Airlines

Delta plans Comair shut down

Delta Air Lines is shutting down Comair, effective Sept. 29. Don Bornhorst, senior vice-president of Delta Connection, said in a memo, "While regional flying has and will remain a key component of Delta's network, customer expectations and the unit costs of regional flying have evolved. In response, Delta recently announced its plans to reduce the total number of regional jets in its network while adding more mainline flying. This includes reducing the number of 50-seat regional jets from nearly 350 aircraft to 125 or fewer in the upcoming years. As a result of this reduction and changes to...

Air Canada comments on Aveos restructuring

Air Canada has provided the following comments on the fifth report of the Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) of Aveos, providing an update following an agreement reached May 30 between Aveos and Air Canada in which the airline agreed to arrangements with Aveos to assist the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) firm to find potential purchasers for certain of its divisions. In a July 25 report, the CRO of Aveos advised that Aveos has received offers for the sale of all or certain assets of its components maintenance division and discussions are ongoing. Air Canada continues to work diligently...

WestJet clarifies U.S. DOT baggage fee regulations

Given the U.S. DOT's enforcement of baggage fee disclosure and collections obligations, WestJet is making moves to ensure travel agencies are fully compliant with the intent of these regulations on behalf of the airline. WestJet has elected to defer to IATA 302 resolution for all bookings with itineraries to, from and within the US (and for all international itineraries). This allows the carrier the option to determine baggage fees and allowances based on the most significant carrier. The most significant carrier and their baggage fees will be displayed during the pricing process through most...

UAL by the numbers

United Continental Holdings, Inc has reported second-quarter 2012 net income of US$545 million or $1.41 per diluted share, excluding $206 million of net special charges. Including special charges, UAL reported second-quarter 2012 net income of $339 million or $0.89 per diluted share. UAL's second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue increased 2.3% year-over-year. Second-quarter consolidated passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 3.0% compared to the same period in 2011. Second-quarter consolidated fuel expense increased 5.6%, or $181 million, year-over-year....

WestJet introduces Alberta-Hawaii schedule

WestJet has leased two Boeing 757-200 aircraft from Thomas Cook Airlines to deliver more non-stop, daytime service between Calgary and Honolulu and Maui, and between Edmonton and Maui. Pending regulatory approval, flights are scheduled to begin Dec. 13 and continue through April 21, 2013. Service between Calgary and Honolulu will be twice weekly, between Calgary and Maui four times weekly, and between Edmonton and Maui, three times weekly. Meanwhile, WestJet Vacations offers a wide range of vacation packages in Hawaii with a selection of hotels and condominiums, including Disney's newest...

Air Canada goes green and gold

With yesterday's departure of Air Canada flight AC864 from Montreal to London, the airline operated its second bio-fuel-powered flight, which is expected to generate up to 10% fewer emissions by using jet fuel derived from recycled cooking oil and through other fuel-saving measures. And as the Official Airline of the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic teams, Air Canada also had a number of Olympic athletes and officials on-board on their way to the London 2012 Olympic Games. Twenty per cent of the fuel required by the Airbus A330 used to operate the flight was be a 50/50 mix of regular jet fuel...

Emirates revamps Business Rewards program

Emirates airline has re-launched its Business Rewards loyalty program, highlighted by changes designed to help small- and medium-sized businesses grow while earning miles with each Emirates flight. The program is simple: for every $1 spent on travel with Emirates via Business Rewards (booked online or via a preferred travel agent), members receive one Business Rewards Mile. Miles earned can be used towards flights on Emirates services worldwide. Key benefits of the program include: Earning Business Rewards Miles and Skywards Miles on every flight; Competitively priced fares; Redeemable Miles...

Etihad cleared to acquire more

Etihad Airways has welcomed the decision by the Australian Government to allow it to increase its equity stake in Virgin Australia Holdings to a maximum of 10%. Etihad currently has a 4.99% stake in Virgin Australia, acquired earlier this year, and had applied to Australia's Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) to raise the level of its investment. The purchase was made following the development of a highly successful multi-tiered partnership between the two airlines that includes code-sharing on flights, joint marketing initiatives and reciprocal earn-and-burn on their respective frequent...