Airlines
Porter Signs Loan Deal With Federal Government
The parent company of Porter Airlines -- Porter Aviation Holdings Inc. -- has reached an agreement with the Canadian government for loans of up to $270.5 million. That amount includes $20.5 million for additional reimbursements for passengers on flights canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic. Porter’s president and CEO, Michael Deluce said: “Porter is using this money primarily as a capital reserve during the recovery period from the pandemic.” Deluce explained: “We intend to draw on these funds as needed to support the recovery of operations during an uncertain period of...
Air Canada Picks AmEx GBT
American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) has signed an agreement with Air Canada to become the carrier’s employee global travel booking tool and travel management provider. Effective June 28, 2021 GBT will support the carrier’s employee corporate hotel accommodation and ground transportation bookings. The relationship will also extend to hotel consulting, and meetings and events (M&E). Neo, GBT’s proprietary online booking platform was a key factor in Air Canada’s decision to select GBT. Patrick Doyle, Vice President and General Manager at GBT Canada, said: “We...
American Airlines Celebrating 80 To Canada
American Airlines is celebrating 80 years of service to Canada. The airline’s first-ever international passenger flight operated from Buffalo, New York, to Toronto, Canada. The aircraft operating this historic flight was a Douglas DC-3 aircraft with 21 customers onboard. Eighty years later, and despite the toughest year on record for the aviation industry due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), Canada remains an integral part of American's international network. The carrier has provided critical service during the pandemic from four airports: Calgary (YYC), Montreal (YUL), Toronto...
Pent Up Demand Is There, But Industry Still Faces Hurdles
The president of TripCentral.ca is warning that there are still dark days ahead for a travel industry that's already been badly battered by the coronavirus pandemic. Richard Vanderlubbe told a recent Discover America Canada webinar that the federal government is preparing to wind down subsidies for businesses that have been struggling during the pandemic, subsidies many businesses say they've needed to stay afloat financially. The travel industry is “coming into a very ominous period,” Vanderlubbe said. Vanderlubbe also said that “there are a lot of good people leaving”...
Air Canada Has A Solution
Air Canada is launching a trial of a new digital solution available through its mobile app for customers to securely scan, upload and verify their COVID-19 test results. The new app will help travellers conveniently validate compliance with government health travel requirements prior to arriving at the airport. Air Canada developed the new solution with the support of Amadeus and it will initially be available beginning June 29 for flights from Frankfurt to Toronto and Montreal. The carrier plans to roll-out the solution across its network later this summer pending results of the...
Swoop Adds Vegas, Puerto Vallarta Lift From Victoria
Swoop is launching non-stop service from Victoria, B.C. to Las Vegas and Puerto Vallarta. The carrier, as part of its commitment to supporting the economic recovery of the Greater Victoria Region with access to affordable air travel, is already offering point-to-point service to Toronto and Edmonton and will now provide sun-Vancouver Islanders two new destinations to explore this winter. Bert van der Stege, Head of Commercial and Finance, Swoop, said that: “The introduction of Las Vegas and Puerto Vallarta are the perfect additions to our route offerings from Victoria for those...
WestJet Reconnecting Canada
WestJet is back big time, restoring service and inaugurating new routes across the country. In Ontario, WestJet is further restoring Ontario's domestic and interprovincial connectivity with the restart of nine routes to and from destinations across Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador by June 30, 2021. And in the process, it will inaugurate two new routes from Toronto and Ottawa to Comox and Victoria. In British Columbia, the Calgary-based carrier is restarting eight routes to and from destinations...
An Ode To Canada From Air Canada
Set in some of this country’s most spectacular and iconic locations, Air Canada’s new on-board, pre-flight safety video is truly an ‘Ode to Canada.’ Coming to a seatback screen near you, the new video takes customers on a stunning journey across Canada while depicting in unexpected ways the safety features of each aircraft. Andrew Shibata, vice-president – brand for the carrier, said that: “Air Canada's new Ode to Canada safety video is a celebration of the best of Canada from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Including our own uniformed employees who are responsible for the...