Airlines
Sunshine Flights From Sunwing
Sunwing is launching direct, non-stop flights from Ottawa to St. Petersburg/Clearwater beginning Dec. 18, 2014. The weekly service offers Thursday departures aboard a Boeing 737-800 aircraft that will accommodate 189 passengers. With the addition of the new service, Ottawa becomes the third Canadian city to benefit from a direct, non-stop service to the region after Toronto and Halifax. Noah Lagos, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport director commented: “We are excited to add another international destination with Sunwing Airlines and make it easier for Canadians from Ottawa to...
The World Is Yours
Qatar Airways is offering Canadian customers savings to global destinations during its latest three-day “The World is Yours” sale. The five-star airline is cutting fares from Montreal to destinations within Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East by as much as $635 on the price of a roundtrip ticket. A travel window of Sept. 21 through June 15 will enable customers to book their travel months in advance and take advantage of cooler, drier temperatures and thinner crowds in those regions. The sale ends at midnight (ET) on Sept. 17. To make a booking online, those...
No Plane, No Plane
Air France reports that it expects to operate 40% of its flights today (Tues. Sept. 16, 2014) due to the fact that an estimated 60% of its pilots are planning to strike. The carrier said that it is updating its flight schedule 24 hours in advance. And it is asking its customers to check that their flight is operating before going to the airport. The airline also noted that its 7,000 employees are doing all they can to assist customers, but recommended that customers with a flight reservation between Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 either postpone their trip or change their ticket at no extra...
WestJet Introduces New Baggage Fee
WestJet is now charging a $25 fee for a first checked bag on Econo fares for travel within Canada and between Canada and the U.S. The new fee applies to bookings made as of Sept. 15 onward, for travel on or after Oct. 29, 2014. Passengers flying to any of WestJet's international destinations including Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe may continue to check a first bag at no charge. The carrier indicated that the change, which applies to Econo fares only, is expected to affect approximately one in five WestJet guests. Passenger selecting a Flex fare will receive one...
Air France Contest Coming to a Close
The Air France contest in honour of its 80th anniversary is coming to a close. The last installment, “80 Years of Passion for Service,” offers Canadian travel agents one last chance to win a pair of tickets to Europe. Until Sept. 30, agents can sign up for the contest by answering the eligibility question about Air France and service. Afterwards, they can register each ticket they sell on a flight departing from Canada for any eligible Air France destination. Entrants can double or triple their odds of winning depending on the booking class of the tickets they sell: one chance...
Heathrow Preps for Strike Action
Contingency plans are in place as London's Heathrow Airport prepares for a strike tomorrow (Sept. 12). Extra staff are being put in place at Heathrow to cope with a 24-hour ground handlers strike. Reports say the airport is also bringing in extra “passenger ambassadors” to help minimize disruptions or confusion for passengers. Despite this, officials at Heathrow are urging passengers to allow extra time for travel through the airport and has advised travellers to check with their airlines if they have any concerns. The strike action was called after talks broke down between...
Sunwing Set to Launch Ottawa-St. Petersburg Service
It will soon be even easier for residents of Ottawa to reach some of Florida’s finest beaches with the introduction of Sunwing Vacations' new direct, non-stop flight to St. Petersburg-Clearwater, commencing Dec. 18. Departing Thursdays, the weekly service will be operated on Boeing 737-800 series aircraft that seat 189 passengers. The addition of the new route this winter will make Ottawa the third Canadian city to benefit from a direct, non-stop service to the region after Toronto and Halifax. Both St. Petersburg and Clearwater frequently make it into the top 10 best beaches...
Pilot Walkout Leads to Lufthansa Flight Disruptions
A planned pilot walkout has forced Lufthansa to cancel more than 100 Munich flights today (Sept. 10) affecting thousands of passengers. The eight-hour walkout by members of the Vereinigung Cockpit union is the third strike at the German airline in two weeks. Lufthansa has published a special flight schedule for its Munich hub at its http://www.LH.com web site. Thomas Klühr, member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board, Finances & Hub Munich, commented, “This strike will cause severe inconveniences for our passengers, especially during the final holiday week in Bavaria...