Airlines
WestJet Airlines President Diederik Pen announces plans to retire
WestJet has announced the planned retirement of WestJet Group Executive Vice-President, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of WestJet Airlines Diederik Pen. Timing is dependent on onboarding his successor, but is anticipated for the first quarter of 2027, at the latest. Until then, he will stay fully in charge of overseeing the airline and leading operations teams. A global search for his successor is underway and Pen is actively involved in the search process and will be supporting a seamless transition. Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group CEO,...
WestJet takes off with ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ powered by HTS
HTS' (Hopper Technology Solutions) Cancel For Any Reason ancillary product, is now available on WestJet.com and the WestJet app. Cancel For Any Reason allows guests to instantly cancel their flight up to 24 hours before departure and receive a refund percentage of their trip cost back to their original form of payment, no questions asked. Upon booking with WestJet, guests may opt in for either an 80 or 100 per cent refund directly in the WestJet booking flow, allowing for seamless flexibility. Jorge Rozo, WestJet Deputy Chief Commercial Officer and Senior Vice-President, Revenue...
Air Canada Foundation makes an impact
The Air Canada Foundation has released its 2025 Impact Report, outlining the meaningful difference it made in communities across Canada through its charitable partnerships, fundraising initiatives and the engagement of Air Canada employees nationwide. Through its programs and collaborations with Canadian-registered charities, the Foundation remains committed to improving the health and well-being of children and youth. Its work is guided by three core pillars: Health, supporting pediatric hospitals and community organizations to improve health outcomes; Protection, addressing...
Air Transat expands service to France from Quebec City
Air Transat, has launched new routes connecting Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport to two major French cities: Marseille and Nantes. These exclusive additions enhance its transatlantic offering from Quebec City and reflect Air Transat’s commitment to strengthening its presence in the French market. The Quebec City (YQB) – Marseille (MRS) route was inaugurated on May 21 and will operate once weekly, on Thursdays, until Oct. 9, 2026. Meanwhile, service between Quebec City (YQB) and Nantes (NTE) will begin on June 2, with one weekly flight every Tuesday through Oct. 20,...
Cardiff close up: WestJet’s new flight to Wales lands in the 6,000 year old city
Cardiff is pegged as one of the UK’s fastest growing capitals. It’s estimated that over 35 Canadian companies are based in Wales, employing around 6,500 people, while Canada is an export market worth over £300-million a year. So isn’t it fitting that on May 22, WestJet, a Western Canada airline, launched a seasonal service choosing Toronto as its departure hub to Cardiff? It’s a strategic move that marks the first direct air connection between Canada and Wales in nearly 20 years. Travel Press Today was there for its inaugural flight as we departed from YYZ’s Terminal 3...
Air Canada, Unifor reach tentative contract agreement
Air Canada reports that it has reached a tentative collective agreement with Unifor – which represents about 6,000 contact centre, customer relations, concierge, airport in-terminal and customer journey management employees at Air Canada. In a statement announcing the deal, Air Canada said that: “The tentative agreement recognizes the contributions and professionalism of Air Canada's frontline airport and customer service agents, while providing a framework for the future growth of the airline.” And the company adds that: “Terms of the new agreement will remain confidential...
High costs, onerous regulations have EU air connectivity flatlining
According to new date from IATA, European air connectivity essentially flatlined in 2025 with a net 1% growth in the total number of routes connecting the continent (both internally and with other parts of the world) – and that’s below the compound annual growth of 1.5% over the last decade. Thomas Reynaert, IATA’s Senior Vice President External Relations, said of the findings: “The growth of airline route networks reflects both developments in demand and the operating environment. That the European Union (EU)’s air connectivity virtually flatlined in 2025 is no surprise. The...
Turkish Airlines unveils plans for an active summer in Canada
Turkish Airlines is ramping up its activities in Canada, increasing its lift; returning as the official airline sponsor of the 2026 RBC Canadian Open; and introducing its newly expanded premium Turkish Airlines Lounge. In the air, Turkish Airlines has announced a significant schedule expansion for its Canadian operations, adding extra flights to Istanbul from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Montréal-Trudeau International Airport (YUL) in July 2026. The new expansion will see Turkish Airlines operating 7 weekly flights from...