Airlines
Air Canada Slams Toronto Port Authority
Responding to developments from a public consultation for the Master Plan for the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport by the Toronto Port Authority, Air Canada has reiterated its position against allowing jets at the city airport and calls continuing developments irresponsible. “Air Canada's position on this matter is crystal clear,” said Derek Vanstone, Air Canada's vice-president, Corporate Strategy, Government and Industry Affairs. “We do not support jets at Billy Bishop – we prefer to see a growing downtown airport focused on short haul passengers using modern turboprop...
WestJet Announces Departure of CFO
WestJet president and CEO Gregg Saretsky has announced the resignation of Vito Culmone, chief financial officer and executive vice-president, Finance, effective May 29. Culmone will be joining another Calgary-based organization in a similar capacity. “Vito has played a significant role in the growth and financial stability of our company for the past eight years and will certainly be missed,” said Saretsky. “We wish him well in this new role.” Culmone joined WestJet as chief financial officer and executive vice-president, Finance, in March 2007 with responsibility for the...
Air France Inaugurates Paris-Vancouver Flights
Driving rain welcomed the inaugural arrival of the new Air France service to Vancouver International Airport from Paris on March 29. After clearing customs, dignitaries and airline brass met media and guests in the departure lounge amidst French-themed cuisine, music and appointments. This kicks off a schedule of up to five flights per week to Paris-Charles de Gaulle from YVR. Flights are being operated by a Boeing 777-200 with 309 seats: 35 in business class, 24 in premium economy and 250 in economy. To encourage further participation by agents, Air France has rolled out a...
TAM Airlines Launches New Gateway Toronto
Canadians have a new route to Brazil and South America with the launch of TAM Airlines service from Toronto yesterday (March 30). The carrier, part of the LATAM Group – a merger of TAM and LAN airlines – will fly five times a week from Pearson via New York JFK. At that point, passengers can carry on with TAM to São Paulo’s Guarulhos International Airport or connect onto the LAN network direct to destinations like Ecuador, Argentina and Chile. TAM, Brazil's largest carrier, has a vast network in South America and is the only Brazilian carrier operating in Canada. It is also...
AC Introduces Apple Watch App
Air Canada has developed an app for the recently unveiled Apple Watch designed to make it even more convenient for customers on-the-go to obtain important travel information and initiate tasks such as checking-in. “Air Canada is excited to offer customers the convenience of our new Air Canada app for Apple Watch. The app will allow customers to easily check their flight status and boarding times. They will also be able to save precious time with notifications that prompt them to check-in and board. The app further advances Air Canada's mobile strategy of innovating with the latest...
On Road From Tianguis
Press Today's Ian Stalker reports that the man who oversees the Mexico Tourism Board's Quebec office is welcoming upcoming Air Canada rouge service between Montreal and Mexico City. Manuel Montelongo told Baxter Travel Media that the carrier will begin five-times-a-week service between the Mexican and Quebec cities in early May, which is "amazing news" for Mexico City's tourism trade. Mexican tourism officials have long been encouraging Canadians not to limit their Mexican vacations to beach destinations. Montelongo acknowledged during Mexico's tourism show Tianguis last week...
Air Canada to Carry Canada’s Top Hockey Teams
Air Canada reports that it is the airline of choice for Canada's major professional hockey teams. Under six-year agreements with six of Canada's top professional teams, the airline will provide air transportation through Air Canada Jetz, its in-house, all-Premium Class charter service operated by mainline Air Canada pilots and flight attendants. The six-year agreements begin at the start of the 2015-16 season and cover the Montreal Canadiens, the Ottawa Senators, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Winnipeg Jets, the Calgary Flames and the Vancouver Canucks. In addition to the six Canadian...
AeroMexico Back In Toronto
AeroMexico will soon link Toronto and Mexico City, part of a strategy that it expects will have it serving all three of this country's largest cities before the end of 2015, reports Ian Stalker in this week's digital edition of Travel Courier. The airline will begin non-stop Toronto-Mexico City service on May 4 using B737s that can carry 124 passengers, 12 of them in business class. AeroMexico's flights will leave the Ontario capital at 8:30 a.m., arriving in Mexico City at 12:35 p.m. Return flights will leave Mexico City at 1 a.m., arriving in Toronto at 6:46 a.m. The airline...