Airlines
Industry On Track For Second Straight Year: IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that the airline industry remains on track to deliver a second consecutive year of improved profitability. This is despite a slight downward revision to its industry outlook for 2014 to an industry profit of $18.7 billion from the previously forecast $19.7 billion. The main driver of the downward revision is higher oil prices, now expected to average $108.0/barrel (Brent) which is $3.5/barrel above previous projections. The $3 billion added cost on the industry’s fuel bill is expected to be largely offset by stronger demand,...
Air New Zealand Adds Capacity
Air New Zealand will move to 10 return services per week on the popular Auckland-San Francisco route during the peak Northern winter period between mid-December and March 2015, including double daily flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. This will be the first time the airline has operated more than daily return services on the route and represents a 10% increase in capacity over the previous Northern winter period. The additional services also mean a more flexible schedule with a new, convenient mid-afternoon flight departing Auckland at 3:30 p.m. and arriving in San...
Aeromexico Strengthens Ties With WestJet
Aeromexico has increased its co-operation with WestJet, providing passengers with added connectivity to more destinations in Mexico and Canada. Access has been improved to offer more service from Mexico to Canadian destinations including Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec City, among other destinations across Canada. The increased travel connections also include better connectivity deeper into Mexico from Canada through many connection cities in the United States and Mexico. From its main hub at Terminal 2 International Airport in Mexico City,...
SAA, AC Expand Codeshare
South African Airways (SAA) and Air Canada have expanded their codeshare relationship to include additional flights and cities both international and domestic and giving customers more seamless connection opportunities. Travellers will now be able to book SA-coded flights from Ottawa, Edmonton, Halifax, Calgary, Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto to London, as well as Air Canada-coded flights from London, New York, Frankfurt and Munich to Johannesburg and onwards to Cape Town, Durban & Port Elizabeth. The original agreement (from December 2012) included Vancouver, Toronto, New...
Air France Celebrates With Agent Contest
Air France is celebrating its 80th anniversary with a travel agent contest entitled “80 Years of Passion for the Movies,” with the grand prize being two tickets to any European city serviced by the airline. In addition, participants can win “80 Years” logoed items. The contest draw will take place on April 4. Entrants can double or triple their odds of winning depending on the booking class of the tickets they sell: one chance to win for every ticket sold in Economy class, two chances in Premium Economy class and three chances in Business class. Travel agents can sign up...
SriLankan Airlines Set To Join Oneworld
SriLankan Airlines will become a full member of oneworld on May 1 – as the first carrier from the Indian subcontinent to become part of any global airline alliance. The national airline of Sri Lanka received clearance to board oneworld after successfully completing a review of its readiness conducted by Cathay Pacific Airways, which is sponsoring its entry into the alliance, with the oneworld central team. Its addition to oneworld will come a month after the alliance welcomes TAM and US Airways on board, on March 31, concluding the group’s biggest yet expansion program. From...
WestJet Adds Toronto-Phoenix Service
WestJet will launch new daily, non-stop service between Toronto and Phoenix beginning Oct. 26. Same-day connections are also available to and from Montreal, Ottawa, Halifax, and Moncton, New Brunswick. “We are always looking for new and better ways to provide Canadians with in-demand destination choices,” said Chris Avery, WestJet’s vice-president, Network Planning, Alliances and Corporate Development. “After this winter of record storms and low temperatures, more Canadians than ever are looking for non-stop routes to sunny US destinations like Phoenix to meet the demand for...
Major Tourism Groups Support Porter Proposal
Tourism industry leaders support Porter’s proposal to add service to more destinations from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, saying it will benefit the tourism and hospitality sector in Toronto and throughout Ontario. The Ontario Restaurant, Hotel and Motel Association, the Greater Toronto Hotel Association, the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario, and the Metro Toronto Convention Centre have made official submissions to Toronto City Council to express their support for Porter’s plans to add jet service from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. “I have no doubt that if...