Airlines
AC rouge Welcomes First A321
It was a family affair at Pearson International's Hangar Bay 8 yesterday (Nov. 4) as AC employees and their families celebrated the arrival of Air Canada rouge's first A321 – fresh in from an overnight flight from the Airbus facility in Hamburg, Germany. The plane, which will enter service on Nov. 26 on a route to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, features 200 seats, including 16 Premium Rouge and 21 Rouge Plus. Air Canada Leisure Group president and CEO Michael Friisdahl (pictured) welcomed guests calling it “a truly special day for rouge” with the delivery of its first A321,...
Air Canada Inaugurates Dreamliner Service to Dubai
With the departure of AC056, Air Canada inaugurated new service between Toronto and Dubai last night (Nov. 3), the newest addition to its growing international network. The three-times-weekly route is operated using AC's most modern aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner featuring its new cabin interior design in a three cabin configuration. Pictured at an inaugural celebration at Pearson are Air Canada's Tracey Bellamy and Francois Choquette, with crew...
WestJet A Winner At WTM
WestJet is the winner of this year's prestigious World Travel Leaders Award for Canada. The awards are presented annually by members of the Global Media Network (GMN) at World Travel Market in London to recognize companies and/or individuals that have made significant ground-breaking contributions to travel and tourism in their region. Baxter Travel Media (BTM), a founding member of GMN, presented the award at a ceremony on Tuesday, with managing editor and publisher Mike Baginski on stage with WestJet's vice-president, sales and business development, Lyell Farquharson and BDM Louis...
Checked Baggage Fees On The Rise
WestJet has increased fees on checked baggage and advance seat selection in exit rows. The new rates apply to bookings made from Nov. 3 onward for travel on or after Jan. 6, 2016. Bookings made prior to Nov. 3 are not affected. First bag fees of $25 now apply ($35 for a second piece of baggage, and $100 for third and fourth pieces) to guests travelling to Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe, as well as guests travelling on domestic and transborder routes. Guests who purchase a WestJet Vacations package or make a group booking to Mexico, Caribbean, Central America or...
Malaysia Airlines Rolls Out New A330 Business Class Seats
Malaysia Airlines unveiled its new A330-300 Business Class seats at World Travel Market in London this week. The new seats, which will be introduced in April 2016, will see all 15 A330-300 aircrafts fitted with the new configuration by September 2016. The advanced seats will be enjoyed by Business Class passengers travelling from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Australia, and to other select destinations within Asia. The Business Class seat pitch measures 43 inches with a width of 20.6 inches and length of 76 inches. The seats come with increased working space, with 90% of all...
Air Canada To Double YVR-London Flights
Air Canada is boosting international flights at its Vancouver hub next summer with double daily flights from YVR to London Heathrow. In addition, the airline's new non-stop flights from Vancouver to Brisbane, Australia will now launch two weeks earlier on June 1. “Air Canada is strategically increasing its international flights at YVR with a second daily flight to London Heathrow next summer in response to seasonal travel demand,” said Benjamin Smith, Air Canada president, Passenger Airlines. “Our second London flight beginning June 1 will be operated with new state-of-the-art...
An Experience To Remember
South African Airways (SAA) teamed up with the South African Tourism, and the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa (RETOSA), as well as Zambia Tourism and Zimbabwe Tourism to host 50 travel specialists from North America on an educational trip through Southern Africa recently. The group – from Canada and the United States – went on a safari in South Africa, before discovering Cape Town and the Western Cape, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Stroebel Bekker, vice-president sales for SAA in North America, said that: “As the leading carrier from North America to Southern Africa,...
An Award Winning Celebration
Etihad Airways marked a major milestone in its history last night (Oct. 30, 2015), celebrating 10 years of service to Canada and doing it in style. The Abu Dhabi-based carrier hosted about 100 travel trade VIPs, along with representatives from its codeshare and equity partner airlines, such as Jet Airways and Alitalia at Toronto's swanky, Four Seasons Hotel. Special guests included the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) His Excellency Mohammed Saif Helal Al Shehhi and Consul General of the UAE, Sultan Ali al-Harbi. Etihad's senior vice-president -- the Americas, Martin...