Airlines
WestJet Gives the Go-Ahead for PEDs
WestJet reports that guests now have full access to their personal electronic devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight, including taxi-in and out, take-off and landing in non-transmitting or flight mode, starting immediately. “We have been hard at work to meet all necessary conditions required for the safe operation of PEDs on board our Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft,” said Bob Cummings, WestJet executive vice-president, Sales, Marketing and Guest Experience. “Beginning today (June 2), all WestJet guests will have access to their favourite device for the duration of their...
AC St. John’s-London Service to Go Year Round
Air Canada reports that its non-stop St. John’s to London Heathrow, UK flights will operate year-round beginning Oct. 26. “Air Canada is pleased to offer the only year-round non-stop flights between St. John’s and London Heathrow. On-going support for the seasonal service by the local community over the past several years now enables us to extend it and offer travellers in Newfoundland and Labrador the convenience of year-round flights to London Heathrow,” said Benjamin Smith, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer at Air Canada. “Our customers in Newfoundland...
Passenger Demand Growth Accelerates in April: IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that global passenger traffic results for April show a healthy increase in demand. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 7.5% compared to April 2013, an improvement over March growth of 2.9%. The year-on-year comparison is somewhat biased by the timing of the Easter holiday, which occurred in April, a month later than in 2013. April capacity increased 5.8%, propelling load factor up 1.2 percentage points to 79.4 %. “April’s demand growth was a pleasant surprise in the face of the moderating trend of recent...
Bureau Joins Air Canada
Ben Smith, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer at Air Canada, has announced the appointment of Duncan Bureau to the position of vice-president, Global Sales, effective June 9. Bureau succeeds Zeina Gedeon who announced last month that she is leaving the company to pursue other interests. Bureau joins Air Canada from Malaysia Airlines where he was senior vice-president, Global Sales and Distribution. He was previously with WestJet where he held the position of vice-president, Sales and Distribution between 2006 and 2012. Based in Toronto, Bureau will report...
Lufthansa Premium Economy Now Available for Booking
Lufthansa’s new Premium Economy Class, introduced at this year’s ITB in Berlin, can now be booked on flights flown by Boeing 747-8s. From Dec. 10, the Premium Economy Class will have guaranteed availability on all flights served by the new jumbo aircraft. The destinations that can now be booked include routes from Frankfurt to and from Buenos Aires, Chicago, Hong Kong, Mexico City, São Paulo, Seoul, Beijing and Washington, D.C. From late January 2015, the first retrofitted aircraft of the type, A340-600, are scheduled to take off from Munich for Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo...
AC rouge Expands to Hawaii
Air Canada rouge is expanding service to Hawaii with the introduction of new year-round non-stop flights between Toronto and Honolulu. The new route, offering the only non-stop service between Toronto and Hawaii, will begin Nov. 26. Flights will be operated using Air Canada rouge Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft offering a choice of two cabins with three choices of service, personal space and comfort. To promote the new route, rouge is offering savings of 20% on bookings made by June 10 for travel until April 30, 2015 using the promotion code "aloharouge." Flights and optional Air Canada...
PEDs okayed during takeoff, landing: Feds
The federal government has announced that passengers will soon be able to use portable electronic devices (PEDs) such as cameras, electronic games, tablets and computers during all phases of flight when travelling aboard Canadian airlines. This includes while an aircraft takes off, climbs, descends and lands, provided the device is in non-transmitting, or flight mode, and that their airline has met certain safety conditions outlined by Transport Canada. Previously, passengers could not use their devices at their leisure during take off and landing. This change, which is made...
AC Ready to Implement Expanded Use of PEDs
Air Canada welcomes the announcement by the Feds permitting the expanded use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) by travellers aboard aircraft during all phases of flight. Air Canada, Air Canada rouge and its Air Canada Express regional partners are finalizing measures to safely implement the new procedures so customers can enjoy greater use of their PEDs in non-transmitting mode while on the airlines' flights. “Air Canada welcomes today's announcement expanding the use of PEDs on aircraft because it will enhance the travel experience. Our customers have been telling us they...