Airlines
PORTER FLIES HIGH
Porter Airlines is set for major expansion after signing a conditional purchase order for 12 Bombardier CS100 aircraft, with options for an additional 18. Delivery of Porter's first CS100 would be in 2016, making it possible to open up new destinations such as Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Los Angeles, Florida and the Caribbean out of Toronto's Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The total purchase price could reach $2.3 billion if all options and purchase rights are exercised. The entire plan is conditional with Porter Airlines requiring the support of the signatories to the...
ETIHAD: New premium lounge unveiled
Last week, Etihad Airways officially unveiled its prestigious new premium lounge at Dulles International Airport in Washington. The opening of the facility follows the launch of the airline's new daily service linking Abu Dhabi and Washington, D.C. on March 31. The new facility is part of an overall total investment of US$50 million over the next 12 months to build further premium lounges at major destinations across Etihad Airways' fast growing global network. In addition to its signature First and Business Class lounges in Abu Dhabi, the airline has also established premium lounges in...
INVESTING IN LIBERTY: United extends Newark deal
United Airlines and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey have signed a 20-year lease extension through which United will maintain its significant presence at Newark Liberty International Airport and make further investments to ensure the airport remains one of the country's premier global gateways. United and the United Express carriers will continue their exclusive use of Terminal C and will continue to operate flights at Terminals A and B. Additionally, the airline will invest $150 million in ongoing improvements throughout the term of the lease. While Terminal C is already one of...
PORTER ADDS: e-ticketing for agents
Porter Airlines now has e-ticketing for travel agencies. Initially electronic ticketing will be available to Sabre GDS travel agencies in North America through ARC and BSP. Amadeus and Travelport compatibility will follow later this year. Porter will continue to process reservations on both an Instant Purchase and E-ticket basis. Agency partners will now have a choice of maintaining their instant purchase approach or converting to E-Ticketing. Commission payment for E-Tickets on Porter will continue to be paid directly to the agency on flown volume and not at point of sale (POS) via ARC or...
LET’S PLAY: AF, WestJet launch contest
To celebrate their new code-share, Air France and WestJet have launched "Fly from Canada on Air France" contest for travel agents across Canada. The prize consists of two economy class tickets to the winner's European destination of choice from the nearest Canadian airport among those recently added through the partnership of the two airlines. The contest invites Canadian travel agents to play an online game to identify on a map the new Canadian cities offered in the Air France-WestJet code-share agreement that was launched on March 12. The contest can be entered until April 21, 2013 (23:59...
CHECK-IN EARLY: AC modifies deadline
Air Canada is reminding travellers that starting April 10, 2013 the domestic cut off check-in and baggage drop off deadline (latest time after which customers can no longer check in or drop off their baggage) will be increased from 30 minutes to 45 minutes before flight departure. The revised minimum domestic cut-off deadline applies to all Air Canada and Air Canada Express flights within Canada, with the exception of flights leaving Toronto Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ) which remains at 20 minutes. With these changes, minimum domestic check-in and baggage drop off deadlines will now be more...
SETTLEMENT REACHED: AA, Orbitz sign deal
American Airlines and Orbitz have reached an agreement to resolve all litigation between them. The settlement requires review and approval by the court presiding over AMR Corporation's restructuring. At this time, neither company will have further comment. For more, go to http://www.aa.com or http://www.orbitz.com...
ETIHAD CEO: Alliances have outlived their usefulness
Legacy airline alliances have outlived their usefulness, according to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer, James Hogan, who delivered a keynote speech last week at the International Aviation Club in Washington, D.C. Hogan said Etihad Airways' unique business model, which is a combination of organic growth, codeshares and minority equity investments, was proving very effective in building passenger numbers, revenue and profit for all its partners. "The traditional airline alliances have evolved into slow-to-respond, bureaucratic organizations which struggle to...