Airlines
ALTA lends a helping hand
During its recent 8th Airline Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, ALTA participants donated US$103,000 to Sociedade Viva Cazuza, a charity benefiting children, as part of a silent auction and fundraiser that took place during the event. In addition, ALTA unveiled its newest charity initiative - the ALTA Helping Hands Program - which is dedicated to raising funds to contribute to the welfare of under-served children communities at the destinations where the ALTA Forum is organized in Latin America and the Caribbean. ALTA's executive director, Alex de Gunten commented: "These donations are...
Get connected with Etihad
Etihad Airways is now offering its passengers inflight connectivity aboard three of its Airbus A330-300s and one of its Airbus A320s. Another connectivity enabled Airbus A320 will be delivered to the carrier in March. On the A320, passengers will have full mobile connectivity, enabling them to use their own mobile phones and Smartphones to make and receive phone-calls, send and receive text messages and emails, and access mobile data services. The A320 is used primarily for short-haul routes throughout the Middle East, and some mid-length routes such as Istanbul, Athens, Minsk, Cochin,...
Delta, WestJet launching code-share service
WestJet and Delta Air Lines have signed a code share deal for flights within the United States and Canada -- further expanding the partnership between the two carriers. The code-share flights are available for purchase now for service beginning Jan. 23, 2012. In 2011, the two carriers introduced an interline agreement that allowed customers to purchase connecting flights on one ticket, receive boarding passes for all segments at their first check-in, and tag bags through to their final destination. Under the first phase of the new code-share agreement, Delta will place its code on WestJet...
Responsible Travel: Industry needs to do more
A newly released survey reports that the global travel and tourism industry could do more for responsible and sustainable tourism. Conducted by SustainIt during the 2011 World Travel Market in London, the survey found that more than 7 out of 10 industry professionals -- including hoteliers, airlines, resorts and tourist attractions -- believed the industry could do more to reduce poverty and support sustainable local economic development in destination communities. It also found that only 18% of companies questioned had sustainable supply chains and procurement policies in place. The survey...
Etihad sets record passenger numbers in 2011
Etihad Airways carried a record 8.29 million passengers in 2011, a 17% increase on the previous year. The jump represented an extra 1.197 million passengers on the carrier's global network covering 82 passenger and cargo destinations. "This result, achieved while much of the world was still very much in the economic doldrums and oil prices remained high, is testament to our emergence as a formidable force in the international aviation arena,"said Etihad Airways president and CEO James Hogan. "It also reflects our commitment to sensible, strategic expansion which is why we launched eight new...
LAN boosts Bogota service
South American carrier LAN reports it will have seven weekly Bogota-Miami flights starting in February, with connections to more than 20 destinations in Colombia. LAN recently announced it was starting a Colombian operation. B767s and A320s will be used. LAN is represented in Canada by Airbridge International....
Trio of tourism conferences offer quite a buzz
At the beginning of March, hoteliers, tourism marketers, travel technology types and other industry professionals will head to Toronto for a trio of conferences that have been creating quite a buzz in the tourism business in the last couple of years. From March 5-6, the Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) will hold its annual conference which, in 2012, features Dr. David Suzuki and Joie de Vivre's founder, Chip Conley as the headline speakers. HAC's incoming chairman, Hank Stackhouse will not only give delegates the inside scoop on what's coming in the next 12 months for the association, he'll...
WestJet looks at regional launch
WestJet has confirmed that it's considering the launch of a new short-haul, regional airline as early as 2013 using a fleet of approximately 40 smaller, turboprop aircraft. Gregg Saretsky, the carrier's president and CEO, said the company was meeting with its staff this month "to get their input on this watershed decision." "One of the cornerstones of our success is engaging with employees early on in key decisions and I am confident they will see the strategic value of this initiative. Once our employees have had the opportunity to share their input, we will be in a better position to make a...