Airlines
Air Tahiti Nui Completes World’s Longest Flight
On March 15, Air Tahiti Nui achieved a new milestone in aviation history with the completion of a 15-hour, 45-minute non-stop domestic and international flight from Faa’a International Airport in Tahiti to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, setting a new record for the world’s longest flight. The record-setting 9,765-mile journey on Air Tahiti Nui’s new Boeing 787-9 Tahitian Dreamliner was made possible by a crew of four pilots, next generation aircraft and eastbound tailwinds. The French Polynesian airline usually operates its Papeete to Paris route with a stopover in Los...
Swoop Suspends All International Flights
Swoop is altering its international operations to help with the global efforts to combat the spread of COVID-19. At the end of the operating day on March 22, Swoop is suspending all international and transborder flights and will begin its efforts to bring home the 2,349 Swoop travellers who are currently outside of Canada. This suspension will be in place until May 31. “These are extraordinary times, and we want to be sure our Swoop travellers are safe at home in Canada,” says Bert van der Stege, head of Commercial, Swoop. “Our priority is to bring Canadian travellers home,...
Sunwing Offers Free Seats On Repatriation Flights
Sunwing is offering available seats on its repatriation flights from southern destinations to stranded Canadians, free of charge – including for non-Sunwing customers. “We understand a lot of Canadians are still stranded outside the country and struggling to get home,” said Stephen Hunter, CEO of Sunwing Travel Group. “That’s why we want to open up any extra capacity we have. It’s the Canadian thing to do.” As part of its ongoing efforts to repatriate Sunwing customers, the travel company is bringing home approximately an additional 11,000 Canadians today, which will...
Air Canada Gradually Suspends Flights
Air Canada is gradually suspending the majority of its international and US transborder flights by March 31. The move comes in response to decisions by national governments, including Canada and the United States, to close borders and restrict commercial aviation as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Subject to further government restrictions, the airline intends to continue to serve a small number of international and U.S. trans-border destinations from select Canadian cities after April 1. The airline also intends to continue serving all provinces and territories with a significantly...
Porter Pauses Operations Starting Tomorrow
Porter Airlines is temporarily suspending all flights at the close of operations on Friday (March 20), with plans to resume service on June 1. The decision is being made in support of ongoing public health efforts to contain COVID-19. Michael Deluce, Porter’s president and CEO said, “COVID-19 is having an unprecedented effect on people around the world and Porter is determined to do our part to support the efforts of the Canadian, US and global authorities in their responses. Restricting activities by people in all communities is what’s required to keep our team members and...
Sunwing Focused on Repatriation
On Tuesday, Sunwing announced that it was shifting its efforts to focus solely on repatriating customers who are currently in destination. As a result, the carrier has temporarily suspended all southbound flights from March 17 until April 9 to concentrate resources on returning customers home safely. The first rescue flights departed on Tuesday, March 17, repatriating over 500 Canadians from countries that had announced closures of their borders. By the end of today, over 11,000 customers will be brought home to Canada. The travel company is committed to ensuring all its...
FLYGTA Ready To Help With Relief Flights
FLYGTA is ready to help Canadians return home during the COVID -19 pandemic and increasing border closures by the Government of Canada. The airline's team and private jets are available to bring back stranded passengers from the U.S, Caribbean and other Canadian locations, mostly affected by escalating flight cancellations. Chris Nowrouzi, CEO of FLYGTA, said: “We encourage other air operators to follow suit at this time of crisis and need”, says. “This is a time where we all must come together and help Canadians. Passengers should expect to be screened for any symptoms prior...
Transat Suspending Flights
Transat A.T. Inc. will be gradually suspending Air Transat flights until April 30. The company said that its decision follows the Canadian government's announcement that the country is closing its borders to foreign nationals, as well as similar decisions by several other countries where Transat operates. Sales for departures until April 30 are suspended immediately to and from destinations in Europe and the United States. Flights will continue for a few more days in order to repatriate Transat customers to their home country. To allow as many repatriations as possible, sales...