Airlines
Sunwing has Canada covered
Winter might still be here, but Sunwing Airlines is already thinking summer. The carrier has introduced its summer flying schedule across Canada, with early bird pricing featuring fares from $99 plus taxes each way, if booked by March 15. Sunwing will fly from Vancouver to Toronto on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays, commencing June 20, and from Toronto to Vancouver on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, commencing June 21. Flights between St. John's, Nfld. and Toronto will begin on June 20 and operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while flights between Gander and Toronto will operate on...
AC, CALDA reach tentative deal
Air Canada reports that it has reached a tentative collective agreement with the Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association (CALDA), which represents the carrier's flight dispatchers. Air Canada's 74 flight dispatchers are based at the airline's central operations control centre near Toronto Pearson International Airport and assist flight crew in the preparation for flight departures and arrivals. The agreement is subject to ratification by the union membership. Details of the agreement will not be released pending ratification, and approval by the Air Canada board of directors. This is the...
Canada, China expand Air Transport Agreement
In a move designed to strengthen trade and investment relationships with China, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has announced an expansion of the Canada-China Air Transport Agreement, which will benefit travellers and businesses in various sectors of the Canadian economy, including the tourism industry. The expanded agreement, which replaces the 2005 Air Services Agreement, will "facilitate the movement of goods, services and people and help Canadian businesses and airlines to grow and compete by providing them with greater choices in airline services, destinations as well as lower prices."More...
Air Canada, IAMAW reach tentative agreement
Air Canada has reached a tentative collective agreement with its largest union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW), representing the airline's approximately 8,600 mechanics, baggage handlers and cargo agents. The agreement is subject to ratification by the union membership. Details of the agreement will not be released pending ratification, and approval by the Air Canada board of...
One team, 4 brands, One roof
The "key to our success," observed Fabien Pelous, vice-president for Air France-KLM Canada and the general manager sales Canada for the Delta-KLM-Air France-Alitalia joint venture, will be "providing more flight options and frequencies to our customers" and that can "only be offered through pulling [our] forces together." Pelous made this observation as he welcomed a group of 65 travel agents, tour operators, tourist board officials, and carrier staffers at the official opening of the carriers' new joint offices in Toronto. Explaining how the airline industry business model has changed in...
WestJet rewards new ‘guests’
With the launch of new WestJet Rewards offerings and a national campaign, WestJet is inviting new guests to give the airline a try, while generating a little friendly competition among its competitors. "Today, we are here to tell travellers that it is not business as usual at WestJet,"said Bob Cummings, WestJet's executive vice-president, sales, marketing and guest experience. "It's not business as usual for an airline to be owned by more than 80% of its eligible employees. It's not business as usual to call your customers guests, or reward your guests with real dollars they can actually use...
Star Alliance wants you to ‘Picture Your Upgrade’
Star Alliance has launched a "Picture Your Upgrade"photo contest, running through April 4. To participate, a special app has been designed for the iPhone, Android and Blackberry smart-phone platforms which can be downloaded by visiting http://www.staralliance.com . Using the app, participants will be asked to submit photos of objects which they find during their travels and which symbolize the Alliance's Gold customer benefits. Each week a different task related to Gold benefits will be made available to all those who have downloaded the app and will also be posted on the Star Alliance...
Etihad reports profitable 2011
Etihad Airways has reported a full year EBIT of US$137 million, on revenues up 36% to US$4.1 billion (2010: US$2.98 billion). The results included earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and rentals (EBITDAR) of US$648 million, with a net profit of US$14 million. The record result exceeded the airline's 2011 target, which was to break even. "This is an historic day for Etihad Airways and an amazing achievement for an airline just eight years old,"said James Hogan, president and chief executive officer of Etihad Airways. "Five years ago we said we would be profitable by 2011....