Airlines
Sky’s The Limit With New Greece Flights
The new kid on the aviation block says it's putting more money in the bank accounts of travel agents who send clients to Athens and some other points in Europe, reports Ian Stalker in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. Denis Coderre, deputy chief commercial officer for SkyGreece Airlines, says the three-year-old Athens-based carrier – founded by Greek-Canadians and which has many former Olympic Airways staffers on its payroll – is “presently paying 15% commission for any dates, any destination we offer,” a figure that's likely to raise eyebrows among travel agents who...
WestJet Links New Scotland with Old Scotland
All ye lads and lasses, WestJet is now offering non-stop services between Halifax and Glasgow, Scotland. Heralding this new route, which launched May 29, WestJet hosted several events in Halifax including an evening reception on the eve of the first flight. Guests included corporate bigwigs from the local Nova Scotia community and WestJet Rewards clients. WestJet president Gregg Saretsky (third from left) commented, “We started this service because we want to connect new Scotland with old Scotland (referring to the strong Scottish heritage found in Nova Scotia). We expect...
Lufthansa Redirects Commercial Strategy
With the percentage of revenue being generated from the sale of its flight tickets “continuously decreasing,” Lufthansan Group is taking action to “redirect” its commercial strategy in order to counteract this trend. In 2015, the Lufthansa Group indicated that it expects to generate an adjusted EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) of more than EUR 1.5 billion before costs (strike-related action). Its new commercial strategy is being launched to ensure that, in the future, a greater portion of the revenue will be earned from flight operations -- the actual area of service...
Pan Am Torch Relay Takes Off to Thunder Bay
Porter Airlines transported the Pan Am flame from Toronto to Thunder Bay Saturday (May 30), on the first of four special charters for the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games Torch Relay. Porter is the Official Canadian Airline of the Games and a signature supporter of the Toronto 2015 Torch Relays. The flame was transported in one of two Bombardier Q400 aircraft, outfitted with a customized Pan Am graphic. The graphic showcases a collection of colourful sport pictograms, representing the Games motto, “United We Play!” Porter will deliver the flame at other key points along the Torch Relay...
WestJet Flight Attendants Vote in Favour of New Agreement
WestJet reports that its flight attendants have voted in favour of a new work agreement with 81.7% of eligible flight attendants voting. A tentative agreement was negotiated between WestJet and the WestJet Flight Attendant Association Board (FAAB) – the association representing its flight attendants – and was agreed to on April 21. Voting began on May 22 and ended yesterday (May 28). Items in the ratified five-year agreement include compensation, work rules, standardized processes and a formal framework for discussion between WestJet flight attendants and the...
Air China, AC to Launch Beijing-Montreal Flights
Air China and Air Canada are preparing for the launch of non-stop flights between Beijing and Montreal that will create the first transpacific direct link between Asia and Montreal. The flights will be operated by Air China starting on Sept. 29, initially three times a week, with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and Air Canada will place its code on the flights for sale on a codeshare basis in a first phase. In the second phase, subject to requisite approvals by the relevant competition authorities, Air Canada and Air China intend to form a comprehensive revenue sharing joint venture in...
Air Canada Invests in rouge Upgrades
Air Canada has announced a number of product upgrades to benefit customers on its leisure airline, Air Canada rouge. The premium cabin in Air Canada rouge's fleet of 20 Airbus A319 aircraft will be converted by mid-June from its current 3x3 seating configuration with a blocked middle seat to two side-by-side Business Class seats in a 2x2 configuration. This new seating will provide customers with more personal space and generous legroom as well as full power charging capacity with a 110-volt power plug and a high-powered USB port at every seat. Additional customer convenience features...
WestJet’s #TartanTail Takes Flight
Later this month, WestJet will launch service from Halifax to Glasgow, Scotland, on board a special version of one of its Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 series aircraft adorned with a custom-designed WestJet tartan on its tail. To mark the occasion of its first service to the United Kingdom, WestJet worked with the world's last dedicated hand-crafted tartan mill, D.C. Dalgliesh of Selkirk, Scotland, to design a commemorative tartan in the airline's distinctive blue and teal corporate colours. In addition to producing neck ties, cufflinks and scarves, WestJet also decaled two aircraft...