Airlines
Air Canada Reports Record 2014 Results
Air Canada is reporting record numbers for 2014 with full year adjusted net income of $531 million or $1.81 per diluted share compared to adjusted net income of $340 million or $1.20 per diluted share in 2013, an improvement of $191 million or $0.61 per diluted share. EBITDAR (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and aircraft rent) amounted to $1.671 billion compared to EBITDAR (excluding the impact of benefit plan amendments) of $1.433 billion in 2013, an improvement of $238 million or 16.6%. On a GAAP basis, Air Canada reported 2014 operating income of $815...
Transat Haiti Flights on GDS
Air Transat reports its regular aviation activities between Canada and Haiti, and between Haiti and Canada, are available on GDS booking systems available to travel agents. According to officials, this designation reflects the growth of Haiti’s tourism industry, which benefits from development strategies formulated by the Haitian Ministry of Tourism and the collaboration of partners like Transat and Air Transat. Considered a scheduled airline for Haiti since April 2014, Air Transat has been providing weekly service between Montreal and Port-au-Prince for over 15 years. This recent...
WestJet Has Heart
WestJet has created another remarkable guest experience, this time for two love-struck, Toronto-area couples on the island of Barbados. The story begins in November 2014 in a Michael Hill jewelry store in Newmarket, Ont., where WestJet used hidden cameras to select two men, J.P. and Mike, from among those shopping for engagement rings that day. The airline approached the two and asked if they would be interested in proposing to their girlfriends, Stephanie and Heather, in Barbados. “Both J.P. and Mike agreed, but of course they couldn't tell Stephanie and Heather that's why they...
Spring Break Specials In Okanagan
Five Okanagan, BC ski resorts - Big White Ski Resort, Silver Star Mountain Resort, Sun Peaks Resort, Revelstoke Mountain Resort and Apex Mountain Resort – are working with NewLeaf Corp, a new Canadian travel company, to offer lower fares over Spring Break to Ontario travellers. 2015 has been a banner year for snowfall in the Kelowna/Okanagan, BC region. 2015 has also brought about an exciting new partnership for skiers looking for a world class family experience that is still available during this year's Spring Break season. Michael J. Ballingall, chairman of the Thompson Okanagan...
Destination Dubai
2015 is going to be a busy year for the gang at Emirates Airlines in Canada. Canadian Travel Press' executive editor, Bob Mowat reports that travel agents will be well-advised to keep an eye on the carrier as it rolls out some new twists to its flight plan over the next 12 months. Topping the list of what to watch for from the carrier in 2015 will be some aggressive promotion of Dubai as a stand-alone destination – rather than just a stopover – in the Canadian market. To do that, the carrier has teamed up with a number of new tour operator partners that will be packaging...
Etihad Posts Strong 2014 Results
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, carried a record number of passengers and cargo in 2014, marking its strongest operational performance to date. Almost 14.8 million passengers flew with Etihad Airways last year, a significant increase of 23% over 2013 levels. The growth in passenger demand continued to outstrip the airline’s capacity increase, highlighting the strength of its long-term growth strategy. In total, Etihad Airways carried more than 74% of the 19.9 million passengers who travelled through Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2014. With...
Flying High
IATA reports that global passenger traffic results for the full year of 2014 show demand (revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 5.9% compared to the full year of 2013. This 2014 performance was above the 10-year average growth rate of 5.6% and the 5.2% annual growth experienced in 2013 compared to 2012. Capacity rose 5.6% last year, with the result that load factor climbed 0.2 percentage points to 79.7%. All regions saw demand grow in 2014. More than half of the growth in passenger travel occurred on airlines in emerging markets including Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. In...
More Options From Air Canada rouge
Air Canada will be launching new, year-round Air Canada rouge services between Hamilton and Calgary and seasonal service between Toronto Pearson and Abbotsford. The non-stop, daily flights will provide Canadian travelers more competitively-priced options when flying within Canada. Benjamin Smith, president of passenger airlines, Air Canada, commented: “Air Canada is very pleased to offer its customers additional options at compelling fares for travel in Canada. Located in the heart of the populous Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario, Hamilton is a convenient departure and arrival...