Airlines
BY THE NUMBERS: AC reports Q3 results
Air Canada reported earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment, and aircraft rent (EBITDAR), before the impact of certain benefit plan amendments, of $554 million in the third quarter of 2012 compared to EBITDAR of $535 million in the third quarter of 2011, an increase of $19 million. Including the favourable impact of benefit plan amendments, EBITDAR was $678 million for the third quarter of 2012. Adjusted net income of $230 million increased $37 million from the third quarter of 2011. Adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.82 in the third quarter of...
WestJet appoints Encore president
WestJet has announced the appointment of Ferio Pugliese to the position of president, WestJet Encore, and executive vice-president, WestJet. "I am very pleased that Ferio will be leading WestJet Encore; he understands and exudes our strong culture,"said Gregg Saretsky, WestJet president and CEO. As has been the case with WestJet to date, the competitive advantage and success of WestJet Encore will be based on the engagement of WestJetters and a low-cost business model. Ferio's involvement in WestJet Encore's design and his significant contribution to our people leadership and culture make him...
Air France, KLM launch winter sales promotions
As part of a new promotion for flights out of Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa, Air France is offering reduced fares to various destinations with Economy fares starting at $899. The promotion runs until Nov. 20, and applies to trips with departures between Jan. 9 and March 30, 2013. Travellers can choose to fly to Paris, Vienna, Warsaw and other European cities from $899. Other destinations featured in the promotion include Dubai, Amman, Jeddah and Riyadh at $999, as well as Mauritius ($1,299). As part of a new promotion for flights out of five Canadian cities, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is...
Etihad, Abu Dhabi partner on promotion
Etihad Airways and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) have launched a joint initiative to promote and sell the emirate as a leading leisure destination to the world. "Access Abu Dhabi" offers international trade partners a new opportunity to sell the emirate to their international client base, providing arguably one of the world's most exciting new tourism hot spots. The new program will provide the opportunity for national and international trade partners to benefit from "Preferred Incentive Packages" which will include dedicated marketing support, dedicated sales support,...
WestJet has ‘Movember’ madness
WestJet will be having a little "Mo" fun during the month of November as it raises funds in support of prostate cancer and men's mental health initiatives. The airline will release Movember-themed vignettes. These digital shorts will air on WestJet's YouTube channel. In 2011, WestJet president and CEO Gregg Saretsky was a Movember participant, raising $85,000 and becoming one of the top individual Movember fundraisers in the world. This year, Saretsky and WestJetters will b e participating - and fundraising - as a team. Saretsky observed: "Movember allows us to do all the things we, as a...
LOADS FACTORED: AC posts strong results
Air Canada turned in a record system load factor of 82.9% in October 2012 that's up by 3.5 percentage points over the 79.4% load factor it recorded in Oct. 2011. System traffic increased 4.9% on a system-wide capacity increase of 0.4%. Air Canada reports traffic results on system-wide basis, including regional airlines from which Air Canada purchases capacity. Calin Rovinescu, president and CEO of Air Canada, said; "This record load factor for the month and strong traffic results overall underscore the effectiveness of our ongoing disciplined approach to managing capacity and our...
UP, UP & AWAY: Record loads for WestJet
WestJet released its October 2012 traffic results, posting a record load factor of 81.2%. Revenue passenger miles (RPMs), or traffic, increased 5.9% year over year, and capacity, measured in available seat miles (ASMs), grew 0.9% over the same period. WestJet flew 113,000 more guests this October compared to October of last year. "We are very pleased with the October results which easily outpaced the previous October load factor record of 78.1% set in 2007," said WestJet president and CEO Gregg Saretsky. "Forward bookings remain healthy and momentum continues at WestJet as this marks the...
CHANGE EXPECTED: Porter posts October results
Porter Airlines reported a 59.4% load factor for October, a decrease from last year of 8.3 points. Figures for the month show 125 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs) and 74.2 million Revenue Passenger Miles (RPMs). ASMs grew 5.5% from 118.5 million and RPMs decreased 7.5% from 80.2 million la st year. Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines, said: "We are currently focusing on maintaining higher yields, so the change in load factor is expected with this approach. I also want to acknowledge all of our team members for their outstanding effort given the effects of Hurricane Sandy in...