Airlines
IATA applauds noise reduction initiatives
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) welcomes the agreement on a new noise standard with more stringent requirements for future aircraft achieved by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The ICAO Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) comprising ICAO member states, industry, and environmental non-governmental organizations, reviewed technological feasibility, environmental benefits and economic factors and reached a consensus to move forward on a new standard that will result in a reduction of 7 Effective Perceived Noise Decibels (EPNdB) compared...
Canadians continue to go south for cheap air tickets
It's a trend that's gaining increasing momentum as Canadians continue to head south of the border in search of cheap air tickets. In its newly released 2013 Canadian Travel Intentions survey, the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) found that 18% of those surveyed had travelled to the US to buy cheaper airline tickets in 2012-- an increase of 3% over the previous year -- and 32% of those questioned indicated they would do it in 2013. An alarming 61% of respondents said they knew people who travelled to the US in 2012 to purchase cheaper airline tickets. HAC reports that the highest number of...
The New American, now a reality
Seems a bit poetic that the long-rumoured merger of American Airlines and US Airways would see the two companies officially tie the knot on Valentines Day. Well that's the way it has worked out as American and US Airways officially announced that both of their boards have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which the companies will combine "to create a premier global carrier" that will have an implied combined equity value of approximately $11 billion based on the price of US Airways' stock as of Feb. 13, 2013. The new airline will operated under the American Airlines...
Air Canada expands Lowest Price Guarantee
Air Canada is expanding its Lowest Price Guarantee to give customers added assurance they are getting the lowest price available online within a 24-hour period when they book flights on Air Canada. The guarantee applies to any destination Air Canada serves for tickets bought in Canada on aircanada.com. "Air Canada's new Lowest Price Guarantee means customers can be certain they will always get the best price for their Air Canada flight at aircanada.com. With the proliferation of travel web sites the market can be confusing, so to make it easy for customers and give them confidence they are...
World’s first A380 facility open for business
Emirates and Dubai Airports have announced the successful completion of the phased launch of Concourse A - the home of the A380 and the world's first purpose-built facility for the aircraft at Dubai International. All 20 A380 capable contact gates and Emirates luxurious First Class and Business Class lounges, which comprise 29,000 square metres of the facility, are now fully operational after a five-week-long phase-in period. During the first month of operations following its inaugural flight on Jan. 2, Concourse A has handled 461,972 pieces of luggage carried on more than 2,450 flights...
WestJet adds Myrtle Beach, Dallas flights
WestJet has announced the launch of new non-stop service between Toronto and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and between Calgary and Dallas, Texas, beginning this spring. Flights on both routes will be operated using the airline's fleet of Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft. Starting May 2, WestJet will introduce twice-weekly service on Thursdays and Sundays between Toronto and Myrtle Beach. Daily service between Calgary and Dallas-Fort Worth will begin April 29. Flights for both services, featuring special introductory fares, are available for purchase as of today (Feb. 11). It is the...
WestJet Encore to serve Fort St. John
WestJet has introduced the launch of new non-stop daily service between Fort St. John, BC and Vancouver, and Fort St. John and Calgary. The service will be operated by WestJet Encore's fleet of Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. Encore's Vancouver to Fort St. John route and the new direct service between Calgary and Fort St. John will operate round-trip once per day. Seats are now available for purchase. "The announcement of the first two cities to be served by WestJet Encore is an historic moment for our new airline,"said Ferio Pugliese, executive vice-president, WestJet, and president,...
Sunwing adds additional service to Cancun, Varadero
Sunwing has announced that it has added new flights to Cancun, Mexico and Varadero, Cuba. Friday flights from Toronto to Cancun/Riviera Maya have been added on Feb. 22 and March 1, 8 and 15. Flights are scheduled to depart at 8:45 p.m. Saturday flights to Varadero have been added on Feb. 16 and 23, as well as March 2, 9 and 16. Flights from Feb. 16 to March 2 will depart at 4 p.m., while flights on March 9 and 16 will depart at 8:55 p.m....