Airlines
Embracing NDC
The retail travel trade need not fear IATA’s New Distribution Capability (NDC) currently being beta-tested by the first batch of member airlines. In fact, they should be wholeheartedly embracing the new XML internet transmission standard since it puts them on an equal sales footing with carrier web sites, reports Montreal editor, Mike Dunbar in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. And, if the Internet had been around in the 1960s, the airlines would not have developed the computer reservations systems that are still – 40 years or so later – being used as the...
Canada Expands Air Agreements With Australia, China
Canada-Australia have expanded their Air Transport Agreement, effective immediately, allowing airlines to serve any number of cities here and in the land Down Under. Under the expanded agreement, capacity available to Canadian and Australian airlines for services to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth will increase from 3,000 to 6,000 seats per week for each country immediately and then increase to 9,000 seats starting in December 2016. A number of regulatory requirements regarding airline pricing are also removed, which will give airlines much greater flexibility when offering...
Korean Air Going Daily
While it was a celebration to mark the holiday season and thank top producers, last night's gala at Le Parc Dining & Banquet Hall in Thornhill, Ont. hosted by Korean Air and the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) was not without some news. Korean Airlines took the opportunity to announce that it will begin daily service from Toronto to Seoul beginning June 1, 2016. The airline will also be offering its new upgraded business class out of Toronto starting in June. The evening also saw officials pay tribute to long-time Korean Air employee Danny Tse (see below), who has retired after...
Avoiding The Crush
According to a new survey by Emirates, 64% of Canadian travellers would travel on Christmas to escape the holiday crowds at the airport. Emirates' survey also found that those questioned showed a clear desire to maximize value for money with close to a third (30%) of Canadian travellers indicating that food and drink not only mattered, but made a difference to their flying experience; and a vast majority (69%) agreed that comfortable seats would most enhance their experience on a long-haul flight. As Emirates' country manager for Canada, Don McWilliam sees it, “Canadians are...
WestJet Christmas Video Available for Viewing
WestJet is celebrating the release of its fourth annual holiday video, WestJet Christmas Miracle: 12,000 Mini Miracles, showing how WestJetters and Blue Santa inspired nearly 32,000 random acts of kindness across Canada and from as far away as Europe and Australia. To view the video, visit http://bit.ly/1TP7C2h. Set to the tune of the Carol of the Blue Hats, the video tells the story of a magical 24 hours where WestJetters, and those moved by their actions, went out of their way to do something special for someone else. The video's narrative demonstrates the power a simple act of...
Air Transat Among the World’s Top 10 Airlines
The Atmosfair Airline Index has once again ranked Air Transat among the world’s 10 best performing airlines in regards to fuel efficiency and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The only North American airline in Atmosfair’s top 10, Air Transat ranks fifth in the world in the long-haul category and ninth in all categories of this annual index, which evaluates the environmental performance of close to 200 airlines. “We are extremely proud of these results that place us among the most climate-friendly airlines,” commented Jean-François Lemay, general manager, Air...
Craig Landry Named President of Air Canada Leisure Group
Air Canada has appointed Craig Landry, currently vice-president, marketing at Air Canada, president of the Air Canada Leisure Group. In his new position, Landry will be responsible for the integrated leisure group, which consists of Air Canada Vacations and the leisure airline Air Canada rouge. “I am very pleased to announce Craig Landry's appointment as the new president of the Air Canada Leisure Group. As vice-president of marketing at Air Canada, Craig successfully managed and revitalized all facets of our brand, including new product development, as we embarked on our...
WestJet Increases Service From Calgary
WestJet has launched new non-stop service from Calgary to Huatulco, its 10th destination in Mexico, and will add new non-stop flights from Calgary to Liberia, Costa Rica, beginning Dec. 19. With these new services, WestJet will operate 109 daily departures to 47 destinations from Calgary International Airport this winter, an increase of 12% and 17% respectively over last winter. The airline now offers non-stop service from Calgary to 26 Canadian, 10 US and 11 international...