3 billion for 2016. The combined Canadian and US industry is expected to share more than $19 billion of the total take-home each year, reports Press Today's Mike Dunbar, who's attending IATA's...
WestJetters Set to Perform 12,000 Mini Miracles
Santa will pull out his blue coat, pants and hat to help WestJet elves reach their goal of performing 12,000 mini miracles across Canada and the WestJet world tomorrow (Dec. 9), as part of WestJet's Mini-Miracle Day. “WestJet's goal is to officially kick off the holiday season by performing 12,000 random acts of kindness in an effort to enrich the lives of everyone in the WestJet world,” said Richard Bartrem, WestJet vice-president, Marketing and Communications. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to be on the receiving end of a mini miracle.” In an effort to give his...
Last Chance to Win Thailand Trip
Agents still have time to enter to win a trip for two to Thailand, courtesy of the Qatar Airways and The Tourism Authority of Thailand. Through today (Dec. 7), book two economy class tickets to Thailand with Qatar Airways for entry into the contest. Agents can triple their chances by booking a Business Class ticket. To enter, visit...
It’s All About The Future
“Pretty optimistic,” is how Michael Friisdahl describes his mood when asked about his move to MLSE. “I think it's like my luck with Air Canada. I was there for three of the best years in [the company's] history and I think now is the right time to be with MLSE,” he says. It's certainly a big change, but after three decades in the travel business, change is something that the 53-year-old Friisdahl has dealt with on a daily basis, reports executive editor, Bob Mowat in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. In fact, when you ask him about the changes he's...
Air Canada Flying High
Air Canada has reported a 9.5% system-wide capacity increase and a record 78.6% load factor for November 2015. And the airline noted that on the additional capacity, it saw its system-wide traffic grow by 10.8%. (Air Canada reports traffic results on a system-wide basis, including regional airlines from which Air Canada purchases capacity and Air Canada rouge.) Calin Rovinescu, president and CEO of Air Canada, commented: “I am pleased to report a record load factor of 78.6% for the month of November. Air Canada generated greater traffic in all markets served, led by international...
Maintaining Momentum
IATA reports that global passenger traffic results for October 2015 indicate continued strong demand growth for both domestic and international traffic compared to the same month in 2014. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 7.5%, which was in line with the 7.4% year-over-year expansion seen in September. October capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 5.7%, and load factor rose 1.4 percentage points to 80.5%. The growth in air travel has been stimulated by lower fares, particularly for leisure travel. Data for the first 8 months of the year show a 5%...