Airlines
Strong Traffic Demand Continues
IATA reports that global passenger traffic continued to be strong in November and was above the 10-year average rate of 5.6%. Total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs) rose 5.9% compared to the same period a year-ago. Although below the October rate of 7.1%, this largely was owing to the impact of factors that are expected to be short-lived, including the cessation of operations by Transaero, Russia’s second largest carrier, and labour strikes at Lufthansa. The healthy demand continued despite some softening in economic growth, in large part owing to falling fares. Data for the...
Take Off With Transat Seat Sale
Air Transat has unveiled details of its January Seat Sale which offers travellers deals on more than 60 destinations in Europe and the South, for bookings made by February 1. From Amsterdam to Zagreb, Air Transat offers direct flights to 28 destinations in Europe, including several new ones like Croatia, available as of June 15 from Montreal and Toronto, as well as new direct flights from Montreal to Glasgow and Vancouver to Rome. As for the South, Air Transat offers a broad portfolio of 34 Sun destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Florida, and Central and South America. Air...
WestJet, Aeromexico Sign Code-Share Deal
WestJet and Aeromexico have signed a code-sharing agreement. The new deal will give Aeromexico's customers enhanced connecting service via Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver to more than 10 Canadian destinations including Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Halifax, Deer Lake and St. John's, among others. The agreement provides WestJet guests new connecting service from WestJet's extensive Canadian network to Mexico City via Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. In addition, WestJet will also now sell non-stop flights to and from Mexico City from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. WestJet...
In A Festival Mood
The just-launched Qatar Airways Travel Festival offers something for everyone, and that includes packages with discounts for single, family and group travellers, access to special discounts on car rental and hotel deals and lots more. The Travel Festival will be available for sale from Jan. 11 to Jan. 17, 2016 for travel between Jan. 19 through to Dec. 15, 2016. Offers applicable on Economy and Business class return airfares to more than 150 destinations including the Middle East, Indian Sub-continent, Asia Pacific, and Africa. Passengers can book online at...
Testing The Waters
Transat A.T. Inc. has started a process to see if there are any third parties interested in acquiring its tour operating businesses in France and Greece. At this time, the company said in a statement, no negotiations have yet been entered into; no assurance can be given that such negotiations will be entered into or that, if and when entered into, that any transaction will be completed. Transat A.T.'s statement continues: “Should such a transaction take place, it will have no impact on Transat Tours Canada’s transatlantic program or on Air Transat operations and growth,...
AC to Airlift Almost 1,500 Syrian Refugees to Canada
With yesterday's arrival of flight AC1999 from Amman, Jordan at Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Air Canada completed the first of five flights to be operated on behalf of the Canadian government that will bring almost 1,500 Syrian refugees to Canada. “By next week, Air Canada will have brought close to 1,500 Syrian refugees to Canada to make a home and start a new life,” said Marcel Forget, Air Canada's senior vice-president, Commercial Strategy, in Amman to oversee the multi-flight airlift. “It's a tremendous honour to be part of this initiative. Air Canada has a long...
Transat Now Offering ‘Option Flex’ for Europe
Transat is now offering its “Option Flex” service to travellers booking a package to Europe, including roundtrip flights with Air Transat, consecutive overnight stays and breakfast at the hotel, as well as roundtrip transfers by coach between the airport and the hotel. Available for $89 per person at the time of booking, Option Flex lets vacationers change their travel date, destination or hotel up to 72 hours before departure, or even transfer their vacation package to a friend or family member up to one week before departure. Flex also makes it possible to cancel a trip and...
Working To Reduce Fraudulent Air Payment Transactions
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is expanding its activities to prevent payment fraud in the air travel industry. According to the association, payment fraud costs the industry an estimated US$858 million annually, approximately US$639 million of which is borne by airlines and the remainder by other participants in the travel value chain, including travel agents. IATA is co-operating with Ypsilon Net AG to make IATA Argus Fraud Manager (IATA Argus) available to airlines and travel agents. While some airlines already use a range of systems to reduce fraud activity...