Airlines
Transat To Charge $25 for First Checked Bag for US Travel
Agents with clients flying to the US with Transat should advise them that as of Nov. 1 they will have to shell out a little more. Starting Sept. 8, travellers purchasing Air Transat’s Economy Class fare for travel to the United States as of Nov. 1 will be charged $25 for a first checked bag. The maximum weight of the baggage will increase from 20 kg to 23 kg. Transat’s no-fee policy for checked bags for all other destinations in the South and Europe remains unchanged. Travellers who book a cruise departing from the US will continue to be able to take advantage of the 25 kg...
AC Reaches New Heights With Culinary Partnership
Air Canada announced a new culinary partnership with celebrated Vancouver-based chef David Hawksworth yesterday (Sept. 3) at an industry soiree in Toronto. Commencing in October, international business class customers on flights departing from Canada and those visiting Maple Leaf Lounges will be served signature dishes designed by Hawksworth such as Yellowfin tuna tataki and Tamari roasted sablefish. “My team and I are relishing the unique challenge of developing dishes that can be enjoyed at 35,000 feet,” says Hawksworth. “It's an honour and a pleasure to be invited by Air...
SkyGreece Makes Its Proposal
SkyGreece Airlines has filed for bankruptcy. The move, authorized and approved by its board of directors, sees the carrier filing a Notice of Intention to Make a Proposal (Notice of Intention) pursuant to the provisions of Part III of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) (Canada). In that notice, it has named Ernst & Young Inc. (EY) as the trustee in the company's proposal proceedings and in that capacity will monitor and assist the company in its restructuring efforts. Announcing the move, the company said that it was determined by its board of directors that as a result of...
WestJet Steps Up To The Plate
Partnering with the red hot Toronto Blue Jays, WestJet has stepped up to the plate and launched a special home run contest running for the rest of the regular season home games at Rogers Centre. If a Blue Jays player hits a home run into the WestJet Flight Deck at Rogers Centre, one lucky fan will win 25,000 WestJet dollars. Fans can enter the contest by visiting bluejays.com/westjetcontest and filling out the online entry form. WestJet will award a maximum of three prizes of 25,000 WestJet dollars during the contest period. If no Blue Jays player hits a home run into the WestJet...
It’s About Time!
The Canadian Transportation has now ordered SkyGreece airlines to prove that it is applying its tariff and respecting passengers' rights. And while the many complaints that have been filed with the CTA in the wake of the carrier's suspension of operations and which are being handled through established dispute resolution processes, the agency said yesterday that, "Given the urgency of the situation, however, the Agency is taking additional steps to ensure that the carrier meets its legal obligations to the travelling public.” In a decision rendered yesterday, the CTA indicated that...
Air Canada Making The Shift
Air Canada is planning to shift its business emphasis away from North America and more towards international destinations, particularly points in the Pacific, according to Ben Smith, president of passenger airlines. He told an aviation forecast summit in Las Vegas this week that the company’s network composition will comprise 62% international flying and 38% North America by 2018. That compares with 54% international and 46% North America in 2011, when the Pacific represented only 17% of all flying. With destinations such as Singapore and Bangkok set to be added, the...
CanJet Suspends Operations
Halifax-based CanJet Airlines announced yesterday that it was suspending its operations. The move – which was effective immediately – was announced by the company's president Stephen Rowe. In making the announcement, Rowe indicated that the company suspended its operations after failing to find the opportunities it needed to maintain a profitable business. However, he also said that the company would continue to lease and supervise the maintenance of its fleet while at the same time continuing to review flight opportunities as they...
A citizen of the world
Air Canada has unveiled its 2014 Citizens of the World corporate sustainability report, providing an update on its performance during 2014 in four key areas – safety, the environment, employee well-being and community involvement. The 2014 report (the fourth such report) marks the first time that Air Canada has used a third-party auditor to independently verify the company's disclosure. Air Canada's president and CEO, Calin Rovinescu observed: “Air Canada has long demonstrated corporate social responsibility through our commitment to safety, our efforts to reduce our environmental...