Airlines

US Airways joins BAR Canada

The Board of Airlines Representatives in Canada (BAR Canada) has welcomed US Airways as its newest member. US Airways operates more than 3,200 flights per day and serves more than 200 communities in the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, Central and South America. The airline employs more than 32,000 aviation professionals, operates the world's largest fleet of Airbus aircraft and is a member of the Star Alliance network, which offers its customers more than 21,000 daily flights to 1,290 airports in 189 countries. In March, US Airways began service between Ottawa and...

Etihad invests in Aer Lingus

Etihad Airways has acquired a 2.987% stake in Aer Lingus, forging a commercial partnership with the Irish national carrier. According to Etihad officials, a possible partnership could produce significant commercial benefits for both airlines. Etihad Airways operates 10 flights a week from Abu Dhabi to Dublin and has carried more than 750,000 passengers between the two capitals since it began flying the route in July 2007. The airline has a premium lounge at Dublin Airport, an engineering maintenance facility and has conducted recruitment drives across the country. It also recently renewed its...

WestJet selects Bombardier Q400 for new regional airline

WestJet has selected Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. to supply aircraft for its new regional airline, expected to launch in the second half of 2013. The airline will fly the Bombardier Q400 NextGen to new cities, existing destinations not currently connected by WestJet, and will allow for schedule improvements on certain routes where a smaller aircraft can efficiently provide greater frequency. "We are very impressed with the Q400,"commented WestJet president Gregg Saretsky. "Both ATR and Bombardier put forward excellent proposals and ultimately we believe the Bombardier Q400's combination of...

Air Canada expands seatback entertainment options

Air Canada has expanded the selection on its In-flight Entertainment System, now offering passengers twice as many movies to choose from. The enriched personalized seatback system will give each customer free access to a menu of up to 150 movies designed to suit every taste, ranging from the latest Hollywood blockbuster to classic art house and international films. Highlights of the expansion include doubling the number of available movie titles to 150 from 72 on international flights and to 63 titles from 31 on North American flights; broadening the selection of movies in all categories,...

Lufthansa’s new Boeing 747-8 available for booking

Passengers can now book flights on Lufthansa's first Boeing 747-8 aircraft, which has just been delivered in Seattle. Beginning June 1, Lufthansa will operate six flights per week with the "Queen of the Skies"on the Frankfurt-Washington route. Over the next few months, as four more new Jumbo jets join the fleet, the number of destinations served by the aircraft will gradually increase. By late summer, 747-8 flights will be offered to Chicago, Los Angeles, Delhi and Bangalore. Once the 747-8 enters scheduled service, passengers will also have the opportunity to enjoy Lufthansa's revamped...

WestJet launches new service to Kingston

WestJet has launched new, non-stop service between Toronto and Kingston, Jamaica, with the inaugural flight taking off from Toronto Pearson International this morning. WestJet will fly between Toronto and Kingston three times per week: each Monday, Friday and Sunday. Flights depart Toronto at 9 a.m., arriving in Kingston at 12:11 p.m. On the return, flights leaving Kingston at 1:05 p.m., arriving back in Toronto at 6:14 p.m. Full schedule details and introductory one-way fares from $149 (plus applicable taxes and fees) are available at http://www.westjet.com...

Air Canada, IAMAW to return to the negotiating table

Air Canada and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) have agreed to re-commence negotiations. The parties have agreed to a 10-day negotiation period to begin following the appointment of an arbitrator by the Minister of Labour in accordance with the provisions of the Protecting Air Service Act. Air Canada and the IAMAW will ask that the arbitrator facilitate the negotiations process pursuant to section 31 of the Act that allows for negotiations to take place. The IAMAW represents 8,600 mechanics, baggage handlers and cargo agents employed by Air Canada, and...

Air Namibia set for fleet expansion

Air Namibia is getting ready to enlarge its fleet. The airline has ordered two new Airbus A319s that will have two classes of service and are to be delivered in November or December. They will be used on regional routes. As well, Air Namibia has acquired a fourth Embraer ERJ 135. The airline says the Embraer offers "generous legroom, faster travel times and cabin service on board, giving passengers an overall warm and excellent customer service."Meanwhile, the airline will have new flights between the Namibian capital of Windhoek and Harare, Zimbabwe; Gaborone, Botswana; and Ondjiva, Angola,...

Air Canada by the numbers

Air Canada has released the following update on the expected impact related to Aveos Fleet Performance Inc.'s (Aveos) filing for creditor protection under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act on its first quarter 2012 results and progress on transitional and long-term arrangements following Aveos's cessation of operations. In that update, AC notes that Aveos was a separate and independently owned and managed supplier to Air Canada that provided aircraft, engine and component maintenance services to airlines, including Air Canada. As for its first quarter 2012 results -- which will be...