Airlines
A Beautiful Game
Major League Soccer (MLS), Soccer United Marketing (which is MLS' commercial arm) have announced a multi-year partnership deal with Etihad Airways. Within the new agreement, Etihad Airways becomes the official airline partner of MLS in the United States. It is the Abu Dhabi-based airline's first multi-year sports sponsorship in the territory and one that underscores its expanding commitment to the U.S. market. Etihad Airways and MLS will also work together on a number of activations and initiatives including community programs, as well as hosting competitions and promotions for flights...
YVR Is Tops In North America
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) was named #1 Airport in North America for the fifth consecutive year by Skytrax World Airport Awards in Barcelona, Spain recently. This exceptional honour marks only the second time in award history that any airport has earned top ranking five years in a row. YVR also remains one of the world's best airports, the only North American airport included in the global top 10. Known informally in the travel industry as the Passenger Choice Awards, the Skytrax World Airport Awards are the global benchmark of airport excellence. Awards are based on millions...
Air Canada rouge Expands In The West
Air Canada has announced that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, is expanding to Western Canada to serve a number of predominantly leisure markets from Vancouver and Calgary to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Anchorage. Flights on these routes, currently operated by Air Canada, will be converted to Air Canada rouge service beginning this spring, as will flights to San Diego from Toronto. In addition, the airline announced that it will introduce new seasonal non-stop service operated by Air Canada rouge between Vancouver and Phoenix beginning Dec. 17, 2014....
Close The Legal Loopholes on Unruly Passengers: IATA
IATA is urging governments to close legal loopholes that allow unruly passengers to escape law enforcement for serious offenses committed on board aircraft. Governments gathered for a diplomatic conference at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal this week to discuss revisions to the Tokyo Convention. The revisions would enhance the ability of law enforcement and other authorities to prosecute the small minority of passengers who are violent, disruptive, abusive, or acting in a manner which might endanger safety. The Tokyo Convention was negotiated in 1963...
Amadeus Launches New Platform
Amadeus has reinforced its commitment to developing the airport of the future with the launch of Amadeus Airport Common Use Service (ACUS), a next-gen airport platform capable of carrying out all passenger processing functions. The cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) solution platform will allow airlines and ground handlers to share the physical space and the IT resources of the airport, eliminating hosting and development burden. The majority of the world's airports currently run a traditional and expensive common use model, including a long-term supplier and on-site IT...
Air New Zealand, Sabre Cut New Deal
Sabre has signed a technology agreement with Air New Zealand to market and sell the airline's products and services in the Sabre global distribution system. The airline's Economy Skycouch seats and pre-paid bags are already available in Sabre in select markets. Over 400,000 travel agents worldwide will continue to have real-time access Air New Zealand's fares, schedules and inventory, in addition to ancillary products. Air New Zealand offers Economy Skycouch and pre-paid bags for booking through the Sabre travel marketplace in New Zealand, Australia, the U.S., Canada and United...
“Plane” Truth From Lufthansa
Not to put too fine a point on it, but Lufthansa spends a lot of money on aircraft -- something in the neighbourhood of $50 billion on the 300 planes it currently has on order, including Bombardier's new C-Series planes. None of this should come as a surprise, when you listen to Nico Buchholz, executive vice-president - fleet management for Lufthansa, who'll explain that an "aircraft is a means to something," before continuing that "it is the tool to deliver our service to our customers." Buchholz was in Toronto this week -- following a stop in Montreal for a meeting with Bombardier...
AC rouge Launches Montreal-Cancun Service
Air Canada rouge continued its expansion of service between Canada and Mexico with the March 22 launch of service between Montreal and Cancun. In its Mexican lineup, Air Canada rouge also offers service between Canada and four other popular destinations -- Toronto/Montreal-Cancun, Toronto-Puerto Vallarta, Toronto-Los Cabos, and Toronto-Huatulco. Flights between Montreal and Cancun are operated using 136-seat Airbus A319 aircraft, featuring three customer comfort options: rouge, rouge Plus with preferred seating offering additional legroom, and Premium rouge with additional personal...