Airlines
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%...
Start 2016 Off Right With Sunwing
Sunwing Vacations has launched a New Year's Resolution Sale that offers savings of up to 40% on the operator's beach getaways for a limited time. Now that's a resolution that's worth keeping. From Dec. 5 to Dec. 11, agents' customers can take advantage of discounted rates on vacations to the most popular destination hotspots in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America; with over 30 local gateways to choose from across Canada. For more information on Sunwing Vacations' New Year's Resolution Sale, agents should go to http://www.sunwing.ca...
ASL Unveils Summer Flying
ASL Airlines France has confirmed that it will continue to operator flights from Halifax to Dublin and Paris in the summer of 2016. Flights are now available for booking and the carrier indicated that it will operate the service for three and a half months this summer, beginning in July. The airline, which was formerly known as Europe Airpost, will operate flights beginning July 7 and continuing until Oct. 14, 2016, using a Boeing 737-700, configured in a two-class lay-out, with a capacity of 130 seats -- 16 in Premium class and 114 in Economy class. Fares will begin at CDN$797...
Hope Air Celebrates 100,000th Flight
Hope Air, the unique national charity that arranges free flights for Canadians who are in financial need and must travel to healthcare, celebrated its 100,000th flight yesterday (Dec. 3). Hope Air was established in 1986 and for the past 29 years has helped thousands of Canadians get to crucial medical appointments. Hope Air’s 100,000th flight was provided to 56-year-old Richard Giroux of Hanmer, Ont. Giroux suffers from liver disease and is on the waiting list for a liver transplant. He must travel from Sudbury to Toronto every few months to see his doctors, but because of his...
AC rouge Adds Seasonal Toronto-Charlottetown Service
Air Canada rouge is expanding in Eastern Canada with the addition of twice daily seasonal non-stop service between Toronto and Charlottetown, PEI beginning May 2, 2016. Flights and optional Air Canada Vacations (ACV) packages are available. ACV currently has seven-day vacation packages available from Charlottetown to sun destinations via Toronto from $847 round-trip, all-in. In summer 2016, Air Canada rouge and Air Canada Express will operate up to 69 scheduled non-stop flights each week from Charlottetown to four destinations across Canada. Air Canada offers twice daily summer...
Eye Of The Storm
The bloody attack in Paris and subsequent fears of a terrorist attack in nearby Brussels has put a dent in those cities tourist trades, although it isn't clear how uneasy Canadians are about visiting either of those capitals or other parts of Europe now, reports Ian Stalker in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. A report by STR Global – which monitors the hotel industry – said occupancy rates at some Paris hotels fell by more than 30% following the Nov. 13 attacks that left 130 people dead and were the focus of worldwide attention. Britain-based Tarsh Consulting in turn...