Airlines

BACK ON TOP: SES a priority for IATA

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reacted positively to statements made today by Siim Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission, asserting that delivering a fully functioning Single European Sky (SES) is Europe's top aviation priority. "IATA fully supports vice-president Kallas in his efforts to put the long-delayed SES project back on track. It is the top priority in rebuilding the competitiveness of the European aviation sector. Cost efficient connectivity is critical to every modern economy. The failure of European member states to deliver on the SES places a EUR 5...

AC launches contest to name its new low cost carrier

Air Canada has launched a contest to help name its new low-cost leisure airline that will begin service in 2013. The carrier is asking customers and travel agents to visit Air Canada's Facebook page to submit their suggestions. Entrants become eligible to win one of three Air Canada Vacations' gift certificates each valued at $1,500 towards a holiday package vacation courtesy of Air Canada Vacations. Winners will be selected from among the entries selected by Air Canada as most closely reflecting the new leisure carrier. The contest kicks off today and runs until Oct. 21. Visit...

Etihad, Air France-KLM sign partner deal

Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM have signed an agreement to codeshare on flights across the airlines' networks, the first phase of a much larger strategic partnership, which commences on Oct. 28. The wide-ranging codeshare agreement will see Etihad Airways and Air France-KLM offering joint codes on destinations in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. At the same time, Air France is announcing a new codeshare agreement with airberlin, Europe's sixth largest airline, in which Etihad Airways holds a 29.21% stake. James Hogan, Etihad Airways' president and chief executive officer,...

WestJet web exchange notice

WestJet is advising agents that it has changed the process for travel agent web residual funds created from downgrade of fare on air bookings originally made online. Agents have the choice to have WestJet's Sales Super Centre perform an exchange for their client and have the residual funds put into a future travel credit. The future travel credit will be in the form of a travel bank in the guest's profile, which will last one year from the date of exchange. To receive this credit for the guest, the exchange must be done through the Sales Super Centre, and not through...

Austrian takes off with new long-haul cabin

Austrian Airlines is converting its entire long-haul fleet and installing a new modern cabin -- all 10 Boeing 777 and 767 long-haul aircraft will be furnished with modern Economy Class seats, an improved in-flight entertainment system, and innovative seats in Business Class, which can be transformed into full-flat beds. The entire interior design of the aircraft will receive a new visual, as Austrian Airlines reworks the colour concept of its cabins. "We are investing over 90 million Euros. I view that as an important investment in the future of Austrian Airlines,"says Austrian Airlines CEO...

Air Canada has record September

For the month of September, Air Canada has reported a record system load factor of 84.9%, versus 82.8% in September 2011. System traffic increased 3.1% on a system-wide capacity increase of 0.5%. Air Canada reports traffic results on a system-wide basis, including regional airlines from which Air Canada purchases capacity. "Air Canada generated greater traffic in all markets the airline serves, with system wide growth of 3.1% on a capacity increase of 0.5% through higher utilization of our existing fleet,"said Air Canada president Calin Rovinescu. "These strong results underscore the...

Frankfurt Airport opens Pier A-Plus

Frankfurt Airport's (FRA) new Pier A-Plus - the 787-metre-long westward expansion of Terminal 1 - has opened on schedule after about four years of construction. Flight operations begin on Oct. 10 at the new pier, allowing Germany's biggest hub to serve up to six million additional passengers per year - thus a total of approximately 65 million passengers per year. The...

AirCalin upgrades A330 cabins

New Caledonia carrier AirCalin reports work on the full cabin retrofit of its two Airbus A330s began Oct. 1. The aircraft will be successively grounded for one month in the HAECO hangars and workshops in Hong Kong. The first retrofitted aircraft will be put back into service on Nov. 7, while the second should be operational by Dec. 5. Both newly retrofitted aircraft will be in service for the airline's peak period. Passengers will find new seats, in-flight entertainment system, overall cabin ambiance, cabin crew uniforms and tableware. "Comfort, cutting-edge technology, design and...

Air New Zealand ups North American capacity

Air New Zealand will add approximately 5,000 return seats a month to North America as it further increases capacity to Vancouver, San Francisco and Los Angeles from April 2013. The Vancouver to Auckland route, which has been operating for five years this November, will also see a significant boost in capacity with three return services per week in off peak periods (previously two). Air New Zealand will operate five times a week over peak demand times from mid-December to the end of February. The airline will operate daily return flights between Auckland and San Francisco. To date, the San...