Airlines
ACTA, TIAC urge government to act quickly as Air Canada strike looms
Both TIAC and ACTA are urging the federal government to engage promptly in facilitating a resolution to avert another significant challenge facing the travel industry. Pilots at Air Canada have recently voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike mandate, which could be enacted as early as Sept. 18 if negotiations with the company fail to result in an agreement. Air Canada is the country’s largest airline, transporting up to 120,000 passengers each day. If its planes are grounded, the repercussions on the travel industry would be devastating, with Canadian consumers, employees,...
Air Canada ‘s check-in cut-off time is now just 60 minutes
Air Canada will be updating its check-in policy as of today (Sept. 4). The check-in cutoff time will now be 60 minutes across all sectors with the exception of YTZ and its Landline bus service from YHM and YKF. This change ensures a smoother, more efficient boarding process, giving customers peace of mind as they prepare for takeoff. A key benefit for status members is that upgrades will be processed 15 minutes earlier enabling you to board with your zone. As a reminder, Air Canada guests can check in their bags as early as four hours before their flight’s departure....
Travelport strengthens APAC travel content for agency customers
Travelport, has announced that agency customers can now access content from Greater Bay Airlines (GBA), Hong Kong’s newest carrier, through the Travelport+ platform. This new collaboration will support GBA’s aggressive expansion plans as Travelport+ connects the Hong Kong-based carrier to Travelport’s global network of travel retailers. With this multi-year agreement, Travelport is providing agents the ability to easily search, compare and book GBA’s fares and ancillary services. The agreement also includes GBA’s use of Travelport’s rich content and branding...
Global passenger demand continues to rise
IATA is reporting that global passenger demand continued to rise in July 2024. The industry association’s latest data indicates that: Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 8.0% compared to July 2023. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 7.4% year-on-year. The July load factor was 86.0% (+0.5ppt compared to July 2023). There was no significant negative demand impact from the CrowdStrike IT outage on 19 July. International demand rose 10.1% compared to July 2023. Capacity was up 10.5% year-on-year and the load factor...
PLAY set to connect Hamilton and Faro via Iceland in 2025
PLAY has announcedthat it will launch Hamilton to Faro, Portugal flights, via Iceland, in April 2025. The carrier, which operates service between Iceland and Europe, will inaugurate the Hamilton-Faro flights on April 12, 2025, and feature two weekly flights (Saturday and Wednesday) until Oct. 29, 2025. Tickets for the new route are now on sale. Einar Örn Ólafsson, CEO, PLAY, said: "Canadians can now experience the warmth and beauty of Portugal's stunning southern coast, with its captivating beaches, rich history, and lively culture, with our affordable flights to...
Canadian air carrier revenues continue to climb: StatsCan reports
Operating revenue for the 24 largest Canadian air carriers totalled $8.3 billion in the first quarter of 2024, up 8.1% compared with the same quarter of 2023. At $7.2 billion, passenger revenue remained the main revenue source for airlines in the first quarter of 2024, while air cargo generated $522.3 million in revenue. In the first quarter, Canadian carriers transported 22.0 million passengers on scheduled and charter services. Operating revenue continues to climb During the first quarter, operating revenue for the 24 largest Canadian air carriers (Levels I and...
Air Canada Comments on end of Federal Conciliation in talks with ALPA
Air Canada has issued an update in its ongoing contract negotiations with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). In a statement, Air Canada says that its intention remains to reach a negotiated settlement with its pilots, one that recognizes their professionalism and contributions to the airline. During the talks, the company says that there has been significant progress and the three-week cooling off period gives the parties more than sufficient time to address any outstanding issues. Air Canada is fully committed to bargaining meaningfully throughout the period. However,...
WestJet commits to enhanced retailing strategy with Amadeus
WestJet is renewing and expanding its distribution agreement with Amadeus. This agreement continues to ensure that all fare options and merchandising capabilities are easily accessible for travel advisors worldwide. In addition, WestJet is committed to making its future NDC-based offering available to travel advisors on the Amadeus Travel Platform, where it will join the 27 other airlines already selling NDC-sourced content through the Amadeus Travel API. NDC content from WestJet will be fully integrated into travel advisors’ booking environments. For travel advisors, this means that...