Airlines
Addressing The Needs Of Travellers
When over 700 of the top executives from airlines, global distribution systems, travel trechnology providers, airports and travel management companies gather in San Diego in mid-October for IATA's fourth annual World Passenger Symposium (WPS), the topic of discussion will be “From Exclusivity to Commodity: Is Flying Still Glamourous?” IATA’s director general and CEO, Tony Tyler observed that: “2014 marks a century of commercial aviation. Some 65 billion passengers have flown in the 100 years since the first airline flight. Airlines will carry the next 65 billion passengers...
Air Canada Preferred
Air Canada has been named Canada's favourite airline for business travel in an Ipsos Reid Canadian Business Traveller Study. Air Canada was the preferred airline of 83% of Canadian frequent business travellers surveyed for 2014, an improvement of 14 percentage points in Air Canada's ratings in the national survey over the past six years. “We are especially gratified that the trend is positive across the country, with a significant increase in our preferred rating among Western Canadian business travellers in 2014,” said Benjamin Smith, president, Passenger Airlines at Air...
Not A Good Idea
Air France is telling its customers to either reschedule their flights or exchange their tickets free of charge as the airline's pilots' union threatens further strike action. Noting that from the beginning of the strike action, its commercial teams have been working to keep customers informed of any changes to its flight program and will continue to do so. Frédéric Gagey, president and CEO of Air France, said: “Air France has maintained constant dialogue with its pilots in order to reach an agreement to benefit the Group's growth and competitiveness. I deplore that our concrete...
Butlers In The Sky
Butlers will soon be on board Etihad Airways as the carrier prepares to introduce The Residence by Etihad on its fleet of 10 Airbus A380s – the first of which is set to be delivered in December 2014. The Residence by Etihad is a three-room cabin that features a living room, private shower room and double bedroom and butler service. The first group of Etihad Airways’ inflight Butler trainees has now departed Abu Dhabi for specialist training at the Savoy Butler Academy in London. The 13 men and women, all In-Flight Chefs or Food & Beverage Managers, were carefully chosen to...
Fiji Stopover Deal From Goway
Goway Travel is offering a free 2 night stopover when flying with Fiji Airways to Australia or New Zealand. The offer lets travellers fly to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland or Christchurch and receive 2 free nights on Denarau Island in Fiji at either the Radisson Blu Fiji Denarau Island Resort or the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa with breakfast each day. Denarau is a great base for travel to the Mamanuca Islands or to join a small ship cruise, it is also home to Port Denarau with its restaurants, nightlife and shopping options. The stopover can be two consecutive nights or taken...
Committed To Low Fares
WestJet is taking off with a new seat sale effective today through Sept. 22, 2014, on flights and vacation packages for travel to select destinations in Canada, the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean until December 10, 2014. Bob Cummings, executive vice-president, sales, marketing and guest experience, said: "We remain dedicated to being Canada's low-fare leader and this seat sale supports our commitment to providing a full range of fares and corresponding value from Econo through to our Flex and Plus fares. We said on Monday [Sept. 15] that we would lower Econo fares and offer even lower...
Air Canada Makes The Change
As predicted , Air Canada has adjusted its first checked bag policy for North American travel to align it with prevailing North American industry practices. The carrier's fee for a first checked bag on U.S. transborder routes, in place since 2011, remains unchanged. Beginning today (Sept. 18, 2014), customers purchasing Air Canada's lowest Economy Class Tango fare for travel on or after Nov. 2, 2014 on domestic flights within Canada and to and from the Caribbean and Mexico will now be charged $25 for a first checked bag, in line with the baggage allowance policies of other North...
Germanwings, Amadeus Team Up
Beginning Sept. 23, 2014, Germanwings’ complete range of fares and ancillaries will be available to Amadeus subscribers. Previously, the Lufthansa subsidiary sold a limited range of its fares via Amadeus’ travel agency partners, using full e-ticketing. On Sept. 23 an industry-first implementation will turn Germanwings into the first airline in the world to offer both full and light ticketing options to travel sellers. Light ticketing is Amadeus’ unique system enhancement that enables agents to book low-cost & hybrid carriers with the same booking processused for full-service...