Airlines
Air seat capacity set to grow in 2013
Hawaii should look forward to an increase in schedule air seats for 2013, says the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The 2013 projection for scheduled air seats to the Hawaiian Islands is anticipated to increase 6.8% (over 2012) to 10.75 million seats, says the HTA. This would surpass the record high for seats to the state. Of that total, about 7.1 million seats will be scheduled from domestic points of origin (Canada is counted in that percentage), while the remaining 3.6 million will come from international airports -- Japan and other points in Asia are major source markets....
Etihad, Jet Airways get deal done
Etihad Airways has concluded a transaction with Jet Airways to purchase the Indian carrier's three pairs of Heathrow slots for US$70 million. The purchase is part of a sale and lease back agreement signed on Feb. 26. Jet Airways will continue to operate flights to London utilizing these slots. The deal further strengthens the existing commercial relationship, which came into effect in July 2008, making provision for codesharing between the two airlines. As previously advised, Etihad Airways continues to progress discussions about further investment in Jet...
Porter eliminates passive segment fees
Porter Airlines has suspended passive segment charges for its travel agency partners. Any passive segments booked as of this date will not be charged to the agency. "We want the travel agency experience to be as seamless as possible,"said Michael Deluce, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer at Porter Airlines. "Travel agents book a lot of Porter flights and we're pleased to be making this change for them."Porter has full content on all GDSs, which reduces the need for agencies to have passive segments....
AC frequent flyers set for take-off with ‘Altitude’
Air Canada's re-branded Top Tier frequent flyer recognition program, "Altitude,"was officially launched today (March 1). Specifically designed to recognize and reward Air Canada's most frequent flyers, Altitude offers members a range of travel privileges, rewards and additional status levels. Improved benefits include enhanced priority travel services such as a complimentary checked baggage allowance, higher upgrade priority for higher status members, exclusive partner offers and new incentives such as tier status gifts, as well as the creation of a new dedicated website...
WestJet fare bundles go live
WestJet reports that its new fare bundles are now live. The new fare system gives guests a choice between three fares -- Econo, Flex, and Plus, offering different levels of service to guests. As of March 2, the booking flow on WestJet's Agent WEBLink (http://www.westjet.com/agent) now allows agents to select a fare for clients based on a combination of price and service offerings. These fares are available for agents to book through WestJet's Agent WEBLink and their GDS. To view the fare bundles quick reference chart, visit http://www.westjet.com/agentfbsummary...
FAA warns of delays
In a speech to a meeting of the American Bar Association in Washington, DC this week, Michael Huerta, administrator for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), told his audience of aviation and space law specialists that a year after the FAA had its budget re-authorized, it is once again facing fiscal uncertainty and unpredictability. Huerta said that "sequestration ... would jeopardize many of the positive benefits ..." that the FAA had "sought to create with the last year's re-authorization." The FAA's administrator noted that: "Under the sequester, the FAA would have to cut $627 million...
SATA invites travellers to discover Terceira Island
SATA Airlines is helping travellers discover the island of Terceira in the Azores (Portugal) this summer with roundtrip flights from Toronto from $754 (taxes and fees included). The offer is available between June 4 and Aug. 29. SATA officials note there are numerous breathtaking places to explore in the Azores, courtesy of Mother Nature and the cultural influences of generations of settlers from around the world. Terceira Island is popular for beautiful beaches protected by cliffs. Visitors can also walk through Angra do Heroismo, the capital, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site,...
Delta Air Lines gets Heavenly
Delta Air Lines is transforming the sleep experience in the air by offering Westin Heavenly In-Flight bedding, designed and manufactured exclusively for Delta, in all of its BusinessElite cabins throughout the world. The new bedding product will be available on all BusinessElite international flights, as well as BusinessElite flights between New York's JFK airport and Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle and between Atlanta and Honolulu, beginning in June. BusinessElite customers will receive a Westin Heavenly sleeping pillow and a comforter with extra luxurious loft. Passengers on flights...