Airlines
A Landmark Agreement
Air Canada is welcoming the confirmation by the Air Canada Pilots Association (ACPA) that its members have ratified a landmark agreement on collective agreement terms for 10 years. Calin Rovinescu, president and CEO of Air Canada, said: "This ten-year agreement with the Air Canada Pilots Association is a ground-breaking development which allows us to accelerate the implementation of our business strategy on a win-win basis with our pilots." Rovinescu pointed out that: "The new agreement provides greater stability and long term cost certainty as well as a framework for a strong...
Taking The Initiative
Finnair, UNICEF and Amadeus, have joined forces to benefit the world’s most underprivileged children. Passengers now have the opportunity to make a donation to UNICEF and support education for children in Asia when booking their flights on the Finnair web site at http://www.finnair.com. The option is now available and donations will be possible in sums of one, five or ten euros. Donations will help fund UNICEF’s “Schools for Asia” initiative which supports education for the most vulnerable children in 11 countries in Asia. (And you can check out a video on the newly announced...
IATA Introduces Aviation Cyber Security Toolkit
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has launched its Aviation Cyber Security Toolkit which helps the air transport industry, including airlines, airports and air traffic management, to identify, assess and mitigate, among others, cyber risks in IT infrastructure across their operations. “The aviation industry depends on essential IT infrastructure functioning reliably. While the industry has put in place best practices to protect its IT infrastructure, the threat is ever-evolving. The Aviation Cyber Security Toolkit provides guidance to help airlines and their partners...
Sabre, SAA Sign Multi-Year Deal
South African Airways has signed a new multi-year agreement that will see it make all of its airfares and inventory available in the Sabre global distribution system. The deal gives Sabre travel agencies and corporations globally access to SAA's full range of fares, schedules and availability including published fares sold through the airline’s own web site and reservations offices. Greg Webb, president, Sabre Travel Network, said: “We have a long and successful partnership with South African Airways to market and sell their products and services, and to support their expansion...
Need For Investment
During a stop in Toronto, IATA's director general and CEO, Tony Tyler said that: “Aviation is a natural driver of growth -- linking markets and connecting business. Demand for connectivity is rising. To meet that demand and enable aviation to deliver its economic and social benefits, investment is needed to alleviate bottlenecks in the air and on the ground. In today’s economic climate it is a potent tool to stimulate much-needed growth.” Tyler's comments come following IATA's call for a partnership approach guided by clearly defined success factors to build the global...
WestJet Rewards Launches New Tiers
WestJet is celebrating the launch of WestJet Rewards tiers. WestJet Rewards members now enjoy higher WestJet dollar earn rates and milestone awards with Teal, Silver or Gold tiers. According to officials, tiers also offer easy-to-use flight benefits like a free checked bag, lounge and advance seat selection vouchers in Silver. Gold members enjoy another free checked bag, advance boarding, priority security screening and other valued amenities. WestJet Rewards is also launching two limited-time offers for members to achieve Gold flight benefits. The Fast Track offer awards Gold...
WestJet, Flight Attendants Reach Agreement
WestJet has reached a tentative agreement with WestJet's Flight Attendant Association Board (FAAB). The proposed agreement is available to WestJet flight attendants for review beginning Oct. 31 and voting begins Nov. 10. “Our goal throughout the process was to offer a tremendously fair and balanced agreement for everyone involved,” said Anthony Pascale, FAAB chair. “From the beginning, our focus has been on the interests of our people, and on building a sustainable process that allows us to move forward together. I firmly believe this focus has resulted in an industry-leading...
Call For Transparency
WestJet is calling for “transparent and all-inclusive vacation pricing” in Canada, reports managing editor, Michael Baginski in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Noting that the Canadian Transportation Agency now requires “all-in-advertising” for airlines – that is, prices that include taxes and fees -- WestJet says the rules should apply to tour operators too, including OTAs. At the heart of the issue is lack of consistency in pricing that “varies by tour operator” and disadvantages wholesalers that do apply all-in pricing to their...