Airlines
In Search of Santa
The tradition continues for Air Transat and the Children's Wish Foundation, who are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their partnership. Again this year, hundreds of children and their family members took off (Wednesday) for the North Pole on a very special mission to find Santa and bring him back to Montreal. In addition to this special event, Air Transat turned over $221,000 to the Foundation from the money collected as part of the carrier’s Small Change, Big Hearts program. The adventure began in the morning when the 250 guests were handed their boarding passes at the Air...
Airline Profitability Improves With Falling Oil Prices
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is predicting improved industry profitability in its Economic Performance of the Air Transport Industry report, with airlines expected to post a collective global net profit in 2014 of $19.9 billion (up from the $18 billion projected in June) and $25 billion in 2015. Lower oil prices and stronger worldwide GDP growth are the main drivers behind the improved profitability. According to IATA, consumers will benefit substantially from the stronger industry performance as lower industry costs and efficiencies are passed through. The...
Business Is Brisk
Air Canada Vacations (ACV) president Eamonn Ferrin is citing long-used counsel when advising agents on what to tell clients wanting to flee winter weather, reports Ian Stalker in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. Ferrin told a Toronto gathering last week that booking patterns are shaped by many factors and “will always vary,” but his tour operator is enjoying brisk business for the latter half of December and that should be a caution for those who are hesitant when it comes to booking winter travel. “The key message... is book early to avoid disappointment...,”...
Porter Offers Vermont Ski, Snowboard Packages
Porter Airlines flights between Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport and Vermont's Burlington International Airport begin on Dec. 14, and travellers from Toronto can now purchase ski and snowboard packages through Porter Escapes. Five Vermont ski resorts have partnered with Porter to provide customers with an attractive winter getaway to the Green Mountain State. “Vermont ski and snowboard resorts benefit greatly from this renewed airline service,” said Parker Riehle, Ski Vermont president. “With up to four flights a week, enthusiastic skiers and riders in Toronto can now easily...
Strategic Enhancements
Air Canada has introduced strategic enhancements to its North American route network with the addition of new non-stop services from Calgary-Terrace; Calgary-Nanaimo; Vancouver-Comox; Toronto-Austin and Montreal-Mexico City. The airline is also increasing capacity on key domestic markets that have high volumes of leisure traffic with the expansion of Air Canada rouge to operate the airline's new seasonal Calgary-Halifax route and current Toronto-Kelowna and Toronto-Sydney, NS services. New services are now available for purchase at http://www.aircanada.com . “Air Canada continues...
IATA, Agents Collaborating On NDC Study
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and a Coalition of National Travel Agent Associations (The Group) are collaborating on a study to look at options that could benefit travel agents as the New Distribution Capability (NDC) XML standard is considered for implementation by airlines and technology providers. The study will be conducted by an independent consultant to be appointed jointly by The Group and IATA, who will undertake research and analysis in the following areas: Understanding the impact (e.g., from a business, technology and commercial perspective) of NDC...
A Committed Relationship
Top tourism officials from Barbados were on hand to host senior executives from Air Canada, the Air Canada Leisure Group and Air Canada Vacations at an event in Toronto this week that celebrated a remarkable relationship – one that has seen Air Canada bringing Canadians to Barbados for 65 years. Back on Dec. 2, 1949, Trans Canada Airlines (TCA) – as Air Canada was known then – departed from Toronto's Malton Airport, bringing Canadians on their first journey to Barbados. The flight aboard the “North Star” took 15 hours – with stops in the Bahamas and Jamaica – before...
Air Canada to Launch Non-Stop Service to Dubai
Air Canada will launch non-stop service between Toronto and Dubai beginning in November 2015. The new route will extend the airline's international network farther into the Middle East at a time of increased travel between North America and the region. “Air Canada's international growth strategy continues to accelerate with the addition of the seventh new international destination to our global network announced in the past year. The three-times-weekly Dubai service will be Air Canada's first non-stop flight to the UAE at a time when air travel between North America and the region...