Airlines
TAAG CUSTOMER SERVICE RECOGNIZED
TAAG Angola Airlines is proudly noting that it has received a three-star classification for its customer service by the authoritative Skytrax. TAAG notes that the designation puts it “on par with some of the most prestigious airlines in the world.” APG Canada is the general sales agent for TAAG in Canada and adds that all major credit cards are accepted by the airline....
ETIHAD INCREASES STAKE IN VIRGIN AUSTRALIA
Etihad Airways has confirmed its equity stake in Virgin Australia Holdings had reached 19.9%. This follows a series of on-market purchases of Virgin Australia shares over recent weeks. The Abu Dhabi-based airline now holds more than 515 million shares in its equity partner airline. At 19.9%, Etihad has reached the threshold approved by Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board in June. James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways, commented, “We are delighted to have reached this milestone. It reflects our strong support for the business strategy and...
ROUGE OFF TO CANCUN
Air Canada rouge says “Buenos Dias” to Mexico starting today (Oct. 10) with flights between Toronto and Cancun six days per week. And beginning Dec. 19, rouge will operate two flights daily between Toronto and Cancun, with convenient morning and afternoon departures. Air Canada rouge’s service between Toronto and Mexico marks the next phase of its fleet and network expansion for winter 2013/14. Air Canada rouge announced earlier that it would be adding flights to Mexico, Las Vegas, Sarasota and additional Caribbean destinations, from both Toronto and Montreal...
CLIMATE CHANGE DEAL REACHED
IATA is praising the leadership of governments in reaching a landmark agreement on Climate Change at the close of the 38th Assembly of the United Nations International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The agreement commits ICAO to developing a global market-based measure (MBM) that will be an essential enabler for the industry to achieve carbon-neutral growth from 2020 (CNG2020). A global MBM complements progress on improving technology, operations and infrastructure in the industry\'s long-established four-pillar strategy to manage aviation\'s climate change impact. Tony Tyler,...
A FAILING GRADE
The Business Travel Coalition (BTC) has released findings from a survey of 127 travel industry professionals from 14 countries with respect to the highly anticipated U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) rulemaking regarding the disclosure of airline ancillary services fees. The overwhelming consensus is that DOT should require airlines to share ancillary fee information with distribution channels where they sell their base fares and in a format that enables the purchase of such services in the same transaction as the ticket purchase. Since major U.S. airlines in 2008 began unbundling...
AIR CANADA WILL INCREASE EUROPE SERVICE
Air Canada is undertaking a major expansion of international services to Europe from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary, with its summer 2014 Europe schedule including the introduction of year-round non-stop service from Toronto to Milan, Italy, with up to five weekly flights, offering the only non-stop service between Canada and Milan. Flights to the Italian business destination will feature Air Canada\'s Executive First cabin of service. In addition, Air Canada will increase its year-round Toronto-Istanbul non-stop service to daily flights from three times weekly. The airline will...
FINNAIR CELEBRATING 90
Finnair will celebrate its 90th birthday on Nov. 1 and as it gears up for those celebrations, the carrier is in the midst of several upgrades to enhance the customer experience. Many of the upgrades are currently in progress or have already been completed including a significant expansion to in-flight entertainment on all long-haul flights, an upgraded range of complimentary wines, beer and spirits in the Helsinki airport lounge and the continued retrofitting of fully-flat beds to the Business Class cabin. Finnair has nearly doubled its range of in-flight entertainment options on all...
DRIVING THE ECONOMY
A new economic impact report makes it clear that Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HSIA) is a valuable provincial asset worth $1.27 billion to the Nova Scotia economy in 2012 -- that represents an additional $13 million in economic output over the previous year. Tom Ruth, president & CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority (HIAA), commented: \"Together, the Airport Authority and all of our airport partners have a tremendous impact on Halifax and the province as an economic generator and growth enabler.\" And Ruth continued: \"It\'s also noteworthy that Halifax Stanfield\'s...