Airlines
WestJet Increases YYZ-YVR Service
WestJet has announced it will offer even more non-stop flights between Vancouver and Toronto this summer. The airline is adding nearly two dozen more flights between May 3 and Oct. 24, increasing overall capacity between Vancouver and Toronto by more than 10%. The schedule features up to 10 daily flights in the spring, 11 during the peak travel months of July and August, and nine in the fall. WestJet also offers up to 12 daily non-stop flights between Calgary and Toronto, nine from Edmonton to Toronto and six from Winnipeg to Toronto. From Toronto, guests connecting eastward have 10...
AC Tops in Customer Loyalty
Air Canada has been named the leading airline in customer loyalty, according to Brand Keys 2015 Customer Loyalty Engagement Index (CLEI). The 19th annual survey, conducted by independent marketing research firm, Brand Keys, measures a brand's ability to meet customers' expectations better than the competition. For the 2015 index, New York-based Brand Keys surveyed more than 36,000 US and Canadian consumers, ages 18 to 65, and examined 540 brands in 64 categories to measure the degrees of loyalty that consumers exhibit toward their favourite brands. “Recognition of Air Canada as...
PAL Adds YVR Stopover
Philippine Airlines (PAL) is re-launching its Manila-New York service – with a stopover in Vancouver – after a 20-year absence. It will operate flights four times per week between Manila and New York, stopping at YVR enroute, starting March 15. PAL’s strategy is to focus more on the American market in the near future. PAL is increasing its flights to San Francisco and Los Angeles, as well as to Honolulu. From five times a week in Honolulu, it will now operate daily flights to the...
Porter Does The Charleston
Passengers celebrated alongside Porter Airlines this past weekend on its inaugural flight from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport to Charleston, S.C., the company’s newest seasonal destination. It is the only non-stop flight connecting Canada and Charleston. “A new destination is always a special occasion for Porter. Not only does it represent growth for the airline, it opens a new door for travel and exploration for our passengers,” said Porter president Robert Deluce. “Our customers are excited to take advantage of the rich history and hospitality that this southern city is...
Easy Access to India
Air Canada is preparing to launch non-stop Toronto-Delhi service, with the airline's Vijay Bathija promising that the upcoming route “will make it very easy” for people to get to India. Bathija told a Toronto gathering last week that the airline will use a “state-of-the-art” B787 Dreamliner to link the cities. Plans now call for four-times-a-week service, but Bathija held out the possibility that the frequency could be increased. “The more you support it, the more we're going to add flights.” The flights will have three classes of service and in-flight...
AC Has New Agreement With UK Employees
UNITE, the union representing Air Canada's UK-based employees, reports that its members have ratified a new collective agreement reached Jan. 30. The new agreement is in effect until Dec. 31, 2019. “We are pleased that our UK-based employees have ratified their new collective agreement,” said Klaus Goersch, executive vice-president and chief operating officer. “This ratification vote concludes the constructive work achieved between Air Canada and union representatives of our London-based employees during the past few months. I commend the bargaining committees and our employee...
Kamloops Added By WestJet Encore
WestJet has added new, non-stop service between Edmonton and Kamloops, BC, on board its fleet of Canadian-made Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. The inaugural flight departed from Edmonton International Airport on Feb. 15, 2015 Ferio Pugliese, executive vice-president, WestJet, and president, WestJet Encore said: “This is a prime example of the strategic advantage of WestJet Encore. One of the original purposes of our regional airline was to enhance frequencies in smaller Canadian communities which, until WestJet Encore came along, were challenged by the capacity of our 737s. We are...
AC Celebrates Chinese New Year
Coming off a record 2014, Air Canada hosted more than 70 travel industry personnel and some of its top suppliers last night (Feb. 12) in Markham, Ont. for a special dinner to celebrate the Chinese New Year (Year of the Ram). A similar dinner is being held tonight (Feb. 13) in Vancouver. Pictured at the Ontario event are (l-r) Michael Lim of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, Air Canada's Duncan Bureau, Barbara Huang of the China National Tourist Office, and Rocky Lo of Air...