Airlines
Qatar launches flights to Rwanda
Qatar Airways has further expanded operations in Africa with the launch of its 17th destination on the continent - daily scheduled flights to Rwanda. The arrival of flight QR 536 to Rwanda's capital city of Kigali takes the airline's African capacity up to 132 passenger flights each week across a diverse network of cities. In recent months, Qatar has launched new African services to Benghazi in Libya and the Ugandan city of Entebbe, with a further three route start-ups planned over the next few months - Mombasa in Kenya, and both Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar in Tanzania. Rwanda is fast emerging...
KLM, Ukraine International strengthen ties
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Ukraine International Airlines are enhancing their working relationship with both airlines increasing capacity between Amsterdam and Kiev and expanding their codeshare agreement considerably. With the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship on the horizon, the two carriers are offering passengers a greater choice of flights to the Ukraine. "This serves to strengthen Schiphol's position as a mainport, optimizing connections with the Eastern Europe growth market,"says KLM COO Pieter Elbers. "What is more, KLM and Ukraine International Airlines' destinations connect...
Sunwing unveils Winter 2012-13 flight program
Sunwing has unveiled its flight program for the 2012-13 fall/winter season. With flights being offered from 30 Canadian cities to a total of 35 winter sun destinations, the coming peak travel season will be the operators' largest ever. Highlights include: new service from Montreal to Aruba and to Huatulco, Mexico; the introduction of flights to Cayo Coco, Cuba from Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton; new mid-morning departures from Toronto to Montego Bay, Jamaica; the continuation of daily departures from each of Montreal and Toronto to Cancun, Mexico, Varadero, Cuba and Punta Cana, D.R.; a full...
Wildcat walkout at AC over
A wildcat walkout by Air Canada ground workers that started late on Thursday in Toronto has ended after Air Canada obtained an injunction forcing its employees back to work. Reports indicate that problems began when three workers were suspended in Toronto for what's being described as "slow clapping" federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt when she was seen in the baggage hall at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. Following the walk out, there were discussions between Air Canada and union officials and the result is an arrangement has been reached that will allow the three workers - who were...
AC workers stage wildcat strike
Air Canada ground workers at Pearson International in Toronto have staged a wildcat strike, forcing the airline to cancel more than two dozen flights and disrupting many others. Reports say workers in Montreal have joined in the job action. An Air Canada spokesperson said airline officials are meeting with lawyers to discuss how to bring an end to the strike. Agents and/or their clients are advised to check on their flight status at aircanada.com before heading to the airport. In order to facilitate changes to travel plans, Air Canada has revised its ticketing policy for customers booked on...
Air Canada updates Aveos contingency plans
Air Canada has provided the following update concerning its plans following the closure by Aveos Fleet Performance Inc. of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities in Canada this week. According to officials, the closure of Aveos's facilities will not have an impact on Air Canada's day-to-day aircraft maintenance and repair activities or on its scheduled operation. This day-to-day maintenance work is performed directly by Air Canada at its own facilities across Canada -- including Montreal, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Toronto -- by the airline's 2,300 maintenance employees. On a...
WestJet affirms maintenance program
WestJet today affirmed that the heavy maintenance required for its fleet of 98 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft continues to be performed by Premier Aviation of Trois-Rivières, Quebec and Cascade Aerospace of Abbotsford, BC. With none of the heavy maintenance being performed by Aveos Fleet Performance Inc., the airline will continue its heavy maintenance program as scheduled and approved by Transport Canada. "We have had questions from the media and many of our guests,"commented Cam Kenyon, WestJet executive vice-president, operations. "WestJet has a long standing relationship with...
Rising oil prices reducing profitability: IATA
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced a downgrade to its industry outlook for 2012 primarily due to rising oil prices. IATA expects airlines to turn a global profit of US$3 billion in 2012 for a 0.5% margin. This US$500 million downgrade from the December forecast is primarily driven by a rise in the expected average price of oil to US$115 per barrel, up from the previously forecast $US99. Several factors prevented a more significant downgrade: (1) the avoidance of a significant worsening of the Eurozone crisis, (2) improvement in the US economy, (3) cargo market...