Airlines
DHS Ramps Up Screening
The US Department of Homeland Security has implemented additional screening measures for travellers flying into the United States from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea – the three West African countries affected by the ebola virus. Two weeks ago, DHS – working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – introduced enhanced screening measures at New York's JFK, Newark, Dulles, Atlanta and Chicago that required passengers on flights originating in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea to undergo secondary screening and added protocols that included having their temperature taken,...
WestJet Honours Top Partners
WestJet hosted its second annual Travel Partner Awards in Toronto late last week. The event was inaugurated in Calgary in 2013. Designed to thank the trade for its efforts in selling the airline and its tour operator division WestJet Vacations, WestJet and sponsors AMResorts and the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Bureau hosted a gala event at Carlu for well over a hundred guests, with many of them winning prizes and others copping top awards. One of those was Skyroute Travel, of Markham, Ont., which was named top Canadian tour operator producer. Shown here receiving the award...
Flyers Demand Better Connectivity
Airline passengers want more Internet access inflight and named connectivity as the top area for improvement to the inflight experience, according to the first of a new series of global surveys of passengers being conducted by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The first APEX Global Passenger Experience Survey – which collected feedback from more than 1,500 flyers from eight countries – showed a strong desire worldwide for a passenger experience that is customizable, from selection of inflight reading materials to availability of food and drink. Expectations for...
Porter Your Ticket to Vermont
Porter Airlines is resuming seasonal service between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Burlington, VT, just in time for winter. Flights begin this year on Dec. 14, continuing until April 5, 2015. The schedule peaks with five weekly flights during March Break, and ranges from two to four weekly flights during the rest of the season. Porter Escapes (http://www.porterescapes.com) offers vacation packages to Vermont, combing flights and accommodation with activities, lift tickets and equipment...
BA Bringing 787 Dreamliner to Montreal
British Airways (BA) reports that from March 29, 2015, Montreal will be served by the airline’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet, marking the first scheduled Dreamliner service between Montreal and London. British Airways operates daily service between the two cities and provides connections to more than 130 cities beyond London. The first Dreamliner received by British Airways made its inaugural flight to Toronto one year ago and last month Calgary became the second Canadian city to receive the most modern aircraft in the airline’s fleet. The 787 offers three cabin...
Air Transat Unveils New Europe Program
Air Transat has added Budapest, Hungary, to its transatlantic program for 2015, as well as increasing seats and frequencies on many of its European routes, including Paris, London, Barcelona, Athens, Lisbon, Marseille, Nantes, Rome and Venice. For 2015, Air Transat is offering more than 50 different city-pairs between Canada and Europe. “This expansion comes in response to the success of our Prague connection, inaugurated this past June, and reflects our intent to be at the forefront of innovation,” said Jean-François Lemay, general manager, Air Transat. “Yet again, Air...
Etihad Unveils Etihad Airways Partners
Etihad Airways has unveiled Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand which brings together like-minded airlines to offer travellers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits. Initially, six airlines will participate in the new partnership – airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, India’s Jet Airways, Darwin Airline and Etihad Airways. However, any airline can become an Etihad Airways Partner even if it is part of an existing alliance, such as airberlin, which is a member of oneworld. The key emphasis for Etihad Airways Partners is a strong...
Lots Of Seats To Fill
Air Canada welcomed a select group of its partners – agents, operators and corporate clients – to an intimate gathering in Toronto last night (Oct. 14) to celebrate the impending launch of its new services to Rio de Janeiro and Panama City. Virgilio Russi, senior director, sales – Canada for AC, told the gathering that for him it was a special evening for a couple of reasons, that included both the launch of the new flights, but also because Russi is from Brazil. Both services will operate three times a week, with the Rio flights beginning on Dec. 11, while the Panama City...